ADVANCED BUSINESS RESEARCH

METHODS

Shiferaw Mitiku, PhD

(Assistant Professor)
Introduction to Business Research
 What is research?
• Research IS the systematic investigation into and
study of materials, sources, etc, in order to
establish facts and reach new conclusions.

• b. an endeavour to discover new or collate old

facts etc by the scientific study of a subject or by a
course of critical investigation. [Oxford Concise
Dictionary]

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 What is Research?
• Research is what we do when we have a question or
a problem we want to resolve

• We may already think we know the answer to our

question already
• We may think the answer is obvious, common sense
even
• But until we have subjected our problem to rigorous
scientific scrutiny, our 'knowledge' remains little
more than guesswork or at best, intuition.

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 What is Business Research?

It is a systematic inquiry that provides information to guide

managerial decisions.

It is a process of planning, acquiring, analyzing and disseminating

relevant data and information and insights to decision makers in

ways that mobilize the organization to take appropriate actions

that, in turn, maximize business performance.

 Purpose of Business Research
To identify and define opportunities and
problems.
 To define, monitor, and refine strategies
 To define, monitor, and refine tactics
To identify and find solutions to the problems
To help making decisions
To develop new concepts
To find alternate strategies
 Research classification
• On the basis of the outcome of the research
• The objectives in undertaking the research
• The type of information sought.
• On the basis of the time required to complete
research
• On the basis of the environment in which the
research is carried out
 What is a good Research ?
On the basis of the outcome of the research
 a) Fundamental Research
 b) Applied research

On the basis of the purpose

 Exploratory research (Pilot Survey)
 Descriptive Research
 c). Analytic research
 d) Predictive research
 E. Correlation research/Causal Research

On the basis of the process of research/information used in the study

 a) Qualitative research:
 b) Quantitative research

On the basis of the environment in which the research is carried out

 Field research
 Laboratory research
 Simulation research

On the basis of the time required to complete the research, research can be
 a) One -time research
 b) Longitudinal research
 Steps in the Research Process
1. Identify the Research Problem What decision (s) must be made; why is the
information needed?
2. Establish Research Objectives : What information is needed to improve the
quality of this decision?
3. Decide Research Strategy : What is the best and most cost-effective way to
gather this information?
4. Prepare a Research Plan :What specific steps must be taken to gather this
information?
5. Conduct a Literature Review : Investigate and evaluate how other researchers
have looked at the issue
6. Gather the Data : Monitor and manage the process to be sure the right data are
collected
7. Analyze and Interpret the Data : What do these data mean, specifically in terms
of the problem?
8. Prepare and Present the Findings :What impact does this information have on
the decision to be made?
 CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD RESEARCH

• 1. A Good Research should be Systematic & well

structured:
• 2. A Good Research should be Logical reasoning in
any research
• 3. A Good Research should be Rigorous
• 4. A Good Research should be Empirical
• 5. A Good Research is Replicable, Valid and
verifiable
• 6. A Good Research should be Controlled
 STEPS IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS
• 1. Identify the Research Problem : What decision (s) must be made; why is the
information needed?
• 2. Establish Research Objectives :What information is needed to improve the
quality of this decision?
• 3. Decide Research Strategy :What is the best and most cost-effective way to
gather this information?
• 4. Prepare a Research Plan[Research Proposal] :What specific steps must be
taken to gather this information?
• 5. Conduct a Literature Review :Investigate and evaluate how other researchers
have looked at the issue
• 6. Gather the Data :Monitor and manage the process to be sure the right data
are collected
• 7. Analyze and Interpret the Data :What do these data mean, specifically in
terms of the problem?
• 8. Prepare and Present the Findings :What impact does this information have
on the decision to be made?
 Research Process
Propose Research Problem • Describe exactly what the problem
 Developing an Effective Research is.
Question;
 Develop Research Objective • It should be very brief, and should
 Review Literature on the Topic; clarify the area of the researcher’s
concern
 Develop Conceptual framework
 Develop the Research Methodology
• It should indicate why you believe
 Analyzing the Issue or Problem;
that it is, in fact, a researchable
 Testing your Analysis; problem (could be substantiated
 Interpreting the Results and with literature review
Drawing Conclusions; and
 Communicating the Findings of the • What inspires you to conduct the
Research Project. research?
 Problem statement
Techniques involved in defining a problem
statement
Statement of problem in a general way
Understanding the nature of the problem
Survey the available literature.
Developing ideas through discussion
Rephrasing the research problem (reformulation
of the problem)
 Research Process
 – Find out what is already known.
Propose Research which inspires you to conduct
the research
 Developing an Effective Research – Identify what is not known, or what
Question (Hypothesis) you can build on
 Develop Research Objective – It should be a Good Research
 Review Literature on the Topic; Question;
 Develop Conceptual framework
 Develop the Research Methodology
– A Testable Hypothesis;
 Analyzing the Issue or Problem; – A Good Data Set; and
 Testing your Analysis;
– An Empirical Methodology that
 Interpreting the Results and Drawing
Conclusions; and Adequately Tests the Hypothesis.
 Communicating the Findings of the Research – Focus what variable you need to
Project.
consider
 Steps of the Research Process


