The document outlines a comprehensive guide on research methodology, emphasizing the importance of research in decision-making for managers. It distinguishes between applied and basic research, detailing various research designs such as exploratory, descriptive, and causal studies, alongside explanations of variables and data collection methods. Additionally, it highlights the data analysis process and the significance of hypothesis testing in addressing research problems.

1. Research Methodology
Prepared by: Marwa Abdel Rahman

2. Introduction to Research Methodology
Research is simply the process of finding solutions to a problem after
a thorough study and analysis of the situational factors. Managers in
organizations constantly engage themselves in studying and
analyzing issues and hence are involved in some form of research
activity as they make decisions at the workplace. Decision making
process is the essence of research and to be a successful manager it is
important to know how to go about making the right decisions by
being knowledgeable about the various steps involved in finding
solutions to problematic issues.
Business research as an organized, systematic, data-based, critical,
objective, scientific inquiry or investigation into a specific problem,
undertaken with the purpose of finding answers or solutions to it. In
essence, research provides the needed information that guides
managers to make informed decisions to successfully deal with
problems.

3. Types of Business Research
Research can be undertaken for two different
purposes:
One is to solve a current problem faced by the
manager in the work setting, demanding a timely
solution. For example, a particular product may not
be selling well and the manager might want to find
the reasons for this in order to take corrective action.
Such research is called applied research.
The other is to generate a body of knowledge by
trying to comprehend how certain problems that occur
in organizations can be solved. This is called basic
research.

4. Research Process

5. Types of Research Design
1) Exploratory Study
An exploratory study is undertaken when not much is known about
the situation at hand, or no information is available on how similar
problems or research issues have been solved in the past. In such
cases, extensive preliminary work needs to be done to gain familiarity
with the phenomena in the situation, and understand what is
occurring, before we develop a model and set up a rigorous design for
comprehensive investigation.
In essence, exploratory studies are undertaken to better comprehend
the nature of the problem since very few studies might have been
conducted in that area. Extensive interviews with many people might
have to be undertaken to get a handle on the situation and
understand the phenomena. More rigorous research could then
proceed.

6. Types of Research Design
Example on Exploratory Study
The manager of a multinational corporation is curious to know if the
work ethic values of employees working in its subsidiary in Pennathur
City would be different from those of Americans. There is very little
information about Pennathur (except that it is a small city in southern
India), and since there is considerable controversy about what work
ethic values mean to people in other cultures, the manager’s curiosity
can be satisfied only by an exploratory study, interviewing the
employees in organizations in Pennathur. Religion, political, economic,
and social conditions, upbringing, cultural values, and so on play a
major role in how people view their work in different parts of the world.
Here, since very little is known about work ethic values in India (or
even if it is a viable concept for study in that country, as per
discussions in a later chapter), an exploratory study will have to be
undertaken.

7. Types of Research Design
2) Descriptive Study
A descriptive study is undertaken in order to ascertain and be able to
describe the characteristics of the variables of interest in a situation.
For instance, a study of a class in terms of the percentage of members
who are in their senior and junior years, sex composition, age
groupings, number of semesters left until graduation, and number of
business courses taken, can be considered as descriptive in nature.
Quite frequently, descriptive studies are undertaken in organizations
to learn about and describe the characteristics of a group of employees,
as for example, the age, educational level, job status, and length of
service of Hispanics or Asians, working in the system. Descriptive
studies are also undertaken to understand the characteristics of
organizations that follow certain common practices. For example, one
might want to know and be able to describe the characteristics of the
organizations that implement flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) or
that have a certain debt-to-equity ratio.

8. Types of Research Design
Example on Descriptive Study
A CEO may be interested in having a description
of organizations in her industry that follow the
LIFO system. In this case, the report might
include the age of the organizations, their
locations, their production levels, assets, sales,
inventory levels, suppliers, and profits. Such
information might allow comparison later of the
performance levels of specific types of companies.

9. Types of Research Design
3) Causal Study
A study in which the major emphasis is on Cause-and-
Effect relationships. It involves experiment where an
independent variable is changed or manipulated to see
how it affects a dependent variable by controlling the
effects of extraneous variables.
Example on Causal Study
How does having a working mother affect a child’s
school absenteeism?

10. Type of my research is:
Because:

11. Types of Data
There are 2 types of data as following;
1) Secondary Data
They are the data that already exist and do not have to be collected by the
researcher. Data gathered through existing sources such as certain types of
information such as the background details of the company that can be
obtained from available published records.
2) Primary Data
They are the data gathered for research from the actual site of occurrence of
events. They are certain other types of information such as the perceptions
and attitudes of employees that are best obtained by talking to them; by
observing events, people, and objects; or by administering questionnaires to
individuals.

