DEPARTMENT OF MBA

II semester

Research Methodology and IPR

23MBA2C1

MODULE 1
Introduction to Business Research
MEANING OF RESEARCH
Research in common parlance refers to a search for
knowledge.
Research is a scientific and systematic search for pertinent
information on a specific topic.
“Research is a careful investigation or inquiry specially
through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge.”
MEANING OF RESEARCH
Redman and Mory define research as a “systematized effort to gain
new knowledge.”
According to Clifford Woody research comprises defining and
redefining problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions;
collecting, organizing and evaluating data; making deductions and
reaching conclusions; and at last carefully testing the conclusions to
determine whether they fit the formulating hypothesis.
 MOTIVATION IN RESEARCH
1. Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential benefits
2. Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problems, i.e.,
concern over practical problems initiates research
3. Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work
4. Desire to be of service to society
5. Desire to get respectability
TYPES OF RESEARCH
 Descriptive
 Applied / Fundamental
 Quantitative / Qualitative
 Conceptual / Empirical
 Some Other Types of Research
Descriptive research
 Descriptive research includes surveys and fact-finding
enquiries of different kinds.
 The major purpose of descriptive research is description of
the state of affairs as it exists at present.
 In social science and business research we quite often use
the term Ex post facto research for descriptive research
studies
Descriptive research
 The main characteristic of this method is that the
researcher has no control over the variables; he
can only report what has happened or what is
happening.
 Most ex post facto research projects are used for
descriptive studies in which the researcher seeks to
measure such items as, for example, frequency of
shopping, preferences of people, or similar data
Descriptive Research
 Ex post facto studies also include attempts by researchers
to discover causes even when they cannot control the
variables.
 The methods of research utilized in descriptive research
are survey methods of all kinds, including comparative
and correlational methods.
Applied VS. Fundamental Research
Research can either be applied (or action) research or fundamental
(to basic or pure) research.
Applied research aims at finding a solution for an immediate
problem facing a society or an industrial/business organisation,
whereas fundamental research is mainly concerned with
generalizations and with the formulation of a theory.
“Gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake is termed ‘pure’ or
‘basic’ research.”
TAM Model
Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research
 Quantitative research is based on the measurement of
quantity or amount.
 It is applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in
terms of quantity.
 Qualitative research, on the other hand, is concerned
with qualitative phenomenon, i.e., phenomena relating to
or involving quality or kind.
Conceptual vs. Empirical Research
Conceptual research is that related to some abstract idea(s) or theory.
It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new
concepts or to reinterpret existing ones.
On the other hand, empirical research relies on experience or
observation alone, often without due regard for system and theory.
It is data-based research, coming up with conclusions which are
capable of being verified by observation or experiment.
Conceptual vs. Empirical Research
We can also call it as experimental type of research.
In such a research it is necessary to get at facts firsthand, at
their source, and actively to go about doing certain things
to stimulate the production of desired information.
In such a research, the researcher must first provide
himself with a working hypothesis or guess as to the
probable results.
Conceptual vs. Empirical Research
 Empirical research is appropriate when proof is sought that
certain variables affect other variables in some way.
 Evidence gathered through experiments or empirical studies is
today considered to be the most powerful support possible for a
given hypothesis.
Some Other Types of Research:
One-time research or longitudinal research. In the former
case the research is confined to a single time-period,
whereas in the latter case the research is carried on over
several time-periods.
Research can be field-setting research or laboratory
research or simulation research, depending upon the
environment in which it is to be carried out.
Significance of Research
Research inculcates scientific and inductive thinking and it
promotes the development of logical habits of thinking and
organisation.
Significance of Research
 Research provides the basis for nearly all government
policies in our economic system.
 Research has its special significance in solving various
operational and planning problems of business and
industry.
 Research is equally important for social scientists in
studying social relationships and in seeking answers to
various social problems
Research Process
