Donald Cooper Pamela Schindler Business Research Methods Donald Cooper Pamela Schindler Irwin/McGraw-Hill

The Research Process

Selection of Research Method The Research Process Problem Discovery Problem Discovery And Definition Selection of Exploratory technique Secondary Data Experience Survey Pilot Study Case Study Problem Definition (Research Objectives) Selection of Research Method Research Design Survey Interview/Questionnaire Observation Secondary Data Study Experiment Sampling

How do you identify a research problem.. Observation Experience Speculation Replication? Knowledge begets knowledge Edges of knowledge, Nobel prizes Technology and innovations Social changes Serendipity

The Management-Research Question Hierarchy Slide 3 - 1 Management Dilemma Measurement Questions Investigative Questions Research Questions Management Questions Management Decision 1 2 3 4 5 6

Working with the Hierarchy Slide 3 - 2 Management Dilemma The symptom of an actual problem Not difficult to identify a dilemma, however choosing one to focus on may be difficult

Defining the problem… Gap between actual and desired states Symptoms vs real problem Antecedent vs real problem or consequence Example…low productivity is consequence, real issue is motivation, antecedent, non recognition of employees

Defi… Existing business problems Need for improvement Conceptual clarity is needed, basic, answer empirically, for curiosity, basic

Problem def… Clear Precise Succinct statement of the question or issue that is to be investigated with the goal of finding and answer or solution Could pertain to..

Examples… State examples of problems..use examples from experiences….

Working with the Hierarchy Slide 3 - 3 Management Question Categories Choice of purposes or objective Generation and evaluation of solutions Troubleshooting or control situation

Working with the Hierarchy Slide 3 - 4 Fine tune the research question Examine concepts and constructs Break research questions into specific second-and-third-level questions Verify hypotheses with quality tests Determine what evidence answers the various questions and hypothesis Set the scope of your study

Working with the Hierarchy Slide 3 - 5 Investigative Questions Questions the researcher must answer to satisfactorily arrive at a conclusion about the research question

Working with the Hierarchy Slide 3 - 6 Measurement Questions The questions we actually ask or extract from respondents Usually goes to the questionaire

Other Processes in the Hierarchy Slide 3 - 7 Exploration Recent developments Predictions by informed figures about the prospects of the technology Identification of those involved in the area Accounts of successful ventures and failures by others in the field

Research Process Problems Slide 3 - 8 The Favored Technique Syndrome Company Database Strip-Mining Unresearchable Questions Ill-Defined Management Problems Politically Motivated Research

Designing the Study Slide 3 - 9 Select a research design from the large variety of methods, techniques, procedures, protocols, and sampling plans

Resource Allocation & Budgets Slide 3 - 10 Guides to plan a budget Project planning Data gathering Analysis, interpretation, and reporting Types of budgeting Rule-of-thumb Departmental or functional area Task

Evaluation Methods Ex Post Facto Evaluation Prior Evaluation Slide 3 - 11 Ex Post Facto Evaluation Prior Evaluation Option Analysis Decision Theory

Contents of a Research Proposal Slide 3 - 12 Statement of the research question Brief description of research methodology Pilot Testing Data collection Data preparation Data analysis and interpretation Research reporting

Data Collection Characterized by Types abstractness verifiability Slide 3 - 13 Characterized by abstractness verifiability elusiveness closeness to the phenomenon Types Secondary data Primary data

Final Steps in Research Slide 3 - 14 Data analysis Reporting the results Executive summary Overview of the research Implementation strategies for the recommendations Technical appendix

Assignment… Form groups …not more than Five Identify a research problem…define it Then start on the proposal as we progress through the semester…