Chapter-6.pdf
- 1. CHAPTER-6 FORMULATION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM TEXT BOOK: ZIKMUND, W.G., BABIN,B.J., CARR,J.C., GRIFFIN,M., (2021) ,BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS, 9TH EDITION, CENGAGE LEARNING
- 2. 6–2 GOOD DECISIONS START WITH A GOOD PROBLEM DEFINITION Decision Statement A written expression of the key question(s) that the research user wishes to answer. Problem Definition The process of defining and developing a decision statement and the steps involved in translating it into more precise research terminology, including a set of research objectives.
- 3. Decision problem Research problem What should be done to increase the customer base of organic products in the domestic market What is the awareness and purchase intention of health conscious consumers for organic products How to reduce turnover What is the impact of shift duties on turnover intentions Can the housing and real estate growth be accelerated What is the current investment in real estate and housing How to improve the supply chain performance How does industry leader manages its supply chain MANAGEMENT DECISION PROBLEM RESEARCH PROBLEM
- 4. 6–4 THE PROBLEM-DEFINITION PROCESS Problem • When there is a difference between the current conditions and a more preferable set of conditions. Problems Mean Gaps • Business performance is worse than expected business performance. • Actual business performance is less than possible business performance. • Expected business performance is greater than possible business performance.
- 5. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION PROCESS Management Decision Problem Discussions with subject experts Review of existing literature Organization Analysis Qualitative analysis Management Research Problem / Question Research framework / Analytical model Statement of Research Objectives Formulation of Research Hypothesis
- 6. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION PROCESS Management decision problem: the issue/decision that needs to be resolved through research Discussion with experts: to get the right perspective on the issue, discussion/dialogue is held with subject/industry expert. Review of literature: the most valuable source of framing the research question is to review the past work done on related topic(s). Qualitative surveys: primary exploratory loosely structured surveys to attain the environmental context.
- 7. ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible web site, in whole or in part. EXHIBIT 6.2THE PROBLEM-DEFINITION PROCESS 6–7
- 8. 6–8 UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS DECISION Situation Analysis The gathering of background information to familiarize researchers and managers with the decision-making environment. Interview Process Develop many alternative problem statements Think about possible solutions to the problem Make lists Be open-minded
- 9. 6–9 UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS DECISION Identifying Symptoms Interrogative techniques Asking multiple what, where, who, when, why, and how questions about what has changed. Probing An interview technique that tries to draw deeper and more elaborate explanations from the discussion.
- 10. 6–10 WRITING MANAGERIAL DECISION STATEMENTS INTO CORRESPONDING RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Decision statements must be translated into research objectives. Once the decision statement is written, the research essentially answers the question, “What information is needed to address this situation?” Research objectives are the deliverables of the research project.
- 11. 6–11 DETERMINE THE UNIT OF ANALYSIS Unit of Analysis • Indicates what or who should provide the data and at what level of aggregation. Individuals (such as customers, employees, and owners) Households (families, extended families, and so forth) Organizations (businesses and business units) Departments (sales, finance, and so forth) Geographical areas Objects (products, advertisements, and so forth). • Multi-level analysis studies variables measured at more than one unit of analysis.
- 12. 6–12 DETERMINE THE RELEVANT VARIABLE What is a Variable? Anything that varies or changes from one instance to another; can exhibit differences in value, usually in magnitude or strength, or in direction.
- 13. The research problem also requires identification of the key variables under the particular study Research variables: To carry out an investigation, it becomes necessary to convert the concepts to be studied into empirically testable and observable variables Dependent variable – variable to be analysed /variable gets influenced by other variables Independent variable – variable that can be stated as influencing or impacting the dependent variable TYPES OF RESEARCH VARIABLES
- 14. A moderator is a variable that affects the strength of the relation between the predictor and criterion variable Moderator variable is a third party variable that modify the relationship between an independent variable (IV) and a dependent variable (DV). Objective of the moderator variable is to measure the strength of the relationship between the IV & DV. They have the potential to modify the direction and magnitude of the above stated association. MODERATING VARIABLE
- 15. A mediating variable explains the relation between the independent (predictor) and the dependent (criterion) variable. It explains how or why there is a relation between two variables. Intervening variables are the temporal occurrence which follows the independent variable and precedes the dependent variable INTERVENING/MEDIATING VARIABLE
- 17. Research objectives are to be formulated according to the basic thrust areas of the research which are crucial to the study being conducted This section makes active use of verbs such as 1. To find out 2. To determine 3. To establish 4. To measure STATEMENT OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
- 18. Any assumption that the researcher makes on the probable direction of the results that might be obtained on completion of the research process is termed as a hypothesis A hypotheses is any assumption/presupposition that the researcher makes about the probable direction of the results that might be obtained on the completion of the research process Types Descriptive Relational FORMULATION OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
- 19. 6–19 THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL Research Proposal • A written statement of the research design. Uses for the Proposal • As a planning tool • As a contract Funded Business Research • Basic research usually performed by academic researchers that is financially supported by some public or private institution as in federal government grants.