Formulating the Research Problem
 A researcher must find the problem and formulate it so
that it becomes susceptible to research.
 Like a medical doctor, a researcher must examine all the
symptoms (presented to him or observed by him)
concerning a problem before he can diagnose correctly.
 To define a problem correctly, a researcher must know:
what a problem is?
Formulating the Research Problem
The best way of understanding the problem is to discuss it
with one’s own colleagues or with those having some
expertise in the matter.
In an academic institution the researcher can seek the help
from a guide who is usually an experienced man and has
several research problems in mind.
Formulating the Research Problem
This task of formulating, or defining, a research problem is
a step of greatest importance in the entire research process.
The problem to be investigated must be defined
unambiguously for that will help discriminating relevant
data from irrelevant ones.
Extensive literature survey
Once the problem is formulated, a brief summary of it should be
written down.
It is compulsory for a research worker writing a thesis for a Ph.D.
degree to write a synopsis of the topic and submit it to the necessary
Committee or the Research Board for approval.
At this juncture the researcher should undertake extensive literature
survey connected with the problem.
Extensive literature survey
For this purpose, the abstracting and indexing journals and
published or unpublished bibliographies are the first place to
go to.
Academic journals, conference proceedings, government
reports, books etc., must be tapped depending on the nature
of the problem.
Extensive literature survey
In this process, it should be remembered that one source
will lead to another.
The earlier studies, if any, which are similar to the study in
hand should be carefully studied.
A good library will be a great help to the researcher at this
stage.
Development of working hypotheses
After extensive literature survey, researcher should state in
clear terms the working hypotheses.
Working hypothesis is tentative assumption made in order
to draw out and test its logical or empirical consequences.
Development of working hypotheses
How does one go about developing working hypotheses?
The answer is by using the following approach:
(a) Discussions with colleagues and experts about the problem, its
origin and the objectives in seeking a solution;
(b) Examination of data and records, if available, concerning the
problem for possible trends, peculiarities and other clues;
Development of working hypotheses
How does one go about developing working hypotheses?
The answer is by using the following approach:
(c) Review of similar studies in the area or of the studies on similar
problems; and
(d) Exploratory personal investigation which involves original field
interviews on a limited scale with interested parties and individuals
with a view to secure greater insight into the practical aspects of the
problem.
Preparing the research design
The research problem having been formulated in clear cut
terms, the researcher will be required to prepare a
research design, i.e., he will have to state the conceptual
structure within which research would be conducted.
The preparation of such a design facilitates research to be
as efficient as possible yielding maximal information.
Preparing the research design
In other words, the function of research design is to provide
for the collection of relevant evidence with minimal
expenditure of effort, time and money.
But how all these can be achieved depends mainly on the
research purpose.
Preparing the research design
The preparation of the research design, appropriate for a
particular research problem, involves usually the consideration of
the following:
(i) the means of obtaining the information
(ii) the availability and skills of the researcher and his staff (if any)
Preparing the research design
(iii) explanation of the way in which selected means of obtaining
information will be organized and the reasoning leading to the
selection
(iv) the time available for research
(v) the cost factor relating to research, i.e., the finance available
for the purpose.
Determining sample design
All the items under consideration in any field of inquiry constitute
a ‘universe’ or ‘population’.
A complete enumeration of all the items in the ‘population’ is
known as a census inquiry.
It can be presumed that in such an inquiry when all the items are
covered no element of chance is left and highest accuracy is
obtained.
But in practice this may not be true.
Determining sample design
Census inquiry is not possible in practice under many
circumstances.
For instance, blood testing is done only on sample basis.
Hence, quite often we select only a few items from the universe for
our study purposes.
The items so selected constitute what is technically called a sample.
Collecting the data
In dealing with any real life problem it is often found that data at
hand are inadequate, and hence, it becomes necessary to collect
data that are appropriate.
There are several ways of collecting the appropriate data which
differ considerably in context of money costs, time and other
