BHMS4418 Applied Business Research Lecture 4a PDF

BHMS4418 Applied Business Research 6 The Role of Business Research Lecture 4a Problem...

BHMS4418 Applied Business Research 6 The Role of Business Research Lecture 4a Problem Definition: The Foundation of Business Research ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. LEARNIN G OUTCOM ES 1. Explain why proper “problem definition” is essential to useful business research 2. Know how to recognize problems 3. Translate managerial decision statements into relevant research objectives 4. Translate research objectives into research questions and/or research hypotheses 5. Outline the components of a research proposal 6. Construct dummy tables as part of a research proposal 6-2in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  Good Decisions Start with a Good Problem Definition Decision Statement A written expression of the key question(s) that the research user wishes to answer. Problem Definition The process of defining and developing a decision statement and the steps involved in translating it into more precise research terminology, including a set of research objectives. 6–3in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  EXHIBIT 6.1 Defining Problems Can Be Difficult 6–4in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  The Problem-Definition Process Problem When there is a difference between the current conditions and a more preferable set of conditions. Problems Mean Gaps Business performance is worse than expected business performance. Actual business performance is less than possible business performance. Expected business performance is greater than possible business performance. 6–5in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  EXHIBIT 6.2 The Problem-Definition Process 6–6in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  Understand the Business Decision Situation Analysis The gathering of background information to familiarize researchers and managers with the decision- making environment. Interview Process Develop many alternative problem statements Think about possible solutions to the problem Make lists Be open-minded 6–7 ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in  Understand the Business Decision Identifying Symptoms Interrogative techniques ◗ Asking multiple what, where, who, when, why, and how questions about what has changed. Probing ◗ An interview technique that tries to draw deeper and more elaborate explanations from the discussion. 6–8in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  Writing Managerial Decision Statements into Corresponding Research DecisionObjectives statements must be translated into research objectives. Once the decision statement is written, the research essentially answers the question, “What information is needed to address this situation?” Research objectives are the deliverables of the research project. 6–9in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  Determine the Unit of Analysis Unit of Analysis Indicates what or who should provide the data and at what level of aggregation. ◗ Individuals (such as customers, employees, and owners) ◗ Households (families, extended families, and so forth) ◗ Organizations (businesses and business units) ◗ Departments (sales, finance, and so forth) ◗ Geographical areas ◗ Objects (products, advertisements, and so forth). Multi-level analysis studies variables measured at more than one unit of analysis. 6–10in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  Determine the Relevant Variable What is a Variable? Anything that varies or changes from one instance to another; can exhibit differences in value, usually in magnitude or strength, or in direction. What is a Constant? Something that does not change; is not useful in addressing research questions. 6–11in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  Types of Variables Dependent variable Continuous A process outcome or a variable that variable Canis predicted and/or explained by other take on a variables. range of Independent quantitative variable A variable that is expected to values. influence the dependent variable in Categorical some way. variable Indicates membership in some 6–12in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  Writing Research Objectives and Questions Research Questions Express the research objectives in terms of questions that can be addressed by research. Help to develop well-formulated, specific hypotheses that can be empirically tested. Help the researcher design a study that will produce useful results. 6–13in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  Clarity in Research Questions and Hypotheses Research Questions The researcher’s translation of the problem into a specific inquiry. ◗ Provide input that can be used as a standard for selecting from among alternative solutions. Hypotheses Statements that can be empirically tested. ◗ State what is expected to be found through the study. Managerial Action Standard A specific performance criterion upon which a decision can be based. 6–14in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  The Research Proposal Research Proposal A written statement of the research design. Uses for the Proposal As a planning tool As a contract Funded Business Research Basic research usually performed by academic researchers that is financially supported by some public or private institution as in federal government grants. 6–15in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  BHMS4418 Applied Business Research 6 The Role of Business Research Lecture 4b Theory Building ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. LEARNIN G OUTCOM ES 1. Define the meaning of theory 2. Understand the goals of theory 3. Understand the terms concepts, propositions, variables, and hypotheses 4. Discuss how theories are developed 5. Understand the scientific method 3-17in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  Theory and Practice What if the lights didn’t come on when you flipped the switch? You would seek a logical explanation. Past experience would guide your thoughts. Attribution theory is one framework that helps explain 3-18in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  What is a Theory? Theory A formal, logical explanation of some events that includes predictions or how things relate to one another. Goals of Theory Understanding Predicting 3–19in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  Research Concepts Concept (or construct) A generalized idea about a class of objects, attributes, occurrences or process that has been given a name. ◗ Examples: leadership morale gross domestic product assets customer satisfaction market share 3–20in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  Social Network Theory Researchers have developed theories about the links and structures of social networks, complete with constructs and propositions about how linkages are formed and the social capital they yield. 3-21in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  Ladder of Abstraction Ladder of Abstraction Organization of concepts in sequence from the most concrete and individual to the most general. Abstract Level The level of knowledge expressing a concept that exists only as an idea or a quality apart from an object. Empirical Level The level of knowledge that is verifiable by experience or observation. Latent Construct A concept that is not directly observable or measurable, but can be estimated through proxy measures. 3–22in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  EXHIBIT 3.2 Concepts are Abstractions of Reality 3–23in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  Research Propositions and Hypotheses Propositions Statements explaining the logical linkage among certain concepts by asserting a universal connection between concepts. ◗ Example: Treating employees better will make them more loyal employees. Hypothesis Formal statement of an unproven proposition that is empirically testable. ◗ Example: Giving employees one Friday off each month will result in lower employee turnover. 3–24in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  Empirical Testing Empirical Testing Examining a research hypothesis against reality using data. Variables Anything that may assume different numerical values. The empirical assessment of a concept. Operationalizing The process of identifying the actual measurement scales to asses the variables of interest. 3–25in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  EXHIBIT 3.3 Hypotheses Are the Empirical Counterparts of Propositions 3–26in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  EXHIBIT 3.4 A Basic Theory Explaining Voluntary Job Turnover 3–27in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  Theory Building Deductive Reasoning The logical process of deriving a conclusion about a specific instance based on a known general premise or something known to be true. Inductive Reasoning The logical process of establishing a general proposition on the basis of observation of particular facts. 3–28in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,  The Scientific Method Scientific Suggested Method steps: 1. Assess A set ofrelevant prescribed existing procedures knowledge for establishing of phenomenon and 2. connectingconcepts Formulate theoretical andstatements about events, for propositions 3. analyzing State empirical evidence, and for predicting hypotheses events yet unknown. 4. Design research to test the hypotheses Techniques or procedures used to analyze empirical 5. Acquire empirical data evidence in an attempt to confirm or disprove prior 6. Analyze and evaluate data conceptions. 7. Propose an explanation of the phenomenon and state new problems raised by the research 3–29in ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,