02. Research Process

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1

ResearchProcess


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2

Doing Research

Broad Problem area Preliminary information gathering

Research problem definition/ Research questions/Objectives of the study

Theoretical Framework / Review of Literature Tentative hypothesis / models development

Research design

Execution of research study

Data preparation and analysis

Reporting results / Writing report


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Dr. P.K Baby, SNGIST, 2008 3


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4

The formulation of the

problem is often moreessential than its solution.

Albert Einstein


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5

Sources of Research Topics

Thesis and dissertation of self and others

Articles in academic and professional journals

Conference proceedings

Books and book reviews Discussion with experts

Potential users of research

Research guide and colleagues

Media

Researchers own effort.


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Where do research topics come from?

Experience of practical problems in the

field

Ideas in the literature

A problem well defined is a problem

half solved!


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Identifying Research problem

Splitting the area into sub areas

Areas of research interest

Researchers favourite discipline

Locating broader topics within the sub areas

Dividing topics into sub topics

Deciding on significant issues


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Identifying Research Problem: Example

Discipline

Areas

Sub area

Topic

Sub topics

Issues

Financial Management

Financial ServicesFinancial Products

Banking Insurance Mutual Fund

Retail Corporate Treasury

DepositoryAdvisory

Product

development

Product

distribution

Product

pricing

Customer

satisfaction


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Survey / Review of Literature

One of the preliminary, essential and

purposeful tasks to be done by the

researcher in order to acquaint oneselfwith the available body of knowledge in

the chosen area of interest.


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Survey / Review of Literature

Broad areas of work and specific issues

Focused reading

Classification according to themes

Details but NOT so detailed

Pointedly critical

Thememethoddataanalysis

Review and NOT description


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Formulation of a Research Problem

Involves developing and refining initial

research idea into articulate, specific,

measurable, achievable relevantresearchable problem through a careful

search and understanding of the literature

and utilising information from othersources.


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Formulation of a Research Problem

A well defined problem is : Establishes significance of the study

o Others to agree that - Worth investigating | answers wouldadvance knowledge | improve practice | improve human

conditions in general Enhances clarity of the study

o Others become aware of the researchers views andperceives researchers position and agree with the idea ofresearch

Ensures feasibility of the studyo Appropriately operationalised


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Statement ofResearch Objectives

Problem Definition

Defining Problem Results in

Clear Cut Research Objectives

ExploratoryResearch(Optional)

Analysis of

the Situation

Symptom Detection


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Defining research problem

Ascertain

thedecision

makers

objectives

Understand

theBackground

of the

problem

Isolate and

identify theproblem,

not

symptoms

Determine

the unit ofanalysis

Determine

therelevant

variables

State the

researchquestions

and

research

objectives


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Defining research problem

Iceberg principle

The dangerous part of many business problems, likesubmerged portion of the iceberg, is neither visible

nor understood by mangers. Situation Analysis

A Preliminary investigation or informal gathering of

background information to familiarize researchers ormanagers with the decision area


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Problem DefinitionOrganization Symptoms Based on Symptom True Problem

Twenty-year-oldneighborhoodswimmingassociation in amajor city.

Membership has beendeclining for years.New water park with

wave pool and waterslides moved intotown a few years ago.

Neighborhoodresidents prefer theexpensive water

park and havenegative image ofswimming pool.

Demographic changes:Children in this 20-year-old neighborhood

have grown up. Olderresidents no longerswim anywhere.

Symptoms may be confusing

Brewery Consumer preferstaste of competitors

product

Tastes of brewerys

products needs to be

reformulated

Old fashionedpackage is

influencing tasteperception


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Components of a Research Problem

Originating Questions

Objectives

Concepts

Variables

Hypothesis


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Originating Questions

Gaps in the existing body of knowledge

Apparent inconsistencies perceived

Flashes of insight

Methods

Survey of literature

Experience Survey

First hand observation


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Research Objectives

Set the direction of the study and relate the study tospecific aspects of bits of knowledge that need tobe gathered to fulfill the information requirementshighlighted in the research problem.

Stated in action terms

Serve as standard to evaluate the quality and valueof the research

Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, timebound, appropriately worded and unambiguous.


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Developing Objectives

Breakup the research into components

Detect the elements that breakup components

Determine what aspects, facets or angle of the topic

need to be focused on Thereby delimiting the scope of the study

To study about the volatility in sensex during the period2000 2010

To find out the factors influencing placemats of MBAstudents at IBS.


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Concepts

A concept is a generalized idea about a

class of objects, attributes, occurrences or

process that has been given a name. Abstraction of reality that is the basic unit

of theory development

In organizational theory leadership, productivity,morale are concepts


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Determine the Relevant Variables

Anything that may assume different

values

Dependent IndependentCategorical Continuous


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Theoretical Framework

Is a conceptual Model of how one makes logicalsense of relationship among several factors

Is the network of relationships among the variables

considered important to the study

It offers conceptual framework to proceed withresearch

Testable hypothesis can be formulated fromtheoretical framework


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Hypotheses

A hypothesis is an unproven proposition that is empiricallytestable.

More powerful in confirmatory research, ratherexploratory.

The null hypothesis is a hypothesis about a populationparameter.

The null hypothesis is often the reverse of what theexperimenter actually believes; it is put forward to allow

the data to contradict it. The null hypothesis is like presumption of innocence.


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Types of Hypothesis

Based on Empirical Uniformities Uni-variate and descriptive

Certain property or characteristics of a group

Average height of men is 5.5 feet

Based on Association Between variable Bi-variate and explanatory

Association between variable, =, > or

02. Research Process

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