In the name of Allah Kareem, Most Beneficent, Most Gracious, the Most Merciful !

RESEARCH METHODS LECTURE: 1

In simple words Re-search mean “Search Again” What is Research ? In simple words Re-search mean “Search Again” OR “It is a process of gathering information to answer a question”

What is Business Research ? “Business Research is a systematic and objective process of gathering, recording and analyzing data for making good business decisions”

Examples of Business Research What is the best strategy to promote a particular product? (Marketing) What is the main reasons for employee turnover? (HRM) What is the rate of return on particular investment? (finance)

WHY WE SHOULD STUDY RESEARCH METHOD? The best reason for learning about research methods is that these methods are used by the Managers to answer the questions regarding day to day business problems. Following are some other implications of the research: 1- Management Is A Science: Management is a science to gather and interpret information in order to make effective decisions. 2- Reduce Uncertainty: The prime managerial value of business research is that it reduces uncertainty by providing required information and improves the following four stages of decision making: Identifying problems and opportunity. Diagnosing and assessing problems or opportunities. Selecting and implementing a course of action. Evaluating the course of action.

3- Conducting A Study: Research method course is very useful for you as you have to do your master’s thesis in order to complete your degree requirement and it is also helpful to you at some time in future because being a professional everyone wants to read and understand the most recent research in order to be up date in his profession. 4- Reading And Evaluating Other People’s Study: A grasp of research terminology will allow you to read and understand research articles and critically evaluate it. Rather than reading a summary of someone else’s research in a magazine, news paper, or textbook, you can read the original article your self and draw your own conclusion. 5- Understanding Brief Description Of Studies: A research method course will help you understanding abbreviated description of studies given as evidence supporting some conclusion or theory.

6- Thesis is based on Research : besides all the business related benefits of the research studies, it is also useful for your academic requirement of thesis as being compulsory for your degree 7- Making Decisions In Our Daily Lives: Besides becoming a researcher, to be an effective, participating member of 21st century one must understanding the research process in order to evaluate and act on research results. 8- Being A Better Thinker: The research methodology will also improve your thinking as it is a logical and objective method of finding answer to a question which may apply to all aspects of life. 9- Secret Of Success: “The secret of success is to know something nobody else knows” .

THEORY Theory is a standardized principle on which basis we can explain the relationship between two or more concepts or variables. PURPOSE OF THEORY Prediction and understanding are the two purpose of theory. LEVELS OF THEORY 1. Abstract level At the abstract level. Concepts and propositions are the elements of theory 2. Empirical level At the empirical level theory is concerned with variables and testable hypothesis, the empirical counterparts of concepts and propositions.

More Satisfaction increases the Motivation level Higher Temperature reduces the Productivity Theory Satisfaction & Motivation hard work & thirst Honesty and success Temperature & Productivity Height & Weight, Distance & Speed Proposition Hypothesis Height, Weight, Temperature, Distance Motivation, thirst, honesty, satisfaction concept variable Abstract level Empirical level

THEORY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS Induction process Deduction process Theory All rosebushes have thorns Deduction Induction Predicted Observation Actual Observation If I check my neighbor’s rose bushes, I should find that they all have thorns I notice that the five rosebushes in my backyard all have thorns

DEDUCTION AND INDUCTION 1. Theory 2. Hypothesis 1. General Research Questions Induction Deduction 3. Data Collection 2. Data Collection 4. Findings 3. Findings 5. Hypothesis confirmed or rejected 4. Generation of Theory 6. Revision of theory

Application Objective Time Dimension Inquiry Mode Classification of Research Application Basic or Pure Research Applied Research Objective Exploratory research Explanatory research Descriptive research Time Dimension Cross-sectional research Longitudinal research Inquiry Mode Qualitative research Quantitative research Mixed Methods research

RESEARCH PARADIGMS/ WORLD VIEWS Positivism Determination Reductionism Empirical observation and measurement Theory verification Interprretivism Understanding Multiple participant meanings Social and historical construction Theory generation Pragmatism Consequences of actions Problem centered Pluralistic Real-world practice oriented

RESEARCH PARADIGMS & PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS Sr.# Philosophical Assumption Positivism Interpretivism Pragmatism 1 Ontology: - What is the nature of reality? OR what is knowledge? Singular reality existing apart from researcher’s perception and cultural biases. (Objectivism) e.g. researchers reject or fail to reject hypothesis. Multiple realities shaped by researcher’s prior understanding (constructionism). e.g. researchers provides quotes to illustrate different perspectives. Singular and multiple realities. e.g. researchers test hypothesis and provide multiple perspectives. 2 Epistemology: - What is the relationship between the researcher and that being researched? What is regarded as acceptable knowledge and how we know it? Distance and impartiality (e.g. researchers objectively collect data on instruments.) Acceptable knowledge is gained through sense and is objectively real. (Objective) Closeness (e.g. researchers visit participants at their sites to collect data) It is cased on the perceptions of the individuals about the world. (Subjective) Practicality (e.g. researchers collect data by “what work” to address research question). Objective + Subjective 3 Axiology: - What is the role of values? Unbiased (e.g. researchers use checks to eliminate bias) Biased (e.g. researchers actively talk about their biases and interpretations) Multiple stances. (e.g. researchers include both biased and unbiased perspectives)

