Unit – 1

Introduction to Business Research

 Meaning &Definitions of Research
 Objectives of Research
 Types of Research
Business Intelligence
Application of Research in Functional areas of business
 Emerging Trends in Business Research
 Research Process
Research Problem
Research design
Types of design
Research Methods vs. Research Methodology
 Research Meaning
• Research is a Voyage of discovery, A Journey, An Attitude, An Experience , A method of
Critical thinking.

• Research is Search of new Knowledge . A movement from the known to unknown .

• Research is an organized and systematic way to find answers to questions

• An activity caused by instinct of inquisitiveness to gain fresh insight / find answer to

questions / acquire knowledge .

• Research is a creative process .

• It is the art of scientific investigation.

• Knowledge acquisition gained
– through reasoning
– through intuition
– but most importantly through the use of appropriate methods
SCIENTIFIC METHODS
 Research Definitions
• A systematic means of problem solving .

• A careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for

new facts in branch of knowledge.

• Research is a structured enquiry that utilizes acceptable

scientific methodology to solve problems and create new
knowledge that is generally applicable.Scientific methods
consist of systematic observation, classification and
interpretation of data.
• Research is an academic activity . In a technical sense
it comprises defining and redefining problems,
formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions,
collecting , organising and evaluating data , making
deductions and reaching conclusions and at last
carefully testing the conclusions to determine
whether they fit for formulating the hypothesis.

• Research is an original contribution to the existing

stock of knowledge making for its advancement. It is
the pursuits of truth with the help of study
,observation and systematic methods of finding
solutions.
 Research
RESEARCH

• Originates with a meaningful question or problem.

• Requires a clear articulation of the goal.

• Follows a specific plan or procedure.

• Divides the principal problem to more manageable sub-

problems.

• Accepts certain critical assumptions .

• Requires the collection and interpretation of data in

attempting to resolve the problem.
 Research Objectives
• Exploration /Formulation : To gain familiarity with a phenomenon
or to get new insight into it.

• Description : To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular

individual , situation or events.

• Diagnosis: To determine the frequency with which something

occurs or with which it is associated with something else.

• Explanation : casual or predictive : it gives the explanation of why

something happens and the casual relations between variables by
testing the hypothesis and in the process making predictions.

• Evaluation : this includes elements of exploration , description and

explanation with the purpose of evaluating policies , programs and
interventions.
 Characteristics of Research

The key characteristics of research are

1. Systematic – research process
2. Logical – induction/deduction
3. Empirical – evidence based
4. Reductive – generalisation
5. Replicable – methodology.
 Why to Research ?

• To get research degree

• Concern over a practical problem
• Desire to face the challenges to solve
problems
• Intellectual joy.
• To serve the society.
• To get respect.
• Social thinking and awakening .
 What is Business Research?
• Business research is a field of practical study in which a
company obtains data and analyzes it in order to better
manage the company.

• Business research can include financial data, consumer

feedback, product research and competitive analysis.

• Business Research may be defined as the “systematic

and objective process of gathering, recording and
analyzing data for aid in making business decisions”
(Zikmund, Business Research Methods, 2002)

• Systematicness and Objectivity are its distinguishing

features of Business Research, which is important tool
for managers and decision-makers in corporate and
non-corporate organizations.
 Significance of Business Research
• Business Research is aimed at improving the quality of
decision-making which, in turn, benefits the organization and
helps ensure its continuity and efficiency .

• Business research methods are used in situations of

uncertainty .

• Business research influences the understanding of particular

business or management Problems .

• Business research expands knowledge of processes of

business and management
 Use of Business Research
Business Research Methods can be employed in each of
the following four stages:

(1) Identification of problems and/or opportunities :

Useful for strategy planning, analysis of internal and external
organizational environment

(2) Diagnosing and Assessment of problems and/or

opportunities :

Its purpose is to gain insight into the underlying reasons and

causes for the situation. If there is a problem, it asks what
happened and why? If there is an opportunity, it seeks to explore,
clarify and refine the nature of the opportunity and, in the case of
multiple opportunities, seeks to set priorities .
(3) Selection and Implementation of Courses of Action

After alternative courses of action have been

determined, selection of the best possible course. An
important consideration is the quality of forecasting
which is an essential tool of research.

