Research

Methodology:-Basics
What is Research ?
What is Research Methodology?
What are Research Methods & Techniques?

Research in Management : Why & Where & what

 information

knowledge

solution
 Research
:-
Research can be defined as a
Systematic & Scientific
Search or investigation
for pertinent information/knowledge/solution
on a specific topic/subject/problem.
Research:- (Diagram)

on a
Topic
Research Methodology :
The way/science
Research
Methodology:-
Research methodology is
the way or Science
to do/ conduct research
systematically & scientifically.
Research methodology
Research Methodology says that
how
to do/conduct research
systematically & scientifically.

Research methodology
not only provides
the knowledge of various types of methods & techniques
for Sampling , data collection, data analysis & report writing etc.
but also guides
that which particular method or technique
for sampling/data collection/data analysis should be used or not
& why should /shouldn't do so.
Research Methods &
Techniques
Research methods & Techniques
are the tools or approaches which are used while
doing/conducting research.

Research Methods :
Probability & Non Probability approach (Sampling)
Observation, Interview, Questionnaire, Scheduling, etc.
(Data collection)
Charts, Central tendency, Variance, ANOVA, MDS etc. (Data
analysis)

Research Techniques:
Simple random, systematic, convenience, judgement (Sampling)
Participant & Non Participants Observation, Personal & Telephonic
Interview, Structured & Unstructured Questionnaire (Data
collection)
One dimensional & Two dimensional Chart, Mean, Mode &Median,
One way Anova & Two way Anova etc.(Data Analysis)
 (Why?)
In general life a man may take decisions just based on luck (i.e. without any basis).
But in Business , as high investment is involved & intense competition exists, so
irrational decisions (decisions without sufficient logical information base)related to
various issues can lead to failure which can results in heavy loss & difficult to survive in
market.
So in Business, almost decisions are being taken Rationally
on the basis of substantial information
for reducing risks of failure/loss, making better strategies,
increasing efficiency, creating effectiveness
& ensuring Success for the organization.
For e.g.- A Company has 4 factories, running all over India ,suddenly get heavy loss,
so can one(owner) just shut down/invest more any one unit(factory) & chosen
randomly (means without any investigation/enquiry).?
-Surely no! first he/she(owner/mgmt.)should enquire/investigate properly
(systematically & scientifically) that which unit is making loss to company.
-Then check the problem/s then take require corrective measures(actions) either for
solve the problem/improve the systems or shut down if it is advised to do so -as per
information obtained from the systematic enquiry/investigation i.e. called Research.

Here imp. thing to note, is, in business we do have to take risk but should not be taken
without substantial logical information base.
Means risk can not be avoided but can be reduced to a great extent
For which Research is conducted.
 Laboratory

inScience
Research is done in
Where?

In
Management
Research
is done in
Where?
in Science, the field for research is laboratory .

But Management discipline mainly comes under Social

science.
So for Management, the field/object for the research is
Society & Organizational total environment
for/in which it operates.
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT:- SOCIAL PHENOMENA:-

Business influencing factors Markets Current trend (what is happening?)

(its characteristics, Dynamism & Complexity )
internal Environment
( Management Employees, Procedures,
Leadership Style, Structure, culture etc.)
Efficiency, productivity,
Effectiveness, satisfaction,
levels of the above.
Customers shopping & Consumption patterns
&
Their general characterstics,
needs,wants,desires,
Tastes,preferences,interests
demography,psychography,etc.

External Environment
(Technological.,Socio-cultural, Competitors-Their Strategic patterns
Natural, Economical, for competition.
Political, Legal, etc.)

