1. RESEARCH METHODS Introduction to Research Lecture 1:by
Daing Nasir Ibrahim, Phd, CA(M), FCPA

2. What Is Research?
Definition: An organised, systematic, data-based critical scientific inquiry or investigation into a specific problem, undertaken with the objective of finding answers or solutions to it.
Outcome: Information that enables managers to make decisions to rectify problems.
Data : Primary (first-hand) or Secondary (readily available); Quantitative or Qualitative

3. Research Methods: The ways in which research studies are designed and the procedures by which data are analysed
Survey Methodology: Research conducted by collecting data and analysing them to come up with answers to various issues of interest to us.

4. Types of Research
Applied Research: Research done with the intention of applying the results of its finding to solving specific problems currently being experienced in the organisation.
Basic Research: Research done with the intention to generate more knowledge and understanding of the phenomena that occur and to build theories based on the research results.
Both types of research follow the same steps of systematic inquiry to arrive at solutions to problems.

5. Managers and Research: The value of acquiring research skills
Manager as research-based decision maker
Subordinate employee as researcher
Manager as research service buyer or evaluator
Manager as evaluator of secondary data source
Research specialist

6. Purpose of Research
Reporting: elementary level; provide an account or summation of data or to generate statistics; simple when data is available; some inference and conclusion drawing.
Descriptive Study: Tries to discover answers to the question who, what, when, where, and, sometimes, how.

7. Purpose of Research
Explanatory: attempts to explain the reasons for the phenomenon that the descriptive study only observed. The researcher uses theories or at least hypotheses to account for the forces that caused a certain phenomenon to occur.
Predictive: Is just as rooted in theory as explanation.
Control: Being able to replicate a scenario and dictate a particular outcome is the objective of control

8. What is a Good Scientific Research?
Purposiveness
Started with a definite aim and purpose
Rigor
A good theoretical base and a sound methodological design
Testability
Lends itself to testing logically developed hypotheses
Replicability
Research results supported when research is repeated in other similar circumstances

9. What is a Good Scientific Research?
Precision and Confidence
Closeness of findings to reality and probability that estimations are correct, respectively
Objectivity
Conclusions drawn are based on facts resulting from the actual data
Generalizability
The scope of applicability of the research findings in one settings to other settings
Parsimony
Simple in explaining phenomena or problems that occur, and in the application of solutions to problems

10. Hypothetico-Deductive Method
A method of scientific investigation via exposition and argument (deduction and induction)
Deduction: – arrive at a conclusion by logically generalizing from a known fact. For a deduction to be correct, it must be true and correct.
Induction:- on observing certain phenomena and on that basis arrive at conclusions.
D and I are applied in scientific investigation.
Theories based on D & I help us to understand, explain, or predict business phenomena.

11. Hypothetico-Deductive Method
Seven steps in hypothetico-deductive method:
Observation
Preliminary information gathering
Theory formulation
Hypothesising
Further scientific data collection
Data analysis
Deduction

12. Research Process SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH DESIGN OBSERVATION
Broad area of research interest identified
PROBLEM DEFINITION
Research problem delineated
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Variables clearly identified and labeled
HYPOTHESES GENERATION
SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH
DESIGN
PRELIMINARY DATA GATHERING
Interviewing & Literature Survey
DEDUCTION
Hypotheses substantiated? Research questions answered
DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

13. Stages in the Research Process
The stages overlap continuously, i.e., overlap chronologically and functionally interrelated
Forward linkage - early stages of the research process will influence the design of the later stages
Backward linkage - the late stages of the research process will have an influence on the early stages