Chapter 1

Introduction to
Research
1
Why do research?
• Research allows you:
– to pursue your interests
– to learn something new
– to improve your problem-solving skills and
– to challenge yourself in new ways
1.1. Introduction
• People have been struggling to understand
their environment and the nature of the
phenomena it presents.
• One of the means people use to achieve these
ends is research.
• Research is a process of intellectual discovery,
which has the potential to transform our
knowledge and understanding of the world
around us.

3
• Research is a scientific and systematic process of
collecting and analysing information in order to
increase our understanding of the phenomenon about
which we are interested or concerned.
• Scientific research is a systematic attempt to obtain
answers to meaningful questions about phenomena or
events through the application of scientific procedures.
• Scientific research must be organized and undergo
planning.
– Scientific research follows a set of protocols and established
structures.
– scientific research has a goal and ultimate aim, repeated
and refined study gradually reaching an answer.
4
 Research & Its Objectives
What is Research?
• Research is the process of:
– defining and redefining problems
– formulating hypothesis
– collecting, organizing and evaluating data
– making deductions and reaching conclusions; and
– at last carefully testing the conclusions to
determine whether they fit the formulated
hypothesis

5
• It is a systematic, controlled, empirical and critical
investigation of hypothetical propositions about the
presumed relations among natural phenomena

• Research is an art of scientific investigation; based

on disciplined inquiry, studying something in a
planned manner and reporting it so that other
inquirers can replicate the process if they choose to
do so.

• Research is a scientific and systematic search for

pertinent information on a specific topic.
6
Objectives of Research
• To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to
achieve new insights into it
• To portray accurately the characteristics of a
particular individual, situation or a group
• To determine the frequency with which
something occurs or with which it is
associated with something else
• To test hypothesis of a causal relationship
between variables

7
Significance of Research:
• Research provides you with the knowledge and
skills needed for the fast-paced decision-making
environment.
• Research provides the basis for nearly all
government policies in our economic system.
• Global and domestic competition is more
dynamic and organizations are increasingly
practicing data mining and data warehousing.
• Used for solving various operational and planning
problems of businesses and industries.
• Research is equally important for social scientists
in studying social relationships and in seeking
answers to various social problems.
8
Characteristics of scientific research
• Although research projects vary in complexity and
duration, research typically has the following distinct
characteristics:
It originates with a problem/ an issue.
It requires clear articulation of a goal.
It requires a specific plan for proceeding.
It usually divides the principal problem into more
manageable sub problems.
It is guided by specific research question or
hypothesis.
It requires the collection and interpretation of
data.
It presupposes ethical neutrality.
9
1.2 Research Paradigms (Philosophies)
• A research paradigm is “the set of common beliefs and
agreements shared between scientists about how
problems should be understood and addressed” (Kuhn,
1962)
Research philosophy/paradigm
• relates to the development of knowledge and the nature of
that knowledge.
• contains important assumptions about the way in which the
researcher views the world.
• According to Guba (1990), research paradigms
can be characterized through their:
 Ontology – What is reality?
 Epistemology – How do you know something?
 Methodology – How do you go about finding it out?
 Ontology: ways of
constructing reality, “how
things really are” and “how
things really work” What is
Ontology reality?

Methodology:
What tools do we
use to know that Epistemology: different
reality? Research Paradigm forms of knowledge of that
reality, what nature of
relationship exists between
Methodology Epistemology the inquirer and the
inquired? How do we know
& Methods reality?
 a. Ontology
• Ontology is a branch of philosophy that examine
reality or truth and concerned with the nature of
existence
• It asks a question “what is reality?”
• Ontology is concerned with nature of reality.
• There are three common ontologies in
business research :
• Objectivist/ Positivistic
• Subjectivist/ constructivism/ Interpretive
• Pragmatism/ Critical
12
1. Objectivism: attempts to understand how social
entities exist independent of social actors
• This is the position that social entities exist in
reality external to social actors concerned with
their existence.
• In the philosophy of positivism the researcher
– assumes only phenomena that can be observed will
lead to the production of credible data
– is concerned with facts rather than impressions
– emphasis on quantifiable observations that lend
themselves to statistical analysis
– develop hypothesis and research strategy based on
theory
• will be likely to use a highly structured methodology
in order to facilitate replication
• Undertakes the research, as far as possible, in a
value-free way
• would claim to be external to the process of data
collection
2. Subjectivism: understanding the meanings that
individuals attach to social phenomena
– subjectivism, holds that social phenomena are
created from the perceptions and consequent
actions of those social actors concerned with
their existence.
– Subjectivism some times called constructivism
as it views reality as being socially constructed.
– Reality is viewed to be in a constant state
revision resulting from continuous social
interaction
• It is through interpretation of what individuals or
society perceive the reality and their interaction a
researcher can understand a social reality
• It employees qualitative method and common in social
science research.
3. Pragmatism/ Critical theorists are
concerned with action rather than
discovery
• Pragmatists believe that reality is constantly
renegotiated, debated, interpreted, and
therefore the best method to use is the one
that solves the problem
 b. Epistemology
• Epistemology is a branch of philosophy that deals
with how to examine or understand reality/truth and
deals with the nature of knowledge
• It asks a question how do we know reality?
• There are three world views on how to examine
reality/truth
– Knowledge can be measured objectively
– Reality needs to be interpreted for underlined
meaning
– Knowledge should be examined using best tools

