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2. 1-2 McGraw-Hill/Irwin © 2003 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.,All Rights Reserved. Part One INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS RESEARCH

3. 1-3 Chapter One RESEARCH IN BUSINESS

4. 1-4 What is Business Research? A systematic Inquiry whose objective is to provide information to solve managerial problems.

5. 1-5 Why Study Research? Research provides you with the knowledge and skills needed for the fast-paced decision-making environment

6. 1-6 Why Managers need Better Information Global and domestic competition is more vigorous Organizations are increasingly practicing data mining and data warehousing

7. 1-7 The Value of Acquiring Research Skills To gather more information before selecting a course of action To do a high-level research study To understand research design To evaluate and resolve a current management dilemma To establish a career as a research specialist

8. 1-8 Types of Studies Used to do Research Reporting Descriptive Explanatory Predictive

9. 1-9 Different Styles of Research Applied Research Pure Research/Basic Research

10. 1-10 What is Good Research? Following the standards of the scientific method –Purpose clearly defined –Research process detailed –Research design thoroughly planned –Limitations frankly revealed –High ethical standards applied

11. 1-11 What is Good Research? (cont.) Following the standards of the scientific method (cont.) –Adequate analysis for decision- maker’s needs –Findings presented unambiguously –Conclusions justified –Researcher’s experience reflected

12. 1-12 The Manager-Researcher Relationship Manager’s obligations –Specify problems –Provide adequate background information –Access to company information gatekeepers Researcher’s obligations –Develop a creative research design –Provide answers to important business questions

13. 1-13 Manager-Researcher Conflicts Management’s limited exposure to research Manager sees researcher as threat to personal status Researcher has to consider corporate culture and political situations Researcher’s isolation from managers

14. 1-14 When Research Should be Avoided When information cannot be applied to a critical managerial decision When managerial decision involves little risk When management has insufficient resources to conduct a study When the cost of the study outweighs the level of risk of the decision

15. 1-15 Chapter Two APPLYING SCIENTIFIC THINKING TO MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS

16. 1-16 Sources of Knowledge Empiricists attempt to describe, explain, and make predictions through observation Rationalists believe all knowledge can be deduced from known laws or basic truths of nature Authorities serve as important sources of knowledge, but should be judged on integrity and willingness to present a balanced case

17. 1-17 The Essential Tenets of Science Direct observation of phenomena Clearly defined variables, methods, and procedures Empirically testable hypotheses Ability to rule out rival hypotheses Statistical justification of conclusions Self-correcting process

18. 1-18 Ways to Communicate Exposition –descriptive statements that merely state and do not give reason Argument –allows us to explain, interpret, defend, challenge, and explore meaning

19. 1-19 Important Arguments in Research Deduction is a form of inference that purports to be conclusive Induction draws conclusions from one or more particular facts

20. 1-20 The Building Blocks of Theory Concepts Constructs Definitions Variables Propositions and Hypotheses Theories Models

21. 1-21 Understanding Concepts A concept is a bundle of meanings or characteristics associated with certain events, objects, conditions, situations, and behaviors Concepts have been developed over time through shared usage

22. 1-22 Understanding Concepts The success of research hinges on: –how clearly we conceptualize –how well others understand the concepts we use

23. 1-23 What is a Construct? A construct is an image or idea specifically invented for a given research and/or theory-building purpose.

24. 1-24 Types of Variables Independent Dependent Moderating Extraneous Intervening

25. 1-25 The Role of the Hypothesis Guides the direction of the study Identifies facts that are relevant Suggests which form of research design is appropriate Provides a framework for organizing the conclusions that result

26. 1-26 What is a Good Hypothesis? A good hypothesis should fulfill three conditions: –Must be adequate for its purpose –Must be testable –Must be better than its rivals

27. 1-27 The Value of a Theory Narrows the range of facts we need to study Suggests which research approaches will yield the greatest meaning Suggests a data classification system Summarizes what is known about an object of study Predicts further facts that should be found

28. 1-28 Chapter Three THE RESEARCH PROCESS

29. 1-29 The Management-Research Question Hierarchy Management Dilemma Measurement Questions Investigative Questions Research Questions Management Questions Management Decision 1 2 3 4 5 6