Rhetoric: - Methodology: - Strategies of Inquiry Methods 4 What is the language of research? Formal style (e.g. researchers use agrees on definitions of variables) Informal style. (e.g. researchers write in s literary, informal style) Formal or informal (e.g. researchers may employ both formal and informal styles of writing). 5 Methodology: - What is the process of research? Deductive (e.g. researchers that an a priori theory) Inductive (e.g. researchers start with participants views and build “up” to patterns, theories and generalizations) Combining (e.g. researchers collect both Quantitative an Qualitative data and mix them ) 6 Strategies of Inquiry Surveys, experiments and field work Grounded theory, ethnography, case study and narratives Sequential, concurrent and transformative. 7 Methods Close ended questions, predetermined approaches numerical data, statistical analysis (Quantitative) Open ended questions, emerging approaches, and text and image analysis. (Qualitative) Both open and close ended questions; both emerging and predetermined approaches; both quantitative and qualitative data and analysis.

WHAT IS QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH? Quantitative Research Is "a formal, objective, systematic process in which numerical data are utilised to obtain information about the world“. It is inclined to be deductive. In other words it tests theory. GENERAL AIMS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH? To Generalize To Be Objectives To Test Theories or Hypotheses

STRATEGIES ASSOCIATED WITH QUANTITATIVE APPROACH EXPERIMENTAL Experimental research provides a framework for establishing a relationship between causes and effects. In experimental the researcher acts as a inactive agent and use deductive reasoning to prove or falsify hypothesis. This involves manipulating an independent variable (cause) and observing the outcome on dependent variable (effect) while controlling the extraneous variables. Moreover, random sampling, manipulation and control are the characteristics of the true experiments. SURVEYS Surveys include cross-sectional and longitudinal studies using questionnaires or structured interviews for data collection, with the intent of generalizing from a sample to a population

PROCESS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH 1- THEORY 2- HYPOTHESIS 3- RESEARCH DESIGN 4- DEVISE MEASURES OF CONCEPTS 5- SELECT RESEARCH SITE 6- SELECT RESEARCH SUBJECT/ RESPONDENTS 7- ADMINISTER RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS/ COLLECT DATA 8- PROCESS DATA 9- ANALYZE DATA 10- FINDINGS/ CONCLUSIONS Adapted from: Bryman, A. and Bell, E. (2003) ‘ Business Research Methods’, second edition, Oxford University Press. Pp. 155 11- WRITE UP FINDINGS/ CONCLUSIONS

WHAT IS QUALITATIVE RESEARCH? Qualitative Research Is “an informal, subjective research approach that usually emphasizes words rather than numbers in the collection and analysis of data” and that is inductive in nature. In other words it generates theory. GENERAL AIMS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH? To add understanding to a phenomenon or the complexities of human behavior It does not claim to generalize To generate theory therefore it is inductive rather than deductive

STRATEGIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE QUALITATIVE APPROACH? Case Study Attempts to shed light on a phenomenon by studying in depth a single case example of the phenomena.  The case can be an individual person, an event, a group, or an institution. Grounded Theory Theory is developed inductively from a corpus of data acquired by a participant-observer. Phenomenology Describes the structures of experience as they present themselves to consciousness, without recourse to theory, deduction, or assumptions from other disciplines Ethnography Focuses on the sociology of meaning through close field observation of socio-cultural phenomena. Typically, the ethnographer focuses on a community. Narrative A from of inquiry in which the researcher studies the lives of individual and ask one or more to provide stories about their lives and in the end, the narrative combine views from the participants’ life with those of researcher’s life in a collaborative narrative.

MAIN STEPS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH? 1. General Research Question 2. Selecting Relevant Site(s) and Subjects 3. Collection or Relevant Data 5a. Collection of Further Data 4. Interpretation of Data 5. Conceptual and Theoretical Work 5b. Tighter Specification of the Research Question (s) 6. Writing up Findings/Conclusions

THE BASIC PROCESS OF QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH? Another preliminary consideration before designing and conducting research is to review and know the basic elements of both quantitative and qualitative research so that to choose an appropriate approach. These elements are discussed in the next table.

