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    03 - Chapter 3

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    Mustafa Mohammed
    The document discusses defining research problems and formulating problem statements. It states that a good problem statement includes the research problem, research questions, and research objectives. It emphasizes that clearly defining the problem is the most important step. It provides tips for defining problems, including discussing the problem with stakeholders and asking clarifying questions. The document also provides a sample problem statement and discusses key aspects of a good research proposal.

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    03 - Chapter 3

    Uploaded by

    Mustafa Mohammed
    18 views14 pages
    The document discusses defining research problems and formulating problem statements. It states that a good problem statement includes the research problem, research questions, and research objectives. It emphasizes that clearly defining the problem is the most important step. It provides tips for defining problems, including discussing the problem with stakeholders and asking clarifying questions. The document also provides a sample problem statement and discusses key aspects of a good research proposal.

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    The document discusses defining research problems and formulating problem statements. It states that a good problem statement includes the research problem, research questions, and research objectives. It emphasizes that clearly defining the problem is the most important step. It provides tips for defining problems, including discussing the problem with stakeholders and asking clarifying questions. The document also provides a sample problem statement and discusses key aspects of a good research proposal.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    18 views14 pages

    03 - Chapter 3

    Uploaded by

    Mustafa Mohammed
    The document discusses defining research problems and formulating problem statements. It states that a good problem statement includes the research problem, research questions, and research objectives. It emphasizes that clearly defining the problem is the most important step. It provides tips for defining problems, including discussing the problem with stakeholders and asking clarifying questions. The document also provides a sample problem statement and discusses key aspects of a good research proposal.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    You are on page 1of 14

    Chapter 3

    Introduction to Research
    The Research Process - The Broad Problem
    Area and Defining the Problem Statement

    Research Methods © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.


    for Business www.wiley.com/college/sekaran
    A good problem statement is composed of:

    1) Research Problem(s)

    2) Research Question(s)

    3) Research Objectives(s)

    The problem statement is the most important


    step in the research process
    Research Methods
    © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. www.wiley.c 2
    for Business om/college/sekaran
    Research Problem
    • What is a problem/opportunity?

    • Problems in defining problems:


    – Symptoms of problems confused with actual
    problems
    – Complexity of problems
    – Perceptual biases
    – Politics

    Research Methods
    © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. www.wiley.c 3
    for Business om/college/sekaran
    Signs of Poor Problem Definition
    • Problems return as solutions are not effective.
    • Extensive waste of time and resources in
    research
    • Difficulty in research design

    Research Methods
    © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. www.wiley.c 4
    for Business om/college/sekaran
    How do we define problems?
    Discussions
    with the
    Problem’s
    Stakeholders

    Problem
    Definition Diagnostic
    Analytical
    Techniques Models

    Research Methods
    © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. www.wiley.c 5
    for Business om/college/sekaran
    Questions To Ask Stakeholders:
    1. What decisions will be made on the basis of this study?

    2. How will research influence these decisions? Suppose the research reveals X. What
    decision will be made? Suppose the study reveals Y? What decision will be made? If X and Y
    are relative opposites, and the planned decision is the same in the face of either outcome,
    then perhaps this research is not useful, required, or relevant in the circumstances.

    3. What information will make a difference in the decisions to be made?

    4. Why do you need to know this?

    5. Why not just go ahead and make a decision based on sound business judgment and
    everything we currently know instead of bothering to conduct marketing research at all?

    6. Do we really have to know this? Why?

    7. What else do we need to know to make an informed decision?

    Research Methods
    © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. www.wiley.c 6
    for Business om/college/sekaran
    Research Question(s)

    – what of the research (what do you want to learn?)


    • How? Why? Where? When?
    – Translates problem into a specific need for information

    • Research questions:
    – Are related to the objective
    – If objective is unclear we will not be able to formulate research questions

    • Example:
    – What are the factors that affect the perceived waiting experience of airline
    passengers?
    – To what extent do these factors affect the perception of waiting times?
    – What are the affective consequences of waiting ?
    – How does affect mediate the relationship between waiting and service
    evaluations?
    – How do situational variables (such as filled time) influence customer reactions to
    the waiting experience?

    Research Methods © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.


    for Business www.wiley.com/college/sekaran
    Research Objective(s)
    • why of the research

    • Research objective applied research:


    – to solve a specific problem in a work setting;
    – to change something.

    • Example:
    – To determine factors that increase employee commitment to the
    organization;

    • Allows manager to increase commitment and hence to decrease


    turnover, absenteeism and increase performance levels.

    Research Methods © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.


    for Business www.wiley.com/college/sekaran
    Example
    The purpose of this study is twofold:

    1. to identify the factors that influence the


    passenger’s waiting experience and

    2. to investigate the possible impact of waiting


    on customer satisfaction and service
    evaluations.

    Research Methods
    for Business
    Good problem statement
    • Relevant
    – for the organization
    • Feasible
    – you are able to answer the research questions
    within the restrictions of the research project.
    • Interesting
    – to you!

    Research Methods © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.


    for Business www.wiley.com/college/sekaran
    The research proposal
    • The research proposal is a document that is
    developed to provide a second party (client or
    regulatory body) details on how a specific
    research project will be conducted.
    • Once approved, the researcher is obligated to
    implement the proposal as is. Any changes
    must be approved.

    Research Methods © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.


    www.wiley.com/college/sekaran
    for Business
    Research Proposal contains (1)
    • Working title.
    • Introduction/Background of the study.
    • The problem statement.
    - The purpose of the study.
    - Research questions.
    • The scope of the study.
    • The importance/relevance of the study.

    Research Methods © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.


    for Business www.wiley.com/college/sekaran
    Research Proposal contains (2)
    Literature Review
    • Helps the researcher to:
    – Structure research on work already done
    – Develop problem statement with precision and
    clarity

    • Is beneficial in both basic and applied research


    projects

    Research Methods © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.


    for Business www.wiley.com/college/sekaran
    Research Proposal contains (3)
    • The research design offering details on:
    a. Type of study
    b. Data collection methods
    c. The sampling design
    d. Data analysis.

    • Used references.

    Research Methods © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.


    for Business www.wiley.com/college/sekaran

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