Research Design

Thomas (1993) noted, “The object of research is to determine how things are as compared to how they might be” (p. 4). Research is also a disciplined inquiry approach to the study of the problems (Gay & Airasian, 2003). Therefore, research should be “a careful and systematic means of solving problems” (Tuckman, 1999, p. 4). Since there are different kinds of problems, different types of research are needed to solve these problems.

Research is usually divided into two broad categories: quantitative and qualitative research. In recent years, a third type of research, mixed methods research, has become very popular. Mixed methods research “employs data collection associated with forms of data for both quantitative and qualitative research” (Creswell, 2002, p. 208).

Quantitative research involves attaching numbers to relationships between variables (Hopkins, 2000). Quantitative research uses objective measurements and statistical analysis of data that is collected from a well-controlled setting. On the contrary, qualitative research is rooted in phenomenology. Qualitative research involves intensive narrative data collection in order to understand the way things are and to gain insights into how things got to be that way and how people feel about the way things are (Gay & Airasian, 2003). Qualitative data is collected in natural settings and “focuses on understanding social phenomena from the perspective of the human participants in the study” (Ary, Jacobs, & Razavieh, 2002, p. 22). Usually, qualitative research is for generating theory while quantitative research focuses on testing theory (Ary, et al., 2002).

Elements of Business Research

A. Key elements of business research that help provide a clearer picture of what is involved:
1. Business research is broad.
Studying people including employees, consumers, supervisors, managers and policy makers. For example: Understanding systems or groups of people including strategic business units, offices, labour in factories, management groups, boards of directors, managing directors, market segments, cultures, subcultures, corporate cultures, communities, companies and industries.

We also examining the interaction of people with systems including accounting or auditing systems, legal systems, management practices, compensation systems, manufacturing systems, production processes and financial systems.

2. Business research can be formal.
A single issue can result in a fairly comprehensive study. One-shot projects are performed to address a single issue at a specific point in time.

3. Business research can be informal.
It easier for small entrepreneurial ventures,but new technologies are creating ways where informal feedback can be input electronically so that regularities can be identified and the appropriate actions can be taken. Informal research is often ongoing – it is performed constantly and not directed toward any specific issue.

4. Good research is replicable.
A goal of scientific research is that it be as objective as possible. Thats means that another researcher could produce the same results using the identical procedures employed by the original researcher.

5. Good research should provide more benefit than it costs.

B. Business research is scientific inquiry.
1. Applied business research is motivated by an attempt to solve a particular problem faced by a particular organization.
a. Example: Coke may want to know why Pepsi is gaining market share in Paris.

2. Basic business research is motivated by a desire to better understand some business-related phenomena as it applies to all of an industry or all of business in general.
a. Example: Why are people drinking more bottled water and less cola?

Defining research in general

Each of the descriptive words in the definition of research is important and the students need to recognise that.

It is pointed out that a common aspect of all organisations is that each day managers encounter problems big and small, which they have to solve by making the right decisions. Right decisions are based on rigourous and applicable research. This site defines research and touches on the excitement of research.

Research is a discerning pursuit of the truth.
Although formal research training is relatively new to the business world, business research is perhaps as old as commerce itself. The general rise in literacy, the industrial revolution, further advances in transportation, the advent of the computer and the general expansion of commerce worldwide have changed the way research is done. Today, there are literally thousands of firms whose primary business involves providing research services that help businesses answer key strategic, tactical and operational questions.

The philosophical bases of research – positivist, interpretivist and critical – are examined and the impact of these assumptions on business research are examined. There is a differences between applied and basic (fundamental or pure) research and the applicability of each to the business context.

Business Research Defined
A. A Truth-Seeking Function
1. Science seeks to explain the world that really is.
2. “Real-world” or physical scientists seek the truth about the world’s physical realities.
3. Business researchers generally fall more in line with social scientists because in reality business is about people.
4. Business researchers pursue the “truth” about business phenomena. The essence of business is people serving people through participation in a value creating process with exchange at its core.
5. Business research seeks to predict and explain phenomena that taken together comprise the ever-changing business environment.
6. Thus, business research is a truth-seeking function that gathers, analyses, interprets and reports information so that business decision makers become more effective.