Propose Research which inspires you to conduct the research
 Be focus on the research
Developing an Effective Research Question;
problem you have identified, to
 Develop Research Objective develop objective
 Review Literature on the Topic;
 Develop Conceptual framework
 Develop the Research Methodology
 Analyzing the Issue or Problem;  You need to subcategorize the
 Testing your Analysis;
 Interpreting the Results and Drawing Conclusions; and general objective from the
 Communicating the Findings of the Research Project. general concept in to
measurable variable
 Steps of the Research
 Propose Research which inspires you to conduct the research
 Developing an Effective Research Question; Theoretical Literature Review
 Develop Research Objective
(Which existing Theory base your
 Review Literature on the study?)
Topic;
 Develop Conceptual framework
 Develop the Research Methodology
Empirical Literature Review
 Analyzing the Issue or Problem; (findings of related studies
 Testing your Analysis;
 Interpreting the Results and Drawing Conclusions; and conducted having consistent and
 Communicating the Findings of the Research Project.
contradictory findings)

Conceptual framework of the study

Identified Literature gap

 Steps of the Research

•
Propose Research which inspires you to conduct the
research Research design
 Developing an Effective Research Question;


Develop Research Objective
Review Literature on the Topic;
• Study Area
 Develop Conceptual framework
 Develop the Research Methodology
• Population
 Data (Result, Discussion and • Sampling
interpretation)


Analyzing the Issue or Problem;
Testing your Analysis;
• Source of data and
 Interpreting the Results and Drawing Conclusions; and

instruments for
 Communicating the Findings of the Research Project.
collection
• Method of data analysis
 Steps of the Research Process
 Propose Research which inspires you to
conduct the research
 Developing an Effective Research Question;  Results,
 Develop Research Objective
 Review Literature on the Topic;
 Discussion and
 Develop Conceptual framework
 Develop the Research Methodology
 Interpretation

Results, Discussion and

Interpretation
 Analyzing the Issue or Problem;
 Testing your Analysis;
 Interpreting the Results and Drawing
Conclusions; and
 Communicating the Findings of the
Research Project.
 Steps of the Research Process
 Propose Research which inspires you to conduct the 
research
Presentation
 Developing an Effective Research Question;  Policy Brief
 Develop Research Objective

 Working Paper
Review Literature on the Topic;
 Develop Conceptual framework  Journal Publication
 Develop the Research Methodology
 Conference Proceeding…etc
 Results, Discussion and Interpretation
 Analyzing the Issue or Problem;
 Testing your Analysis;
 Interpreting the Results and Drawing Conclusions;
and
 Communicating the Findings of the
Research Project.
 Research Proposal development process

Chapter One CHAPTER THREE

1. Introduction 3. Methodology of the Study
 Background of the study  Description of the study area
 Research Problem
 Research approach and design
 Research Objective
 Research Question/Hypothesis
 Population and Sample Design
 Scope of the Study  Data source and type
 Delimitation of the study:  Data collection Procedure
 Limitations of the study  Ethical Considerations
 Definition of terms/ Operational Terms  Method of data analysis and
CHAPTER TWO presentation
2. Review of Related Literature Review  Validity and Reliability test
– Theoretical Literature Review
– Empirical Literature Review
– Conceptual framework of the study
– Identified Literature gap
 Individual Assignment (20%)
Developing Research Proposal

CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER THREE

1. Introduction 3. Methodology of the Study
 Background of the study  Description of the study area
 Research Problem
 Research approach and design
 Research Objective
 Research Question/Hypothesis
 Population and Sample Design
 Scope of the Study  Data source and type
 Delimitation of the study:  Data collection Procedure
 Limitations of the study  Ethical Considerations
 Definition of terms/ Operational Terms  Method of data analysis and
CHAPTER TWO presentation
2. Review of Related Literature Review  Validity and Reliability test
– Theoretical Literature Review
– Empirical Literature Review
– Conceptual framework of the study
– Identified Literature gap
 Thank You !

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