Chapter 2

Overview of
Research
Process (1)
Business Research / Marketing Research
 Assignment 1 (8/5/2020)
•CHAPTER 1: •CHAPTER 2:
INTRODUCTION
•LITERATURE REVIEW
1.1 Background of the Study
2.1 Dependent Variable
1.2 Problem Statement
2.2 Independent Variable 1
1.3 Research Objective
2.3 Independent Variable 2
1.4 Research Questions
2.4 Independent Variable 3
1.5 Significance of the Study

• 
• FORMAT: -

 Line spacing: 2.0 Spacing  Paper size: A4/White

 Font size : 12  Binding : Tape binding (black tape)

 Font color : Black  Cover Page : Light yellow (G6),

Light green (G7)
 Font : Times New Roman • 

 Page number : Bottom of • ** Students are advised to avoid

the page (center) plagiarism. The whole group will be
heavily penalized for the offence and
 Margin : Normal will be given ZERO mark.
What you need to know
Overview of Research Process I
• Research Process

• Problem Definition

• Problem Statement

• Formulating Research Questions

Overview of Research Process II

• Formulating Research Objectives

• Formulating Research Hypotheses

• Reviewing the Literature

 After completing this topic,
you are expected to:
• understand the research process
• know how to select research
problem
• Know how to write problem
statement
• know how to develop research
question
Business Research Process I: An
Overview

• Problem Definition
• Write problem statement
• Formulating Research Questions
 Step to determine
Problem Definition
•Step 1 : Identify your research area then develop your topic.

•Step 2 : Do a preliminary search for information.

•Step 3 : Locate materials.

•Step 4 : Evaluate your sources.

•Step 5 : Make notes.

•Step 6 : Write your paper

•Step 7 : Cite your sources properly

•Step 8 : Proofread
 Step 1: Identify and develop your
topic
• You need to have an interest on something that you need
more understanding.
• Put it in writing and it is easier to state your topic as a
question to help you to find the answer.
• For example, if you are interested in finding out about
smoking by college students, you might pose the
question, "What effect does smoking have on the health
of college students?" Identify the main concepts or
keywords in your question. In this case they are smoking,
health, and college students. Do not get distracted by the
title as long as you stick to your topic of interest.
 Step 2 : Do a preliminary
search for information.
• It is important to do preliminary search before beginning
your research in earnest.
• This is to determine whether there is enough information
out there for your needs and to set the context of your
research.
• The easiest way is to look up your keywords in the
appropriate titles in the library's reference collection (such
as encyclopedias and dictionaries) and in other sources such
as catalogue of books, periodical databases, and internet
search engines.
 Step 3: Find materials
• With the accepted topic, your direction of your research
is now clear to you.
• Next move is you can begin to locate materials on your
topic. There are a number of places you can look for
information: books, journal articles, conference papers,
magazines, etc.. If you are looking for books, library
catalogue is the best to do a subject search. A keyword
search can be performed if the subject search doesn't
yield enough information. Print or write down the
citation information (author, title, etc.) and the location
(call number and collection) of the item (s).
 continue
• You might also find the library's audio-visual holdings
indexed in the catalogue.
• Use the library's electronic periodical databases to find
magazine and newspaper articles. Choose the databases
and formats that best suited your particular topic and
find databases with full-text format.
• Use search engines such as Google, Yahoo, etc. and
subject directories such as the Librarian's Guide to the
Internet to locate materials in the Internet. Check the
Internet Resources section of the library web site for
helpful subject links.
 Step 4: Evaluate your
sources
• See the Checklist for Information Quality for tips on
evaluating the authority and quality of the information
you have located.
• Your lecturer expects that you will provide credible,
truthful, and reliable information and you have every
right to expect that the sources you use are providing
the same.
• This step is especially important when using Internet
resources, many of which are regarded as less than
reliable.
 Step 5: Make notes
• Verify the resources you have chosen in your
writing.
• Note the information (author, title, publisher,
URL) that are or will be useful to you to
complete writing your paper, even if there is a
chance that you may not use those particular
sources in your writing.
• This information is needed when creating a
bibliography/references.
 Step 6: Write your paper
• Do not wait until everything is ready for you to write your
paper.
• Begins with writing the rough draft, wherein you get
your ideas on paper in an unfinished fashion. You can
start by organizing the information you have collected.
• This step will help you organize your ideas and determine
the form your final paper. Then, revise the draft as many
times as you think necessary but do not be a
perfectionist because it will prevent you from finishing
your writing. You are not going to change the world!!! So
be practical.
 Step 7: Cite your sources
properly
• Give credit where credit is due; cite your sources. Avoid plagiarism.