resources at the disposal of the researcher.
 Primary data
 Secondary data
Analysis of data
After the data have been collected, the researcher turns to
the task of analyzing them.
The analysis of data requires a number of closely related
operations such as establishment of categories, the
application of these categories to raw data through coding,
tabulation and then drawing statistical inferences
Hypothesis-testing
After analyzing the data as stated above, the researcher is in a
position to test the hypotheses, if any, he had formulated earlier.
Do the facts support the hypotheses or they happen to be
contrary?
This is the usual question which should be answered while testing
hypotheses.
Hypothesis-testing
Various tests, such as Chi square test, t-test, F-test, have been
developed by statisticians for the purpose.
The hypotheses may be tested through the use of one or more of
such tests, depending upon the nature and object of research
inquiry.
Hypothesis-testing will result in either accepting the hypothesis or
in rejecting it.
Hypothesis-testing
If the researcher had no hypotheses to start with,
generalizations established on the basis of data may be
stated as hypotheses to be tested by subsequent
researches in times to come.
Generalizations and interpretation:
If a hypothesis is tested and upheld several times, it may be
possible for the researcher to arrive at generalization, i.e., to build
a theory.
As a matter of fact, the real value of research lies in its ability to
arrive at certain generalizations.
Generalizations and interpretation:
If the researcher had no hypothesis to start with, he might seek to
explain his findings on the basis of some theory.
It is known as interpretation.
The process of interpretation may quite often trigger off new
questions which in turn may lead to further researches.
Preparation of the report
Finally, the researcher has to prepare the report of what has been
done by him.
Writing of report must be done with great care keeping in view the
following:
1. The layout of the report should be as follows: (i) the preliminary
pages; (ii) the main text, and (iii) the end matter.
Preparation of the report
2. Report should be written in a concise and objective style in
simple language avoiding vague expressions such as ‘it seems,’
‘there may be’, and the like.
3. Charts and illustrations in the main report should be used only if
they present the information more clearly and forcibly.
4. Calculated ‘confidence limits’ must be mentioned and the various
constraints experienced in conducting research operations may as
well be stated.
Research application in business decisions
Research Application in business decisions
Market Research
• Consumer Insights: Understanding customer needs, preferences,
and behaviors through surveys, focus groups, and interviews.
• Market Trends: Identifying and analyzing trends in the market to
anticipate changes and adapt strategies accordingly.
• Competitive Analysis: Assessing competitors' strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to inform competitive
strategies.
Research Application in business decisions
Human Resources Management
• Employee Satisfaction: Conducting surveys and interviews to
gauge employee satisfaction and identify areas for improvement.
• Recruitment and Selection: Using data to identify the most
effective recruitment channels and selection criteria.
• Performance Management: Developing and implementing
performance metrics and appraisal systems based on research
findings.
Research Application in business decisions
Marketing Strategy
• Segmentation and Targeting: Identifying distinct customer
segments and targeting them with tailored marketing strategies.
• Positioning: Researching and defining how a brand or product
should be perceived in the market relative to competitors.
• Marketing Mix: Optimizing the 4 Ps (Product, Price, Place,
Promotion) based on research findings to achieve marketing
objectives
 Ethical issues in business research
 Ethics is moral principles that govern a person's
behaviour or the conducting of an activity.
 Ethics, the philosophical discipline concerned with what is
morally good and bad and morally right and wrong.
 Moral principles are guidelines that people use to ensure
they are doing the right thing. They can include things like
honesty, fairness, and equality.
Ethical issues in business research
Voluntary participation: Your participants are free to opt
in or out of the study at any point in time.
Informed consent: Participants know the purpose,
benefits, risks, and funding behind the study before they
agree or decline to join.
Ethical issues in business research
Confidentiality: You know who the participants are but you keep
that information hidden from everyone else. You anonymize
personally identifiable data so that it can’t be linked to other data
by anyone else.
Potential for harm: Physical, social, psychological and all other
types of harm are kept to an absolute minimum.
Ethical issues in business research
Fairness and Non-Discrimination: Researchers should treat all
participants fairly and without discrimination. This includes
ensuring that all participants have an equal opportunity to take
part in the research.