(4) Evaluating the Course of Action

Business Research Methods are used after a course of

action has been implemented in order to determine
whether activities have been properly implemented and
have accomplished what they intended to do .
 Typical Users of Business Research

• Businesses and Corporations

• Public-Sector Agencies
• Consulting Firms
• Research Institutes
• Non-Governmental Organizations
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Independent Researchers and Consultants
 Fields Where Business Research is Often Used

General Business Conditions and Financial and Accounting Research

Corporate Research
• Forecasts of financial interest rate trends,
• Short- & Long-Range Forecasting, • Stock,bond and commodity value
• Business and Industry Trends predictions
• Global Environments • capital formation alternatives
• Inflation and Pricing • mergers and acquisitions
• Plant and Warehouse Location • risk-return trade-offs
• Acquisitions • portfolio analysis
• impact of taxes
• research on financial institutions
Management and Organizational • expected rate of return
Behaviour Research • capital asset pricing models
• credit risk
• Total Quality Management • cost analysis
• Morale and Job Satisfaction
• Leadership Style
• Employee Productivity
• Organizational Effectiveness
• Structural ssues
• Absenteeism and turnover
• Organizational Climate
 Fields Where Business Research is Often Used

Information Systems Research

Sales and Marketing Research
• Knowledge and information needs
• Market Potentials assessment
• Market Share • Computer information system use and
evaluation
• Market segmentation • Technical suppot satisfaction
• Market characteristics • Database analysis
• Sales Analysis • Data mining
• Establishment of sales quotas • Enterprise resource planning systems
• Distribution channels • Customer relationship management
• New product concepts systems
• Test markets Corporate Responsibility Research
• Advertising research
• Buyer behaviour • Ecological Impact
• Customer satisfaction • Legal Constraints on advertising and
• Website visitation rates promotion
• Sex, age and racial discrimination / worker
equity
• Social values and ethics

15
 Approaches to Research
Non scientific
Scientific
• The approach lacks rigorous
• Its the most reliable and proven scientific techniques .
philosophy of research .
• Non scientific research involved
• Scientific enquiry is based on doing research without fully
systematic doubt clearance and adhering to scientific methods –
aims at discovering the actual
facts . quasi- experimental designs and
non-experimental designs are
• The scientific approach follows examples
the procedure of observation ,
hypothesis and verification . • Non experimental research is
practised to take care of real
world situations and have
educative and informative values
in promoting knowledge .
 What is Science, the Scientific Method, and
Research?
• Science…
– a body of established knowledge
– the observation, identification, investigation, and
theoretical explanation of natural phenomenon

usually the ultimate goal is theory

generation and verification
 What is Science, the Scientific Method, and
Research?

• Theory…
– a set of inter-related constructs and propositions
that specify relations among variables to explain
and predict phenomena
– should be simple, consistent with observed
relationships, tentative and verifiable
 What is Science, the Scientific Method, and
Research?

• Scientific Method…
– involves the principles and processes regarded as
characteristic of or necessary for scientific
investigation
– process or approach to generating valid and
trustworthy knowledge
 Quantitative and Qualitative Research
Qualitative
Quantitative
• Qualitative research also called as
• Quantitative approach is an objective interpretive research / naturalistic
approach relying heavily on statistics. research/ phenomenological
research comes from social and
• This approach relies on reason behind cultural anthropology, sociology,
various approaches and investigates professional studies and field work in
what , where and when . natural sciences , humanities and
arts.
• The research sample size in
quantitative research is reasonably • Qualitative research is descriptive
large and the data analysis and and inductive in nature.
interpretation is primarily deductive .
• This approach is characterised by
• Research methods used in this lower sample numbers than
approach are – quantitative research .
 Descriptive research
 Correlation research • It involves an in-depth analysis of
 Casual comparative research human behaviour and reasons that
govern behaviour .
 Experimental research
 Deductive Vs. Inductive Approach to Research
Bases of Deductive Inductive
difference
Meaning Deductive theory is an approach to Inductive theory is an approach to
research that starts with the research that starts with the
proposition of hypothesis and the observation and the end result of
end result of the research is the research is THEORY.
Confirmation/rejection.
Hypothesis Deductive approach to research Inductive approach to research does
starts with the hypothesis itself. not have any place for hypothesis.
Researcher is bound not to alter So, researcher is free to alter
direction of the study. direction of the study.
Structure Deductive approach is highly Inductive approach is less
structured because there is some structured as there is no guiding
specific aim to be accomplished. factor.
Size of Deductive approach is appropriate Inductive approach is appropriate
Sample for large sample project because for small sample project because
large numbers of samples are small numbers of sample are
analyzed with less depth. analyzed with greater gravity.
Scrutiny Less scrutiny in getting information
regarding subject matter. Research More scrutinized
information about the
subject matte

Time Factor Deductive approach assumes that Inductive approach

there is shortage of time; so depth assumes that there is
analysis of large number of sample abundance of time; so
is unattainable. depth analysis is possible.

