Business Research Methods
Unit 1:
Introduction to Research
12/21/2021
www.nirma.com.np
Chapter 1
Introduction
to Research
TOPICS:
• The meaning of research
• The nature and types of research;
• Application of scientific thinking in research,
• Scientific research - scientific research process,
• Characteristics of scientific research;
• CEmerging paradigms in research;
• quantitative and qualitative approaches to research;
• Business research – role,
• types and value for decision making;
• Ethical considerations in business research.
12/21/2021
www.nirma.com.np
The meaning of research
• Research is a careful consideration of study regarding a
particular concern or problem using scientific methods.
• Research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain,
predict, and control the observed phenomenon.
• creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the
stock of knowledge
• It is data based (fact based) inquiry of knowledge
Objectives of Research
Why a business house / organization does research?
• Identify potential and new customers
• Understand existing customers
• Develop productive market strategies
• Address business challenges
• Put together a business expansion plan
• Knowing the new business opportunities
• Find out the strategies of the competitors
• Dig out the reasons of the failure of the business
Some Examples of Research Issue
• The "Pepsi" products are not demanded as compared to the
"Coke" products. A research is required to solve the low
demand of the Pepsi product.
• Students of Section "A" (English medium) are active in extra
curriculum too, than section "B". (Nepali medium). Why?
• Why majority of the student prefer to copy in the
examination?
• Why youngsters prefer to go abroad?
• Is Mobile banking popular among the old aged citizens?
Why?
Scientific thinking in research
Steps to scientific
4. Predict,
thinking:
1. Observe,
2. Compare,
3. Sort and
organize,
5. Experiment,
6. Evaluate,
7. Apply
Scientific Research Process
•Identification of research problem
•Literature review
•Specifying the purpose of research
•Determining specific research questions
•Specification of a conceptual
framework
•Choice of a methodology (for data
collection)
•Data collection
•Verifying data
•Analyzing and interpreting the data
•Reporting and evaluating research
•Communicating the research findings
and, possibly, recommendations
Characteristics of Scientific Research
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Purpose: No research without purposes
Objectivity= data based
Replicability= the quality of being able to be exactly copied or
reproduced.
Reliability: same results of multiple tests
Validity: Accurate
Rigor : Followd the scientific method
Testability : can be tested
Generalizability: can be apply everywhere of the same context and
condition.
Emerging paradigms in research
Positivist : It claims that the social world can be
understood in an objective way. In this research
philosophy, the scientist is an objective analyst and, on
the basis of it, dissociates himself from personal values
and works independently.
Post Positivist: While positivists emphasize quantitative
methods, post positivists consider both quantitative and
qualitative methods to be valid approaches
Emerging paradigms in research
Critical Theory: Critical theory is a social theory oriented
toward critiquing and changing society as a whole. Critical
theories aim to dig beneath the surface of social life and uncover
the assumptions that keep human beings from a full and true
understanding of how the world works.
Constructivism: The knowledge consists of mental structures
that are surrounded by the relative agreements. Relativistic
reality is socially or experimentally based, local, and specific in
nature.
Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches
•
Quantitative approaches: The method emphasizes objective
measurements and the statistical, mathematical, or numerical analysis
of data collected through polls, questionnaires, and surveys, or by
manipulating pre-existing statistical data using computational
techniques.
•
Qualitative approaches: Qualitative research focuses on gaining
insight and understanding about an individual's perception of events
and circumstances. Six common types of qualitative research are
phenomenological, ethnographic, grounded theory, historical, case
study, and action research.
Role of business research
• Research provide facts / data / information to
decision makers.
• Business research helps to identify opportunities and
threats.
• Research provides insight about the organization .
Ethical considerations in business research.
• Research participants should not be subjected to harm in any ways
whatsoever.
• Respect for the dignity of research participants should be prioritized.
• Full consent should be obtained from the participants prior to the
study.
• The protection of the privacy of research participants has to be
ensured.
• Adequate level of confidentiality of the research data should be
ensured.
• Anonymity of individuals and organizations participating in the
research has to be ensured.
Ethical considerations in business research.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Any deception or exaggeration about the aims and objectives of
the research must be avoided.
Affiliations in any forms, sources of funding, as well as any possible
conflicts of interests have to be declared.
Any type of communication in relation to the research should be
done with honesty and transparency.
Any type of misleading information, as well as representation of
primary data findings in a biased way must be avoided.
Voluntary participation of respondents in the research is
important.
Respondents should participate on the basis of informed consent.
Free resources sites
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Additional readings:
Questions
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•
•
•
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Explain the process of scientific research.
Briefly discuss the characteristics of scientific research.
Why research is essential to business?
How the research helps to organization?
List of the ethical consideration in research.
Distinguish between qualitative and quantitative
research.
• Describe the different research paradigm