Defining Research Problem
01132391
Basic Research Methods in Business
Bougie, R. and Sekaran, U. (2020). Research Methods for Business: A Skill Building Approach.
Defining Research Problem
The Defining The
Introduction Management Research
Problem Problem
Research Managerial
Proposal implications Ethical Issues
Learning Objective
1. Narrow down the management problem into a research problem.
2. Develop a good research problem.
3. Develop a research proposal.
4. Be aware of the role of the manager in the early stages of the research
process.
5. Be aware of the role of ethics in the early stages of the research process.
Introduction
Introduction
▪ Last chapter, we have explained that there are two
types of situations that may or may call for
research:
– situations where managers are proactively looking for
decision opportunities and
– situations where something is “broken that needs to be
fixed”
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Thus, in this chapter, we will look at
defining the research problem.
Research objective Research questions
________________ ________________
The Management Problem
The Management Problem
▪ Applied research starts with a management problem.
– The existing situation
– Why this situation is problematic (the change motive or the
motive for doing research)
– The desired situation (the management of objective)
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Defining The Research Problem
Defining The Research Problem
• The researcher is in a position to
define the research problem
• It is critical that the research
problem is unambiguous, specific
and focused.
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Defining The Research Problem
A good problem statement include both a statement of
the research objective(s) and the research question(s).
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Research Problem
▪ Research Problem:
– Research objective
– Research questions
Defining The Research Problem
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Defining The Research Problem
A research objective – _______________________________
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Example
a. Under which circumstances do we still have to transform the
following management objective into a research objective?
"To reduce sick leave with 40% within the next 12 months."
b. Develop a relevant and feasible research objective from this
management objective.
Example: Research objectives
▪ To find out what motivates consumers to buy a product
online.
▪ To study the effect of leadership style on employees’ job
satisfaction.
▪ To investigate the relationship between capital structure
and profitability of the firm.
▪ To establish success factors regarding the adoption and use
of information systems.
▪ To determine the optimal price for a product.
▪ To investigate the influence of the in-store shopping
environment on impulse buying.
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Example: Research objectives
▪ To establish the determinants of employee involvement.
▪ To understand the causes of employee absence.
▪ To investigate the long-term profitability of a certain
market (obviously the market has to be specified).
▪ To identify market segments.
▪ To determine the level of employee commitment.
▪ To find out whether the organization is in control.
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Defining The Research Problem
Research Research
Objective Question
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Defining The Research Problem
The research question(s) specify what you want to
learn about the topic
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Defining The Research Problem
The research question(s) are the translation of the
problem of the organization into a specific need for
information.
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Example: Research questions
▪ How has the new packaging affected the sales of the
product?
▪ Has the new advertising massage resulted in enhanced
recall?
▪ How do price and quality rate on consumers’ evaluation of
products?
▪ Does better automation lead to greater asset investment per
dollar of output?
▪ What are the effects of downsizing on the long-range
growth patterns of companies?
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Example
▪ Box 4.1
Management problem translated into research problem
Management problem Research problem
(management objective) Research objective Research questions
To improve the The purpose of this study is 1. What are the factors that affect the
customers’ waiting twofold: perceived waiting experience of
experience, customer 1. To identify the factors airline passengers and to what
satisfaction and service that influence the extent do these factors affect the
evaluations. passengers’ waiting perception of waiting times?
experience and 2. What are the affective
2. To investigate the consequences of waiting and how
possible impact of does affect mediate the
waiting on customer relationship between waiting and
satisfaction and service service evaluations?
evaluations 3. How do situational variables
(such as filled time) influence
customer reactions to the waiting
experience?
Management problem translated into research problem
Management problem Research problem
(management objective) Research objective Research questions
To improve the The purpose of this study is 1. What are the factors that affect the
customers’ waiting twofold: perceived waiting experience of
experience, customer 1. To identify the factors airline passengers and to what
satisfaction and service that influence the extent do these factors affect the
evaluations. passengers’ waiting perception of waiting times?
experience and 2. What are the affective
2. To investigate the consequences of waiting and how
possible impact of does affect mediate the
waiting on customer relationship between waiting and
satisfaction and service service evaluations?
evaluations 3. How do situational variables
(such as filled time) influence
customer reactions to the waiting
experience?
