The document discusses various types of research including exploratory research, descriptive research, diagnostic research, hypothesis-testing research, and applied research. It also covers research methods such as qualitative research, quantitative research, experimental research, and survey research. The overall purpose of research is to gain knowledge and reduce uncertainty for making effective business decisions.

1. CHAPTER 3

2. 1. Discuss how problem areas can be
identified.
2. State research problems clearly and
precisely.
3. Explain how primary and secondary data
help the researcher to develop a problem
statement.
4. Develop relevant and comprehensive
bibliographies for any research topic.
5. Write a literature review on any given
topic.
6. Develop a research proposal.

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4. To be able to decide what research one wants to do
one has to know what research has been done,
what are the issues involved, who are the people
working on the issues/ideas concerned, find the
scope and the scale of the issues in question. One
has to KNOW what has been and is being done
NOW. This process involves exploration, groping
around, meeting experts, reading up on the
issues/ideas and some investigating.
Studies with this object in view are termed as
exploratory or formulative research studies
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5. What are the characteristics of the individual,
the issue, the situation, the group one is
studying? These characteristics could be of
any kind. Who is thinking what and how, who
is behaving in what manner and why, how
different is a situation from another, what are
the similarities and differences between two
groups?
When studies are conducted with a view to
accurately portray such characteristics they
are called descriptive research studies.
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6. How often is something happening? What is the
frequency? What is the rate at which an event,
a phenomenon is occurring? How is one event
related to another? How often is such a
relationship established?
When studies are conducted with the object of
determining the frequency of occurrence of
an event or phenomenon it is called
diagnostic research study.
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7. It always rains heavily when I wear my Jeans. Is there
a causal relationship here? Can I conclude ‘If I wear
Jeans, then it rains’. A relationship that can be
defined as – ‘If this, then that’ is called a causal
relationship. There is a cause and there is an effect
and every time the cause happens, the effect
happens too.
When studies are conducted to test the hypothesis of
a causal relationship between variables (I don’t
always wear Jeans and it does not always rain) such
studies are known as hypothesis-testing research
studies.
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9.  The major purpose of such research is description
of the state of affairs as it exists at present by
collecting, correlating, comparing data.
 Frequency of shopping, what people prefer to buy
or sell, at what price are events that are happening
all the time. We have no control over them. They
vary from person to person, place to place.
 Starting from what is, and trying to determine what
is, involves research of a descriptive nature.
 Which is why trends are important in this kind of
research.
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10.  Surveys are constantly conducted, trends are being
identified but what do these really mean? The
circulation figures of a newspaper, how many
people bought railway tickets today, how many
people visited a theatre today are figures that are
easily available but what this means, can the
information lead to some analysis of behaviour,
patterns of economic, political, social activity?
 When we start from existing data and then analyse
it to make a critical evaluation that kind of research
is analytical
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11.  The central aim of applied research is to find a
practical, applicable solution to a pressing practical
problem.
 Rain stopped Mumbai in its tracks over the past
week. There must be some immediate solutions to
it, solutions that can be put into operation
immediately, solutions that can be applied
immediately.
 Research done by marketing firms, by the
newspapers to assess reader responses, by
advertisers, the kind done by DNA before its launch
are all applied research.
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12.  What can be measured is the rate of the heart beat, the
pulse, the blood pressure, the chemical movements in the
brain, breathing etc
 Any research that involves quantities like blood pressure etc
in the above case would be quantitative research.
 Any research that would involve qualities as in the quality of
behavioral change of human, it would be qualitative research.
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13.  Axioms are ‘truths’ that do not require ‘proofs’ like 2+2=4.
What’s to prove there? But just try proving this simple ‘truth’
and you will find that you cannot prove it directly. You can
only prove that 2+2 is not equal to any other number but 4.
This is an indirect method. Out of a given set of answers if
none except one fits then that must be the correct answer.
This is fine with mathematics because it helps us that
2+2=4. This axiom makes life easier. We can buy vegetables
and fruits and other things as a result of such axioms. But
when axioms begin to form in areas like politics, philosophy,
sociology, history then we have problems and we begin to
stare at conclusions like All Muslims Are Communal, All
Hindus Are Tolerant, All Christians Are Christian etc.
 When research is directed to the study and analysis of
concepts, abstract ideas, notions and axioms it is
conceptual.
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14.  2+2=4 cannot be proven by mathematics. Why then do we
accept it as truth? Because we ‘observe’ it happening all the
time. Anywhere in the Universe when two and two are put
together what emerges is four. This axiom has been
‘proved’ empirically.
 The Sun stays where it is and the earth keeps going in