Theory Deductive approach is concerned Inductive approach is

with testing an existing theory. concerned with building a
new theory.

Approach Deductive approach to research is Inductive approach to

top-down approach. Theory research is bottom-up
Hypothesis Confirm/Reject approach Observation
Observation Particular to General Pattern Theory General to
Particular
 Deduction and Induction

Deduction

Induction
 Basic VS Applied Research
Basic Applied

• Theoretical in nature . • Practical in nature – solves

• Less impact on policy real business problems.
implications . • It have policy implications.
 Designing and Carrying out the Research Project
Stage-1 : The Foundation
 Initiation
 Choosing a Topic
 The Role of the Supervisor
 Group Dynamics and Role Conflict
 Ethical Considerations
Stage-2 : Undertaking the Research
 Planning the Research Process
 Literature Review
 Data Gathering
 Qualitative Data Analysis
 Quantitative Data Analysis
 Establishing Recommendations
Stage-3 : Communicating the Result.
 Presenting the Results
 Writing the Report
 Oral Presentation
 Concluding Remarks.
Model of a Six-step Research Process

Step-1 : Problem Definition.

Step-2 :Literature Review

Step-3 : Research Design

Step-4 : Data Gathering

Step- 5 : Data Analysis and Interpretation.

Step-6 : Presenting the Result.

 Review the Available
Literature

Publish Formulate a
Findings Question
Research Process
Interpret Select an Appropriate
Findings Research Design

Collect Relevant
Data
 THE RESEARCH PROCESS

1. Selection of topic

2. Reviewing the literature

3. Development of theoretical and conceptual frameworks

4. Clarification of research question/hypothesis

5. Research design

6. Data collection

7. Data analysis

8. Drawing conclusions
 The Research Idea
• Professional experience
• Burning questions
• Literature
• Professional meetings
• Discussions
• Business Intelligence
• Study of Lireature

29
SELECTION OF TOPIC

1. A crucial stage, as an inappropriate topic or question will often

lead to irretrievable difficulties later in the research.

2. It is unlikely that you will develop a final question and set of

objectives at this stage of the research process, and stages 2 and
3 are important in developing and assessing your question more
fully.
3. A topic is a general subject or area that you may want to
investigate. After you have chosen a subject that interests you,
you will need to narrow your focus. Your topic is too broad if you
can state it in four or five words.Add modifying words or phrases
to your broad topic to make it narrower
 Where do you get a topic?
• Read newspapers
• Read magazines
• Write down your interests and hobbies
• Talk to friends
• Watch public television, movies, ads.
• Think critically about what you see always asking “why?”
Hint:
For the next three days, keep a record of the “why” questions
you have about everyday occurances, issues in the news,
gossip heard at lunch. Potential research topics are all around
you.
Choosing a Topic

• Step-1 : Define your Purpose.

• Step-2 : Explore Potential Problems
• Step-3 : Evaluate each Potential Topic
• Step-4 : Finalize your Topic.
• Step-5 : Begin your Research
 Formulating the Research Problem
• It is the first and most crucial step in the research process .

• Main function is to decide what you want to find out about.

• The way you formulate a problem determines almost every

step that follows. Describe broader context (background)

• State the objectives or purposes

• Inform reader about the scope of the study, including defining

any terms, limitations, or restrictions
– Reduces potential criticisms
• State the hypothesis (es)
 Steps in formulation of a research problem

Step 1 : Identify a broad field or subject area of interest to

you.
Step 2 : Dissect the broad area into sub areas.

Step 3 : Select what is of most interest to you.

Step 4 : Raise research questions.

Step 5 : Formulate objectives.

Step 6 : Assess your objectives.

Step 7 : Double check.