18
 c. Methodology and Methods
• Although the terms methods and methodologies are
often used synonymously, the terms convey/carry
different meanings.
• A method is a particular research technique or
way to gather information about a phenomenon.
– Methods are specific tools we use in research projects to gain
fuller understanding of phenomena.
• Methodology describes “the theory of how research
should proceed”
• involves analysis of the principles and procedures in a
particular field of inquiry.
• It is the researcher’s ontological and epistemological
assumptions that inform the choice of methodology and
methods of research. 19
 Linking Research Paradigms with Research
Methodology
Research Quality
Paradigm Ontology Epistemology Methodology Methods Criteria
There is only Causal
one single Knowledge can be Research Numerical data
Positivism/ reality/truth measured Experimental collection Validity and
Objectivism (Realism) objectively designs techniques reliability
Qualitative
Reality needs to Research
be interpreted for methods (case
There are underlined studies,
multiple meaning with the phenomenolo Interview Triangulatio
Constructivism/ realities/ truths involvement of gy, and Observation n and
Interpretivism (Relativism) the researchers ethnography. Focus group Auditing
Both
quantitative
Reality is Knowledge and qualitative triangulation
constantly should be data collection ,
Pragmatism/ negotiated/deba examined using Action methods systematized
Critical Theory ted best tools Research (Mixed) reflexivity
20
1.3 Types of Research
– Applied vs Fundamental Research
• Applied Research or Action Research is carried
out to find solution to a real life problem
requiring an action or policy decision.

• Fundamental Research which is also known as

basic or pure research is undertaken for the sake
of knowledge without any intention to apply it
in practice. It is undertaken out of intellectual
curiosity and is not necessarily problem-
oriented.
21
 Descriptive vs Analytical Research
 Descriptive Research is a fact finding investigation
which is aimed at describing the characteristics of
individual, situation or a group (or) describing the
state of affairs as it exists at present.

 Analytical Research is primarily concerned with

testing hypothesis and specifying and interpreting
relationships, by analyzing the facts or information
already available.

22
 Quantitative vs Qualitative Research
• Quantitative Research is employed for measuring
the quantity or amount of a particular phenomena
by the use of statistical analysis.

• Qualitative Research is a non-quantitative type of

analysis which is aimed at finding out the quality of
a particular phenomenon.

23
 Conceptual vs Empirical Research
• Conceptual Research is generally used by
philosophers and thinkers to develop new
concepts or to reinterpret existing ones.

• Empirical Research is a data based research

which depends on experience or observation
alone. It is aimed at coming up with
conclusions without due regard for system
and theory.

24
Some other types of research..
• One-time Research – Research confined to a
single time period.
• Longitudinal Research – Research carried on
over several time periods.
• Diagnostic Research – It is also called clinical
research which aims at identifying the causes
of a problem, frequency with which it occurs
and the possible solutions for it.

25
 Exploratory Research – It is the preliminary study of an
unfamiliar problem, about which the researcher has
little or no knowledge.
 It is aimed to gain familiarity with the problem, to
generate new ideas or to make a precise formulation
of the problem. Hence it is also known as
formulative research
 Experimental Research – It is designed to assess the
effect of one particular variable on a phenomenon by
keeping the other variables constant or controlled.
 Historical Research – It is the study of past records and
other information sources, with a view to find the
origin and development of a phenomenon and to
discover the trends in the past, in order to understand
the present and to anticipate the future.
26
 1.4. Research Process
The Research Process includes the following steps:
1. Defining the research problem
2. Extensive literature survey
3. Developing hypothesis
4. Preparing the research design
5. Determining sample design
6. Collecting the data
7. Analysis of data
8. Hypothesis testing
9. Generalisations and interpretation
10. Preparation of the report
11. Communicating the results
27
The Research Process

28
 Discussion point

• How you selected a topic for your

undergraduate or previous
postgraduate research project/thesis?

