The Research Design

The Research Process for Basic & Applied Research

1. Observation Broad area of research interest identified 3. Problem Definition Research problem delineated 4. Theoretical Framework Variables clearly identified and labelled

5. Generation of Hypothesis

6. Scientific Research Design

7. Data Collection Analysis, and Interpretation

2. Preliminary Data Gathering Interviewing Literature survey

8. Deduction Hypotheses substantiated? Research question answered? No Yes

9. Report Writing
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10. Report Presentation

11. Managerial Decision Making

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The Research Design

Details of Study Purpose of the study
Exploration Description Hypothesis Testing

Measurement Measurement & Measures

Operational definition: Items Scaling Categorizing Coding

Types of investigation
Establishing: Causal relationships Correlations

Extent of researcher interference

Minimal: Studying events as they normally occur Manipulation

Study setting
Contrived Noncontrived

Data Analysis
1. Feel for data

Population to be studied
Individuals Groups Companies Machines etc

Sampling design
Probability/ Nonprobability Sample size (n)

Time horizon

Data collection method

Observation Interview Questionnaire Physical measurement Unobtrusive

2. Goodness of data
3. Hypothesis testing

One-short Longitudinal

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RESEARCH DESIGN OUTLINE

PURPOSE OF STUDY TYPE OF INVESTIGATION RESEARCHER INTERFERENCE STUDY SETTING UNITS OF ANALYSIS TIME HORIZON

1. PURPOSE OF STUDY

EXPLORATORY Study
Situation unknown Preliminary Information for comprehensive study Example: Ethical values of different Cultures to manage workforce diversity Focus groups and comprehensive interviews are appropriate

1. PURPOSE OF STUDY
DESCRIPTIVE STUDY: to describe features of a variable Goal is to offer a profile of the relevant aspects of the phenomena of interest from an individual, organizational, industry oriented or other perspective. Understand characteristics Think systematically offer ideas for further probe and research helps in decision making Quantitative data in terms of frequencies, means, percentages and standard deviations are necessary.

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1. PURPOSE OF STUDY

TESTING HYPOTHESIS
explain nature of relationships, differences and interdependences among factors e.g: sales volume promotion efforts

CASE STUDY
conceptual analysis of similar situations for generalization Difficult to find same type of problem in comparable setting.

2. TYPE OF INVESTIGATION

CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP:
establish definite cause of a problem e.g.does smoking causes cancer?

CORELATION: identify important factors associated with problem e.g: are smoking and cancer related?

3.RESEARCHER INTERFERENCE

minimal if study in natural setting e.g: training effectiveness based on data manipulation, control or simulation: analyst controls variables e.g.effect of light on worker output

4.STUDY SETTING

NON CONTRIVED
natural setting-field experiment

e.g are the rates of interest related to extent of deposits?

CONTRIVED
Controlled settings

independent variable changed to see effect on dependant lab experiment e.g.to study relationship of rate of interest on inclination to save the rates of interest in various branches are changed

4.STUDY SETTING

Field Study
Non-contrived setting as no changes were made

Field Experiment
Some factors are manipulated

Lab Experiment
Contrived settings and maximum interferences

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5. UNITS OF ANALYSIS
INDIVIDUALS: e.g: study motivation of employees DYADS: interaction of supervisor-subordinate pair GROUP: e.g: pattern of misuse by various departments ORGANIZATIONS: e.g: Differnces among functions of management in various organizations CULTURES: e.g. nations as unit of analysis

6. TIME HORIZON
CROSS SECTIONAL: one shot study-one time or period e.g data study of stock market april-june LONGITUDINAL: study of information at more than one period of time e.g: change in behavior of employees before and after management change