Chapter3 Problem Definition

7/29/2019 Chapter3 Problem Definition

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Problem Definition and the

Research Proposal


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Problemdiscovery

Problem definition

(statement of

research objectives)

Secondary

(historical)

data

Experience

survey

Pilot

study

Case

study

Selection of

exploratory researchtechnique

Selection of

basic research

method

Experiment SurveyObservation

Secondary

Data StudyLaboratory Field Interview Questionnaire

Selection of

exploratory research

techniqueSampling

Probability Nonprobability

Collection of

data

(fieldwork)

Editing andcoding

data

Data

processing

Interpretation

of

findings

Report

Data

Gathering

Data

Processingand

Analysis

Conclusions

and Report

Research Design

Problem Discovery

and Definition

Copyright 2000 Harcourt, Inc. All rights reserved.


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COMPLETELY

CERTAIN

ABSOLUTE

AMBIGUITY

CAUSAL OR

DESCRIPTIVE

EXPLORATORY

REMEMBER - UNCERTAINTY INFLUENCES

THE TYPE OF RESEARCH


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PROBLEM DISCOVERY AND

DEFINITION FIRST STEP

PROBLEM, OPPORTUNITY, OR

MONITOR OPERATIONS

DISCOVERY BEFORE DEFINITION

PROBLEM MEANS MANAGEMENTPROBLEM


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The formulation of the problem isoften more essential than its

solution. To raise new questions,

new possibilities, to regard oldproblems from a new angle requires

creative imagination and marks real

advance in scienceAlbert Einstein

Copyright 2000 by Harcourt, Inc. All rights reserved.


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Problem definition

The indication of a specific business

decision area that will be clarified by

answering some research questions.


7/54Copyright 2000 Harcourt, Inc. All rights reserved.

Statement of

Research Objectives

Problem Definition

Defining Problem Results in

Clear Cut Research Objectives

Exploratory

Research

(Optional)

Analysis of

the Situation

Symptom Detection


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The Process of

Problem DefinitionAscertain the

decision makers

objectives

Understand

background of the

problem

Isolate/identify the

problem, not the

symptoms

Determine unit of

analysis

Determine relevant

variables

State research

questions and

objectives


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Ascertain the decision makers

objectives

Decision makers objectives

Managerial goals expressed in measurable

terms.


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The Iceberg Principle

The principle indicating that the dangerouspart of many business problems is neither

visible to nor understood by managers.


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Understand the background of

the problem.

Exercising Judgement

Situation analysis - The informal gathering

of background information to familiarize

researchers or managers with the decision

area.


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Isolate and identify the

problems, not the symptoms.

Symptoms Can Be Confusing


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Symptoms Can Be Confusing

Twenty-year-old neighborhood

swimming association

Membership has been declining for

years.

New water park -residents prefer the

expensive water park????

Demographic changes: Children have

grown up


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ProblemDefinition True

Organization Symptoms Based on Problem

Twenty-year-

old

neighbor-

hood

swimmingassociation

in a major

city.

Membership

has been

declining for

years. New

water park withwave pool and

water slides

moved into

town a few

years ago.

Residents

prefer the

expensive

water park

and havenegative

image of

swimming

pool.

Demographic

changes:

Children in this

20-year-old

neighborhoodhave grown up.

Older residents

no longer swim

anywhere.


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TOTIEMUL

ESTO

What Language is written on this

stone found by archaeologists?


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Determine the unit of analysis

Individuals, households, organizations, etc.

In many studies, the

family rather than the

individual is the

appropriate unit ofanalysis.


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Determine the relevant

VARIABLE

Anything that may assume different

numerical values


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Types of Variables

Categorical

Continuous

Dependent

Independent


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HYPOTHESIS

AN UNPROVEN

PROPOSITION

A POSSIBLE

SOLUTION TO

A PROBLEM GUESS


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State the research questions

and research objectives


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If you do not know where you are going,any road will take you there.


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Statement of

business

problem

Exploratory

research

(optional)

Statement of

business

problem

Broad

research

objectives

SpecificObjective 1

SpecificObjective 2

SpecificObjective 3

Research

DesignResults


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RESEARCH PROPOSAL

A WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE

RESEARCH DESIGN THAT INCLUDES

A STATEMENT EXPLAINING THEPURPOSE OF THE STUDY

DETAILED OUTLINE OF PROCEDURES

ASSOCIATED WITH A PARTICULARMETHODOLOGY


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Purpose of the Research Proposal

To present the question to be researched and

its importance

To discuss the research efforts of others

who have worked on related questions

To suggest the data necessary for solving

the question


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Types of Research Proposals

Internal

External


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The Research Sponsor

All research has a sponsor in one form or

another:

In a corporate setting, management

sponsors research

In an academic environment, the student is

responsible to the class instructor


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What are the Benefits of the

Proposal to a Researcher?

Allows the researcher to plan and review

the projects steps

Serves as a guide throughout the

investigation

Forces time and budget estimates


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Proposal Complexity

3 levels of complexity:

The exploratory studyis used for the most

simple proposals

Thesmall-scale studyis more complex and

common in business

The large-scale professional studyis the

most complex, costing millions of dollars


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How to Structure the Research

Proposal?

