This document defines key concepts in research methodology. It explains that research involves a systematic process of generating objective information to aid decisions. There are two types of research: basic research expands knowledge while applied research addresses specific problems. A theory is a set of principles used to explain relationships between variables, while a hypothesis is a testable proposition. The stages of research include introduction, literature review, methodology, findings and analysis, and conclusion chapters. A problem statement clearly defines the research problem and who is affected.

1. BAEB601: REESEARCH METHODOLOGY
CHAPTER 1:
Introduction To Research Methodology
© 2010 Cosmopoint

2. Chapter Aims
This chapter aims to:
3.Define the importance of research as a management decision-making tool;
4.Define research
5.Differentiate between basic and applied research;
6.Define meaning of theory
7.Discuss the term concept, proposition, variables and hypothesis;
8.Classify research as exploratory research, descriptive research and causal
research.
9.List the stages in the business research process
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3. Definition of Research.
• Research is defined as the systematic and
objective process of generating
information for aid in decisions. This
research information should be:
– Scientific into specific problem
– Objective
– Systematic
– Organized
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4. Type of research
• There are 2 types of research;
– Basic or pure research attempts to expand the
limits of knowledge
– Applied research is conducted when decision
must be made about a specific real-life problem
– Both research employ the scientific method, the
analysis and interpretation of empirical evidence
(facts from observation or experimentation), to
confirm or disprove prior conceptions.
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5. What are The Goals of Theory?
• Prediction and understanding are the two purposes of
theory.
• Accomplishing the first goal allows the theorist to predict
the behavior or characteristics of one phenomenon from
the knowledge of another phenomenon’s characteristics.
• The ability to anticipate future condition in the environment
or in an organization may be extremely valuable, yet
prediction alone may not satisfy the scientific researcher’s
goals.
• Understanding is desired.
• Prediction and understanding go hand in hand but to
predict phenomena, we must explain why variables behave
as they do.
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6. The Meaning of Theory?
• Theory is a coherent set of general
propositions, used as principles of
explanation of the apparent relationships
of certain observed phenomena.
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7. What is Concept?
• A CONCEPT (or construct) is a
generalized idea about a class of objects,
occurrences or purposes.
• Concept abstract reality. Concepts are
expressed in words that refer to various
events or objects.
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8. What is hypothesis?
• A hypothesis is a proposition that is empirically
testable.
• A tentative conjecture explaining an observation,
phenomenon or scientific problem that can be
tested by further observation, investigation
and/or experimentation; An assumption taken to
be true for the purpose of argument or
investigation; The antecedent of a conditional
statement
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9. Steps in doing research
• There are components that you must have in
writing your research:
– Introduction chapter
– Literature Review chapter
– Research Methodology (Research Framework)
chapter
– Finding and Analysis chapter (data collection, SPSS)
– Recommendation and Conclusion chapter
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10. Chapter 1 Introduction of Research
• Overview of your topic
• Problem Statement
– Identify the scenario, issues that lead to the
formulation of the problem statement.
• Research objectives
• Research questions
• Scope of the study
• Significance of the study
• Limitations
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11. Overview of your Topic
• Understand well what you want to do.
• Why do you want to do this research?
• Identify the variables that you want to measures
or to study.
• Variables can be 2 component: DEPENDENT
and INDEPENDENT variables.
– E.g. “The study of Consumer Behavior on
PETRONAS brand in Malaysia”
– What is the variables involve? E.g. The
independent variables are Brand Loyalty, Brand
Trust, Brand Reliability. The dependent variable is
Brand Equity.
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12. Problem Statement Definition
• A problem statement is a clear concise
description of the issues that need to be
addressed by a problem solving team and
should be presented to them (or created
by them) before they try to solve the
problem. When bringing together a team
to achieve a particular purpose provide
them with a problem statement.
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13. Problem Statement
• A good problem statement should answer
these questions:
• What is the problem? This should explain why
the team is needed.
• Who has the problem or who is the
client/customer? This should explain who needs
the solution and who will decide the problem has
been solved.
• What form can the resolution be? What is the
scope and limitations (in time, money, resources,
technologies) that can be used to solve the
problem?
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14. Scope of Study
• You have to state the scope of your study.
• What you can do in your research.
• What do you want to focus on. Only one big
issue that you want to study (narrow down).
• Good research must have relationship of
dependent and independent variables. The
dependent must be one. Independent is various.
• Your sample size population to measure based
on your study.
– E.g. The Study of Consumer Behavior for
PETRONAS brand in Klang Valley.
• Demographic of your research sample size.
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15. Significant of the Study
• Answer this kind of question in your report:
– Why do you think that this study is important?
– What motivate you to do this study/research?
– Do you think it is a relevant study?
– How do you think that this study can
contribute to society or academic?
– Did your study is relating or supporting by
previous researcher?
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16. Limitation
• Your research must be narrowed down.
• You have understand well about what you are going to
do.
• List down the research questions that relate to your
problem statement created.
• State the research objectives that answer your research
questions created.
• Discuss the limitation of your project. E.g. what is your
study focus on. What are those things that is not
measured/ covered in your study.
– Example Study about Computer networking in a small intra
network. Your scope of study is only about the networking, and
does not touch anything about the database or software. So you
tell everything about the networking. Because it’s your focus.
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17. Discussion
Group discussion: In your own
understanding, discuss what is
research, provide with your own
example. Hint: Pick any of
research topic, identify the
problem statement.
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