1. Research Tools and Techniques
Introduction to Research
Lecture 2

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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. INTERNAL Vs EXTERNAL CONSULTANTS
Internal Consultants
Management Services Department
Organization & Methods Department
Research & Development Department

8. ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF THE INTERNAL CONSULTANTS
Advantages of Internal Consultants
Readily accepted
They require less time to understand the organizational environment
They are available for the implementation of the research findings as well
Costs less
Disadvantages of the Internal Consultants
Stereotyping of the organization
Influence of the powerful coalitions within the organization
False perceptions about the internal consultants
Biases by the internal consultants

9. EXTERNAL TEAM ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES
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

10. 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.

11. WHAT IS SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION
Scientific 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.

12. 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.

13. THE HALLMARKS/CHARACTERISTICS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
PURPOSIVENESS
RIGOR
TESTABILITY
REPLICABILITY
PRECISION AND CONFIDENCE
OBJECTIVITY
GENERALIZABLILTY
PARSIMONY

14. THE HALLMARKS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
These 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”.

15. 1. PURPOSIVENESS
The scientific research has a definite aim or purpose (why we are doing it)
Have less turnover, less absenteeism and better performance

16. 2. RIGOR Carefulness, scrupulousness and a degree of exactitude.
1. Right variables identification
How many questions to be asked from a set number of employees
The way or pattern in which the questions should be asked

17. 3. TESTABILITY
The hypothesis developed from a good theoretical foundation can be tested by applying statistical tests to the data collected.
Example
Those employees who perceive greater opportunities for participation in decision making would have a higher level of commitment.
Correlational analysis
Chi-square test
T-test
Do data support what we are saying?

18. 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 Topic
Govt. of Pakistan “Reasons of Poverty in Southern Punjab Region”.
UNICEF

19. 5. PRECISION & CONFIDENCE
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 = days/year are lost in an organization
3. Findings of ordinary investigation = days/year are lost in an organization

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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.

23. 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

24. Example: VARIABLE 1 SELECTED VARIABLE 2 VARIABLE 3 REJECTED X
NUMBER OF VARIABLES INITIALLY SELECTED 8
AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION 5

25. 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