Management problem translated into research problem
Management problem Research problem
(management objective) Research objective Research questions
To improve the The purpose of this study is 1. What are the factors that affect the
customers’ waiting twofold: perceived waiting experience of
experience, customer 1. To identify the factors airline passengers and to what
satisfaction and service that influence the extent do these factors affect the
evaluations. passengers’ waiting perception of waiting times?
experience and 2. What are the affective
2. To investigate the consequences of waiting and how
possible impact of does affect mediate the
waiting on customer relationship between waiting and
satisfaction and service service evaluations?
evaluations 3. How do situational variables
(such as filled time) influence
customer reactions to the waiting
experience?
Research Problem
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Good research problem
Relevant Feasible
Interesting
Good research problem
- Research is relevant if it relates to
an information problem that currently
Relevant Feasible
existing in an organizational setting
- An area that a manager believes
needs to be improved in the
Interesting
organization
Good research problem
- You are able to answer the research
Relevant Feasible questions within the restrictions of
the research project.
Interesting
Good research problem
- Research is a time-consuming
Relevant Feasible process. Therefore, it is vital that you
are genuinely interested in the
problem statement you are trying to
Interesting answer. (stay motivated throughout
the entire research process.
Basic Types of Research Questions
▪ Exploratory
▪ Descriptive
▪ Causal
Exploratory research questions
▪ Not much is known about the situation at hand, or
no information is available on how similar
problems or research issues have been solved in
the past.
▪ Topic is highly complex
▪ There is not enough theory available to guide the
development
Exploratory research questions
▪ Exploratory research often relies on qualitative
approach to data gathering
– Informal discussion
– Interview
– Focus groups
– Case studies
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Descriptive research questions
▪ Enable the researcher to obtain data that describes the topic
of interest
▪ Descriptive research studies are often designed to collect
data that describe characteristics of objects
– Persons, organization, product, brands
▪ Descriptive research is either quantitative or qualitative in
nature
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Descriptive research questions
▪ Descriptive studies may help the researcher to:
– Understand the characteristics
– Think systematically
– Offer ideas
– Help make certain decision
Descriptive research questions
Causal research questions
▪ Delineating one or more factors that are causing a
problem.
– For instance, How does perceived value affect
consumer purchase intentions?
X Y
__________ __________
Causal research questions
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After you have defined the research
problem, you are ready to start your
research
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You need to communicate the problem
statement and a number of other important
aspects of the study
- Such as the scope of the study,
- the procedures to be followed,
- the time frame and
- budget
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Research Proposal
The development of a research proposal
Research Proposal
▪ There should be an agreement between the person
who authorizes the study and the researcher as to
the management problem, the research problem to
be investigated, the methodology to be used, the
duration of the study and its cost.
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Research Proposal
▪ This is usually accomplished through a research
proposal which the researcher submits and gets
approved by the sponsor who issues a letter of
authorization to proceed with the study
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Research Proposal
▪ The research proposal drawn up by the
investigator is the result of a planned, organized,
and careful effort.
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Research Proposal contains (1)
▪ Working title.
▪ Background of the study.
▪ The problem statement.
- The purpose of the study.
- Research questions.
▪ The scope of the study.
▪ The relevance of the study.
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Research Proposal contains (2)
▪ The research design offering details on:
a. Type of study
b. Data collection methods
c. The sampling design.
d. Data analysis.
▪ Time frame of the study
▪ Budget
▪ Selected bibliography.
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The research proposal to study retention
of new employees
▪ Model 4.1
The research proposal to study retention
of new employees
▪ Model 4.1
Managerial implications
Managerial implications
▪ Manager’s inputs help researchers to define the
management problem and to narrow down the
management problem into a feasible topic for
research.
▪ A well-developed research proposal allows managers
to judge the relevance of the proposed study.
▪ Information exchange between the manager and the
researcher during all the important stages of the
research process will definitely enhance the
managerial relevance and the quality of the research
effort.
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Ethical issues
Ethical issues
▪ The researcher needs to assess his or her research
capabilities
– If the researcher does not have the skills or resources to carry
out the project, he or she should decline the project.
▪ If the researcher decides to carry out the project, it is
necessary to inform all the employees – particularly
those who will be asked to participate in the study
▪ It is also necessary to assure employees that their
responses will be kept confidential by the interviewer/s
and that individual responses will not be divulged to
anyone in the organization
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End
