RESEARCH PROCESS

1
Module Name: Research Methodologies
Module Leader: Dr Roshni Paul
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
 A Demonstrate an understanding of research methodology and frameworks relevant to the
conduct of business research.

B Assess the suitability of research tools and techniques and the limitations of quantitative and
qualitative research

C Understand the use of research and its applications to business needs

D Interpret research reports and output derive insights from them

E Prepare a sample questionnaire, collect data and communicate the analysis via a research report

F Plan and coordinate work independently and in teams, to meet deadlines, delivery styles and
specified quality standards.

G Prepare a sample research proposal responsibly and with due consideration of various ethical
principles of research

LEARNING OUTCOMES
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES 2
 WHAT IS
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RESEARCH
PROCESS?
SECTION 1

RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
RESEARCH PROCESS
 Research process includes the way in which research is conducted.
 Selection of research area to formulating the research aim, objectives, and
research questions are the initial steps in the process.
 Conducting the review of the topic from the existing information, called
literature review, the process also involves selection of data collection
methods and further collecting data based on those methods.
 Collecting the data, and the analysis of it leads to reaching conclusions and
to the completing the research.

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The Business Research Process
Problem Selection of
Discovery Sample Design

Exploratory Collection of the

Research Data

Selection of the
Basic Research
Method
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 The Research Process (cont.)

Editing and Report

Coding

Data Processing

Interpretation of
the Findings

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IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING,
ANY ROAD WILL TAKE YOU THERE.

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 STAGES OF B

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RESEARCH
PROCESS
SECTION 2

RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
 Stages of the Research Process
Problem Discovery Discovery and
and Definition Definition

Research and so on
Design Conclusions and
Report

Sampling
Data Processing
and Analysis
Data
Gathering

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RESEARCH STAGES
 Cyclical process - conclusions generate new ideas
 Stages can overlap chronologically
 Stages are functionally interrelated
 Forward linkages
 Backward linkages

RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES 10
Problem Discovery Problem Selection of
and Definition discovery exploratory research
technique
Sampling

Selection of
exploratory research
technique Probability Nonprobability

Secondary
Experience Pilot Case Collection of
(historical)
survey study study Data data
data
Gathering (fieldwork)

Editing and
Problem definition coding
(statement of data
research objectives)

Data
processing
Selection of Data
Research Design basic research Processing
method and Interpretation
Analysis of
findings
Experiment Survey
Secondary
Laboratory Field Interview Questionnaire Observation
Data Study Conclusions Report
and Report

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STAGES IN THE RESEARCH
PROCESS
 Problem Discovery and Problem Definition
 Research Design
 Sampling
 Data Gathering
 Data Processing and Analysis
 Conclusions And Report

RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES 12
 “THE FORMULATION OF
THE PROBLEM IS OFTEN
MORE ESSENTIAL THAN
ITS SOLUTION”

Albert Einstein 13

RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
PROBLEM DISCOVERY AND
DEFINITION
 First step
 Problem, opportunity, or monitor operations
 Discovery before definition
 Problem means management problem
 Problem discovery and defining it leads to the defining of research
objectives and formulating research questions.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES 14
STATE THE RESEARCH
QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH
OBJECTIVES
Research questions
Forming a research question can be difficult but integral to research.
The research questions should contribute to solving the research problem identified.
Research questions should be :-
 Feasible
 Specific
 Relevant and
 Original.

Research objectives
 They describe what the research intends to accomplish
 The objectives summarise the approach and purpose of the project and helps focusing
your research.
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 Defining Problem Results in
Clear Cut Research Objectives
Symptom Detection

Analysis of
the Situation

Research

Problem Definition

Statement of
Research Objectives

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HYPOTHESIS
 A statement that can be refuted by empirical data
 Hypotheses should be logically derived from and linked to research
objectives.

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RESEARCH PROGRAM
STRATEGY
 A research strategy is a plan that will guide the
research activities further to achieve the research
goals.
 Strategy introduces the main components of a
research project such as the research topic area
and focus, the research perspective, the research
design, and the research methods.
 It refers to how you propose to answer the
research questions set and how you will
implement the methodology.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES 18
RESEARCH DESIGN
 Master plan
 Framework for action
 Specifies methods and procedures
 It is argued that there is no single best research design.
 A research design is the master plan that specifies the methods and
procedures for collecting and analyzing the needed information.

 Example:- Consider the researcher who has to forecast the sales for the

upcoming year. Research design could include surveying executive opinion,

collecting sales force composite opinions, surveying user expectations,
projecting trends, and analysing environmental factors.
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RESEARCH PROPOSAL
 A written statement of the research design that includes a statement
explaining the purpose of the study.
 Detailed outline of procedures associated with a particular methodology

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RESEARCH DESIGN -
EXAMPLE
Experience Case
Secondary Pilot Study
Survey
(historical) Study
Data

Exploratory
Research

RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES 21
EXPLORATORY RESEARCH TECHNIQUES -
TWO EXAMPLES
 Secondary data (historical data)
 Previously collected
 Census of population
 Literature survey

 Pilot study
 A number of diverse techniques
 It can also include focus group interviews.

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BASIC RESEARCH METHODS
 Surveys
 Experiments
 Secondary data
 Observation

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 SELECTING A SAMPLE
SAMPLE

Sample: subset
of a larger population.
POPULATION

RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES 24
SAMPLING
 Who is to be sampled?
 How large a sample?
 How will sample units be selected?

RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES 25
DATA GATHERING STAGE
 The data gathering stage begins once the sampling plan has been
formalized.
 Data gathering is the process of gathering or collecting information.
 Data may be gathered by human observers or interviewers.
 They may also be recorded by machines too.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES 26
 DATA PROCESSING AND
ANALYSIS
 After the data collection is complete, the data must be
converted into a format that will answer the research
questions. This entails data processing.
 Data analysis is the application of reasoning to understand
the data that have been gathered.
 Analysis involves determining the consistent patterns, and
summarizing the relevant details revealed in the
investigation.
 The appropriate analytical technique for data analysis will
be determined by management’s information
requirements, the characteristics of research design, and
the nature of the data gathered.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES 27
CONCLUSIONS AND REPORT
WRITING
 Effective communication of the research findings
 This is the final stage of the research where it consists of interpreting the
research results, describing the implications, and drawing the conclusions
for managerial decisions.
 These conclusions should fulfil the deliverables promised in the research
proposal.
 Research is only good as its applications.
 Researcher should consider the varying abilities of people to understand
the research results.

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 REFERENCES
 Research Process - Research-Methodology. (n.d.). Research-Methodology.
https://research-methodology.net/research-methodology/research-process/

 What is a research objective? (n.d.). Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/frequently-

asked-questions/what-is-research-objective/

 Bougie, R., & Sekaran, U. (2019). Research methods for business: A skill building

approach. John Wiley & Sons.

 Zikmund, W. G., Babin, B. J., Carr, J. C., Adhikari, A., & Griffin, M. (2013). Business

Research Methods A South-asian Perspective: Cengage Learning.

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