12. My research data is:
Because:

13. Research Problem
Definition:
A problem does not necessarily mean that something is
seriously wrong with a current situation that needs to
be rectified immediately. A “problem” could simply
indicate an interest in an issue where finding the right
answers might help to improve an existing situation.
Thus, it is fruitful to define a problem as any
situation where a gap exists between the actual
and the desired ideal states. Basic researchers
usually define their problems for investigation from this
perspective.

14. Research Problem
Definition:
Problem definition or problem statement, as it is also often referred to, is
a clear, precise, and succinct statement of the question or issue that is to be
investigated with the goal of finding an answer or solution. As mentioned
earlier, problem definitions could pertain to:
1) existing business problems where a manager is looking for a solution,
2) situations that may not pose any current problems but which the manager
feels have scope for improvement,
3) areas where some conceptual clarity is needed for better theory building, or
4) situations in which a researcher is trying to answer a research question
empirically because of interest in the topic. The first two fall within the
realm of applied research, and the latter two under basic research.

15. My research problem is:

16. Variables (Theoretical Framework)
Definition:
A variable is anything that can take on differing or varying values. The values
can differ at various times for the same object or person, or at the same time
for different objects or persons. Examples of variables are production units,
absenteeism, and motivation.
Types of Variables
There are four main types of variables as following:
1)The dependent variable (also known as the criterion variable).
2)The independent variable (also known as the predictor variable).
3)The moderating variable.
4)The intervening variable.

17. Variables (Theoretical Framework)
1) Dependent Variable
The dependent variable is the variable of primary interest to the
researcher. The researcher’s goal is to understand and describe
the dependent variable, or to explain its variability, or predict it.
In other words, it is the main variable that lends itself for
investigation as a viable factor. Through the analysis of the
dependent variable (i.e., finding what variables influence it), it is
possible to find answers or solutions to the problem. For this
purpose, the researcher will be interested in quantifying and
measuring the dependent variable, as well as the other variables
that influence this variable.

18. Variables (Theoretical Framework)
2) Independent Variable
An independent variable is one that influences the
dependent variable in either a positive or negative way.
That is, when the independent variable is present, the
dependent variable is also present, and with each unit of
increase in the independent variable, there is an increase or
decrease in the dependent variable also. In other words, the
variance in the dependent variable is accounted for by the
independent variable. To establish causal relationships, the
independent variable is manipulated.

19. Variables (Theoretical Framework)
Diagram of the relationship between the independent variable (new
product success) and the dependent variable (stock market price).

20. Variables (Theoretical Framework)
3) Moderating Variable
The moderating variable is one that has a strong
contingent effect on the independent variable–
dependent variable relationship. That is, the
presence of a third variable (the moderating
variable) modifies the original relationship
between the independent and the dependent
variables. This becomes clear through the
following

21. Variables (Theoretical Framework)
The Distinction between an Independent Variable and a
Moderating Variable
At times, confusion is likely to arise as to when a variable is to be
treated as an independent variable and when it would become a
moderating variable.

22. Variables (Theoretical Framework)
4) Intervening Variable
An intervening variable is one that surfaces between
the time the independent variables start operating to
influence the dependent variable and the time their
impact is felt on it. There is thus a temporal quality or
time dimension to the intervening variable. The
intervening variable surfaces as a function of the
independent variable(s) operating in any situation, and
helps to conceptualize and explain the influence of the
independent variable(s) on the dependent variable.

23. Variables (Theoretical Framework)
Diagram of the relationship among the independent,
intervening, and dependent variable.

24. Variables (Theoretical Framework)
Diagram of the relationship among the independent, intervening, moderating,
and dependent variables.

25. My Research Variables
Type of Variable Name of Variable Description

26. Research Hypothesis
Definition of Hypothesis
A hypothesis can be defined as a logically conjectured
relationship between two or more variables expressed in the
form of a testable statement. Relationships are conjectured on
the basis of the network of associations established in the
theoretical framework formulated for the research study. By
testing the hypotheses and confirming the conjectured
relationships, it is expected that solutions can be found to
correct the problem encountered.
Example
If the pilots are given adequate training to handle midair
crowded situations, air-safety violations will be reduced.

27. Research Hypothesis
The above is a testable statement. By measuring the extent of
training given to the various pilots and the number of safety
violations committed by them over a period of time, we can
statistically examine the relationship between these two
variables to see if there is a significant negative correlation
between the two. If we do find this to be the case, then the
hypotheses is substantiated. That is, giving more training to
pilots in handling crowded space in midair will reduce safety
violations. If a significant negative correlation is not found,
then the hypotheses would not have been substantiated. By
convention in the social sciences, to call a relationship
“statistically significant,” we should be confident that 95 times
out of 100 the observed relationship will hold true. There would
be only a 5% chance that the relationship would not be
detected.