• Citing or documenting the sources of any information used in your

research serves two purposes: it gives proper credit to the authors
of the materials used, and it allows those who are reading your
work to duplicate your research and locate the sources that you
have listed as references.
• There are two popular citation formats - MLA and APA styles.
(The icon is listed under REFERENCES on your computer when you
use word as your document writer).
• Failure to cite your sources properly is plagiarism.

• Plagiarism is a serious academic offence.

 Step 8: Proofread
• The final step in the process of writing research project is
to proofread the paper you have written.
• Read through the text and check for any errors in
spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Make sure the sources you used are cited properly.

• But the most important part is to make sure the message

that you want to share with the reader has been
thoroughly stated.
 Problem Identification

 Desires to find information

needed to fulfil a need. In this
context, a research is needed to
address a problem. If there is no
problem then there is no need for
a research.
 A Problem
• A problem begins with an issue for which the
answer is not readily available.
• A problem does not necessarily mean that
something is wrong and need to be rectified
immediately. It could also indicate an interest
in an issue where finding the right answers
might help to improve a situation (Sekaran &
Bougie, 2013).
 What is a problem
statement?
• The problem statement will determine your research project
title.
• It is important to focus on a specific problem in order to help
in writing a correct problem statement.
• Researcher must avoid trying to write or investigate multiple
problem or about broad or over ambitious problem.
• Remember you are going to change the world with one
research. Vague or unclear problem statement leads to
unsuccessful proposal and will result in unclear and
unmanageable documents. Naming a topic is not the same as
writing a problem statement or defining a problem.
• A problem well-stated is a problem half-solved." One of the most
important goals (if not the most important goal) of any problem
statement is to articulate the problem being addressed to the reader
in a way that's clear, straightforward, and easy to understand.
• Briefly summarize the problem you intend to solve — this cuts to the
heart of the issue immediately and positions the most important
information in the problem statement near the top, where it's most
visible.
• If you've just started an "ideal" state of affairs as suggested above,
you may want to start your sentence with phrasing like
"However, ..." or "Unfortunately, ..." to show that the problem
you've identified is what is preventing the ideal vision from being a
reality.
 Step to write a Problem
Statement
• 1. Describe the "ideal" state of affairs (issue)

• 2. Explain your problem.

• 3. Explain your problem's financial costs.

• 4. Back up your declarations.

• 5. Propose a solution

• 6.Explain the benefits of the solution

• 7. Conclude by summarizing the problem and solution.

