Research Tools and Techniques The Research Process: Step 3 & 4 Lecture 8

Lecture Topics Covered Previously in the Last Lecture Conducting Literature Survey Writing Up Literature Review Problem Definition

What we are going to Cover in this Lecture Problem Definition Need and Objectives of a Theoretical Framework Variables and their Four Types

THE RESEARCH PROCESS (1). Observation The Broad Problem Area (2). Preliminary Data Gathering Interviews and Library Search (3). Problem Definition (4). Theoretical Framework Variables Identification (5) Generation of Hypothesis (6). Scientific Research Design (7). Data Collection and Analysis (8) Deduction (9). Report Writing (10). Report Presentation (11). Managerial Decision Making

PROBLEM DEFINITION Now after conducting interviews and literature survey, we are in a position to narrow down the problem and define it more clearly Define the problem in any situation where a gap exists between actual and desired status A problem could be an interest in an issues where finding the right answer might help to improve the existing situation We need to be care full that we do not define symptoms as problems For Example: Low productivity… a symptom of low moral Symptom problem: decreasing productivity Real problem : low moral Solution to symptom is increase in piece rate Solution to real problem : recognition Low sales (Symptom) Vs. quality control (Actual problem)

PROBLEM DEFINITION Problem definition is a clear, precise, and succinct statement of the question or the issue that is to be investigated with the goal of finding answer or solution Real problem real issue Examples: To what extent has the new advertising campaign been successful in creating a high quality, customer centered corporate image that it was indented to produce? How has new packaging affected the sales of the product? How do price and quality rate on consumer’s evaluation? Time spent and importance of managerial activities for senior and middle managers in a banking unit: self versus other perceptions What do Russian managers really do? An observational study with comparisons to U.S. Managers Success factors of small and medium sized enterprises in Taiwan: an analysis of cases.

EXAMPLE OF BROAD PROBLEM AREA, LIT. REVIEW, PROBLEM STATEMENT Broad Problem Area: low productivity of employees. Lit. Review & Interviews: faulty machines, low pay rate, low moral, work life imbalance. Problem Statement: Is the low moral of employees at Havertown plant the cause of their low productivity?

OBJECTIVES OF FORMING A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK IDENTIFY AND LABEL VARIABLES ASSOCIATED WITH A GIVEN SITUATION TRACE AND ESTABLISH THE LINKS AMONG VARIABLES AND EVOLVE A FRAMEWORK DEVELOP HYPOTHESIS TO BE TESTED AND STATE THEM IN THE NULL AND ALTERNATE

THE NEED FOR A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK A theoretical framework is a conceptual model of how one theorizes the relationship among the several factors that have been identified as important to the problem It is a snapshot of what our research activity is going to look like in the design stages The theory flows logically from the documentation of the research done so far in the problem area i.e. From literature review. Testable hypotheses can be developed to see whether the theory formulated is valid or not.

VARIABLES A variable is anything that can take on different values. The values can differ at various times for the same object or person or the values can differ at the same time for different objects or persons e.g. (Scores, temperature, motivation). Types of variables Dependent variable Independent variable Moderating variable The Intervening or mediating variable

DEPENDENT VARIABLE The dependent variable is the variable which of primary interest to the researcher. The researcher’s goal is to explain or understand the variability in the dependent variable. For Example “The sales of new product is not as high as expected”. The dependent variable is sales. An applied researcher wants to increase the performance of organizational members in the bank. The dependent variable would be employee performance.

EXERCISE :IDENTIFY THE DEPENDENT VARIABLE A basic researcher is interested in increasing debt to equity ratio of manufacturing companies in southern California. A marketing manager wonders why the recent advertisement strategy does not work.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE An independent variable is one that influences the dependent variable in either a positive or negative way. When the independent variable is present, the dependent variables is also present and with each unit increase in the independent variable, there is increase or decrease in the dependent variable. New product success  stock market price

EXERCISE : LIST THE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE Cross culture research indicates the managerial values govern the power distance between supervisor and subordinates. A manager believes that good supervision and training would increase the production level of the workers. I. V.D. V. I. V.

Summary Need and Objectives of a Theoretical Framework Variables and their Four Types