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Research Methodology
By
Dr Joy Mukhopadhyay

Introduction to Business
Research

 Research in Business
 Thinking Like a Researcher
 The Research Process: An Overview
 Business Research Requests and
Proposals
 Ethics in Business Research

Objectives of Research
 To obtain familiarity of a phenomenon
 To determine the association or
independence of an activity
 To determine the characteristics of an
individual or a group of activities and
the frequency of occurrence


Features of Good Research
Study
 Objectivity
 Control
 Generalisability
 Free from personal Bias
 Systematic
 Reproducible

Points to be Considered
 Purpose clearly detailed
 Research Design thoroughly planned
 High ethical standards applied
 Limitations frankly revealed
 A complete and proper analysis
 Findings presented unambiguously
 Decision based conclusions

Types of Research
Studies
 Fundamental or Basic Research
 Applied Research
 Descriptive Research
 Historical Research
 Formulative or Exploratory Research
 Experimental Research
 Ex-Post-Facto Research
 Case Study Approach

Importance of Research in
Management Decisions

 The manager’s increased need for
more and better information
 The availability of improved
techniques and tools to meet this need
 The resulting information overload

Role of Research in
Industry and Business
 Marketing Research
 Government Policies and Economic
Systems
 Solving Various Operational and
Planning Problems
 Social Relationships

Marketing Research

 Product Research
 Market Characteristics
 Size of Market
 Competitive Position and Trend
 Sales
 Distribution
 Advertising and Promotion

Steps in Defining a
Research Problem
 Statement of the problem in a general
way
 Understanding the nature of the
problem
 Surveying the available literature
 Developing the idea through
discussions
 Rephrasing the research problem into
a working proposition

Concept of Hypothesis
 A Hypothesis is a proposition – a
tentative assumption which a
researcher wants to test for its logical
or empirical consequences.
 A hypothesis is generally concerned
with the causes of a certain
phenomenon or a relationship
between two or more variables under
investigation.

Hypothesis Testing
 Formulate a Hypothesis
 Set up a suitable significance level
 Choose a test criterion
 Compute the statistics
 Make decision

Setting up Significance
Level
 Type I Error
 Type II Error

Choose a Test Criterion
 Normal distribution: Z – test
 T – test
 F – test
 Chi Square – test

Types of Research
Design
 Exploratory research
 Descriptive Research
 Causal Research

Exploratory research

 Sample size is small
 Non-probability sampling designs
 Data requirements are vague
 Objective is general not specific
 No definite recommendations are
made as a result of the analysis

Descriptive Research
 Describes phenomena under study
 Sample size is large
 Probability sampling designs
 Data may relate to demographic /
behavioural variables of the
respondents
 Objective is specific
 Recommendations are definite

Causal Research

 Resign design is used to provide a
stronger basis for the existence of
causal relationship between the
variables

Natural Experiments
 Simple Time-Series experiment
 Recurrent Time-Series Design
 Before-After with Control Group
Design

Formal Experiments
 Completely Randomised Design
 Randomised Block Design
 Latin Square Design
 Factoral Design

Conducting Experiment
 Select relevant variables
 Specify levels of treatment
 Control experimental design
 Choos experimental design
 Select and assign subjects
 Pilot-test, revise and test
 Analyse data

Advantages
 Uncover causal relationship
 Provision for controlling variables

Methods and Techniques of
Data Collection

 Methods and Techniques of Data
Collection
 Sampling and Sampling Distribution
 Attitude Measurement and Scales

Types of Data
 Primary data
 Secondary data

Distinction
Description Primary Secondary
Source Original Secondary
Method Observation Published
Questionnair
e
Statistical Process Not done Done
Use Specific Decision-making
Method Given Not given

Distinction

Description Primary Secondary
Description of Given Not given
sample selection
Time Long Shorter
Cost Expensive Cheaper
Efforts More Less
Accuracy More Less
Personnel Trained Less trained

Different Types of
Sampling
 Random
 Purposive
 Stratified

Sampling Process
 Define the population
 Identify the Sampling Frame
 Specify the Sampling Unit
 Specify the Sampling Method
 Determine the Sample Size
 Specify the Sampling Plan
 Select the Sample

Types of Sampling
 Probability Sampling Method
 Non-probability Sampling Method

Probability Sampling
Method

 Simple Random Sampling
 Systematic Sampling
 Stratified Sampling
 Cluster Sampling

Non-probability Sampling
Method

 Convenience sampling
 Judgement sampling
 Quota Sampling

Good Sample Design
 Goal Orientation
 Measurability
 Usability
 Cost Factor

Attitude Survey
 To compare results with other survey
results
 To measure the effect of change that
occurs
 To determine the nature and extent of
employee feelings regarding specific
organisational issues and the
organisation in general

Data Presentation and
Analysis

 Data Presentation and Preliminary
Analysis
 Statistical Analysis and Interpretation
of Data: Non-Parametric Tests
 Multivariate Analysis of Data
 Model Building and Decision Making

Report Writing and
Presentation

 Writing and Formatting of Reports
 Additional Statistics in Research
 Statistical Tests in Management
Research

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