29
Formulating and clarifying the research topic
• It is a very crucial starting point of your research
project.
• The research idea/title must originate from the mind
and heart of the researcher for the fact the successful
completion of a study is determined by
interest and motivation,
background/theoretical knowledge and
experience of the researcher
• Research idea usually comes from various sources
that the researcher comes across personal and
professional life.

30
 Quality of a research topic is evaluated from the points
Capability : is it feasible? Appropriateness: is it worthwhile?
 Does the topic fit the specifications
 Is the topic something with and meet the standards set by the
which you are really examining institution?
fascinated?
 Does your research topic contain
 Is the research topic achievable issues that have a clear link to
within the available time? theory?
 Will the project still be current  Are you able to state your research
when you finish your project? question(s) and objectives clearly?
 Is the research topic  Will your proposed research be able
achievable within the financial to provide fresh insights into this
resources that are likely to be topic?
available?  Are the findings for this research
 Are you reasonably certain of topic likely to be symmetrical: that is,
being able to gain access to of similar value whatever the
data you are likely to require outcome?
for this topic?  Does the research topic match your
31
career goals?
Sources of research Idea
1. Problem solving/practical problems
 problem solving studies are common in an
organizational/corporate/project/program and
professional setting,
 The research idea
• might spring from an experience of practical
problems researchers/others have had in their
personal lives or workplaces.
• It might come from reading of media,
government reports and organizational reports
etc……..
32
2. Previous Studies: “research begets research”
Researchers also choose research topics based on the
results of prior research, whether conducted by them
or by someone else.
–Research idea/topic may come from
• an extensive debate that has appeared in the
literature.
• It may also come from unanswered/ or not
properly answered research question/s on previous
studies.

33
 The interest in these type of studies can be:
 to build up on existing results
 to replicate a finding in different setting/conditions
 to disprove previous findings

• Such a research may contribute

– to fill gaps in literature
– to theory building,
– solving practical problems not yet addressed by
existing studies.
– It also highlights areas for further study
– Increase the usability of empirical findings

34
 3. Theory
• There are also a contesting theories for one
theory that leads to formation of research idea,
hypothesis and methodology to generate
alternative explanations or refutation of
existing theory.

35
 Discussion point

• Assume Your employer or organization gives you

a research topic for your MPMF research project.
How can you refine the topic and integrate the
requirement of the university and the
expectation of your employer.

36
 Turning research Idea to research question
 According to Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009), Most project
tutors will argue that one of the attributes of a good topic is
clearly defined research questions and objectives.
To turn your idea into a researchable problem:
1. Write one general focused research question
2. Write several sub-research questions or formulate
the research objectives
3. inform your definition of research questions and
objectives by theory
4. Justify the need for the proposed study/show the
rationale

37
 The justification/rationale can be
A. The problem/research question gap/s
practical problem/s with no sufficient
answer/solutions due to lack of prior studies
Mixed findings from previous studies which
limits the usability
inconsistencies between theory and practices
B. The knowledge gap
Much is not known about the issue due to no or
limited prior studies
Mixed empirical result and unresolved academic
debates
The need for replication
Re examining the validity of prior studies
38
C. Methodological gap
Methodological inadequacy
Incorrect methods
Poor sampling design
Poor research instrument
Exclusion of relevant variables
1.5 Defining the Research Problem
• In research process, the first and foremost step is
selecting and properly defining a research
problem.
• A researcher must find the problem and formulate it
so that it becomes susceptible to research.
• A research problem is some difficulty which a
researcher experiences in the context of either a
theoretical or practical situation and wants to obtain a
solution for it.

40
Technique in clearly defining a Problem
– Statement of the problem in a general way
– Surveying the available literature
– Understanding the nature of the problem
– Developing the ideas through discussions
– Rephrasing the research problem into a working
proposition.
– Identifying variables to be investigated
– Formulating Research question or Hypothesis
– Setting general and specific research objectives

41
• While selecting the Problem ( Title):
– Subject which is overdone should not be normally
chosen.
– Controversial subject should not become the choice of
an average researcher.
– Too narrow or too vague (fuzzy) problems should be
avoided.
– The subject selected for research should be familiar
and feasible so that the related research material or
sources of research are within one’s reach.
– Contact an expert or a professor in the University who
is already engaged in research
– Read articles published in current literature available
on the subject
– Discuss with others what you have in mind concerning
a problem.
– The costs involved and the time factor should be
considered

42