28. My Research Hypothesis is

29. Research Population
Population refers to the entire group of people, events, or things of interest
that the researcher wishes to investigate. For instance, if the CEO of a
computer firm wants to know the kinds of advertising strategies adopted by
computer firms in the Silicon Valley, then all computer firms situated there
will be the population.
If a banker is interested in investigating the savings habits of blue-collar
workers in the mining industry in the United States, then all blue-collar
workers in that industry throughout the country will form the population. If
an organizational consultant is interested in studying the effects of a 4 day
workweek on the white-collar workers in a telephone company in Southern
Illinois, then all white-collar workers in that company will make up the
population. If regulators want to know how patients in nursing homes run by
Beverly Enterprises are cared for, then all the patients in all the nursing
homes run by them will form the population. If, however, the regulators are
interested only in one particular nursing home in Michigan run by Beverly
Enterprises, then only the patients in that specific nursing home will form the
population.

30. Research Sample
A sample is a subset of the population. It comprises some
members selected from it. In other words, some, but not all,
elements of the population would form the sample. If 200
members are drawn from a population of 1,000 blue-collar
workers, these 200 members form the sample for the study.
That is, from a study of these 200 members, the researcher
would draw conclusions about the entire population of the 1,000
blue-collar workers. Likewise, if there are 145 in-patients in a
hospital and 40 of them are to be surveyed by the hospital
administrator to assess their level of satisfaction with the
treatment received, then these 40 members will be the sample.
A sample is thus a subgroup or subset of the population. By
studying the sample, the researcher should be able to draw
conclusions that would be generalizable to the population of
interest.

31. My Research Population / Sample:

32. Types of Samples
There are two major types of sampling designs:
probability and nonprobability sampling. In
probability sampling, the elements in the
population have some known chance or
probability of being selected as sample subjects.
In nonprobability sampling, the elements do
not have a known or predetermined chance of
being selected as subjects.

33. Types of Samples
1) PROBABILITY SAMPLING
When elements in the population have a known
chance of being chosen as subjects in the
sample, we resort to a probability sampling
design. Probability sampling can be either
unrestricted (simple random sampling) or
restricted (complex probability sampling) in
nature.

34. Types of Samples
2) NONPROBABILITY SAMPLING
In nonprobability sampling designs, the elements in
the population do not have any probabilities attached
to their being chosen as sample subjects. This means
that the findings from the study of the sample cannot
be confidently generalized to the population. As stated
earlier, however, researchers may at times be less
concerned about generalizability than obtaining some
preliminary information in a quick and inexpensive
way. They would then resort to nonprobability
sampling. Sometimes nonprobability sampling could
be the only way to obtain data.

35. Types of my research samples is:
Because:

36. Types of my research samples is:
Because:

37. Data Collection Methods
Data collection methods are an integral part of research design.
There are several data collection methods, each with its own
advantages and disadvantages. Problems researched with the
use of appropriate methods greatly enhance the value of the
research. Data can be collected in a variety of ways, in different
settings—field or lab—and from different sources.
Data collection methods include interviews—face-to-face
interviews, telephone interviews, computer-assisted interviews,
and interviews through the electronic media; questionnaires
that are either personally administered, sent through the mail,
or electronically administered; observation of individuals and
events with or without videotaping or audio recording; and a
variety of other motivational techniques such as projective tests.

38. Data Collection Methods
Interviewing, administering questionnaires, and
observing people and phenomena are the three main
data collection methods in survey research. Projective
tests and other motivational techniques are also
sometimes used to tap variables. In such cases,
respondents are usually asked to write a story,
complete a sentence, or offer their reactions to
ambiguous cues such as inkblots or unlabeled pictures.
It is assumed that the respondents project into the
responses their own thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and
expectations, all of which can be interpreted by trained
psychologists.

39. Data Collection method used in my
research is:

40. Data Analysis Process

41. Basic Objectives in Data Analysis
In data analysis we have three objectives:
1) getting a feel for the data,
2) testing the goodness of data,
3) and testing the hypotheses developed for the
research.
The feel for the data will give preliminary ideas of
how good the scales are, how well the coding and
entering of data have been done, and so on.

42. Methods for Data Analysis
Among the methods used, we can use;
1) T-test
2) ANOVA
3) Chi-square
4) Multiple regression analysis

43. Data analysis method used in my
research: