Program

MBA

Semester

III

Subject Code

MB0050

Subject Name

Research Methodology

Unit Number

Unit Title

Introduction to Research

Lecture Number :

Lecture Title

Introduction to Research

Book Id

B1700

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Unit-1 Introduction to Research

Introduction to Research
Objectives :

Define the concept of research in management

Identify the types of researches available to a business researcher

Describe the complete process of a research study.

Explain the application of research in different domains of

Management

Identify the criteria needed to classify research as meaningful and

good research.
In this unit, we will discuss the meaning of research, the types of
researches available to the researcher and the process of a
research study.

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Unit-1 Introduction to Research

Lecture Outline

Introduction
What is Research?
Types of Research

The Process of Research

Research Applications in Social and Business Sciences
Features of a Good Research Study

Summary
Check Your Learning
Activity
3

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Unit-1 Introduction to Research

Introduction

Research methodology refers to the procedures used in making

systematic observations or otherwise obtaining data, evidence, or
information as part of a research project or study.

Research activities may range from a simple collection of facts

(example, the number of MBA students who opt for higher studies
abroad in a particular institute) to validation of information (for
example, is the new diet cola more popular among women?) to an

exhaustive

theory

and

model

construction

(for

example,

constructing a model of Indias weather patterns in 2050 based on

climate change projections).

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Unit-1 Introduction to Research

What is Research?

Fred Kerlinger (1986) stated that Scientific research is a

systematic, controlled and critical investigation of propositions
about various phenomena.

Grinnell (1993) has simplified the debate and stated

The word

research is composed of two syllables, re and search.

Hence management research is an unbiased, structured, and

sequential method of enquiry, directed towards a clear implicit or
explicit business objective.

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Unit-1 Introduction to Research

Types of Research

Based on the nature of enquiry or objectives, research can be of

the following types.
Exploratory research

Conclusive research

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Unit-1 Introduction to Research

Types of Research

Exploratory research is used to gain a deeper understanding of

the issue or problem that is troubling the decision maker.
For Example: Let us say a diet food company wants to find out what kind
of snacks customers like to eat and where they generally buy health food
from.

Exploratory research studies are less structured, more flexible in

approach and sometimes could lead to some testable hypothesis.

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Unit-1 Introduction to Research

Types of Research

Conclusive research is carried out to test and validate the study

hypothesis. In contrast to exploratory research, these studies are

more structured and definite.

For example, finding customer satisfaction levels of heavy consumers of
different pizzas in the Pizza Hut menu.

Conclusive research can be of two typesdescriptive or causal

research. The main goal of descriptive research is to describe the
data and characteristics about what is being studied. Casual
research studies explore the effect of one thing on another and
more specifically, the effect of one variable on another.

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Unit-1 Introduction to Research

The Process of Research

While conducting research,

information
through

is

gathered

sound

and

scientific research process.

The process of research is

interlinked at every stage.

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Unit-1 Introduction to Research

Features of a Good Research Study

For a research to be of value, it must possess the following

characteristics:

It must have a clearly

stated purpose.

The results of the study

must be presented in an
unbiased, objective and
neutral manner.

It must follow a systematic

and detailed plan for
investigating the research
problem.

The selection of techniques

of collecting information,
sampling plans and data
analysis techniques must
be supported by a logical
justification about why the
methods were selected.

The research at every stage

and at any cost must
maintain the highest ethical
standards.

The reason for a

structured, ethical,
justifiable and objective
approach is the fact that
the research carried out by
you must be replicable

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Unit-1 Introduction to Research

Summary

Research is a tool, of special significance in all areas of management. It can

be defined as an unbiased, structured, and sequential method of enquiry,
directed towards a clear implicit or explicit business objective.

Based on the nature of enquiry or the objective, research can be

exploratory or conclusive research.

A research study usually follows a structured sequence of steps:

Developing and defining the research problem
Formulating the study hypothesis
Developing the study plan or proposal

Identifying the research design

Designing the sampling approach
Conceptualizing and developing the data collection plan
Executing data analysis

Working out data inference and conclusions

Compiling and preparing the research report

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Unit-1 Introduction to Research

Check Your Learning

1. Define Research.
Ans: Research is a careful, systematic, patient study and investigation in some
field of knowledge, undertaken to establish facts or principles.
2. What are the different types of researches that can be conducted by a
researcher?
Ans: Research may be fundamental (or basic) or applied research. Based on the
nature of enquiry or the objective, research can be exploratory or conclusive.

3. Distinguish between descriptive and causal research studies?

Ans: The main goal of descriptive research is to describe the data and
characteristics about what is being studied. Casual research studies explore the
effect of one thing on another and more specifically, the effect of one variable
on another.
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Unit-1 Introduction to Research

Activity

Give examples of fundamental and applied research. You may refer

newspapers, magazines, journals or the Internet to find out the
examples.

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