ASSIGNMENT
Unit 1: Introduction to Research and Scientific Investigation
1. Define Research and explain its approaches.
Answer:
Research is the careful consideration of study regarding a particular concern
or research problem using scientific methods. According to the American sociologist
Earl Robert Babbie, “research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict,
and control the observed phenomenon. It involves inductive and deductive methods.”
Inductive methods analyze an observed event, while deductive methods verify the
observed event
In the field of science different researchers may assign different meanings for the
team research approach. In some publications you may see that research approach
may imply methods of data collection and data analysis in general and differences
between qualitative and quantitative methods in particular.
However, in our view research approach is best seen as a general plan and
procedure for conducting the study. Accordingly, approach for the research can be
divided into three categories:
1. Deductive approach
2. Inductive approach
3. Abductive approach
The relevance of hypotheses to the study is the main distinctive point between
deductive and inductive approaches. Deductive approach tests the validity of
assumptions (or theories/hypotheses) in hand, whereas inductive approach
contributes to the emergence of new theories and generalizations. Abductive
research, on the other hand, starts with ‘surprising facts’ or ‘puzzles’ and the research
process is devoted their explanation.
The following table illustrates the major differences between deductive, inductive and
abductive research approaches in terms of logic, generaliability, use of data and
theory.
2. Explain Business research and its steps?
Answer:
Basically, the field of practical study which involves obtaining data and analyzing the same for
better and smoother management of a company is known as business research. Managers
and executives who take the help of business research methods are capable of
understanding the position of their company.
Business research involves objective and systematic inquiry, which offers valuable details
related to managerial decisions. There will be multiple steps in the entire process – planning,
acquiring of data, analysis of the data, using of relevant data by the decision-makers of the
company for enhancing the performance of the company, and so on. By undertaking business
research, companies are able to identify the most profitable products.
As it has been mentioned earlier, multiple steps are involved in the conducting of business
research. These steps should be performed under proper supervision so as to ensure that the
company takes the best decision in the end.
Steps involved in business research
Product analysis: This is the beginning step of business research. It is necessary for
a company to identify a product that caters to the demands of the consumers or even
exceeds consumer demands. If this is not done, the product will not be able to survive
in the economic market place. This can be done by finding an already existing product,
which the company can improve by bringing alterations in the designs and features.
Discovering emerging markets with very high demands and low supply is also a part of
product analysis.
Market analysis: Market analysis is done by a company in order to understand the
level of profit that it may earn depending on the present scenario. By conducting
market research, it is also possible to identify the price points at which a company can
sell its products.
Competitor analysis: This is an integral part of business research. It is necessary to
have in-depth knowledge about all the rival companies, their production methodologies,
and the level of customer loyalty that they receive. These details help in the creation of
competitive advantage while tapping into an entirely new market.
Financial analysis: By undertaking financial analysis, it is possible to determine the
expense involved at each step while producing services and goods. Management will
be able to review the top-notch cost application methods. This will further make sure
that each and every production expense have been adequately applied over the
service rendered or product manufactured.
Growth analysis: This type of analysis helps in determining the profitability of a
business operation. It inv0lves predicting the development, growth as well as the
direction of the present industry or market. If it is known that in which direction the
market is propelling, a company can identify and ensure business operations
efficiently.
3. Explain the advantages of internal consultants.
Answer:
The internal team would stand a better chance of being readily accepted by the employees in
the subunit of the organization where research needs to be done.
2. The team would require much less time to understand the structure, the philosophy and
climate, and the functioning and work systems of the organization.
3. They would be available for implementing their recommendations after the research findings
are accepted. This is very important because any ―bugs in the implementation of the
recommendations could be removed with their help. They would also be available for evaluating
the effectiveness of the changes, and considering further changes if and when necessary.
4. The internal team might cost considerably less than an external team for the department
enlisting help in problem solving, because they will need less time to understand the system
due to their continuous involvement with various units of the organization. For problems that are
of low complexity, the internal team would be ideal.
Internal consultants can help a business with technical issues, production issues,
streamlining, modernizing new business models and almost anything else a business may need
help deciphering. Once-in-a-lifetime business decisions don’t require long-term consultant
oversight, but many business decisions could benefit greatly from insiders with expertise in a
given area to ensure the business stays focused, streamlined, sound, productive and relevant.