Criteria for developing a good research question
• Feasible • Ethical
– Subjects – Social or scientific value
– Resources – Safe
– Manageable
• Relevant
– Data available?
– Advance scientific
• Interesting knowledge?
• Novel – Influence clinical practice?
– In relation to previous – Impact health policy?
findings – Guide future research?
• Confirm or refute?
– New setting, new population

35
 A Research Question Must Identify

1. The variables under study

2. The population being studied
3. The testability of the question
 The formulation of objectives
• Objectives are the goals you set out to attain in your study.
-They inform a reader what you want to attain through the
study.
-It is extremely important to word them clearly and
specifically.

Objectives should be listed under two headings:

a) main objectives ( aims);
b) sub-objectives.

The main objective is an overall statement of the thrust of

your study.
• It is also a statement of the main associations and
relationships that you seek to discover or establish.
• The sub-objectives are the specific aspects of the topic
that you want to investigate within the main
framework of your study.
• They should be numerically listed.
• Wording should clearly, completely and specifically
• Communicate to your readers your intention.
• Each objective should contain only one aspect of the
Study.
• Use action oriented words or verbs when writing
objectives.
• The objectives should start with words such as
 ‘to determine’,
 ‘to find out’,
 ‘to ascertain’,
 ‘to measure’,
 ‘to explore’ etc.
• The wording of objectives determines the type of research (descriptive,
correlational .and experimental) and the type of research design you need
to adopt to achieve them.

Descriptive studies:
-To describe the types of incentives provides by Hotel XYZ to employees in
Mumbai.
-To find out the opinion of the employees about the medical facilities
provided by five star hotels in Mumbai.

Correlational studies:
-To ascertain the impact of training on employee retention.
-To compare the effectiveness of different loyalty programmes on repeat
clientele.

Hypothesis –testing studies:

-To ascertain if an increase in working hours will increase the incidence of
drug/alcohol abuse.
-To demonstrate that the provision of company accommodation to employees
in Mumbai hotels will reduce staff turnover
 Literature Review
• A literature review essentially consists of critically reading, evaluating and
organising existing literature on the topic to assess the state of knowledge in
the area.

• During this stage you should aim to become an ‘expert’ in your field of
research.

• Generally done alongside the development of the theoretical and conceptual

frameworks .

• Gives theoretical rationale of problem being studied, what research has

been done and how it relates to the problem

– Helpful to divide the literature into sub-topics for ease of reading

– Quality of literature should be assessed

– Be sure to include well respected ‘individuals’ in the research area (if

they exist)
 Function of Literature Review
In relation to your own study, the literature review can help in four ways.
Literature Review has the following functions:

• It provides a theoretical background to your study.

• It helps you establish the links between what you are proposing to examine
and what has already been studied.

• It can bring clarity and focus to your research problem

• It improve your research methodology

• It broaden your knowledge base in your research area

• It enables you to show how your findings have contributed to the existing
body of knowledge in your profession.

• It contextualise your findings.

• It helps you to integrate your research findings into the existing body of
knowledge.
Research Design …?
 Research Design
The logic of the inquiry …

• The Research Design is the Master Plan Specifying the methods and
procedures for collecting and analyzing the needed information.

• Research design is the overall plan for connecting the conceptual research
problems to the pertinent (and achievable) empirical research.

• In other words, the research design articulates what data is required, what
methods are going to be used to collect and analyze this data, and how all
of this is going to answer your research question/s.

• Both data and methods, and the way in which these will be configured in
the research project, need to be the most effective in producing the
answers to the research question (taking into account practical and other
constraints of the study).

• Different design logics are used for different types of study.

 Research Design Continuum
Research Design

Analytical Research Experimental Research

Descriptive Research Pre-designs

Reviews
Quasi-designs
Philosophical Case Study Survey

Historical True-designs
Cross-Sectional
Meta-Analyses
Longitudinal
Statistical-
Correlational designs
 EXPLORATORY STUDY
• This is the most useful (and appropriate) research design for those
projects that are addressing a subject about which there are high levels of
uncertainty and ignorance about the subject, and when the problem is not
very well understood (i.e. very little existing research on the subject
matter).

• Such research is usually characterized by a high degree of flexibility and

lacks a formal structure.

• The main aim of exploratory research is to identify the boundaries of the

environment in which the problems, opportunities or situations of interest
are likely to reside, and to identify the salient factors or variables that
might be found there and be of relevance to the research.
• Exploratory Study includes techniques like Secondary Data Analysis
,Experience Surveys and Focus Groups .
 DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

• The main aim of descriptive research is to

provide an accurate and valid representation
of (encapsulate) the factors or variables that
pertain / are relevant to the research
question.
• Such research is more structured than
exploratory research and it comes under
formal Research ,where the objectives are
clearly established.
 A few MORE designs

• Cross-Sectional Design

• Longitudinal Design

• Time Series Design

• Panel Design
 Cross-Sectional Design

• A cross-sectional design is used for research that collects

data on relevant variables one time only from a variety
of people, subjects, or phenomena.

