Business Research Methods

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ANGELO C. MADULI, Ph.D.

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Pre-requisites for Research

• Thinking • Asking the RIGHT question • Sensitivity

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Research is very much related to Information

• Research reduces uncertainty • Research generates new information • Research increases knowledge

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Discovery and Definition

Problem Discovery and Definition

Research Design

and so on

Conclusions and Report

Data Processing and Analysis

Sampling

Data Gathering

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

“The formulation of the problem is often more essential than its solution.” - Albert Einstein

Problem discovery

Problem Discovery and Definition

Selection of exploratory research technique

Sampling

Selection of exploratory research technique

Secondary Experience (historical) survey data

Pilot study

ProbabilityNonprobability

Case study

Problem definition (statement of research objectives)

Experiment Laborator y

Data Processing and Analysis

Selection of basic research method

Research Design

Field

Collection of data (fieldwork) Editing and coding data Data processing

Interpretation of Conclusions findings

Survey Intervie w

Data Gathering

Questionnair e

Secondary Observation Data Study

and Report

Report

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6

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Symptom Detection Analysis of the Situation Problem Definition Statement of Research Objectives

Exploratory Research (optional)

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Problem Definition Ascertain the decision maker’s objectives

Determine the unit of analysis

Understand the background of the problem Determine the relevant variables

Isolate and identify the problems, not the symptoms State the research questions and research objectives

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

• The Iceberg Principle “That the dangerous part of many business problems is neither visible to nor understood by managers.”

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

• There is a need to isolate and identify the problems not the symptoms.

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Subject

Symptoms

Problem Definition

True Problem

R-mall in a small city

-Declining customers -New S-mall came to town

-Customers prefer bigger malls -More stalls means more choices

Customers behavior or needs are changing

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Management Functions: The Sari-Sari Store Perspective Main Problem:

The study would like to explore how ordinary sari-sari store owners/managers understand and articulate the different management functions in running their business.

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Essentials of Chapter 1 •Research Title •Introductory Paragraph •Statement of the Problem •Purpose of the Study •Significance of the Study •Hypotheses (if needed)

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Research Title •Title should be concise and descriptive •An investigation…A study…An analysis – should be omitted •Stated in terms of a functional relationships – indicating the independent and dependent variables •Informative and catchy •Pricks the reader’s interest and predisposes the readers favorably towards the proposal.

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Introduction •Provides the necessary background or context •Catch and sustain the attention of the readers and get them “tuned on” the subject •It contains dramatic and general scenario about the need for the study.

GENERAL

SPECIFIC

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Statement of the Problem The statement of the problem is the focal point of your research. Statement of the problem may be elaborated as if: •You are looking for something wrong… •Or something that needs close attention… •Or existing methods that no longer seem to be working.

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Sample Problem: “The Increasing Employee Turnovers and the Declining Productivity of Middle Managers: The Company-A Experience”

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Purpose of the Study The purpose is usually a single statement or paragraph that explains what the study intends to accomplish. Examples: The goal of this study is to… …discover the… …understand the cause / effect of the… …provide a new interpretation of… …understand what makes _____ effective or ineffective

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Significance of the Study The significance of the study answers the questions: -Why is your study important? - To whom is it important? - What benefit(s) will occur if your study is done?

Center for Professional Colegio de San Juan Studies de Letran Calamba City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Hypothesis (if needed) Test the degree/level of -relationships -difference -effect / impact

No hypotheses for exploratory or phenomenological research