RESEARCH PROCESS

Step 1: Defining the research problem:

It is a destination of a journey.
Identifying the problem whose solution can be found through
research. (Management decision problem Refer the Example)
It is a problem that causes researcher to feel confused and doubtful.
Steps involved in defining research problem is:- Understanding the
problem correctly and rephrasing the problem into meaningful terms.
MANGT DECISION PROBLEM -- - RESEARCH PROBLEM
What should be done to increase the customer What is the awareness and purchase intention of health
base of organic products in the domestic conscious consumers for organic products?
market?
How to reduce turnover rates in the BPO What is the impact of shift duties on work exhaustion and
sector? turnover intentions of the BPO employees?

Whom should ICICI choose as its next MD Mr.
Ajay or Mrs. Chandini
What has been the leadership initiatives and performance
record of Mr. Ajay / Mrs. Chandini?
OR
Can a leading aggressive private sector bank accept a
woman as its leader?
Step 2: Review the existing literature:
Literature provides base for understanding the
plan.
The existing literature can be conceptual which
relates with concepts and it will also be in empirical
which is concerned with earlier studies.
Literature review will avoid confusion and the
problems in data collection for a researcher.
Sources of RoL:
PRIMARY: Reports and materials published by central and
local government. Also includes unpublished authentic
sources such as letters and records, etc.
SECONDARY: Books and Journals, Newspapers, etc.
TERTIARY: Gateways to Secondary Literature
Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, web-based portals, citation
indexes, etc to track down secondary literature.
 Importance of doing Review of Literature (RoL):

Generates and refine research ideas.

Enhances subject knowledge.
Clarify research questions.
Highlights research possibilities that have been ignored and
overlooked.
Avoid simple repetitive work, which has been done earlier.
Discover and provide an insight into research approaches,
strategies and techniques.
Helps in developing assumptions or statements (Hypothesis).
 Step 3: Formulating Hypothesis:
After review of literature the tentative assumption may be in the form of
hypothesis or it can be formed.
It should be clear and specific.
(Null & Alternative hypothesis to be defined)
Setting up the hypotheses sharpens the thinking process.
Hypotheses focuses on the important facts of research.

Step 4: Preparation of research design: (It is an outline of research):

Research Design is the specification of methods and procedures for acquiring
the information needed.
It is the overall pattern or framework of the project that stipulates what
information is to be collected form which source by what procedure.
(How the research problem will be investigated, the logic or justification for the
selected design needs to be explicit, accurate and measureable)

Includes three words: Plan, structure, and strategy.

Plan is the sketch of research topic on which the researcher has to work.
Structure refers to more specific ways of carrying out research (Area, Sample
size and how it will be selected).
Strategy suggests the complete way of carrying out research that is methods to
be used for data collection and data analysis.
Step 5: Preparation of sample design:
This step refers to how one goes about making an investigation of
the respondent population to be studied.
It is not always possible to study the entire population. Thus, one
goes about studying a small and representative sub-groups of the
same.
Proper identification of the samples should be selected for study
the population (population / sample frame where information can be
taken),
Specify the sampling unit (whether the samples are
individuals/persons, household, companies, city blocks, etc).
Mention the sampling method (specification should be mentioned is
it a probability or non-probability sampling, If then which category of
probability/non-probability etc. It should be clear/transparent).

Step 6: Data collection:

Data collection method is decided. Is it Primary or secondary.
If primary: then is it observation method (only current information),
interview method (structured or simple-unstructured), questionnaire
method, or schedules, etc.
Secondary data collection is provided if primary information is not
possible.
May require pilot testing if pre-constructed instrument is not
available.
 Step 7: Data analysis:
Data Analysis should be refined and processed as per the objective .
The collected data is processed by coding, tabulation, bar- diagram,
pie-chart, etc.
Univariate analysis incase of one variable (Mean, median, percentages,
etc).
Bivariate analysis if two variables (Cross-tabulation).
Multivariate analysis uses the Statistical measures like linear
regression, correlation, time series, etc (done depending upon in case
hypotheses is to be tested).
The analysis is done either manually / with computers.
To ascertain empirical study of the facts, various methods of
hypothesis is possible, such as T-Test, Z-Test, Chi-Square test, etc.
If researcher do not have hypothesis in beginning, the general
assumptions may be considered as hypothesis which can be tested.
Step 8: Data Interpretation:
After data analysis or hypothesis testing, drawing of
inferences is a must (statements),
Ability lies in proper interpretation of the analysis as
per the objectives defined.
Interpretation should be presentation of the facts
only.