Potential,feasibilty,viablity,intensity,etc.
 Now
As per Syllabus
Unit - 1 :-
1. Nature & Scope of Research Methodology
2. Problem formulation & Statement of
research Problem
3. Cost & Value of information.
4. Types of Research.
5. Objectives of research (importance/Role)
6. Research organizations in India.
1.Nature of Research
Methodology
1. it is systematic.
2. It is scientific.
3. it has objectivity.
4. It has verifiability.
5. It has definiteness.
6. It is art & science both.
7. It has wider scope.
8. Its a tool for new product development.
9. It serves as basis of management principles.
10. It aids in decision making.
11. It is qualitative & quantitative both.
12. It is helpful in prediction & control.
13. It has psychological approaches too.
14. It relies on empirical evidences.
15. It explores new insights/describes in detail/obtain cause
& effect relationships.
 Nature of Research
Methodology
It is Systematic:-
it is systematic because it has step by step process.
starts from problem formulation & continues through literature
review, hypotheses formulation, research design, data collection,
data analysis & ends at Report-writing.
It is Scientific:-
it is scientific because it contains Rules, Principles, methods,
techniques for conducting the research .
such as Questionnaire, scheduling, Psychological Techniques,
Mean, Mode, Median, ANOVAs etc.
It has objectivity:-
As it always has some topic/issue & has an objective to collect
information related for the same.
It has verifiability :-
Because research results can be verified by new researcher.
It has definiteness :
because it has some particular direction & a specific(definite)
topic to doing/conducting research.
Nature of Research
Methodology
It is art & science both :-
it is art because it provides the researcher necessary skill to collect,
analyzing, presentation. it is science because it uses various scientific tools
for data collection, data analysis like observation, interview, psychological
techniques, mean, mode, median, Anova etc.
It has wider scope.
as it is used in almost all areas of knowledge like Physics, chemistry,
agriculture, aeronautics, space & also in Management like Marketing, HRM,
finance, etc.
Its a tool for new product development.:
because by research marketers able to know
needs,wants,desires,tastes,preference,problems,demography,psychography
etc. of consumers. on the basis of which organizations develop new products.
It serves as basis of management principles.
As it helps & guides to make principles, policies, Rules, Regulations,
systems, procedures related to management.
It aids in decision making:
As it provides sound & substantial information base on which management
can take rational & better decisions
related to various important issues of organizations.
Nature of Research
Methodology
It is Qualitative& Quantitative both :
As sometimes it goes for collect qualitative information like attitude,
satisfaction level, perception etc. of consumers, retailers,
employees ,hence it is qualitative & sometimes it collects & present
information in numerical forms too like number of people, percentage
of consumers/retailers/employees, etc. so it is quantitative too.
It is helpful in prediction & control :-
it provides substantial informational base to predict the amount of
demand which in turn helps in determining production quantity more
accurately. Which reduce the risk of over production & also reduce the
risk of of opportunity loss to a great extent.
It has psychological approaches too.
as it uses attitude measurement techniques & Motivational Research
techniques. Viz. Thematic test, word association test, sentence
completion test, Rorschach Test, inkblot holtzman test etc.
It relies on empirical evidences.
As in research data collected is based on experiences of
people/consumers/retailers etc..
Nature of Research
Methodology
It explores new insights/describes in detail/obtain cause &
effect relationships:
As helps to explores an issue/subject for more /new insights when
the researcher has either no information or little information
(in Exploratory research)
And/or goes into detailed investigation & describe the topic
thoroughly.
(in Descriptive Research)
or develop cause & effect relationship between two variables.
(in Experimental Research)
Scope of Research Methodology in
management:-
Although Research has wider scope &
it is performed almost all areas of knowledge.

But here,
we are notifying main areas of management
in which research is conducted.

1.Environment level
2.Organizational level
3.Marketing level
Scope:
Environmental Organizational Marketing
Level Level
Technological
Level
HRM
innovations Product
Socio-Cultural Env. Finance
Price
Political-Legal Env. Marketing
Place
Economical Env. Production
Natural Env.
Promotion

Overall
Sales
Competitors Organizational
Customer
Analysis Effectiveness
Industry fears
New Market Entry
New product
development
Scope of Research Methodology in
1.Environmental level-
management
know environmental
:- Research is conducted to
changes reactively & proactively.
Technological innovations:
Research is conducted to know & adapt new technological innovations,
developments in machinery , method, etc. used .
For e.g. To know level of use of information technology e.g. Networking, Tally,
SAP, etc. in the organization.

Economical, Socio-Cultural, Natural, Political - Legal Environments :

Research is also done to know the characteristics, complexity, dynamism of
socio-Cultural, economical, political- legal,
which ultimately gives the idea of the potential, feasibility, viability etc. of the
market.

