Research Methodology

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Research Methodology

• Chapter 2 3

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CHAPTER 2
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Scientific Method

• It is a systematic step-by-step procedure
  following the logical processes of reasoning
• Science is independent of any particular subject.
  The scientific method does not refer to a field
  of specific subject matter, but rather to a
  procedure or mode of investigation. It is an
  objective, logical and systematic method of
  analysis of phenomena, devised to permit the
  accumulation of reliable knowledge.

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Characteristics of Scientific Research

• Purposive
• Rigor
• Testability
• Replicability
• Precision and Confidence
• Objectivity
• Generalization
• Parsimony

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Purposiveness

• The scientific approach should have a definite
  aim or objective.
• For Example How employees commitment to the
  organization can be increased? is a research
  question of an organization.
• Purpose to reduce labour turnover, to reduce
  absenteeism, to increase performance and etc.

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Rigorous

• Rigorous research involves a good theoretical
  base and a carefully thought-out methodology. It
  helps to collect right kind of data from right
  source with out much bias. Further, it facilitate
  appropriate analysis of the data collected.

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Testability

• It is an important characteristics of scientific
  approach. The developed hypotheses should be
  tested with the help of scientifically collected
  data
• For Example A hypothesis like Workers who
  perceive greater opportunities for participation
  in decision making would have a higher level of
  commitment, can be supported by the collected
  data or disproved by the collected data

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Replicability

• The results of the tested hypotheses should be
  supported again and again when the same type of
  research is repeated in other similar
  circumstances. To the extent that this happen,
  the research being scientific.

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Precision and Confidence

• Precision
• It reflects the degree of accuracy of the results
• Suppose the study estimated that number of
  production days lost during a year due to
  absenteeism is between 30 and 40, while the
  actual lost to be 35.
• Confidence
• It refers to the probability that the estimation
  or the results are correct.

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Objectivity

• The conclusions drawn through the interpretation
  of the results of data analysis should be
  objective, that is, they should be based on the
  facts resulting from the finding from the actual
  data and not based on subjective or emotional
  vales.

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Generalization

• The results and the conclusions drawn from the
  study should be applicable to one organizational
  setting to another setting. The more
  generalizability of the research, the greater its
  usefulness and value of the research.

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Parsimony

• Economy in research and research models are
  achieved with lesser number of variables that
  would explain the variance more efficiently than
  a complex set of variables that would add only
  marginally to the variance explained. A good
  theoretical model will lead to parsimony in
  research. A structured and unstructured interview
  with the concerned people and literature review
  will help to a good theoretical model.

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Scientific Approach and Business Research

• It is not always possible to conduct
  investigation 100 percent scientific in business
  research. Unlike the physical sciences, the
  results obtained will not be exact and error
  free, since most of the business research deals
  with human behavior. It is very difficult to
  measure and collect of subjective information
  like, feelings, emotions, attitudes and etc.
  Hence, it may not possible for comparability,
  consistency and wide generalizability in most of
  the business research.

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Logical Reasoning Process

• Induction
• The inductive method consists of studying several
  individual cases and drawing a generalization. It
  involves two process observation and
  generalization. Conclusions from induction are
  tentative inferences and they are subject to
  further conformation based on more evidence.
• Deduction
• Deduction is reasoning process of applying a
  general accepted principle to a specific
  individual case falling under the general
  principle.

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Hypothetico-deductive Method

• The method of starting with a theoretical
  framework, formulating hypotheses and logically
  deducing from the results of the study is known
  as the hypothetico-deductive method. This method
  is much popular in business research. This method
  involves seven important steps.

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Process in Hypothetico-deductive Method

• Observation
• Preliminary information gathering
• Theory formulation
• Hypothesizing
• Data collection
• Data Analysis
• Deduction

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Observation

• This is a important step in identifying a
  research problem. A manager is always sensitive
  to and aware of what is happening in and around
  the workplace, in terms of attitudes, behaviors,
  communication pattern and so on. A drop in sales,
  frequent production interruptions, low-yielding
  investment and etc.,

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Preliminary information Gathering

• It involves seeking information in depth, of what
  is observed. This could be done by talking
  informally with several people in work setting
  and through unstructured interviews. By doing
  library research or obtaining information from
  other sources, the investigator would identify
  how such issues have been tackled in other
  situations.

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Theory Formulation

• It is an attempt to integrate all the information
  in a logical manner, so that the reason for the
  problem can be conceptualized. In this step the
  critical variables are examined as to their
  contribution to explain the problem. The network
  of associations between the identified variables
  would be established.

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Hypothesizing

• Hypothesis testing is called deductive research.
  From the association between varies variables,
  certain testable hypotheses can be developed.
  Hypothesis are generation is normally through
  induction method.

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Data Collection

• Data with respect to each variables in the
  hypotheses need to be collected. It should be
  collected through scientific method, through
  scientific sampling.

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Data Analysis

• The collected data are statistically analyzed to
  test the hypothesis. Both qualitative and
  quantitative analysis can be done to support the
  hypotheses.

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Deduction

• Deduction is the process of arriving at
  conclusions by interpreting the meaning of the
  data analysis results.

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• Information needs in business
• types/the nature
• Applications of IT in Business Research
• Commonly used technologies in Business Research
• Internet, Intranet, E-mail, Browsers, Websites
• Advantages disadvantages of technology for
  business research and communication
• Usefulness hazards of e-mail in business
  research and communication
• Misuse of technology how to guard against it

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CHAPTER 3
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Computer Technology and Business Research

• Information needs in business
• Applications of IT in Business Research

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• Information needs in business
• types/the nature
• Applications of IT in Business Research
• Commonly used technologies in Business Research
• Internet, Intranet, E-mail, Browsers, Websites
• Advantages disadvantages of technology for
  business research and communication
• Usefulness hazards of e-mail in business
  research and communication
• Misuse of technology how to guard against it