Basic Definitions Of Business Research Methods

1. Research
It is a process if gathering information to answer a question
Induction
Induction involves observation and investigation into the relationship between meanings and
actions of human subject
Deduction
Deduction involves the formulation of hypotheses
Basic research
Research done mainly to enhance the understanding of certain problems that commonly occur
in an organization setting and seeking method of solving is called basic research
Applied research
Research done with the intention of applying the results of the findings to solve
Specific problems currently being experience in an organization
Exploratory research
The perpose of exploratory research is to seek new insights and find out what is happening
Explanatory research
This research explain a situtaion or problem usually in the form in the form of casual
relationships
Discriptive research
This type of research sets out to provide an accurate profile of situation, people, or events
Quantitative research
Is a formal, objective, systematic process in which nomarical data is utilized to obtain
information about the world
Qulitative research
In formal, subjective research approch that usually emphasis words rather than numbers in the
collection

2. Mix method research
In approch is one in which the researcher tends to base knowledge, claims on pragmatic
grounds
Paradigm
Term paradigm describe as essentialy a collection of belive shared by scientists, a set of
aggrements about how problems are to be understood, how we view the world and thus go about
conduc ting research
Theory
In psychology and education, a common definition of learning is a process that brings together
cognitive, emotional, and environmental influences and experiences for acquiring, enhancing, or making
changes in one's knowledge, skills, values, and world views
Concept
An extensional definition of a concept or term formulates its meaning by specifying its
extension, that is, every object that falls under the definition of the concept or term in question
Variable
An operational definition is a demonstration of a process – such as a variable, term, or object –
in terms of the specific process or set of validation tests used to determine its presence and quantity.
Proposition
A proposition is a sentence expressing something true or false. In philosophy, particularly in
logic, a proposition is identified ontologically as an idea, concept, or abstraction whose token instances
are patterns of symbols, marks, sounds, or strings of words
Analysis
Is the job of systematically braking down something into its constituents parts and describing
how they relate to each other it is not random dissection but a methodological examination
Syntheses
Is the act of making connection between the parts identified in analysis
Subjectivity
A definition is a formal passage describing the meaning of a term (a word or phrase). The term
to be defined is the definiendum (plural definienda). A term may have many subtly different senses or
meanings

3. Formal and informal research
In formal research, researcher use agree on definitions of variables on the other hand in
informal research, researcher write in literary, informal style
Litrature review
Is a body of text that aims to review the critical points of current knowledge on a particular topic
What is meant by paradigm and what on basis they differ from each other elaborate on the basis of
philosophical assumptions?
Term paradigm describe as essentially a collection of believe shared by scientists, a set
of agreements about how problems are to be understood, how we view the world and thus go about
conducting research
sr.# Philosophical positivism interpretivism pragmatism
assumptions
1 ontology Singular reality Multiple realities Both singular and
(objectivism) (constructionism) multiple realities.
2 epistemology Distance and Closeness Practicality
impartiality (subjective)
(objective) Objective + subjective
3 axiology Unbiased biased Multiple stances
4 Rhetoric Formal style Informal style Both informal and
formal style
5 methodology deductive Inductive Both qualitative and
quantitative data and
mix them
6 Strategies of We do survey Grounded theory, Sequential, concurrent
inquiry experiment and ethnography, case and transformative
field work study and
narratives
7 Methods Close ended Open ended Both quantitative and
questions, questions image qualitative data analysis
numerical data analysis
statisticalanalysis (qualitative)

4. What is meant by research process and what are its elements discussed in detail how they differ in
qualitative and quantitative research?
Elements of qualitative research Process of research Elements of quantitative
research
Interpretivism Paradigm Positivism
Point of view of participant Intent of research Point of view of the researcher
Understand meaning individuals Test a theory deductively to
give to a phenomena inductively support or refute it
Contextual understanding Generalization
Minor role How literature is used Major role
Justifies problem Justifies problem
Ask open ended questions How intent is focused Ask close ended questions
Test specific variables that forms
hypotheses or questions
Words and image How data collected Numbers
Natural settings From many participants at many
research sites
Data is collected at micro level
Data is collected at macro level
Artificial settings
Text or images analysis How data is analyzed Numerical statistical analysis
Themes Rejecting hypotheses
Researcher is close Role of researcher Researcher is distant
Identifies personal stance Remains in background
Take step to remove bias
Using validity procedures that How data is validated Using validity procedures based
rely on the participants, the on external standards, such as
researcher, or the reader judges. Past research, statistics.
Differentiate between qualitative, quantitative and mix method research?

5. Qualitative Quantitative Mix method
Constructivist paradigm Positivist paradigm Pragmatic paradigm
Grounded theories case study Surveys and experiments Sequential, concurrent and
narratives transformative
Open ended questions Close ended questions numeric Both open ended and close
data ended questions
Emerging approaches
Theory generation Test a theory and verify theory Collect both quantitative and
qualitative data
Collect participants meanings Use undecided approaches
Make interpretation of data Employs statistical procedure
Collaborate with participants
Elements of research design
• Introduction
• Objectives of study
• Purpose statement
• Research questions
• Significance of research
• Literature review
• Research method for data collection
• Ethical considerations
• Limitations and delimitations
• References