Competitors Analysis :
Companies conducts research for studying the strategic patterns of
competitors, their strengths & weaknesses for making better strategies for
competing effectively in order to survive & thrive in the market.
Scope of Research Methodology in
Industry fears :-
:-

management
Research is conducted sometimes to know the survival & growth
opportunities of an industry.
it may be due to the extinction of raw material/sources of raw
material .
E.g. Finishing stock of Petroliam ,coal may cause the extinction for
automobile & power industry thus research for alternative
sources/solutions is conducted. For the above e.g. the solutions are
electric car(automobile), CNG gas generated Automobile, Battery
driven Automobiles.
New Market entry
Before making any entry into any new market , companies conduct
research/pilot survey to know market potential, commercial
feasibility, growth rate for the acceptance level of the consumers.
New product development:
Research is mainly conducted to know
needs,wants,desires,tastes,preference,problems,demography,psycho
graphy etc. of consumers. On the basis of which Organizations may
develop new products & Services.
 Scope:
2. Organizational
level-
HRM:
it is related to Efficiency, productivity, Effectiveness, performance,
Satisfaction level etc. of Employees, structure, culture etc. of the organization.
Finance:
It may be related to any operation like Financial analysis, Capital structure, Ratio
analysis etc. research is done to evaluate the performance or viability of the
existing systems/procedures/approaches for the same, in order to improve the
existing one or develop new methods for the same. Ultimately
the motive remains for reducing loss & increase profitability.
Production:
here research is related to know & improve the efficiency, Productivity,
effectiveness level of workers , process planning, materials planning, layout,
purchasing etc. (like work study, time study etc.) which ultimately have objectives
of cost minimization & Profit maximization.
Organizational Effectiveness & Success:
It is related to effectiveness, efficiency, Rationality, viabilty of general
management, administration, systems, procedures, operations , Policies, Rules
,Regulations etc. prevailing currently in the organization.
Any research which can contribute to enhance the effectiveness of the
organization or towards the success of the organization.
3. Marketing Level:- research in management
Scope:is
mainly done in marketing level in the areas like Product, Price , Place,
Promotion, Sales, Customer etc.
Product :
Research is conducted to improve viz.quality, features, design, packaging,
labeling, differentiation etc. of the products or services.
Price
Research is conducted for the cost minimization, determining Pricing
methods(strategies), develop new pricing strategies etc. for the product in order
to
attract & retain the customers.
Place
Research is also conducted for evaluating & improving the performance,
satisfaction, effectiveness of the distribution channels ( Retailers, Dealers, agents
etc.)
Promotion
Research is also conducted to determine & develop appropriate & new
approaches/methods for Advertising, Sales promotion as per the target market.
Sales :
Research is conducted to know the sales performance(sales audit),
effectiveness & efficiency of the sales force, Determination of Sales Quota,
defining Sales Territory, developing innovative & effective sales training &
motivating techniques.
Customer: current trend of shopping & Consumption patterns of consumers
 &
Statement of Research
Problem formulation:-
What is Problem formulation (Definition)
Process Steps for Problem Formulation (with
Diagram)
Examples
Statement of Research (How it develops?)
Examples
Importance/Advantage/Need of Problem
formulation
What is Problem
formulation?
Problem Formulation is finding/deciding
the problem/topic & for the research
study.

Research problem refers to some subject or difficulty which

researcher experiences in business scenario & wants to find out
solution for the same.
Problem formulation is the first & foremost step of research
process.
In problem formulation The researcher defines the research
Problem, statement of research & objectives of research.
In the process of Problem formulation & Statement of Research
the researcher goes general to specific.
3. importance/Advantages/Need of
Problem formulation
1. First & foremost advantage is : Clarity of Research
topic & objectives of research.

Base for deciding further plan for the

research(Research Design)(Base for choosing most
appropriate Research & Sampling Strategies and data
collection & analysis techniques.)

Clarity of direction to collect data.

Specification of topic reduces wastages of time, effort &
money.
Defining the research problem helps the researcher to
specify his/her needs for conducting research .

Turn the ideas into research questions & objectives.

Examples
A Study on effectiveness of Advertising Program
of Pepsi Co.
A Comparative Analysis between Caf coffee
day & Barista.
A Study on job Satisfaction level of the
employees of Microsoft Corporation.
A study on Brand preference in Banking industry.
A study on effectiveness of Social Welfare
program of
Jaypee Cement.
Statement of Research
After deciding the topic a researcher needs to
make Statement of Research.

Statement of Research is the specific &

clear description of the research
problem/topic.

Process of making Statement of Research is

actually defining the research problem specifically
& clearly research problem.
it makes clear the place, time, type, area of
interest, etc. for the research study.
Example (Statement of
Research)
Why productivity of Japan is higher than India.?

