1research Proposal

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
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
• After completing this chapter you should be able to:
• 1. Identify problem areas that are likely to be studied in
organizations.
• 2. Discuss how problem areas can be identified in work
settings.
• 3. State research problems clearly and precisely.
• 4. Explain how primary and secondary data help the
researcher to develop a problem statement.
• 5. Develop a research proposal.
• 6. Apply all you have learned to a project that might be
assigned.
Research Methods
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. www.wiley.c 2
for Business om/college/sekaran
EXAMPLES OF PROBLEMS
• 1. Long and frequent delays lead to much frustration among airline
passengers. These feelings may eventually lead to switching behavior,
negative word-of-mouth communication, and customer complaints.
• 2. Staff turnover is higher than anticipated.
• 3. The current instrument for the assessment of potential employees
for management positions is imperfect.
• 4. The newly installed information system is not being used by the
managers for whom it was primarily designed.
• 5. The introduction of flexible work hours has created more problems
than it has solved.
• 6. Young workers in the organization show low levels of commitment
to the organization.
Research Methods
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION GATHERING
• 1. Background information on the organization

and its environment – that is, the contextual
factors.
• 2. Literature – the body of knowledge
available to you or what is already known and
written down that is relevant to your research
project.

4
First Review of the Literature
• 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

A Good Problem Statement
• Research objective: 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.
Examples of Research Objectives
• To find out what motivates consumers to buy a product online.
• To study the effect of leadership style on employees ’ job
satisfaction.
• To investigate the relationship between capital structure and
profitability of the firm.
• To establish success factors regarding the adoption and use of
information systems.
• To determine the optimal price for a product.
• To investigate the influence of the in-store shopping environment
on impulse buying.
• To establish the determinants of employee involvement.
• To understand the causes of employee absence.
Research Methods
Example: Business Problem Translated into
Problem Statement
• Problem
• Frequent and long delays may translate into
much frustration among airline passengers, to
switching behavior, and to negative word-of-
mouth communication.
• These feelings and behaviors eventually have
negative effects on the performance and the
profitability of the firm.
Research Methods
Example: Research Objective
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
Example: A good problem statement
• Research Questions:
– 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 Questions
• Research questions:
• what of the research (what do you want to learn?)
• 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
Research Methods
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!

Class Exercise
• While Chrysler’s minivans, pickups, and sports
utilities take a big share of the truck market, its
sedan cars trail behind those of GM, Ford, Honda,
and Toyota. Quality problems include, among other
things, water leaks and defective parts.
• (a) identify the broad problem area,
• (b) define the problem statement, [i.e. Research
Objective (why) and Research Question (what)] and
• (c) explain how you would proceed further.
Research Methods
The research proposal
• The research proposal drawn up by the
investigator is the result of a planned,
organized, and careful effort.
• The document size should be from 10 to 15
pages double space, Times New Roman font
size 12).

www.wiley.com/college/sekaran
for Business
Research Proposal contains (1)
• Working title. Names
• 1. Introduction
• Background of the study.
• The problem statement.
- The objective of the study.
- Research questions.
• The scope of the study.
• The relevance of the study. Importance
• 2. The Review of Literature
Research Proposal contains (2)
• 3. The Research Design offering details on:
a. Type of study (qualitative, quantitative).
b. The Model (Equation(s) with dependent
and independent variables)
c. Hypothesis
d. Data collection methods.
e. The sampling design.
f. Statistical analysis technique.
• Time frame of the study.
• Budget (if applicable).
• References.
Research proposal to study retention of
new employees
• Purpose/Objective of the study
• To find a solution to the recurring problem of 40% employee turnover
within the first three years of their recruitment, and more specifically to:
• 1. Draw up a profile of the employees who quit;
• 2. Assess if there are any special needs of the new recruits that require
to be met; and
• 3. Determine the reasons for employees leaving the organization in the
first three years.
• Research question
• How can small to medium- sized firms increase the organizational
commitment of their employees?
Research Methods
Research proposal to study retention of new
employees
• Scope of the study
• This research analyzes the problem of high turnover of employees
within small to medium- sized firms .
• Relevance/Importance of the study
• The cost of employee turnover to firms has been estimated to be
up to 150% of the employees’ remuneration package (Schlesinger
& Heskett, 1991). There are both direct and indirect costs
involved. Direct costs relate to leaving costs, replacement costs,
and transition costs, while indirect costs relate to the loss of
production, reduced performance levels, unnecessary overtime,
and low morale. The results of this study provide managers with
the means to decrease the costs of employee turnover.
Research Methods
new employees
• The research design ( i. e., details of the study) Survey instruments .
• First, we will interview a small number of employees who have
joined the company in the previous three years. Based on these
exploratory findings, we will administer a questionnaire to all of the
employees who have joined the company in the past three years.
• Data collection
• The interviews will be conducted during office hours in the
conference hall of the organization at a prearranged time
convenient to the interviewees. The questionnaire will be given to
the employees to be completed by them in their homes and
returned anonymously to the box set up for the purpose by the
specified date. They will all be reminded two days before the due
date to return their questionnaires, if not already done.
Research Methods
Time Frame Table
Weeks number Tasks
15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
X Choosing business research topic
Searching about selected topic
X Research Introduction and background
X Problem statement
X X X Literature review
X Research methodology and theoretical framework
X X Research design
X Research proposal
X X X Data collection (Questionnaire)
X X Data analysis
X Conclusion
X Final report
Research Methods
new employees
• Time frame
• The time frame necessary for completion of this research
project is approximately five months. During these five
months, periodic reports will be provided on the progress
being made.
• Budget
• The budget for this project is in Appendix A.
• Selected bibliography
Bateman, T. S. & Strasser, S. (1984). A Longitudinal Analysis of
the Antecedents of Organizational Commitment . The Academy
of Management Journal, 27( 1 ), 95–112.
Research Methods

1research Proposal

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

1research Proposal

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

1research Proposal

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Introduction to Research

The Research Process - The Broad Problem

Research Methods © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

• 1. Background information on the organization

Research Methods © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

• Is beneficial in both basic and applied research

Research Methods © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

• Research objective applied research:

• Allows manager to increase commitment and hence to

1. to identify the factors that influence the

2. to investigate the possible impact of waiting

Research Methods © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Research Methods © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Research Methods © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

X Research Introduction and background

X Research methodology and theoretical framework

X X X Data collection (Questionnaire)

You might also like