McGraw-Hill/Irwin Business Research Methods, 10eCopyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 5 Clarifying the Research Question through Secondary Data and Exploration

5-2 Exploratory Phase Search Strategy Search Strategy Discovery/ Analysis Secondary Sources Individual Depth Interviews Expert Interview Group Discussions

5-3 Integration of Secondary Data into the Research Process

5-4 Objectives of Secondary Searches Expand understanding of management dilemma Gather background information Identify information that should be gathered Identify sources for and actual questions that might be used Identify sources for and actual sample frames that might be used

5-5 Conducting a Literature Search Define management dilemma Consult books for relevant terms Use terms to search Locate/review secondary sources Evaluate value of each source and content

5-6 Levels of Information Primary Sources: Memos Letters Interviews Speeches Laws Internal records Secondary Sources: Encyclopedias Textbooks Handbooks Magazines Newspapers Newscasts Tertiary Sources: Indexes Bibliographies Internet search engines

5-7 Integrating Secondary Data

5-8 Information Sources Encyclopedias Directories Handbooks Types Indexes/ Bibliographies Dictionaries

5-9 Evaluating Information Sources Authority Format Audience Evaluation Factors Evaluation Factors Purpose Scope

5-10 The Evolution of Data Mining Evolutionary StepInvestigative QuestionEnabling TechnologiesCharacteristics Data collection (1960s)“What was my average total revenue over the last five years?” Computers, tapes, disksRetrospective, static data delivery Data access (1980s)“What were unit sales in California last December?” Relational databases (RDBMS), structured query language (SQL), ODBC Retrospective, dynamic data delivery at record level Data navigation (1990s)“What were unit sales in California last December? Drill down to Sacramento.” Online analytic processing (OLAP), multidimensional databases, data warehouses Retrospective, dynamic data delivery at multiple levels Data mining (2000)“What’s likely to happen to Sacramento unit sales next month? Why?” Advanced algorithms, multiprocessor computers, massive databases Prospective, proactive information delivery

5-11 Data Mining in Business

5-12 Data-Mining Process

5-13 The Business Research Process

5-14 Stage 1: Clarifying the Research Question Management-research question hierarchy process begins by identifying the management dilemma

5-15 Management-Research Question Hierarchy

5-16 Formulating the Research Question

5-17 Types of Management Questions

5-18 The Research Question Determine necessary evidence Set scope of study Set scope of study Examine variables Examine variables Break questions down Evaluate hypotheses Fine-Tuning

McGraw-Hill/Irwin Business Research Methods, 10eCopyright © 2008 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Appendices 5a & 5b Bibliographic Database Searches/ Advanced Searches

5-20 Searching Databases vs. the Web

5-21 Advanced Searching Process

5-22 Review of Advanced Search Options