We are taking the above example of research Problem for

making/developing a statement of Research for it by making it
more specific & clear by following considerations(asking questions).
Which type of productivity is talking about?
Ans .: Laborers productivity
For which industry it is talking about?
Ans. : Textile industry
For which specific period of time it is talking about?
Ans. : 2008-2009

So now the Topic(Research Problem) would become as follows.

Why laborers productivity of textile industry

was higher than that of India in 2008-2009?
Cost & Value of
Cost & Value of
information
Cost of information
Value of information
Cost of information Vs Value of information
Cost of information:
Cost Related to access to secondary data. ( library, internet access charges
etc.)
Cost related to Research Design
1. Cost related to Research Design : in Experimental design
is more costlier than other research design.
2.Generally Probability Sampling is costlier than Non Probability
Sampling.
3.Sample Size: as the size of sample increases, cost of Research also
increases.
4.
Cost Related to Data collection Technique : cost related to contacting
the respondent, Collecting & recording Cost, Stationary charges
E.g. Personal interview is costlier than Telephonic interview,
Questionnaire is economical than Scheduling.
Cost Related to Data analysis Technique.(use of Staff, Software, etc.)
Cost Related to Report Writing (Printing Charges, Stationary Charges etc.)
Value of
information
The level of indecisiveness in the case of
absence of that particular information.
Degree of variation in
Cost of information Vs Value of
information
In any research, Research Design (including Sampling
design) should be carefully & rationally planned so that
there should be proper balance between Cost of
information & Value of information
Means neither the cost (Money, effort & time) of the
research study should increase unnecessarily nor the
accuracy of the research shouldhuld be compromised.
Types of Research:-
1. Descriptive Vs Analytical
2. Fundamental Vs Applied
3. Quantitative Vs Qualitative
4. Conceptual Vs Empirical
5. Some other types (on different bases)
6. Time-> One time Vs Longitudinal
7. Environmental setting-> Laboratory Vs Field
setting
Types of Research:-
1. Descriptive Vs Analytical:
2. Fundamental Vs Applied
3. Quantitative Vs Qualitative
4. Conceptual Vs Empirical
5. Some other types (on different bases)
6. Time-> One time Vs Longitudinal
7. Environmental setting-> Laboratory Vs
Field setting
Research
objectives:
To gain Familiarity with a phenomenon
or to achieve new insights into it
(when we either have no information or little information.)
(Studies with this objective in view are termed as
Exploratory or Formulative Research Studies)

To Portray Characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a

group.
& determine the frequency with which something occurs.
(in this actually we go into the details & describe the issue thoroughly.)
( studies with this objectives are known as
Descriptive Research studies
& Diagnostic Research Studies respectively)

To Test a hypothesis of a Cause-&-Effect relationship between

variables.
(Such studies are known as
Hypothesis-Testing Research Studies.)
Criteria for good
Research :
The Topic & objectives of the research should be defined clearly &
specifically.
The Source of literature review should be authenticated & Reliable.
The hypothesis should be formed carefully & it should define the
relationship between (the independent & dependent) variables clearly.
The Research Design should be described in sufficient detail to permit
another researcher to repeat the research for further advancement.
The Procedural design should be carefully planned to yield results that
are as objective as possible.
Means Research design should aims to combine relevance to the
research
purpose with economy in procedure. (Value of information should be
maintained with proper a care for economizing the cost of the research
by Rational thinking)
The data collection technique should be appropriate.
The data analysis technique should appropriate. & The analysis
of data should be sufficiently adequate to
Research organizations in
india
We are writing names of Research
Organizations in India with classifying them
into two broad areas.

1. Market Research Organizations.(Related to Management )

2. General Research Organizations of India.(of Other fields)
Research Organizations
in India
Research Organizations General Research
(Related to Management) Organizations

1. AC Neilson ISRO (Space)

2. IMRB international DRDO (Defence)
3. ICMR (of IIPM) ICAR (Agriculture)
4. NCAER (of Govt.) BARC (Atomic)
5. GNN Pvt. Ltd. AIIMS (Medical)
6. TISS Mumbai BIOCON (BioTechnology)
Research Organizations
in India
The above written Market Research organizations are
either Indian or foreign organization but both are
operating in India.