Financial benefits
Smaller businesses may have difficulty justifying the added cost of an inside consultant; for
larger companies, it may be an advantage, depending on what you hire the consultant to do. If
your business has many facilities and all can benefit from the findings of the consultant, each
division or unit can absorb a piece of the overhead, making it much less painful to the bottom
line. Manufacturing companies often keep an internal consultant on staff to continuously review
processes and stay abreast of new technologies. Businesses that deal with foreign countries or
sensitive materials may find it of value to keep an international law consultant on hand.
Perception
One of the biggest hurdles consultants face when they come into a business is the people
themselves. Employees get territorial and will avoid an external consultant, but if you hire that
same person into the company to do the same job, employees will see him as a team member
and not an ax man. To affect change in an organization, the employees must buy into and
embrace the change. This is often much easier done with an internal consultant, as he can
continue to push change and follow through to make sure the process doesn’t stagnate.
project manager
At times, having an internal consultant on board can be a huge benefit when it comes time to
undertake a dramatic change, roll out a new product line or streamline the organization. The
consultant can become the project manager, overseeing other outside consultants and
contractors. By having your consultant on the payroll, you ensure that she keeps your best
interests in focus at all times.
technical expertise
Technical consultants understand what it takes to deliver a product in terms of unit cost,
manufacturing difficult, raw material costs, staffing and facilities. As businesses rely more and
more on networking, customer interaction and business transactions online, every minute the
server is down or the network is locked up costs money that cannot be recuperated. Having a
consultant on hand who understands your system and can respond instantly to get it up and
running may be the most valuable person on your staff.
4. Explain in detail the Hallmarks of Scientific research.
Answer:
Main characteristics which will distinguish scientific research from common research.
1. Purposiveness
“Research should have a definite aim or purpose.”
2. Rigor
”A good theoratical base and sound methodological design give rigor to the research.
Rigor indicates carefulness and degree of exactitude in research.”
3. Testability
”Scientific research lends itself to testing logically developed hypothesis to see whether or
not data support the educated conjecture or hypothesis.”
4. Replicability
”The results of the test of hypothesis should be supported again and again when same
type of research is conducted in other similar circumstances.”
5. Precision and Confidence
”Precision refers to the closeness of the findings to reality based on a sample. Precision
reflects the degree of exactness and accuracy of the results on the basis of samples. Also
known as confidence interval in statistics.
Confidence refers to the probability that our estimation are correct so that we can
confidently claim that 95% of the time our results will be true and there is only 5% chance
of our results being false.”
6. Objectivity
”The conclusion drawn through the interpretation of the results of data analysis should be
objective that is, they should be based on facts of the findings derived from actual data
and not on our own subjective or emotional values.”
7. Generalizability
”It refers to the scope of replicability of the research findings in one organizational settings
to others, the wider the range of replicability of the solution generated by the research the
more useful the research is to the user.”
8. Parsimony
”Simplicity in explaining the phenomenon or problem that occur in generating the
solutions of the problem is preferred as compared to complex research frame work.
5. Discuss how literature survey is carried out?
Answer:
Steps in the Literature Survey
1. Define the research question
o You may need to some exploratory searching of the literature to get a sense of scope,
to determine whether you need to narrow or broaden your focus
o Identify databases that provide the most relevant sources, and identify relevant terms
(controlled vocabularies) to add to your search strategy
o Finalize your research question
2. Determine inclusion/exclusion criteria
o Think about relevant dates, geographies (and languages), methods, and conflicting
points of view
3. Choose databases and conduct the search
o Conduct searches in the published literature via the identified databases
o Check to see if this topic has been covered in other discipline's databases
o Examine the citations of on-point articles for keywords, authors, and previous
research (via references) and cited reference searching.
4. Review your results
o Save your search results in a citation management tool (such as Zotero, Mendeley or
EndNote)
o De-duplicate your search results
o Make sure that you've found the seminal pieces -- they have been cited many times,
and their work is considered foundational
o Check with your professor or a librarian to make sure your search has been
comprehensive
5. Synthesize the information gathered
o Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of individual sources and evaluate for bias,
methodologies, and thoroughness
o Group your results in to an organizational structure that will support why your
research needs to be done, or that provides the answer to your research question
o Develop your conclusions
6. Analyze the information gathered
o Are there gaps in the literature?
o Where has significant research taken place, and who has done it?
o Is there consensus or debate on this topic?
o Which methodological approaches work best?
7. Write the literature review
o Pick an organizational structure, i.e., themes, approaches, concepts, methodologies.
For example: Background, Current Practices, Critics and Proponents, Where/How this
study will fit in
o Organize your citations and focus on your research question and pertinent studies
o Compile your bibliography