Elements of Qualitative Research Tend Toward….. Process of Research Elements of Quantitative Research Trend Toward… Interpretivism Paradigm Positivism Point on view of participants Understand meaning individuals give to a phenomenon inductively Contextual understanding Intent of the research Point of view of researcher Test a theory deductively to support or refute it Generalization Minor role Justifies problem How literature is used Major role Identifies questions and hypotheses Ask open-ended questions Understand the complexity of a single idea How intent is focused Ask closed-ended questions Test specific variables that form hypotheses or questions Words and images From a few participants at a few research sites Studying participants at their location. Natural setting Data is collected at Micro level How data are collected Numbers From many participants at many research sites Sending or administering instruments to participants Artificial setting Data is collected at Macro level

Text or image analysis Themes Larger patterns or generalizations. How data are analyzed Numerical statistical analysis Rejecting hypotheses or determining effect sizes Using validity procedures that rely on the participants, the researcher, or the reader How data are validated Using validity procedures based on external standards, such as judges, past research, statistics Researcher is close Identifies personal stance Reports bias Role of the researcher Researcher is distant Remains in background Take steps to remove bias

MIXED METHODS APPROACH A mixed methods approach is one in which the researcher tends to base knowledge claims on pragmatic grounds (e.g., consequence-oriented, problem-centered, and pluralistic). It employs strategies of inquiry that involve collecting data either simultaneously or sequentially to best understand research problem. The data collection also involve gathering both numeric information (e.g., on instruments) as well as text information (e.g., on interview) so that the final database represents both quantitative and qualitative information.

STRATEGIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MIXED METHODS APPROACH Sequential Procedures Sequential procedures, in which the researcher seeks to elaborate on or expand the findings of one method with another method. This may involve beginning with a qualitative method for exploratory purposes and following up with a quantitative method with a large sample so that the researcher can generalize results to a population. Alternatively, the study may begin with a qualitative method involving detailed exploration with a few cases or individuals. Concurrent Procedures Concurrent procedures, in which the researcher converges quantitative and qualitative data in order to provide a comprehensive analysis of the research problem. In this design, the investigator collects both forms of data at the same time during the study and then integrates the information in the interpretation of the overall results. Also, in this design, the researcher nests one from the data within another, larger data collection procedure in order to analyze different questions or levels of units in an organization. Transformative Procedures This strategy involve the data collection either through sequential or a con-current approach, but after the initial analysis, there searcher uses procedure to transform one data type into the other data type. This is accomplishing result which facilitates comparison, interrelation and further analysis of two data sets.

QUALITATIVE, QUANTITATIVE AND MIXED METHODS APPROACH TEND TO OR TYPICALLY QUALITATIVE APPROACHES QUANTITATIVE APPROACHES MIXED METHODS APPROACHES Use these philosophical assumptions Interpretatism Paradigms Positivist Paradigms Pragmatic Paradigms Employ these strategies of inquiry Phenomenology. Grounded theory, ethnography, case study, and narrative Surveys and Experiments Sequential, concurrent, and transformative Employ these methods Open-ended questions, emerging approaches , text or image data Closed-ended questions, predetermined approaches, numeric data Both open and closed-ended questions, both emerging and predetermined approaches, and both quantitative and qualitative data and analysis. Use these practices of research, as the researcher Positions himself or herself Collects participant meanings Focuses on a single concept or phenomenon Brings personal values into this study Studies the context or setting of participants Validates the accuracy of findings Makes interpretation of the data Creates on agenda for change or reform Collaborates with the participants Tests or verifies theories or explanations Identifies variables to study Relates variables in questions or hypothesis Uses standards of validity and reliability Observe and measures information numerically Uses undecided approaches Employs statistical procedures Collects both quantitative and qualitative data Develops a rationale for mixing integrates the data at different stages of inquiry Present visual pictures of the procedures in the study Employs the practices of both qualitative and quantitative research

Assignment Please read the following articles thoroughly and prepare a research report of 2500 words and a Presentation covering the Comparison on the basis of elements of research approaches which you have covered in today’s class (page:17 in handouts) Articles Churn management in telecom industry of Pakistan: A Comparative study of Ufone and Telenor By: Sadia Jahanzeb and Sadia Jabeen ‘To Adapt or Not to Adapt’ Exploring the Role of National culture in HRM – A Study of Pakistan By: Shaista E. khilji Linking individual performance to business strategy: the people process model By: Lynda Gratton, Veronica Hope-Hailey et al.

Instructions: Submit soft copy (On CD) and properly binded hard copy of both report and presentation to Resource person at student office on due date You could be requested for the presentation followed by a question answer session in group form in the upcoming class. Notes on presentation:   The aim of the presentation is to allow students to gain constructive feedback from their peers regarding their comparative reports as well as allowing them to demonstrate their presentation skills. The structure of the presentation will largely mirror the structure of the report and thus contain the comparison on basis of three basic research approaches i.e. qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods. Points to consider when marking presentations are: Timing of presentation Clarity of presentation Structure of the presentation Quality of overheads, handouts etc. Application of theory to practice Ability to answer questions effectively Use of sources of information

ELEMENTS OF RESEARCH PROCESS SAMPLE COMPARISON CHART S. No. R. P. Elements Title of article # 1 Title of article # 2 Title of article # 3 1   2 3 4 5 6 7 8

SUPERIOR GROUP OF COLLEGES THANK YOU SUPERIOR GROUP OF COLLEGES 32