Introduction to Research Methods University of Professional Studies, Accra Alexander Preko (PhD) INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS

Outline of Presentation Definition of Research Nature of Business and Management Research Purpose of Research Types of Research The Research Process Formulating Research topic Attributes of a good research topic Turning research ideas into research projects Writing the Research Proposal

Definition of Research Saunders and Lewis (2007) define research as something that people undertake in order to find out things in a systematic way, thereby increasing their knowledge. “systematic research” suggest that research is based on logical relationships that can be justified and not just beliefs. “to find out things” suggests there are multiplicity of possible purposes for your research. These may include describing, explaining, undertaking, criticising and analysing. Research may also be defined as a systematic inquiry into a question or problem to arrive at justifiable conclusion

What Research is not? Research is not mere information gathering e.g. searching the internet or library for information. This is merely information gathering Research is not transportation of facts from one location to another Research is not reassembling and recording facts or information without interpretation. Research is not a catchword to get attention

Attributes of Research Research involves the quest for answers to unsolved problems that lead to high degree of originality. Research involves a careful collection, organization and articulation of what is already known about the problems and what is yet to be known. Research is a structured process which follows a systematic order or rule of execution

Research is characterized by carefully designed procedures that apply rigorous analysis.  Research involves rigorous application of logic and objectivity in the procedures employed, in the data collection and the conclusions reached Research is based upon observable experience or empirical evidence Research demands accurate observation and description

Attributes of Research Cont’d Research involves gathering data  Research involves logical and plausible explanation of the findings of the study or investigations Research usually goes beyond the specific subjects in an investigation and emphasizes the development of generalizations, principles or theories that will be useful in predicting future occurrence. Research process is replicable

Purpose of Research Research is to: Review or synthesize existing knowledge Investigate existing problems or situations Provide solutions to problems Explore and analyse more general solutions Construct or create new procedures or systems Explain new phenomenon Generate new knowledge Or a combination of some of the above

Types of Research Basic or Pure Research Applied Research Action Research

Con’t Basic research is also referred to as fundamental or academic research and it is conducted to advance scientific knowledge through the development of theories.  The primary aim of Basic Research is to improve knowledge generally, without any particular purpose in mind at the outset. Basic research is driven by a scientist’s or the researcher’s interest in a scientific question. The main thing here is to motivate the people to create something.

Types of Research Cont’d Applied research on the other hand is research conducted to solve practical problems. It is not just to gain knowledge. Applied research is design from the start to apply its findings to a particular situation or problem. We can say that an applied researchers have the goal of bringing betterment in human lives.

Con’t Action research is an inquiry or research in the context of focused efforts.

Research Approaches or Research Paradigms Research can be approached in the following ways: Quantitative (deductive) Qualitative (inductive) Mixed-methods

Quantitative Approach Quantitative research is a means for testing objective theory by examining the relationship among variables. The emphasis of Quantitative Research is on collecting and analysing numerical data; it concentrates on measuring the range, frequency, direction of influence, etc. of the phenomena

Qualitative Approach Qualitative research is a means for exploring and understanding the meaning individuals and/or groups ascribe to a social or human phenomenon

Research Approaches Cont’d Qualitative Research is more subjective in nature than quantitative research and involves examining and reflecting on the less tangible aspects of a research subject. e.g. values, attitudes, perceptions etc. Although this type of research can be easier to start, it can be often difficult to interpret and present the findings

Narrative description Statistical inference Comparison QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE Type of reasoning- Deductive Inductive Objectivity Subjectivity Causative Meaning Type of question Pre-specified Open ended Outcome oriented Process oriented Type of Analysis Numerical estimation Narrative description Statistical inference Comparison

Research Approaches Cont’d Deductive Research moves from general ideas/theories to particular (situation) Deductive research takes a lot of information that a researcher may have gathered or general information such as theories, laws or a principle and tries to draw a conclusion directly from that. A deductive thought transforms general theory into a specific hypothesis that a researcher is able to test and prove right or wrong. If the hypothesis is proved to be true or correct, then you may also say that the general idea that sparked the hypothesis is also true.

Research Approaches Cont’d Inductive research moves from particular situation to make or infer broader general ideas/theories. It turns a simple observation or thought into a general theory. In other words it takes one piece of information and tries to generalise it from there. A researcher’s thought path goes from the specific to general

Inductive Research Approach THEORY Inductive reasoning works by moving from specific observations to broader generalizations and theories. Informally, we sometimes call this a ‘bottom up’ approach Conclusion is likely based on premises. Involves a degree of uncertainty TENTATIVE HYPOTHESIS Hill Climbing PATTERN Observations

Deductive Research Approach THEORY Deductive reasoning works from the more general to the more specific. Sometimes this is informally called a “top- down” approach. Conclusion follows logically from premises (available facts) HYPOTHESIS Waterfall OBSERVATION CONFIRMATION

Advantages Inductive Inductive approach can increase the creativity Inductive approach shows better long-term retention ability May meet the challenges of the new world Active and interesting lesson

Advantages allow more time for practice and application Deductive Some educators argue that deductive teaching can be critically important for students with learning disabilities Some learn best through a deductive approach. allow more time for practice and application

Disadvantages INDUCTIVE: The inductive approach may also take more time and be less “efficient” than a deductive approach Certain ideas do not lend themselves easily to an inductive research

Disadvantages It doesn’t allow for divergent thinking. DEDUCTIVE It doesn’t allow for divergent thinking. It also doesn’t emphasize reasoning and problem solving. Deductive approach does not help to increase creativity. passive and boring lesson

The Research Process Conceptualization Developing the research question / Hypothesis Reviewing Literature Methodology Design and data collection and analysis Reporting Further research

Formulating the Research Topic How do researchers come up with the idea/topic for a research project, thesis, dissertation? Practical problems in the field Literature in your specific field Requests for Proposals (RFPs) Think up their research

Attributes of a good Research Topic Not Too Broad? You have decided you are interested in employees. Well, that is a broad subject area likely to have a large amount of information written on it. To narrow your topic, choose some specific aspect of Employees, such as: performance, commitment, engagement, turnover, motivation, attitude, etc.

Is the Study Feasible? Data-Access to data is very important in selecting study area Availability of Literature on the Subject Timing-You have to think about how long the research will take to accomplish. Ethical Considerations-You have to question whether there are important ethical constraints that need consideration. Cooperation-Can you achieve the needed cooperation to take the project to its successful conclusion? Cost Considerations-How significant are the costs of conducting the research. Failure to consider any of these factors can mean disaster later.

Research Proposal A formal written proposal is the result of interactions between a client and a researcher. It translates business concerns into research problems. It is an approach to solve the problem(s) agreed upon (it involves performing research).

Questions What are research paradigms? Explain in detail with examples What is your understanding of “Mix-Method research approach”? Explain in details selected research designs associated with the mix-method approach.