McGraw-Hill/IrwinCopyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. THE RESEARCH PROCESS: AN OVERVIEW Chapter 4

4-2 Learning Objectives Understand … That research is decision- and dilemma-centered. That the clarified research question is the result of careful exploration and analysis and sets the direction for the research project.

4-3 Learning Objectives Understand... How value assessments and budgeting influence the process for proposing research, and ultimately, research design. What is included in research design, data collection, and data analysis. Research process problems to avoid.

4-4 The Research Process Stage 1:Clarifying the Research question Stage 2:Proposing Research Stage 3:Designing the Research Stage 4:Data Collection & Preparation Stage 5:Data Analysis & Interpretation Stage 6:Reporting the Results

4-5 Stage 1: Clarifying the Research Question Management-research question hierarchy process begins by identifying the management dilemma

4-6 Stage 3: Designing the Research

4-7 Stage 4: Data Collection

4-8 Data Types Primary Secondary

4-9 Stage 5: Data Analysis &Interpretation

4-10 Stage 6: Reporting the Results

4-11 Research Process Problems to Avoid Ill-defined management problem Unresearchable questions Politically-motivated research

4-12 Research Process Problems to Avoid Company Database Strip-mining Favored Techniques Syndrome

4-13 Key Terms Data  Primary data  Secondary data Data analysis Decision rule exploration Management dilemma Management Problems Pilot test Research design Research process Research questions Sample Target population