Research Methodology Part I Presented by: Sanya Shahid Sadaf Gul

Clarifying the Research Questions Discover the Management Dilemma Define Management Questions Define Research Questions Refine the Research Questions Exploration Exploration Research Proposal

An Exploration typically begins with a search of published data An Exploration typically begins with a search of published data. In addition, researchers often seek out people who are well informed on the topic, especially those who have clearly stated positions on controversial aspects of the problem.

A Research proposal is similar in a number of ways to a project proposal; however, a research proposal addresses a particular project: academic or scientific research. The guidelines for research proposals are generally more exacting than less formal project proposals.  Research proposals contain extensive literature reviews and must offer convincing support of need for the research study being proposed. 

Purpose of the research proposal To inform the reader of nature of your proposed research. 2. To convince the reader, especially supervisors and reviewers, of the value of your proposed research. 3. To demonstrate your expertise and competency in a particular area of study. 4. To plan the research project and provide a step-by-step guide to the tasks necessary for its completion. 5. To request support from individuals and agencies who provide supervision, oversight or funding for the research project. 6. To contract with the agencies and individuals involved, including supervisors, foundations and participants in the research team.

Types of Research Proposals Internal Research Proposal is done by staff specialists or by the research department within the firm External Research Proposal sponsored by university grant committees, government agencies, government contractors, not-for-profit organizations or corporations

Structure of the research proposal Title Executive Summary Problem statement Research Objectives Literature Review Importance and Benefits of the Study Research Design Data Analysis Nature & form of Results Qualification of Researchers Budget Schedule Facilities & Special Resources Project Management Bibliography Appendix

Design in Research Process Research Design Strategy (type, Purpose, time frame, scope, environment) Data Collection Design Sampling Design Instrument Developing and Pilot Testing Data Collection and Preparation

Research Design Research design constitutes the blueprint for the collection, measurement and analysis of data. It is: An activity- and time based plan A plan always based on the research question A guide for selecting sources and types of information A framework for specifying the relationship among the study variables A procedural outline for every research activity

Descriptors of Research Design Category Options The degree to which the research question has been crystallized Explanatory study Formal Study The method of data collection Monitoring Communication Study The power of the researcher to produce effects in the variables under the study Experimental Ex post facto The purpose of the study Descriptive causal The time dimension Cross Sectional Longitudinal The topic scope- breadth and depth- of the study Case Statistical Study The research environment Field setting Laboratory research Simulation The participants perceptions of research activity Actual outline Modified routine Descriptors of Research Design

Qualitative / Quantitative Quality is the essential character or nature of something; Quantity is the amount Quality is the what; Quantity the how much

Exploratory Exploration is useful when researchers lack a clear idea of the problems they will meet during the study. Through exploration researchers develop concepts more clearly, establish priorities, develop operational definitions and improve the final research design

Exploratory Studies Qualitative Techniques Secondary Data Analysis Experience Survey Focus Group Two-Stage Design

Formalized Studies In contrast to exploratory studies, these are those with substantial structure, specific hypothesis to be tested, or research questions to be answered. Descriptive Causal

Descriptive/ Causal Descriptive studies are those used to describe phenomenon associated with a subject population or to estimate proportions of the population that have certain characteristics. Causal studies seek to discover the effect that a variable(s) has on another (or others) or why certain outcomes are obtained

Moving from management question to research question…. Secondary Researches Moving from management question to research question….

Exploratory Phase Search Strategy Levels of Information Primary Secondary Tertiary

2) Types of Information Sources Indexes Dictionaries Encyclopedias Handbooks Directories

3) Evaluating Information Sources Purpose Scope Authority Audience Format

4) Searching a Bibliographic Database Select a Database Save results of Research Retrieve articles

5) Searching the World Wide Web for Information 6) Searching for Specific Types of Information on the Web Known item searches Who searches Where searches What searches

Business research to understand how and why things happen… Qualitative research Business research to understand how and why things happen…

Qualitative research Methodologies Sampling (Non Probability) – Purposive, Snowball, Convenience Interviews – Unstructured, semi structured, structured - Projective Techniques (word / picture association, sentence completion, cartoons, laddering or benefit chain, imagination exercises, brand mapping etc - Interviewer qualifications (interview or discussion guide, recruitment screener)

3) Individual Depth Interviews (IDI) – CAPIs - life histories 4) Group Interviews – - Dyads, Triads, mini-groups, small groups, super groups - Heterogeneous, Homogeneous - Experts, non-experts - Moderator’s Role - Focus Groups -> Telephonic, Online, Videoconferencing

Combining Qualitative Methodologies - Case Study - Action Research Merging Qualitative & Quantitative Methodologies - Triangulation

Observation Studies Involves listening, reading, smelling and touching…

Types of observation 1) Non-behavioral observation - Record Analysis - Physical condition analysis - Process or activity analysis 2) Behavioral observation - Non-verbal behavior - Linguistic behavior - Extra-linguistic behavior – vocal, temporal, interaction and verbal stylistic - Spatial relationship

Evaluation of the observation method 1) Merits - Audience - Originality - Ignorant data - Natural occurrence - less biasness 2) Demerits - Missing event - Slow & expensive - Inference less - Uncontrollable environment - Connectivity from past to present

The Observer-Participant relationship Directness of Observation - Direct observation - Indirect observation 2) Concealment 3) Participation

Conducting an Observation Study The Type of Study - Simple observation - Systematic observation - observation checklist 2) Content Specialization – Factual / Inferential 3) Observer Training – concentration, detail oriented, unobtrusive, experience level 4) Data Collection – 4 Ws and How

References Donald R. Cooper & Pamela S. Schindler, Business Research Methods, ninth edition, the McGraw- Hill Companies.

Thank you