Business Research

Methodology
Research
• The term Research comprises of two words – `Re` and `search`
• `Re` means again and search means `to find out`
• Research is a careful investigation or inquiry specially to search for new facts in any
branch of knowledge.
• Research is a process steps used to collect and analyze information to increase our
understanding of a particular issue or topic
• Research is like undertaking a journey and one must know about its destination and
which route to take.
• We can conclude that
a) Research is a process of enquiry and investigation
b) Is Systematic and methodical
c) It Increases knowledge
Objectives of Research
• Gain Familiarity with a new phenomenon or develop new insight into
a phenomenon
• Review and synthesize the existing knowledge
• Investigate some existing situation or problems
• Offer solutions to a problem
• Explore and analyse more issues
• Generate new knowledge
Research Characteristics
• A) Objectivity-It Means research is without any bias . Researcher must take utmost precautions
that results are not affected by their own bias.
• B) Reliability in the context of research is consistency .It refers to the extent to which an
investigation produces a consistent results.

Types of reliability
Inter-rater reliability- assesses the degree of agreement between two or more raters in their
appraisals.
Test –retest reliability – assesses the degree to which test scores are consistent from one test
and another
Inter method reliability- assesses the degree to which test scores consistent when there is a
variation in the methods.
Internal consistency reliability- assesses the consistency of results across items within a test.
Example-A Teacher wants test the
students in a particular subject
• Objectivity- The teacher must not favour any particular student or group of
students
• Inter-rater reliability- When Two or more teachers assess the students. Inter –
rater reliability measures how consistent are the marking standards of the two
different teachers.
• Test –retest reliability –When the same test is conducted again and again the
students marks should be the same.
• Inter method reliability- The teacher use different methods to test students like a
written test and a oral test .Inter method reliability measures the consistency
between the two methods.
• Internal consistency reliability- The same question is asked in the same test twice.
This measures the consistency in the same tests.
C)Validity
• Validity in research mainly stands for accuracy of procedures research
instruments, test.
• The question that Validity asks is weather we are measuring what we
intended to
• Validity is termed to be much more important than reliability.
Types of Validity
• Face Validity- It Is an Estimate of whether a test appears to measures
a certain criterion
• Construct Validity – Does the test measure the concept that it
intended to measure.
• Content Validity-Is the test fully representative of what it aims to
measure.
• Criterion Validity- Do the results correspond to different test of the
same thing
Example
• Face Validity – Does the question paper given to the student look like
question paper of the particular subject
• Construct Validity –Does it actually have questions of the particular
subject.
• Content Validity- Does it cover all the topic that need to be checked.
• Criterion Validity – Does the marks of the student actually measure
how good he is at the particular subject
• D)Accuracy – It’s the quality of the research being correct or precise.
• E)Credibility – It the best use of source and information
• F) Systematic- Each step must be followed as prescribed
Types of Research
On the basis On the Basis On the basis On the basis On the basis of On the basis of
of objectives of Outcome of Logic of process Mode of Inquiry Concept

Descriptive
Fundamental Deductive Quantitative
Structured Conceptual
Correlational
Applied
Inductive Qualitative
Unstructured Empirical
Explanatory

