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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Types of Research Basic or Pure Research Applied Research
Action Research

10. 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.

11. 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.

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

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

14. 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

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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

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

27. 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

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. 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).

31. 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.