• A cross-sectional designs provides a snapshot of the

variables included in the study, at one particular point in
time.

• Cross-sectional designs generally use survey techniques

to gather data, for example, the U.S. Census.
• Advantages: data on many variables, data from a large
number of subjects, data from dispersed subjects, data on
attitudes and behaviors, good for exploratory research,
generates hypotheses for future research, data useful to many
different researchers

• Disadvantages: increased chances of error, increased cost with

more subjects and each location, cannot measure change,
cannot establish cause and effect, no control of independent
variable, difficult to rule out rival hypotheses, static
 Longitudinal Designs

• A longitudinal design collects data over long periods of

time.

• Measurements are taken on each variable over two or

more distinct time periods.

• This allows the researcher to measure change in variables

over time.
 Time Series Design

• A Time Series Design collects data on the same

variable at regular intervals in the form of aggregate
measures of a population.

• Time series designs are useful for:

– establishing a baseline measure
– describing changes over time
– keeping track of trends
– forecasting future (short term) trends
• Advantages: data easy to collect, easy to present in graphs,
easy to interpret, can forecast short term trends

• Disadvantages: data collection method may change over time,

difficult to show more than one variable at a time, needs
qualitative research to explain fluctuations, assumes present
trends will continue unchanged
 Panel Designs

• Panel Designs collect repeated measurements from the same

people or subjects over time.

• Panel studies reveal changes at the individual level.

• Advantages: reveals individual level changes, establishes time order of

variables, can show how relationships emerge

• Disadvantages: difficult to obtain initial sample of subjects, difficult to

keep the same subjects over time, repeated measures may influence
subjects behavior
 Causal Studies
• The basic aim of causal studies is to identify the
cause and effect relationship between variables.
• Causal analysis is the process of determining how
one variable influences the change in another
variable .
• Three types of Causal variable can be studied
• Symmetrical
• Reciprocal
• Asymmetrical
 VARIABLES
• Variables: A variable is a value that may change
within the scope of a given problem
or set of operations.
• variable…
– any observation that can take on different values
• attribute…
– a specific value on a variable
• Variable
• Attribute
• age
• 18, 19, 20, etc...
 Types of Variables

• Its of two types

– Independent: Two variables are called
independent variables if a change in one does not
influence or cause a change in the other .
– Dependent: If a change in one variable causes a
change in other, the first one is called as
independent variable and the second is called as
dependent variable of first. Variable assumed to
depend on or be caused by another (age, location,
income, education, sex, etc)
 Independent and Dependent Variables

has a presumed effect on – dSomething that varies

the dependent variable with a change in the
(outcome) independent variable
– May or may not be – Outcome variable
manipulated • ependent variable is what is
• independent variable is what is affected by the independent
manipulated variable

• a treatment or program or cause • effects or outcomes

• ‘Factor’ • ‘Measure’
 Operational Definitions
• Variables first defined by conceptual definitions that
explain the concept the variable is trying to capture

• Variables then defined by operational definitions

which are definitions for how variable will be
measured
 Elements of Research Design

• Identifying the Broad Problem Area

• Articulating the Problem Statement
• Formulating the Research Hypothesis
• Sample Design
• Sources of Data Collection
• Methods of Data Analysis
The Road Map
Research Design reflects the purpose of the inquiry

Philosophy

Normative

Positive

Causal

Correlational

Descriptive
 Language of Sampling

• Population: entire collection of people/things

• Parameter: # that results from measuring all units in
population
• Sampling frame: specific data from which sample is drawn
• Unit of analysis: type of object of interest
• Sample: a subset of some of the units in the population
• Statistic: # that results from measuring all units in the sample
 Sampling Design
• Sample : A sample is a part of total Population.
• Sampling : is the act,process,or technique of selecting a representative
part of the population for the purpose of determining the characteristics
of the whole population
• There are two approaches to sampling .
- Probability Sampling
Simple Random Sampling
Systematic Sampling
Stratified Random Sampling
Multistage-cluster Sampling
- NON-Probability Sampling
Convenience Sampling
Quota Sampling
Judgment Sampling
Snow Ball Sampling
 Data Collection

Research Data

Secondary Data Primary Data

Internal External Qualitative Quantitative.