Exploratory

Experimental
 Structured vs unstructured
• Structured Research Unstructured Research
• It is a Structured approach • It is an Unstructured approach of
of inquiry into a problem inquiry into a problem
• The process is predetermined • It is flexible process of research
and is strictly followed • It is used to study the nature of
• It is used to define the extent of the problem
the problem
Qualitative and Quantitative
Research
• Quantitative Research • Qualitative Research
• Quantitative Research gathers data in • The data gathered is in non numeric
numerical form which can be put into form.
categories or measured in units of • It studies description of a phenomenon.
measurement.
• It is used to understand and form theories
• It studies numeric data
• Focuses on theory formulation
• It is used to confirm theories
• Open ended questionnaire are used
• Focuses on theory testing
• Is unstructured Research
• Uses closed questionnaire
• Methods used in data collection
• It is a structure research
• Interview ,Focus Group, Literature Review
• Methods used in data collection
-Survey, Experiments, Observations.
Induction vs Deduction
• Deductive Research • Inductive Research
• It is also termed as top down or • It is also termed as bottom up
general to specific research. approach
• In Deduction we start from a • In inductive research we move
theory and try to prove it right from specific to general.
• We state the theory and then • We Make a search for pattern in
collect data to prove it right or what is observed
wrong • We make a generalization about
what is occurring
Fundamental vs Applied Research
• Fundamental Research is also known as basic Research • Applied Research can be defined as research
• focuses on advancing scientific knowledge for the that encompasses real life application of the
complete understanding of a topic or certain natural natural science. It is directed towards providing
phenomenon a solution to the specific practical problems.
• Basic Research is completely theoretical, that focuses on
• In finer terms, it is the research that can be
basic principles and testing theories. It tends to
understand the basic law. applied to real-life situations. It studies a
• basic research helps in adding new knowledge to the
particular set of circumstances.
already existing knowledge • applied research has a practical approach
• basic research is purely theoretical • applied research stresses on the development
• The primary concern of the basic research is to develop of technique
scientific knowledge and predictions
• The applicability of basic research is greater
• The applicability of basic research is greater than the
applied research, in the sense that the former is
than the applied research, in the sense that the
universally applicable whereas the latter can be applied former is universally applicable whereas the
only to the specific problem, for which it was carried latter can be applied only to the specific
out. problem, for which it was carried out.
Conceptual vs Empirical
• Conceptual Research • Empirical Research
• It is related to abstract Ideas and Concepts
• The Observations are drawn from
• It doesn’t particularly involve any practical
experimentation. However, this type of research
verifiable experience rather than pure
typically involves observing and analyzing Logic
information already present on a given topic. • Empirical research is research studies
Philosophical research is a generally good
example for conceptual research. with conclusions based on empirical
• a conceptual framework is the researcher’s evidence. Moreover, empirical
synthesis of the literature (previous research research studies are observable and
studies) on how to explain a particular measurable.
phenomenon. It explains the actions required in
the course of the study based on the • evidence can be gathered through
researcher’s observations on the subject of qualitative research studies or
research as well as the knowledge gathered quantitative research studies.
from previous studies
Descriptive Research
• Descriptive Research is a type of research that describes a population situation
that describes a population situation or phenomenon that is being studied. It
Focuses on answering the `what` question rather than the question `why`.
• This is mainly because it is important to have a proper understanding of what a
research problem is about before investigating why it exists in the first place.
• It is used to describe a characteristics of a population .
• Descriptive research is an appropriate choice when the research aim is to
identify characteristics, frequencies, trends .
• Methods/Types used in Descriptive Research-Observation Method , Case
study ,Survey method.
• Descriptive research precedes Explanatory research
Correlational Research
• A Correlational measures a relationship between two variables without the researcher
controlling either of them .It aims to find out weather there is any kind of relationship
between the two variables.
• It is a non experimental research method in which the researcher measures two variables and
trys to understand the relationship between the two.
• Types of correlation
• Positive correlation-when one increases the other also increases.
• Negative correlation-when one decreases the other increases.
• No Correlation- Change in one variable may not necessarily see a difference in the other
variable.
• Types/Methods observation, Secondary Research, Survey
• It is important to note that correlation does not imply causation. Just because that there is a
correlation that does not mean one causes the other
Explanatory Research
• It Asks the question why .In the researcher is trying to identify the
cause and effects of whatever phenomenon they a studying.
• It focuses on explaining the aspects of the study.
• It is not used to give evidence but it is used to understand the
problem better.
• It is an unstructured Research
Exploratory Research
• Exploratory research is defined as a research used to investigate a
problem which is not clearly defined .It is conducted to have a better
understanding of the existing problem..
• Such a research is usually carried out when the problem is at a
preliminary stage.
• An important aspect here is the researcher is willing to change his
direction subject to revelation of a new insight.
Experimental Research
• Experimental Research is research conducted with scientific approach using
sets of two variables .The First set acts a constant which is used to measure
the difference in the second test.
• It is the most structured of all the research
• Any research conditions under scientifically acceptable condition uses
experimental methods.
• Experimental research allows you test your idea in a controlled environment.
• It is different from correlational research as one variable is manipulated in
Experimental Research.
• It is generally used to examine the cause and effect relationship.