Create proposal modules

Put together various modules to tailor your

proposal to the intended audience


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Modules in a Research Proposal

Executive Summary

Problem Statement

Research Objectives Literature Review

Importance of the Study

Research Design Data Analysis

Nature and Form of Results

Qualifications of

Researcher

Budget Schedule

Facilities and Special

Resources Project Management

Bibliography

Appendices


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BASIC QUESTIONS -

PROBLEM DEFINITION

What is the purpose of the study?

How much is already known?

Is additional background information

necessary?

What is to be measured? How?

Can the data be made available?

Should research be conducted?

Can a hypothesis be formulated?


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BASIC QUESTIONS -

BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN

What types of questions need to be

answered? Are descriptive or causal findings

required?

What is the source of the data?


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BASIC QUESTIONS -

BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN

Can objective answers be obtained by

asking people?

How quickly is the information needed?

How should survey questions be

worded?

How should experimental manipulations

be made?


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BASIC QUESTIONS -

SELECTION OF SAMPLE

Who or what is the source of the data?

Can the target population be identified?

Is a sample necessary?

How accurate must the sample be?

Is a probability sample necessary?


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BASIC QUESTIONS -

SELECTION OF SAMPLE (cont.)

Is a national sample necessary?

How large a sample is necessary?

How will the sample be selected?


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BASIC QUESTIONS -

DATA GATHERING

Who will gather the data?

How long will data gathering take?

How much supervision is needed?

What operational procedures need to be

followed?


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BASIC QUESTIONS -

DATA ANALYSIS

Will standardized editing and coding

procedures be used?

How will the data be categorized?

What statistical software will be used?

What is the nature of the data?

What questions need to be answered?

AS C Q S O S


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BASIC QUESTIONS -

DATA ANALYSIS (cont.)

How many variables are to be

investigated simultaneously?

Performance criteria for evaluation?

BASIC QUESTIONS


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BASIC QUESTIONS -

TYPE OF REPORT

Who will read the report?

Are managerial recommendations

requested?

How many presentations are required?

What will be the format of the written

report?

BASIC QUESTIONS


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BASIC QUESTIONS -

OVERALL EVALUATION

How much will the study cost?

Is the time frame acceptable?

Is outside help needed?

Will this research design attain the

stated research objectives?

When should the research be

scheduled to begin?


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ANTICIPATING OUTCOMES

Dummy tables

Representations of the actual tables that will

be in the findings section of the final report;

used to gain a better understanding of what

the actual outcomes of the research will be.

Wh i l d i h


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What to include in the

Appendices?

A glossary of concepts, constructs, and

definitions

Samples of the measurement instrument

Other materials that reinforce the body of

the proposal


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Evaluating the Research Proposal

Proposal must be neatly written in

appropriate writing style

Major topics should be easily found and

logically organized

Proposal must meet specific guidelines set

by the sponsor

Technical writing style must be clearly

understood and explained


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Literature Review

Literature review involves identification

systematically, searching and analyzing

documents which contains informationrelated to the problem being researched


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Development of Literature Review

Data Set A

Data Set B

A Theory

B Theory

Main Issue/Topic

Related

Issues

Sub-theme X

Sub-theme Y


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Documents

Documents include

General Source

Newspaper, magazines etc

Secondary Source

Books, Reviews, research, etc

Primary SourceJournal, abstract, etc


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Doing the Literature Review

Identify the relevant sources

Bibliographic databases

Abstract databases

Full text databases

Extracting the relevant information

Writing the literature review


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Purpose of a literature review

Identify all that is already known

Help us to plan what needs to be done

Gives rational and justification for the further research

Forward the research strategy and specific proceduresincluding effective measurement untuk measure the

problem

Helps the researcher to avoid mistakes by building on the

strength of previous research Helps in interpreting the data and also the research findings


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Types of Literature review

Inclusive Seeks to identify and list everything that has been written on

a particular topic.

Inclusive/Evaluative Takes the inclusive approach a stage further by providing a

commentary on the literature in terms of its coverage and itscontribution to knowledge and understanding (Meta analysis)

Exploratory More focused. Seeks to discover existing research that might

throw light on a specific research question or issue. Classicliterature review in academic


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Types of Literature review

Instrumental Primary focus of the research is a business issue, and the

literature is used as a source of suitable ideas on how the

research question might best be tackled

Focus to identify useful methodology or research instrument to

provide an effective approach

Content Analysis

Detailed analysis of the content of a certain body of literatureor other documentary sources that are viewed as texts.

Counting how many times management of change was

mentioned in a literature

C id ti h iti


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Consideration when writing a

Literature review

More does not mean good

Areas where a lot of research has been done

do not need a lot of emphasis

New areas of research needs to be given

more emphasis


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The benefits of a Literature review

A good literature review ensures:

The important variables are not left out

Gives the researcher a clearer idea about the research Replicability of the findings can be increased

Problem statement can be made more clearly

Do not have to waste time researching something that has

already been done or established The problem being researched has high scientific value


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Writing a Literature review

Read other peoples literature review

Develop a theme from very general to very

specific

Use a organized system, discussion based

on each research question

Use a simple frame as guideline

Practice leads to perfection


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Why literature review is important?

To show the researcher has knowledge

about the topic of research

The research model is developed based on

the previous literature and strengthened by

the current understanding