The Process of Conducting
Research
Information
Reduces uncertainty
Helps focus decision making
Types Of Research
Exploratory
Descriptive
Causal
Uncertainty Influences
The Type Of Research
CAUSAL OR
DESCRIPTIVE
COMPLETELY
CERTAIN
ABSOLUTE
AMBIGUITY
EXPLORATORY
Degree of Problem Definition
Exploratory Research
Descriptive Research
Causal Research
(Unaware of Problem)(Aware of Problem)
(Problem Clearly Defined)
possible situation
Our sales are declining and What kind of people are buying Will buyers purchase more of
we dont know [Link] product? Who buys our
our products in a new package?
competitors product?
Would people be interested
Which of two advertising
in our new product idea?
What features do buyers prefer campaigns is more effective?
in our product?
Exploratory Research
Secondary data
Experience survey
Pilot studies
Exploratory Research
Initial research conducted to clarify and
define the nature of a problem
Does not provide conclusive evidence
Subsequent research expected
Descriptive Research
Describes characteristics of a population or
phenomenon
Some understanding of the nature of the
problem
I keep six honest serving men, (they
taught me all I knew), their names are
and
what, and why, and
and where and when,
how,
who.
--Rudyard Kipling
Descriptive Research Example
Weight Watchers average customer
Woman about 40 years old
Household income of about $50,000
At least some college education
Trying to juggle children and a job
Descriptive Research Example
Mens fragrance market
1/3 size of womens fragrance market
But growing at a faster pace
Women buy 80 % of mens fragrances
Causal Research
Conducted to identify cause and effect
relationships
Identifying Causality
A causal relationship is impossible to prove.
Evidence of causality:
1. The appropriate causal order of events
2. Concomitant variation--two phenomena
vary together
3. An absence of alternative plausible
explanations
Stages of the Research Process
Problem Discovery
and Definition
Research
Design
Discovery and
Definition
and so on
Conclusions and
Report
Sampling
Data Processing
and Analysis
Data
Gathering
Research Stages
Cyclical process - conclusions generate new
ideas
Stages can overlap chronologically
Stages are functionally interrelated
Forward linkages
Backward linkages
Problem
discovery
Problem Discovery
and Definition
Sampling
Selection of
exploratory research
technique
Secondary
(historical)
data
Experience
survey
Probability
Pilot
study
Case
study
Data
Gathering
Data
Processing
and
Analysis
Problem definition
(statement of
research objectives)
Experiment
Laboratory
Conclusions
and Report
Survey
Field
Interview
Nonprobability
Collection of
data
(fieldwork)
Editing and
coding
data
Data
processing
Selection of
basic research
method
Research Design
Selection of
exploratory research
technique
Questionnaire
Observation
Secondary
Data Study
Interpretation
of
findings
Report
The Business Research Process
Problem
Discovery
Selection of
Sample
Design
Exploratory
Research
Collectionofthe
Data
Selection of
the Basic
Research
Method
The Research Process (cont.)
Editing and
Coding
Data
Processing
Interpretation
of the
Findings
Report
Stages In The Research Process
Problem Discovery and Problem Definition
Research Design
Sampling
Data Gathering
Data Processing and Analysis
Conclusions And Report
Problem Discovery And
Definition
First step
Problem, opportunity, or monitor operations
Discovery before definition
Problem means management problem
The formulation of the problem
is often more essential than its
solution
Albert Einstein
State the research
questions and research
objectives
22
Hypothesis
A statement
that can be refuted
by empirical data
If you do not know where you are going,
any road will take you there.
Secondary
(historical)
Data
Experience
Survey
Pilot
Study
Exploratory
Research
Case
Study
Exploratory Research Techniques
Two Examples
Secondary data (historical data)
Previously collected
Census of population
Literature survey
Pilot study
A number of diverse techniques
Focus Group Interview
Research Design
Master plan
Framework for action
Specifies methods and procedures
Basic Research Methods
Surveys
Experiments
Secondary data
Observation
Selecting a Sample
Sample: subset
of a larger population.
SAMPLE
POPULATION
Sampling
Who is to be sampled?
How large a sample?
How will sample units be selected?
Data Gathering Stage
Data Processing and Analysis
Conclusions And Report Writing
Effective communication of the research
findings
Research Proposal
A written statement of the research design
that includes a statement explaining the
purpose of the study.
Detailed outline of procedures associated
with a particular methodology
Research Program Strategy
Defining Problem Results in
Clear Cut Research Objectives
Symptom Detection
Analysis of
the Situation
Problem Definition
Statement of
Research Objectives
Exploratory
Research
(Optional)