SEMINAR BUSINESS RESEARCH 5 Jan 2015

Research Activity Group member will conduct am interview with a random sample of people on campus. The purpose of the survey is to investigate the shopping motivations of shoppers in shopping mall. Each participant is to be asked: 1. Describe what may come to their mind when thinking of the word “shopping mall” 2. By using only three words, please elaborate on this choice of words. One response should be recorded for each student. Each member should interview 2 participants. Write the occupation of the participant. After all responses have been recorded, the group should organize the THREE most common answers. For each answer, compute the percentage of participants in the sample who had the common answers.

Read the research paper and answer the following question What was the research objective? What were the research questions? How the data was collected? What was the research methodology? Who were the sample? What was the sampling method? What were the data analyses? What were the implications of the research? Using your own word to write a definition of research. Based on the research, list three characteristics of research. Draw the research process based on the processes in the research paper. Data are stored systematically; Data are interpreted systematically; There is a clear purpose; to find things out

What is the Role of Business Research

What is the Role of Business Research

Definition: Business Research Business research is the application of the scientific method in searching for the truth about business phenomena Terms of research which are incorrect: Just collect facts or info without purposes Process info without interpretation This definition suggests that business research information is: not intuitive or haphazardly gathered accurate and objective relevant to all aspects of the business limited by one’s definition of business

What is Scientific Method? prior conceptions Confirm or disapprove Scientific Method The way researchers go about using knowledge and evidence to reach objective conclusions about the real world. The analysis and interpretation of empirical evidence (facts from observation or experimentation) to confirm or disprove prior conceptions knowledge evidence Analysis & interpretation

Business Research Process The process includes: idea and theory development problem definition searching for and collecting information analyzing data communicating the findings and their implications

Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 6th Edition © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2013

Business Research Applied Basic Business Research Business Research Address a specific business decision for a specific firm or organization Conducted without a specific decision in mind that usually does not address the needs of a specific organization Applied business research: Should McDonald’s add Italian pasta dinners to its menu? Which health insurance plan should a business provide for its employees? Basic business research (also called pure research) conducted without a specific decision in mind that usually does not address the needs of a specific organization. Attempts to expand the limits of knowledge in general. Not aimed at solving a pragmatic problem. Example: Do consumers experience cognitive dissonance in low-involvement situations? Does employee tenure with a company influence productivity?

Applied and Basic Business Research Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 6th Edition © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2013

R & R Is it possible to make sound managerial decisions without business research? What advantages does research offer to the decision maker over decision making without research? Research helps decision makers shift from intuitive information gathering to systematic and objective investigating.

R & R Which of the following organizations are likely to use business research? Why? How? Manufacturer of breakfast cereals An automobile manufacturer A university

R & R Please comment this statement: “The purpose of research is to solve business problems” The purpose of business research is to reduce uncertainty and to provide information to allow managers to make decisions.