In Business & Management, Generally Companies

either conduct research by themselves through
making a department for Research.

or they give the contract to

Market Research Companies.
Unit - 2
Research Process
Research Design
Types of Research Design- Exploratory, Descriptive &
Cause-effect .
Sampling Design : Steps in Sampling
Criteria for selecting a sample procedure
Sample size
Sampling Methods-(designs/techniques)
7 Steps
Research Process :
Problem Formulation:

Review the literature:

Formulating Hypothesis
Research Design
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Report Writing
Research Process :
The Plan
Research Design
What is Research Design (Definition)
Types of Research Designs-
(Exploratory, Descriptive & Experimental)
Parts of Research Design
Need/objectives/Advantages of Research Design
What is Research Design:
Types of Research
Designs:
Exploratory or Formulative Research Studies When we either have no
information or little information.
So To gain Familiarity with a phenomenon
or to achieve new insights into it .(Studies with this objective in view
are termed as Exploratory or Formulative Research Studies)

Descriptive Research studies & Diagnostic Research Studies

To Portray Characteristics of a particular individual , situation or a

group.
& determine the frequency with which something occurs.
(in this actually we go into the details & describe the issue thoroughly.)
( studies with this objectives are known as
Descriptive Research studies
& Diagnostic Research Studies respectively)

Hypothesis-Testing Research Studies. To Test a hypothesis of a Cause-

&-Effect relationship between variables. (Such studies are known as

Hypothesis-Testing Research Studies .)

Parts of Research
Design
Observational Design: Relates to the
conditions under which the observations are
to be made.
Sampling Design:
Statistical Design: concerns with the
questions of how many items are to be
observed and how the data/information
gathered & analyzed.
Operational Design:
Need/objectives/Advantages of
Research Design
(Exploratory, Descriptive &
Experimental)
Types of Research
Designs
Exploratory

Descriptive

Experimental
: Steps in Sampling
Sampling Design : Steps in
Sampling
What is Sampling Design ?
Steps in Sampling
Criteria for Selecting a
Sample


:
Criteria for Selecting a
Sample
(Probability & Non-Probability Sampling
Designs )
Sampling Methods
Probability Sampling Non-Probability
Methods Sampling Methods

Simple Random Convenience Sampling

Sampling Judgment Sampling
Systematic Random Quota Sampling
Sampling Snow-ball sampling
Stratified Random
Sampling
Cluster (& Area)
Random Sampling
Sampling
Methods
(a) Probability Sampling Methods
Sample Size:
Precision Required
Cost/Budget Available
Variance in Population
Unit 3
Collection of Primary data
Observation Method
Interview Method
Questionnaire Method
Questionnaire Design
Questionnaire Vs Schedule
Attitude Measurement Techniques
Motivational Research Techniques
Research Design
What is Research Design (Meaning &
Definition)
Parts of Research Design
Importance /objectives /Advantages
of
Research Design

Types of Research Designs-

Exploratory, Descriptive &Experimental
introduction
What is Research Design (Meaning &
Definition)
Research Design is the blueprint for a Research
Project.
Research Design is the Conceptual Structure
of
Research Design is layout/framework for a
Research Project.
Sample size
Based on four factors
Cost/budget
Accuracy desired

variance in population on variable of interest

subgroup analysis planned

Criteria for a good
Research
Introduction:-
Research is done in almost all areas.
Science -
(e.g.- physics, chemistry, botany, Zoology, Aeronautics,
Agriculture, etc.)
Art (Social science)
(e.g.-Sociology, philosophy, Economics, Politics ,Anthropology
etc.)
& also in
Management

But in detail
why ,on what & how etc.
Research is done in business & management ?
Criteria for a good
Research
The topic of the research should be
clearly defined.
Also the purpose/objectives of the research
should be defined clearly.
So, in business & management
Research is done for:- (what)

Holistic(Comprehensive), scientific & better understanding

of total business environment.

Strategy making as per characteristics of consumers & competitors.

Better & effective Management Style.

Change Management in internal environment with reactivity

for survival & growth in present.

Continuous Development in existing internal environment

with proactivity for survival & growth in future.
Introduction-
Research is done for:-
(why/Results)
 Research in Business management
(diagram):-

Research
Research (Extra):-
In Common parlance :-
Research is a search for knowledge.

If define Technically , (given by Clifford woody)

Research comprises
problem formulation, Reviewing Literature,
hypotheses formulation, research design,
data collection, data analysis
& finally report writing.

It is a movement from unknown to known.

It is an original contribution into existing stock of

knowledge.