 1. Describe the "ideal"
state of affairs (issue)
• For instance, let's say that you • "The boarding protocols
work at a major airline and used by ABC Airlines should
that you've noticed that the aim to get each flight's
way passengers board your passengers aboard the plane
planes is an inefficient use of quickly and efficiently so that
time and resources. In this the plane can take off as soon
case, you might begin your as possible . The process of
problem statement by boarding should be optimized
describing an ideal situation for time-efficiency but also
where the boarding system should be straightforward
isn't inefficient that the enough that it can be easily
company should shoot for, understood by all
like this: passengers."
 2. Explain your problem.
• If you've just started an • In this case, you might
continue with a few sentences
"ideal" state of affairs as
like,
suggested above, you
may want to start your • "However, ABC Airline's
sentence with phrasing current passenger boarding
system is an inefficient use of
like "However, ..." or the company's time and
"Unfortunately, ..." to resources. By wasting
show that the problem employee man-hours, the
you've identified is what current boarding protocols
make the company less
is preventing the ideal competitive, and by
vision from being a contributing to a slow
reality. boarding process, they create
 3. Explain your problem's
financial costs.
• Soon after you state your • "The inefficiency of the
problem, you'll want to current boarding system
explain why it's a big deal — represents a significant
after all, no one has the time financial burden for the
or resources to try to solve company. On average, the
every single minor problem. current boarding system
In the business world, money wastes roughly four minutes
is almost always the bottom per boarding session,
line, so you'll want to try to resulting in a total of 20
highlight the financial impact wasted man-hours per day
of your problem on the across all ABC flights. This
company or organization represents a waste of roughly
you're writing for $400 per day or $146,000 per
year."
 4. Back up your declarations.
• As soon as you start •"...Based on internal performance
making specific claims tracking data,[1] on average, the
about how serious your current boarding system wastes
problem is, you'll need to roughly four minutes per boarding
session, resulting in a total of 20
start supporting your
wasted man-hours per day across all
statements with ABC flights. Terminal personal are
evidence. In some paid an average of $20 per hour, so
cases, this may be from this represents a waste of roughly
your own research, from $400 per day or $146,000 per year."
data from a related study Note the footnote — in an actual
problem statement, this would
or project, or even from
correspond to a reference or
reputable third-party appendix containing the data
sources.
 5. Propose a solution
• When you've explained • "Using a modified boarding
what the problem is and system proposed by Dr. Edward
Right of the Kowlard Business
why it's so important, Efficiency Institute which has
proceed to explain how passengers board the plane from
you propose to deal with the sides in rather than from the
it. As with the initial back to the front, ABC Airlines can
eliminate these four minutes of
statement of your
waste." You might then go on to
problem, your explain the basic gist of the new
explanation of your system, but you wouldn't use
solution should be more than a sentence or two to
written to be as clear and do this, as the "meat" of our
analysis will be in the body of the
concise as possible. proposal.
6.Explain the benefits of the solution .
• "ABC Airlines stands to benefit
• Again, now that you've told your
readers what should be done about substantially from the adoption
the problem, it's a very good idea of this new boarding program.
to explain why this solution is a For instance, the $146,000 in
good idea. Since businesses are estimated yearly savings can be
always trying to increase their
re-directed to new sources of
efficiency and earn more money,
you'll want to focus primarily on the revenue, such as expanding its
financial impact of your solution — selection of flights to high-
which expenses it will reduce, demand markets. In addition, by
which new forms of revenue it will being the first American airline
generate, and so on. You can also
to adopt this solution, ABC
explain non-tangible benefits, like
improved customer satisfaction, stands to gain considerable
but your total explanation recognition as an industry
shouldn't be too much longer than trendsetter in the areas of value
a few sentences to a paragraph. and convenience.
 7. Conclude by summarizing the
problem and solution.
• There's no need to make •"Optimization of current boarding
protocols or adoption of new, more-
this conclusion any effective protocols is crucial for the
longer than it needs to continued competitiveness of the
be — try to state, in just company. In this proposal, the
a few sentences, the alternative boarding protocols
basic gist of what you've developed by Dr. Right are analyzed
described in your for their feasibility and steps for
effective implementation are
problem statement and suggested." This sums up the main
the approach you intend point of the problem statement ,
to take in the body of the that the current boarding procedure
article. isn't very good and tells the
audience what to expect if they
•The 5 'W's can be used to spark the
discussion about the problem .
• Who - Who does the problem affect? Specific groups,
organizations, customers, etc.

• What - What are the boundaries of the problem, e.g.

organizational, work flow, geographic, customer, segments, etc. -
What is the issue? - What is the impact of the issue? - What impact
is the issue causing? - What will happen when it is fixed? - What
would happen if we didn’t solve the problem?