Step 9: Findings:
After Commencing Interpretations and observations;

The researcher has to mention the findings,

conclusion and suggestions / recommendations.
Step 10: Report writing:
Reporting is the culmination of research effort.
This is the assembling effort of all the communication
undertaken in the research process.
It should also consist of technical details if needed.
The report should be of managerial implications.
The REPORT should have the executive summary,
methodology, list of tables, charts, graphs, index,
reference material, appendixes, bibliography, etc.
Report Writing should be as per the prescribed
format.
It is the final step of research process.
CONTINUED/-
UNDERSTANDING THE LANGUAGE OF RESEARCH:
(Terminology used in the scientific method):

Scientific Method follows the terminology of science.

There are certain terminologies which require
understanding for the research process.
There are like:

Concepts and Constructs (indicators),

Variables,

Hypothesis.
 What is CONCEPTS and CONSTRUCTS:

Concepts are abstract ideas / notions (guiding principles) generalized

from particular facts.
It is a mental image that is subjective;
Capable of taking different values from individual to individual.
Concepts are associated with certain events, objects, conditions,
situations, and so on, used to classify, explain and communicate a
particular set of observations.

Constructs are highly abstract concepts (can be also called as

indicators.
To measure concepts, constructs are used.
To draw something very accurately.
Constructs are not directly tied with reality but are derived on the
basis of other concepts.
They are specifically invented for a specific research.
Constructs help the process of converting concepts into variables.
Example: To Understanding Richness of an individual, we have to
take parameters like income, assets, etc
 EXAMPLE 1 (Richness):
Concepts Constructs Variables
-- (Indicators) --

INCOME -- Annual Income

RICH
(quantifying
the richness) Value of House,
ASSETS-- Investments, Savings, etc.
--
EXAMPLE 2 (Report presentation):
Concepts Constructs (Indicators)
( Project Report
presentation)
Content. -- Scope, objectives, study material used.

Communication ability. -- Clarity of thought and expression, correct

usage of language, delivery style, eye-
contact, body language.

Findings. -- Focused analysis of the findings,

Substantiating them with practical
applications.
Handling questions. -- Preparedness for questions, convincing
and precise response to questions.
 What is a VARIABLES:

Variable is a characteristic / property of a

phenomenon that can be observed and
measured.
A variable may be a physical or non-physical quantity
that can take any one of a predefined set of values,
numerical or otherwise.

Example: Male, Female, Attitude, Age, Weight, Height,

Income, Rupees, Kilograms, etc.
 TYPES OF VARIABLE:
There are sets of Variables:
Independent Variables (Change variable) - which are
responsible for bringing about change in a phenomenon
/ occurrence;
OR
the cause supposed to be responsible for bringing
about the change in a phenomenon or situation.

Dependent Variables (Outcome variable) which are the

effects of a change variables;
OR
The outcome of the changes brought about by
introduction of an independent variable.
 Lets take the example of Demand of
luxurious items like Car:

In this case income of consumer is one

variable and demand of car is another
variable.
Income is independent variable and
demand of car is dependent variable.
 IN THE EXAMPLE, WE CAN ALSO FIND THE FOLLOWING:
Moderating Variable : Education and Consumer Loan Strong
contingent effect on IV and DV.
Intervening Variable: Brand Awareness electronic
advertisement Temporal Occurrence on IV and DV.
Extraneous Variable: EV are the change variations that are often
observed Father / relative influence on IV and DV, which is
sometimes ignored or limited in some cases.
In few cases moderating and intervening variable is also part of
Extraneous variable. Differentiating them depends upon the
magnitude of its effects.
 WHAT IS A HYPOTHESIS:
Hypothesis means assumptions, or propositions, which
states the relationship between two or more variables that
carry clear implications for testing the stated relations.

They further classify research problems into statements

which can be tested.
Example: Two statements should be there in hypothesis testing.
Null Hypothesis: A hypothesis stating that there is no
significant effect of an Independent variable on a dependent
variable.
Alternative Hypothesis: A hypothesis paired with the null
hypothesis that says an independent variable has a
significant effect on a dependent variable.


LOGIC OF HYPOTHESIS

CONTINUED/-