circles but we say the Sun rises from the east. The Sun in
reality simply seems to come up from a certain direction
around the same time. We have named that direction east.
How can one prove that the Sun indeed rises from the east
without actually sitting down days on end and watching it?
This is the empirical method of research where you actually
look at phenomenon. At times the researcher tries to control
the variables, deliberate manipulate the environment to
conduct the experiment. Experiment is the mainstay of such
research. It also necessitates a presumption, a hypothesis
that the researcher has to formulate and then go about
gathering facts to prove or disprove the hypothesis.
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15. Depending on
time taken for research, issues involved,
methods adopted and goals set
research can be further divided into sub types.
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16.  Depending on the time taken research can
be one-time affair like a product launch or
longitudinal where one keeps identifying and
tracking trends and patterns.
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17.  Field research is necessary when one has to
get out there, talk to people, observe
phenomena, record it.
 There are situations though when either the
field itself is too large or the researcher wants
to have a control over the variable factors. In
such situation an environment is simulated,
created within the confines of a laboratory.
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18.  Such research involves case studies, in depth
studies to reach the basic causal relations, it
goes deep into the causes of things or events
using very small samples and very deep
probing data gathering devices.
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19.  The objective of exploratory research is the
development of hypotheses rather than their
testing, whereas formalised research studies
are those with substantial structure and with
specific hypotheses to be tested.
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20.  In this kind of research historical material like
documents, remains from archeological
explorations etc are the object of study to
draw conclusions on the past, including
ideas, philosophies, the social context etc.
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21.  A decision has to be reached quickly about
something. In this situation the researcher is
guided by the decision maker. The researcher picks
the problem, redesigns the enquiry as he proceeds
with the enquiry and conceptualises on the way.
Operations research, which provides executive
departments with a quantitative basis for decisions
regarding operations under their control, falls in
this category
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23.  This involves generation of data that can be
measured on a scale and be rigorously tested
in a formal and rigid fashion.
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24.  Quantitative approach can be further
classified into:
a) Inferential approach – A data base is formed
on the basis of which characteristics,
relationships are inferred. ‘If this, then that’
where ‘this’ is the data collected and ‘that’ is
the inference from the data.
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25. b) Experimental approach – There is greater
control over the environment, the subject of
study and some variables are manipulated to
observe their effect on other variables.
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26. c) Simulation approach – This involves
creating an artificial environment within
which relevant information and data can be
generated. Simulation means operation of
a numerical model that represents the
structure of a dynamic process.
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27.  The subjective assessment of attitudes,
opinions, behaviour involves qualitative
research.
 Research here is a function of the insights
and impressions of the researcher.
 The result of such research is in a form that
cannot be measured on a scale and cannot be
subjected to rigorous methods of formal,
objective testing.
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28. Research inculcates
scientific and inductive thinking,
promotes the development of logical habits of
thinking
and
organisation.
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29. In the context of government,
research as a tool of economic policy has
three distinct phases of operation
i) Investigation of economic structure
through continual compilation of facts
ii) Diagnosis of events that are taking place
and the analysis of the forces underlying
them
iii) The prognosis – the prediction of future
development
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30.  Research methods are used in performing
research operations. All methods used by the
researcher during the course of studying a
research problem are termed as research
methods.
 Research methods can be put into three groups
1. Methods that involved collection of data.
2. Statistical techniques used for establishing
relationships between what is known through data
collection and what is not known.
3. Methods used to evaluate the accuracy of the results
obtained.
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31. Research is an inquiry into the nature of, the
reasons for, and the consequences of any
particular set of circumstances, whether these
circumstances are experimentally controlled
or recorded just as they occur.
The researcher must be interested more than
mere particular results; he must want to
investigate the repeatability of results and
whether they can be extended to more
complicated and general situations.
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32. Causal Research Descriptive Research Exploratory Research
(Problem Clearly Defined) (Aware of Problem) (Unaware of Problem)
“Will buyers purchase more of “What kind of people are buying “Our sales are declining and
our products in a new package? our product? Who buys our we don’t know why.”
competitor’s product?”
“Which of two advertising “Would people be interested
campaigns is more effective?” “What features do buyers prefer in our new product idea?”
in our product?”

