PPTs for teaching & learning for course BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS MBA Sem I Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India. By Prof. Swapnil Undale & Dr. Padmavati Undale This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. You are free to use, distribute and modify it, including for commercial purposes, provided you acknowledge the source and share-alike. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.

Characteristics of Scientific Method “The scientific method is one and the same in branches of science and that method is the method of all logically trained minds… the unity of all sciences consists alone in its methods, not its materials; the man who classifies facts of any kind whatever, who sees their mutual relation and describes their sequences, is applying the Scientific Method and is a man of science.” -- Karl Pearson. “The scientific method encourages rigorous, impersonal mode of procedures directed by the demand of logic and objective procedure.” – Carlos L. Lastrucci

Characteristics of Scientific Method : “An inquiry into the nature of, the reason for and the consequences of any particular set of circumstances, whether these circumstances are experimentally controlled or recorded just as they occur. Further, the research implies that the researcher is interested in more than particular results; he is interested in the repeatability of results and their extension to more complicated and general situations.” -- Ostle & Mensing.

Factors stimulating scientific approach to decision making : √ Increased need for more and better information. √ Availability of better techniques and tools for this purpose. √ Discipline in processing information to avoid “Information Overload”.

Scientific Method “A method or procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.” - Oxford English Dictionary “The scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.” - Goldhaber & Nieto 2010, p. 940 Scientific method of inquiry must be based on empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning.

Scientific Method (contd Scientific Method (contd.) Empiricism – Describing, explaining and making predictions by relying on information gained through observations based on sensory experience and/or derived from such experience by methods of inductive logic including mathematics and Statistics.

Postulations in scientific method : It relies on empirical evidence Postulations in scientific method : It relies on empirical evidence. It utilizes relevant concepts. It is committed to only objective consideration. It is aimed at making only adequate and correct statements about population objects. It results into probabilistic predictions. Its methodology is made known to all concerned for critical scrutiny and testing. Its aimed at formulating scientific theories.

Research Process Steps in research : 1 Research Process Steps in research : 1. Define research problem – What is to be found out ? 2. Review concepts/theory, Review previous research finding: -- What research work has been done so far ? 3. Formulate hypotheses – What is the likely out come ? or researcher’s learned opinion ?

Research Process Steps in research : 4 Research Process Steps in research : 4. Research design – What information is needed ? Who will give the information ? from how many to collect the information ? how to collect and analyse the information ? 5. Data collection – What is the response to the questions ? 6. Data analysis and interpretation – Do the hypotheses test positive or otherwise ? 7. Report – how to present the findings, conclusions and suggestions ?

(As described by Cooper & Schindler) The Research Process (As described by Cooper & Schindler) The researcher encounters a curiosity, doubt, suspicion, or obstacle. struggles to state the problem – asks questions, contemplates existing knowledge, gathers facts and moves from an emotional to an intellectual confrontation with the problem. Proposes hypothesis to explain the facts that are believed to be logically related to the problem. Deducts outcome or consequences of the hypothesis – attempts to discover what happens if the results are in the opposite direction of that predicted or if the results support the expectations.

(As described by Cooper & Schindler) The Research Process (As described by Cooper & Schindler) The researcher Formulates several rival hypotheses. Devises and conducts a crucial empirical test with various possible outcomes, each of which selectively excludes one or more hypotheses. Draws a conclusion (an inductive inference) based on acceptance or rejection of the hypotheses. Feeds information back into the original problem, modifying it according to the strength of the evidence.

Concept of Scientific enquiry Deductive Theory : A logical process of deriving a conclusion about a specific instance based on a known general premise or something know to be true. A form of reasoning in which the conclusion must necessarily follow from the premises (reasons) given. Deduction is valid if it is impossible for the conclusions to be false if the premises are true. Example of deduction : All MBA students of MITSOM are placed in MNCs. (Premises # 1) Swapnil is a MBA student of MITSOM (Premises # 2) Conclusion – Swapnil will be placed in MNC.  

Inductive Theory : A form of reasoning that draws a conclusion from one or more particular facts or pieces of evidence. Example of induction : Statement – Students are not scoring good marks in ‘Business Research Methods’ Question – Why are students not scoring good marks in

Inductive Theory (Cont Inductive Theory (Cont.) From our knowledge of the subject, we can formulate a few hypotheses. 1. Students don’t study ‘Business Research Methods’ seriously. 2. The teacher teaching ‘Business Research Methods’ is not good. 3. ‘Business Research Methods’ is not a scoring subject. 4. Syllabus of ‘Business Research Methods’ is very vast. 5. Question papers of ‘Business Research Methods’ are always tough.

Inductive Theory (Cont Inductive Theory (Cont.) All the above hypotheses are likely to be true. But we have more confidence in some of them. They require further confirmation before we are reasonably confident about them. Confirmation will be based on evidence. The quality of evidence will depend on √ Nature of evidence ( ability to prove or disprove the hypothesis) √ Sources and measurement of the evidence (Authenticity and accuracy of the evidence)

Deductive reasoning – From the more general to the more specific Deductive reasoning – From the more general to the more specific. Theory of gravitation All fruits(apple) will fall down Inductive reasoning – From the more specific to the more general. Why apple fall on the ground?

Deductive reasoning Inductive reasoning General Theory Observation Specific Hypothesis Patterns Observation Hypothesis Specific Conclusion General Theory

Problem identification & Hypothesis formulation Dilemma- State of confusion More than one options available Trade off Management Dilemma- Dilemma related to management function The problem or opportunity that requires a decision A symptom of a problem An early indication of an opportunity e.g. De growing sale Management question : Management dilemma restated in question form. e.g. Why sale is de growing?

Problem identification & Hypothesis formulation Research question : The hypothesis that best states the objective of research study. e.g. Should we increasing production? Should we provide training to field force? Investigative questions : The questions the researcher must answer to satisfactorily answer the research question/problem. e.g. What is the capacity utilization ratio?

Problem identification & Hypothesis formulation Measurement question: The questions the researcher asks to the respondents in order to find answer to the research problem (questionnaire). e.g. How many machines are installed in the plant? What is the capacity of each machine? How many units are produced in a shift/day/week/month?

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