1.Ready to use 1.Published Materials 1. Focused Groups 1.Survey

2.Requires further 2.Computerized Database 2. In-depth Interviews 2.Observation
Processing 3.Syndicated Services 3. Projective Techniques 3. Experiments.
4. Case Studies
 DATA COLLECTION
• Primary data: Primary data means original data that has
been collected specially for the purpose.
• Collects the data for the first time from the original
source.
• Research where one gathers this kind of data is referred
to as field research.
• For example: your own questionnaire
• Secondary data: Secondary data is data that has been
collected by some one for their
research/other work.
• Research where one gathers this kind of data is referred
to as desk research.
• For example: data from a books. journals, articles
Tools of Data Analysis
 Data Gathering
• Must pretest

• Design the sampling scheme

• Questionnaires must be coded

 Data processing and analysis
• Describe demographics of the data

• Compare behavior (if applicable)

• Choose appropriate statistical technique (if applicable)

• Look for patterns in data (if applicable)

 Interpreting the Results
• Make sure to consider the audience

• Discuss implications for the population of

interest and future research
 Hypothesis
• Statement about the relationship between 2
or more variables
• Converts the question into a statement that
predicts an expected outcome
• A unit or subset of the research problem

69
 Characteristics of hypotheses
• Declarative statement that identifies the
predicted relationship between 2 or more
variables
• Testability
• Based on sound scientific theory/rationale

70
Directional vs. Non-Directional Hypotheses

• Directional hypothesis
– Specifies the direction of the relationship between
independent and dependent variables
• Non-directional hypothesis
– Shows the existence of a relationship between
variables but no direction is specified

71
DATA COLLECTION

You have to consider

• which methodology to choose, and
• which methods to utilise.
DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS
1. The data you collect in stage 6 needs to be analysed to
provide answers to your research question.
2. In your discussion of the results, reference should also be
made back to the literature reviewed in stage 2, for example
• How do the findings add to this literature?
• Do they support the literature?
• If not, what are the possible reasons why?
DRAWING CONCLUSIONS

• Conclusions should relate back to the focused research

question.
• You can evaluate how successful you have been in achieving
your research objectives, and highlight the strengths and
weaknesses of the research.
• You may also want to make recommendations for further
research.
 Hypotheses
• hypothesis…
– a specific statement of prediction
• types of hypotheses
– alternative vs. null
– one-tailed vs. two-tailed
 Hypotheses
• alternative hypothesis (HA)…
– An effect (that you predict)
• null hypothesis (HO) …
– Null effect
 Hypotheses

hypothesis there is a relationship between age

and exercise participation

HA there is a relationship

HO there is not a relationship

this is a two-tailed hypothesis as no

direction is predicted
 Hypotheses

hypothesis an incentive program will increase

exercise participation

HA participation will increase

HO participation will not increase or

will decrease

this is a one-tailed hypothesis as a

specific direction is predicted
 Structure of Research
The "hourglass" notion of research
begin with broad questions
narrow down, focus in
operationalize
OBSERVE
analyze data
reach conclusions
generalize back to questions
 Ethics in Research
• balance between protecting participants vs.
quest for knowledge
• IRB provides one mechanism
– informed consent/assent
– confidentiality and anonymity
– justification of procedures
– right to services
– http://www.rsp.ilstu.edu/policy/IRB/IRB_policy.p
df
 Research Design and Methodology
• In general, a research design is like a blueprint for
the research.

• Research Methodology concerns how the design is

implemented, how the research is carried out.
• Research design Research methodology
• Focuses on the end-product: What kind of study is being planned and
what kind of results are aimed at.
• E.g. Historical - comparative study, interpretive approach OR exploratory
study, inductive and deductive etc. Focuses on the research process
and the kind of tools and procedures to be used.
• E.g. Document analysis, survey methods, analysis of existing (secondary)
data/statistics etc)
• Point of departure (driven by) = Research problem or question. Point
of departure (driven by) = Specific tasks (data collection or sampling) at
hand.
• Focuses on the logic of research: What evidence is required to address the
question adequately? Focuses on the individual (not linear) steps in the
research process and the most ‘objective’ (unbiased) procedures to be
employed.