● Respect for Intellectual Property: Proper acknowledgment and

citation of sources and contributions from other researchers are
essential. Plagiarism and misappropriation of ideas are serious
ethical violations.
Ethical issues in business research
Responsible Reporting: Researchers have a duty to report their
findings accurately and responsibly. This includes avoiding
misleading reporting, exaggeration of results, or omission of
relevant data.
Features of a good research study
1.The purpose of the research should be clearly defined and
common concepts be used.
2. The research procedure used should be described in sufficient
detail to permit another researcher to repeat the research for
further advancement, keeping the continuity of what has already
been attained.
3. The procedural design of the research should be carefully
planned to yield results that are as objective as possible
Features of a good research study
4. The researcher should report with complete frankness, flaws in
procedural design and estimate their effects upon the findings.
5. The analysis of data should be sufficiently adequate to reveal its
significance and the methods of analysis used should be
appropriate. The validity and reliability of the data should be
checked carefully
Features of a good research study
In other words, we can state the features of a good research as
under:
 Good research is systematic
 Good research is logical
 Good research is empirical
 Good research is replicable
 Problems Encountered by Researchers in
India
 The lack of a scientific training in the methodology of research
 There is insufficient interaction between the university research
departments on one side and business establishments, government
departments and research institutions on the other side.
 there is the need for generating the confidence that the
information/data obtained from a business unit will not be
misused.
 Problems Encountered by Researchers in
India
 Library management and functioning is not satisfactory at many
places and
 There is also the difficulty of timely availability of published data
 The difficulty of adequate and timely secretarial assistance,
Research Process
Defining the Research problem
 Defining the Research problem
A research problem, in general, refers to some
difficulty which a researcher experiences in the
context of either a theoretical or practical situation
and wants to obtain a solution for the same.
 Components of Research Problems
(i) There must be an individual or a group which has some
difficulty or the problem.
(ii) There must be some objective(s) to be attained at. If one
wants nothing, one cannot have a problem.
iii) There must be alternative means (or the courses of action) for
obtaining the objective(s) one wishes to attain. This means that
there must be at least two means available to a researcher for if
he has no choice of means, he cannot have a problem.
 Components of Research Problems
(iv) There must remain some doubt in the mind of a researcher
with regard to the selection of alternatives. This means that
research must answer the question concerning the relative
efficiency of the possible alternatives.
(v) There must be some environment(s) to which the difficulty
pertains.
Steps in defining research problems
Defining a research problem properly and clearly is a crucial part
of a research study and must in no case be accomplished hurriedly.
However, in practice this a frequently overlooked which causes a
lot of problems later on.
Hence, the research problem should be defined in a systematic
manner, giving due weightage to all relating points.
Steps in defining research problems
The technique for the purpose involves the undertaking of the following steps
generally one after the other:
(i) statement of the problem in a general way;
(ii) understanding the nature of the problem;
(iii) surveying the available literature
(iv) developing the ideas through discussions; and
(v) rephrasing the research problem into a working proposition.
Research Process
Literature review
Literature review on any subject is regarded as an in-
depth and critical assessment of the previous research
and is purely based on the secondary research.
It examines the work conducted in a particular area that
helps the readers in understanding the study in a better
manner.
Further, through literature review readers can draw the
reasons for conducting the proposed work.
Literature review
Literature review represents the theoretical facet for the
purpose of dealing with the explicit topic of the research.
The review of literature is conducted in the research
process so as to investigate various secondary sources.
Literature review
Further, on the basis of this information, a researcher can
determine the actual gap existing in the market, and it helps
in formulating strategies regarding accumulating data and
information
Literature review
During the entire process of research, conducting a
review of existing literature means most time consuming
process; a researcher has to refer to various journals,
articles, books, online sources and past theses.
Literature review - Example
Theoretical Background
The theoretical and conceptual framework explains the
path of a research and grounds it firmly in theoretical
constructs.
The overall aim of the two frameworks is to make
research findings more meaningful, acceptable to the
theoretical constructs in the research field and ensures
generalizability.
 Theoretical Background - Example
Research Title:
Customer perception on Mobile Wallets With Special
Reference to Google-Pay in Bengaluru City

Many theoretical models that explain end-users acceptance behaviour

have been proposed in the past, like:
Theory of Reasoned Action (Fishbein-Ajzen, 1980)
Technology Acceptance Model
( Davis,1989)
Theory of Planned Behaviour
(Aizen, 1991)