• When - When does the issue occur? - When does it need to be

fixed?
 continue
• Where - Where is the issue occurring? Only in certain locations,
processes, products, etc.

• Why - Why is it important that we fix the problem? - What impact

does it have on the business or customer? - What impact does it
have on all stakeholders, e.g. employees, suppliers, customers,
shareholders, etc. Each of the answers will help to zero in on the
specific issue(s) and frame the Issue Statement. Your problem
statement should be solvable. That is, it should take a reasonable
amount of time to formulate, try and deploy a potential solution.

• How – How can the problem be solved or how to approach the

problem?
 Formulating Research
Questions
• What is research question?

• What is good research question?

• How to formulate research question?

 What is research
question?

• A research question is an answerable

inquiry into a specific concern or issue. It
is the initial step in a research project
which means after you have an idea of
what you want to study, developing
research question is the first active step
in the research project.
 continue
• A Research Question is a statement that
identifies the phenomenon to be studied.
• For example:

• How does the current boarding protocols

impact the brand image of ABC Airlines ?
• How does the new packaging affect the sales
of the product?
 To develop a strong research
question from your ideas,
you should ask yourself these common questions:

• Do I know the field and its literature well?

• What are the important research questions in my field?

• What areas need further exploration?

• Could my study fill a gap? Lead to greater

understanding?
• Has a great deal of research already been conducted
in this topic area?
• • Has this study been done before? If so, is there room
for improvement?
• • Is the timing right for this question to be answered? Is
it a hot topic, or is it becoming obsolete?
• • Would funding sources be interested?

• • If you are proposing a service program, is the target

community interested?
• • Most importantly, will my study have a significant
impact on the field?
Here are some characteristics of a
good research question:
•• The question is feasible.
•• The question is clear.
•• The question is significant.
•• The question is ethical.
Business Research Process II: An
Overview
Opportunity and
information
need felt

Designing
Managerial research
decision and method
action

Diagrammatic
Representation of the
Business Research
Process
Plan and do
Report primary
writing and research
presentation

Plan and do
Tabulation secondary
and analysis research
 Overview of Research
Process II
•Formulating Research
Objectives
•Formulating Research
Hypotheses
•Reviewing the Literature
 Formulating Research
Objectives
• What is Research Objectives?

• In general, research objectives describe what

need to be achieved at the end of the research
project or what is the research goal.
• Research objectives will provide an accurate description
of a specific action you will take in order to reach this
goal.
• As with the problem formulation, the overall objective
should be framed in a single sentence.
• A variety of problems can arise if research objectives,
general (broad) or specific (narrow), are not clearly
defined at the beginning stages of the research project.
 The purpose of research
objective
• Here are three of them:

• 1) To help researcher to draw a conclusion from

within the scope of the thesis.
• 2) Well-defined research objectives will help
researcher identify the type of study he/she will
do.
• 3) Research objectives can serve to guide the
activities or research.
 Examples: objective
• Consider the following
examples.
• In the case of the first example,
• • To describe what factors
the research will end the study by
customers take into account in being able to specify factors which
making a decisions as whether
emerged in household decisions.
to purchase or not to purchase
a new product. • • In the second, the result will
• • To develop a budget for be the specification of a
reducing pollution in the river in pollution reduction budget.
Klang Valley.
• • In the third, creating a
• • To describe the habit of picture of the habit at of
successful women successful women entrepreneur.
entrepreneur.
 Developing Research
Objectives
• A good, well worded • • To identify

research objectives must • • To establish

be Specific, Measurable,
• • To describe
Attainable, Realistic, and
Time-bound (SMART). • • To determine
They should be Relevant,
• • To estimate
Achievable, Logical,
Observable, and Clear. • • To develop
They are usually headed • • To compare
by infinitive verbs such as:
• • To analyse

• • To collect