30. 1-30 Working with the Hierarchy Management Dilemma –The symptom of an actual problem –Not difficult to identify a dilemma, however choosing one to focus on may be difficult

31. 1-31 Working with the Hierarchy Management Question Categories –Choice of purposes or objective –Generation and evaluation of solutions –Troubleshooting or control situation

32. 1-32 Working with the Hierarchy Fine tune the research question –Examine concepts and constructs –Break research questions into specific second-and-third-level questions –Verify hypotheses with quality tests –Determine what evidence answers the various questions and hypothesis –Set the scope of your study

33. 1-33 Working with the Hierarchy Investigative Questions –Questions the researcher must answer to satisfactorily arrive at a conclusion about the research question

34. 1-34 Working with the Hierarchy Measurement Questions –The questions we actually ask or extract from respondents

35. 1-35 Other Processes in the Hierarchy Exploration –Recent developments –Predictions by informed figures about the prospects of the technology –Identification of those involved in the area –Accounts of successful ventures and failures by others in the field

36. 1-36 Research Process Problems The Favored Technique Syndrome Company Database Strip-Mining Unresearchable Questions Ill-Defined Management Problems Politically Motivated Research

37. 1-37 Designing the Study Select a research design from the large variety of methods, techniques, procedures, protocols, and sampling plans

38. 1-38 Resource Allocation & Budgets Guides to plan a budget –Project planning –Data gathering –Analysis, interpretation, and reporting Types of budgeting –Rule-of-thumb –Departmental or functional area –Task

39. 1-39 Evaluation Methods Ex Post Facto Evaluation Prior Evaluation Option Analysis Decision Theory

40. 1-40 Contents of a Research Proposal Statement of the research question Brief description of research methodology Pilot Testing Data collection Data preparation Data analysis and interpretation Research reporting

41. 1-41 Data Collection Characterized by –abstractness –verifiability –elusiveness –closeness to the phenomenon Types –Secondary data –Primary data

42. 1-42 Final Steps in Research Data analysis Reporting the results –Executive summary –Overview of the research –Implementation strategies for the recommendations –Technical appendix

43. 1-43 Chapter Four THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL

44. 1-44 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

45. 1-45 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

46. 1-46 What are the Benefits of the Proposal to a Researcher? Allows the researcher to plan and review the project’s steps Serves as a guide throughout the investigation Forces time and budget estimates

47. 1-47 Types of Research Proposals Internal External

48. 1-48 Proposal Complexity 3 levels of complexity: The exploratory study is used for the most simple proposals The small-scale study is more complex and common in business The large-scale professional study is the most complex, costing millions of dollars

49. 1-49 How to Structure the Research Proposal? Create proposal modules Put together various modules to tailor your proposal to the intended audience

50. 1-50 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

51. 1-51 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

52. 1-52 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

53. 1-53 Chapter Five ETHICS IN BUSINESS RESEARCH

54. 1-54 What are Research Ethics? Ethics are norms or standards of behavior that guide moral choices about our behavior and our relationships with others The goal is to ensure that no one is harmed or suffers adverse consequences from research activities

55. 1-55 Ethical Treatment of Participants Begin data collection by explaining to the participant the benefits expected from the research Explain to the participants that their rights and well-being will be adequately protected, and say how this will be done Be certain that interviewers obtain the informed consent of the participant

56. 1-56 Deception The participant is told only part of the truth or when the truth is fully compromised To prevent biasing the participants before the survey or experiment To protect the confidentiality of a third party

57. 1-57 Issues Related to Protecting Participants Informed consent Debriefing Right to Privacy/Confidentiality Data Collection in Cyberspace

58. 1-58 Ethical Issues related to the Client Sponsor non-disclosure Purpose non-disclosure Findings non-disclosure Right to quality research

59. 1-59 Ethics Related to Sponsor Sometimes researchers will be asked by sponsors to participate in unethical behavior. To avoid coercion by sponsor the researcher should: –Educate sponsor to the purpose of research –Explain researcher’s role –Explain how distortion of the truth leads to future problems –If necessary, terminate relationship with sponsor

60. 1-60 Ethical Issues related to Researchers and Team Members Safety Ethical behavior of assistants Protection of anonymity