33. Exploratory Research
Secondary data
Experience survey
Pilot studies
33

34.  Initial research conducted to clarify and
define the nature of a problem
 Does not provide conclusive evidence
 Subsequent research expected

35.  Describes characteristics of a population or
phenomenon
 Some understanding of the nature of the
problem

36. I keep six honest serving men, (they taught me all I
knew), their names are
what, and why, and when, and how,
and where and who.”
--Rudyard Kipling
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37.  Men’s fragrance market
 1/3 size of women’s fragrance market
 But growing at a faster pace
 Women buy 80 % of men’s fragrances

38.  Conducted to identify cause and effect
relationships

39. 3-39
The primary
purpose of
research is to
reduce the level
of risk of a
business
decision

40. 3-40
Exhibit 3-1
The
Business
Research
Process

41. 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) Data
survey study study data
data Gathering
(fieldwork)
Data
Editing and
Problem definition Processing
coding
(statement of and
Analysis data
research objectives)
Data
Selection of processing
Research Design basic research
method Conclusions
Interpretation
and Report
of
findings
Experiment Survey
Secondary
Laboratory Field Interview Questionnaire Observation
Data Study Report

42.  Cyclical process - conclusions generate new
ideas
 Stages can overlap chronologically
 Stages are functionally interrelated
◦ Forward linkages
◦ Backward linkages

43. Albert Einstein

44. 1. Areas that a manager believes needs to be
improved in the organization.
2. A conceptual or theoretical issue that needs
to be tightened up for the basic researcher
to understand certain phenomena.
3. Some research questions that a basic
researcher wants to answer empirically.

45.  Training programs are perhaps not as
effective as anticipated.
 The sales volume of a product is not picking
up.
 Inventory control is not effective
 Some members in organization are not
advancing in their careers.
 The introduction of flexible work hours has
created more problems than it has solved in
many companies.

46. 3-46
 Management-research
question hierarchy
 Begins with management
dilemma

47. 3-47

48. 3-48

49. 3-49

50.  The nature of data to be gathered could
be classified under three headings:
1. Background information of the
organization (the contextual factors).
2. Prevailing knowledge on the topic
(relevant findings from previous research).
3. primary data.

51.  The background details of the company can
be obtained from available published records,
the web site of the company.
 Company policies, procedures, and rules can
be obtained from the organization’s records
and documents.
 Data gathered through such existing sources
are called secondary data.

52.  Secondary data, are data that already exist
and do not have to be collected by the
researcher.
 Some secondary sources of data are
statistical bulletins, government
publications, information published or
unpublished and available from either
within or outside the organization, library
records, data available from previous
research, online data, web sites, and the
Internet.

53.  Other types of information such as the
perceptions and attitudes of employees are
best obtained by talking to them; by
observing events, people, and objects; or by
administering questionnaires to individuals.
 Such data gathered for research from the
actual site of occurrence of events are
called primary data.

54.  Textbooks
 Academic and professional journals
 Theses: phD theses and Master theses.
 Conference proceedings
 Unpublished manuscripts
 Reports
 Newspapers
 The internet

55. Break
Examine
questions
variables
down
Fine-Tuning
Determine Set
necessary scope of
evidence study
Evaluate
hypotheses
3-55

56. 3-56
 Exhibit 3-7
 Budget Types
◦ Rule-of-thumb
◦ Departmental
◦ Task

57. MindWriter
Project Plan
3-57

58. Option Analysis
Decision Theory
Prior or Interim Evaluation
Ex Post Facto Evaluation
3-58

59. Purpose Methods Extent
Legally-
binding Timing
contract Written
proposals
establish
Obligations Delivery
Budgets
3-59

60. Research
Design
Designing
the Sampling
Research Design
Project
Pilot Testing
3-60

61. 3-61
Data Characteristics
 Abstractness
 Verifiability
 Elusiveness
 Closeness

62. Reducing data to manageable size
Developing summaries
Looking for patterns
Applying statistical techniques
3-62
© 2002 McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., McGraw-Hill/Irwin

63. Executive Research
Summary Overview
Research
Report
Technical Implementation
Appendix Strategies
3-63

64. Problem’s background
Summary of exploratory findings
Research design and procedures
Conclusions
3-64

65.  While Chrysler’s minivans, pickups, and
sports utilities take a big share at the truck
market, its cars trail behind those of General
Motors, Ford, Honda, and Toyota. Quality
problems include, among other things water
leaks and defective parts
( Business Week, No.10, 2007).

66. 1. Identify the broad problem area.
2. Define the problem?
3. Explain how you would proceed further.

67. 1. The broad problem is that the Chrysler cars
are lagging in market share.
2. The problem statement: How can the
market share of Chrysler cars be improved?

68. 3. It is best to interview the users of GM,
Ford, Honda, and Toyota car users and
obtain from them their reaction – both
positive and negative- to the cars they use,
and why they prefer them.
 Similar reactions from the users of Chrysler
cars should also be gathered. One should
proceed further based on the analysis of
these responses.

69.  Do the project assigned below, following
the step-by-step process outlined:
1. Compile a bibliography on any one of
the following topics, or any other topic
of interest to you:
• service quality • Celebrities in adds
• product development • Babies in adds
• open-market operations • Product and
• information systems geographical change
• Customer Satisfaction factor on sales or
product design.

70. 2. From this bibliography, select 10 references
that include books, periodicals, and
newspaper items.
3. Based on these 10 articles, write a literature
review using the citation forms
4. Formulate a problem statement.