This topic is about research, research methods, selected examples, and many more.

1. Presented By: Tayyaba Latif

2. Looking for facts or truth about a subject
Data are collected systematically
Data are interpreted systematically
There is a clear purpose to find finds
2

3. Organized scientific investigation to:
1. solve problems,
2. test hypotheses,
3. develop or invent new products
3

4.  A firm wants to produce and market a new product but
first wants to ascertain if there is a potential consumer
demand for this product in markets x, y and z
 a multinational firm wants to establish a production
facility in another country after determining its technical
and economic feasibility
 A government agency wants to ascertain the satisfaction
level of its employees, the causes for any possible
discontent, and propose a scheme for enhancing this level
 A financial institution wants to invest in commodities and
conducts a study to determine the past trends and
forecast future returns in a portfolio of commodities
 The CEO of a firm wants to undertake a Analysis as part of
his plan to redefine his organization’s priorities
4

5. 1) Descriptive
2) Exploratory
3) Explanatory
4) Evolutionary
 What about Corporate Financial Policy
research?
5

6. Basic Research aims to expand the frontiers of science and
knowledge by verifying or disproving the acceptability of a given
theory or attempting to discover more about a certain concept
(non-specificity)
Example: How does motivation affect employee performance?
Applied Research focusses on a real-life problem or situation
with a view to helping reach a decision how to deal with it
(Specificity)
Example: Should Corporation X adopt a paperless office
environment?
6

7. follows certain steps that are logical in order.
• Understanding the nature of problem to be
studied and identifying the related area of
knowledge.
• Reviewing literature to understand how others
have approached or dealt with the problem.
• Collecting data in an organized and controlled
manner so as to arrive at valid decisions.
• Analyzing data appropriate to the problem.
• Drawing conclusions and making
generalizations.
7

8. 8

9. 9

10. This paper investigates corporate cash holdings in developing
countries. In particular, we look into the effect of capital structure and
dividend policy on cash holdings in Brazil, Russia, India, and China
and compare our results with a control sample from the US and the
UK. Our sample contains 1992 firms across these countries for the
period 2002–2008. We employ Instrumental Variables analysis to control
for the endogeneity of the financial policies (cash holdings, capital
structure, and dividend policy). Our results show some evidence that
capital structure and dividend policy affect cash holdings. There are
similarities between developed and developing countries on the factors
determining corporate cash holdings. The results of our cross-country
model provide evidence that capital structure, dividend policy, and firm
size are important factors in determining cash holdings. Finally, we
show that firms operating in countries with low shareholder protection
hold more cash.
10

11. Whereas the majority of research on board diversity explores the direct
relationship between racial and gender diversity and firm performance, this
paper investigates mediators that explain how board diversity is related to
firm performance. Grounded in signalling theory and the behavioural theory
of the firm, we suggest that this relationship operates through two mediators:
firm reputation and innovation. In a sample of Fortune 500 firms, we find a
positive relationship between board racial diversity and both firm reputation
and innovation. We find that reputation and innovation both partially mediate
the relationship between board racial diversity and firm performance. In
addition, we find a positive relationship between board gender diversity and
innovation.
11

12. 12
 Theories are sets of organizing principles that
help researchers describe and predict events.
 From where theories come from?
◦ From reading literature
◦ observation
 Scientific vs. non-scientific theories
◦ Testable hypothesis, clear focus, can be used to
make predictions (scientific theory)

13. 13
Research Question is a clearly articulates
statement about the area of interest of the
researcher.
Research question is in the middle of a theory
(very broad) and a hypothesis (very specific).
according to the theory.
Example: Class to come up examples of theory, research question
and hypothesis.

14.  Not to say prove but say supports-
hypothesis is supported. Replication is
desirable.
◦ Demonstration of the same findings of a study at a
different place with a different group of people.
 Social Science theories are self-correcting
 Example: 1950s research on reinforcements
(such as praise, pay raise) to motivate people.
However, in 1973, experiment with children
and results were different.
14

15. 15
 One way of classifying research is by
‘approach’
Qualitative Quantitative
 Specific numeric value to the phenomena
under study (Quantitative)
 A narrative or textual description of the
phenomena under study (Qualitative)

16. 16

17.  Basic research (adds to the knowledge but
not immediate applications)
 Applied research (obvious and immediate
applications)
 Traditional research ( for generalization,
usually in laboratories)
 Action research (to solve a particular
problem)
17

18. 18
Thank You