Research Tools and Techniques

Introduction to Research

Lecture 2

What We Are Going To Cover In This Lecture

• The Difference Between Applied and Basic Research.

• Knowledge about External and Internal Research Consultants.

• Ethics in Business Research.

• Eight Characteristics of Scientific Investigation.

TYPES OF BUSINESS RESEARCH

• Applied research: “A type of business research to solve a current problem

faced by the managers in his/her work setting demanding a timely solution”.

Example: A product (water heater) is not selling well for an organization (PEL appliances)

• Basic/fundamental/pure research: “The research done to generate a body of knowledge to

understand how certain problems that occur in the organization can be solved”.

Example: Research done by a college professor to find out leave taking behavior in organizations.

WHY BASIC RESEARCH IS DONE

• More knowledge is generated• Such knowledge can be applied later• Theories can be built on it

Examples Research into the causes and consequences of

global warming Research done by a college professor to

understand job involvement & interest.

MANAGERS & RESEARCH

• A manager has to understand, predict and control events for which research knowledge is necessary.

• Research enhances managerial problem solving abilities especially problems of a minor nature.

• Research helps in troubleshooting.• Research is basically a process of finding

solutions to a problem.• Research sharpens the sensitivity of managers

to the myriad of variables in a given situation.• Research is a useful decision making tool.• By research knowledge the vested interests of a

group can not prevail i.e. Data camouflaging can be reduced.

THE MANAGER AND THE CONSULTANT RESEARCHER

• From Where to Locate and Select a Researcher:Organizational consulting firms.Business colleges.

• The Manager Researcher Relationship:The roles and expectations of both parties should be made explicit.Relevant philosophies and value systems of the organization should

be clearly stated & constraints if any communicated.A good rapport should be established between all concerning parties.

INTERNAL Vs EXTERNAL CONSULTANTS

• Internal Consultants

a. Management Services Department

b. Organization & Methods Department

c. Research & Development Department

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF THE INTERNAL CONSULTANTS

• Advantages of Internal Consultants1. Readily accepted2. They require less time to understand the organizational environment3. They are available for the implementation of the research findings as well4. Costs less

• Disadvantages of the Internal Consultants1. Stereotyping of the organization2. Influence of the powerful coalitions within the organization3. False perceptions about the internal consultants4. Biases by the internal consultants

EXTERNAL TEAM ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES• Advantages• More experienced• More knowledge of current sophisticated problem solving models

• Disadvantages• The cost of hiring is more• It takes time for them to adjust with the organization environment

• Charge additional fee for assistance in implementation

ETHICS IN BUSINESS RESEARCH• Malpractices by the Researcher vis-à-vis Data

Collection & Presentation + Errors and Negligence in Data Collection + Data Supporting Self Serving Assumptions + Wrong Presentation of the Facts• Malpractices by the Researcher vis-à-vis the Subjects

of Research + Human Subjects Review Board + Identification of the Subject + Subjects Placed at Risk of Criminal Liability,

Employability, Reputation or Mental or Physical Harm etc.

WHAT IS SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONScientific research focuses on solving problems and pursues a step by step, logical, organized and rigorous method to identify the problems, gather data, analyze them and draw valid conclusions therefrom.

• Scientific research is not based on hunches, experiences & intuition (though these may play a part in final decision making)

• It has comparable findings.• Scientific research is applied to both basic & applied research.

• Lack of time is the hindrance in undertaking step by step scientific research.

• In such cases probability of making wrong decisions rises.

THE HALLMARKS/CHARACTERISTICS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH1.1.PURPOSIVENESSPURPOSIVENESS2.2.RIGORRIGOR3.3.TESTABILITYTESTABILITY4.4.REPLICABILITYREPLICABILITY5.5.PRECISION AND CONFIDENCEPRECISION AND CONFIDENCE6.6.OBJECTIVITYOBJECTIVITY7.7.GENERALIZABLILTYGENERALIZABLILTY8.8.PARSIMONYPARSIMONY

THE HALLMARKS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHThese are the main distinguishing characteristics of scientific research

•We expound them with the help of example Example: “A manager is interested in increasing the employee commitment to his organization”.

1. PURPOSIVENESS• The scientific research has a definite aim or purpose (why

we are doing it)

Have less turnover, less absenteeism less turnover, less absenteeism and better better performanceperformance

2. RIGORCarefulness, scrupulousness and a degree of exactitude.

RIGOR

DEVELOPING GOOD THEORATICAL

BASE

HAVING A SOUND METHODOLOGICAL

DESIGN

1. Right variables identification

1. How many questions to be asked from a set number of employees

2. The way or pattern in which the questions should be asked

3. TESTABILITY

• The hypothesis developed from a good theoretical The hypothesis developed from a good theoretical foundation can be tested by applying statistical tests to foundation can be tested by applying statistical tests to the data collected.the data collected.

• ExampleExample Those employees who perceive greater opportunities for Those employees who perceive greater opportunities for

participation in decision making would have a higher participation in decision making would have a higher level of commitment.level of commitment.

Correlational analysisCorrelational analysis Chi-square testChi-square test T-testT-test• Do data support what we are saying?Do data support what we are saying?

4. REPLICABILITY

From testing the data we can prove again and again the similar results (for the same hypothesis) over time and over different locations – Provided conditions remain constant.

Research TopicGovt. of Pakistan “Reasons of Poverty in Southern Punjab Region”.

UNICEF

5. PRECISION & CONFIDENCE• Precision: Precision refers to the closeness of the findings to reality based

on a sample.

• Absenteeism:1. Actual number of working days lost in an organization = 35

2. Scientific research = 30-40 days/year are lost in an organization

3. Findings of ordinary investigation = 20-50 days/year are lost in an organization

CONFIDENCE:• Confidence refers to the probability that our findings are

correct.• We say that 95% of the time our results would be true and

there are only 5% chances that we may be wrong.• In social sciences this %age is acceptable.

alpha = 0.05

6. OBJECTIVITY:• Conclusion drawn on the basis of facts not

based on subjective values• A research finding “The involvement in decision making will

improve the commitment level of employees proves false”

• But in spite of this conclusion, the researcher advocates this statement loses objectivity

• The more objective our interpretation the more scientific research is

• The findings should be stripped of personal values and bias

• Objectivity not subjectivity should be our focus

7. GENERALIZABILITY:• If the conditions are same in different organizations; the

research findings can be applied to others as well.• Applied research is less generalizable than basic

research.

8. PARSIMONY:

• Simplicity in explaining the phenomena is preferred to a complex research framework

• If 2 to 3 factors can explain 80% of phenomena and the rest 7 factors explain the 20% then one can skip the 7 factor to make the research simple

• Economization within the research model• Parsimony in selection of identifiable variables with the

situation

Example:

VARIABLE 1 SELECTED

VARIABLE 2 SELECTED

VARIABLE 3 REJECTED X

VARIABLE 4 SELECTED

VARIABLE 5 REJECTED X

VARIABLE 6 REJECTED X

VARIABLE 7 SELECTED

VARIABLE 8 SELECTED

NUMBER OF VARIABLES INITIALLY SELECTED

8

AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION

5

SOME OBSTACLES IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH IN THE MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

Management (scientific research) 100% scientific = x

Because• Feelings/emotions/attitudes/perceptions are hard to measure

• Difficulty in obtaining the representative sample