Research: Concepts, Types & Processes
Complete study notes on Research, Scientific Research, Social Science Research and Management Research
🔍 1.1 Concept of Research
Research is a systematic process of inquiry or investigation into a specific subject or problem that leads to the development of knowledge and helps in finding solutions to existing problems.
The word Research is derived from two words: "Re", meaning again, and "Search", meaning to find or investigate.
Thus, research refers to the systematic and scientific process of searching for new knowledge, verifying existing knowledge, developing theories, improving existing theories, and solving specific problems.
⭐ 1.2 Features of Research
Objective
Based on facts and evidence rather than personal opinions.
Controlled
Relevant factors are controlled to obtain reliable results.
Replicable
Other researchers can repeat the research procedure.
Reproductive
Research contributes to further studies and development of knowledge.
Generalizability
Findings can be applied to similar situations where appropriate.
Free from Bias
Personal prejudice is minimized and objectivity is maintained.
Problem-Oriented
Research is directed toward understanding or solving a problem.
Logical
Research follows logical reasoning and sound arguments.
Systematic
Research follows a planned and organized procedure.
📚 1.3 Types of Research
Research can generally be classified into two major types:
1. Basic / Fundamental Research
Research conducted primarily to gain deeper knowledge about an issue, discover basic principles, or develop and improve theories.
2. Applied / Action Research
Research conducted to find practical and immediate solutions to problems faced by organizations or society.
🎯 1.4 Purpose or Role of Research in Management
- ✓ Providing Information: Provides relevant information for managerial decisions.
- ✓ Identifying Problems: Helps managers identify existing and potential problems.
- ✓ Helps in Control: Provides information required for monitoring and controlling organizational activities.
- ✓ Supporting Organizational Change: Helps organizations understand and manage changes effectively.
- ✓ Formulating Strategies: Provides a basis for developing appropriate organizational strategies.
🧪 1.5 Scientific Research
Scientific research is a systematic, controlled, critical, and empirical investigation of hypothetical propositions concerning presumed relationships among phenomena.
It is a structured approach to investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, and correcting or integrating previous knowledge. It relies on empirical evidence and follows systematic procedures to ensure objectivity, reliability, and reproducibility.
🔬 1.6 Features of Scientific Research
- ✓ Parsimony: Explains a phenomenon using the simplest adequate explanation.
- ✓ Operational Definition: Clearly defines concepts in measurable or observable terms.
- ✓ Generalizability: Findings can be applied to similar situations or populations where appropriate.
- ✓ Precision: Uses accurate and clearly defined concepts and measurements.
- ✓ Purposive: Conducted with a clearly defined purpose or objective.
- ✓ Rigorous: Follows careful, thorough, and appropriate research procedures.
- ✓ Replicability: Other researchers should be able to repeat the research process.
- ✓ Objective: Findings are based on evidence rather than personal opinions.
- ✓ Testability: Propositions or hypotheses can be tested using evidence.
📝 1.7 Process of Scientific Research
- 1 Realizing the problem
- 2 Identifying and defining the research problem
- 3 Reviewing the literature
- 4 Formulating hypotheses
- 5 Formulating the research design
- 6 Developing the sampling design
- 7 Collecting data
- 8 Analyzing data and interpreting the findings
- 9 Reporting the findings and making generalizations
👥 1.8 Social Science Research
Social science research is the systematic process of discovering new facts, verifying existing facts, studying their sequence and interrelationships, and developing causal explanations and principles governing social phenomena.
It is particularly concerned with human behavior and social relationships. Data may be collected through structured and unstructured questionnaires, interviews, observations, and other research methods.
Difficulties in Conducting Social Science Research
- ✓ Complexity of human and social behavior
- ✓ Difficulty in obtaining accurate information
- ✓ Misconceived impressions of society
- ✓ Qualitative nature of many social events
- ✓ Lack of universality of social events
- ✓ Emotional tendencies of respondents
- ✓ Vested interests of researchers or respondents
🏢 1.9 Management Research
Management research is the systematic study of various dimensions of organizational problems to identify the actual problem, determine its causes, and find appropriate tools and techniques to solve it.
Basically, management research is conducted to address problems related to planning, organizing, directing, and controlling organizational activities.
Types of Management Research
Policy Research
Provides information and evidence for developing, evaluating, or modifying organizational policies.
Action Research
Identifies and solves an immediate practical problem within an organization.
Evaluation Research
Assesses the effectiveness, efficiency, or outcomes of a program, policy, or organizational activity.
💡 Importance of Research for Decision-Making
- 1 Identifying problems
- 2 Diagnosing and assessing problems and opportunities
- 3 Selecting the appropriate course of action
- 4 Implementing the selected course of action
- 5 Evaluating the course of action
⚖️ Ethical Issues in Management Research
Ethical considerations are important in management research because they protect the rights of participants, researchers, sponsors, and society.
👤 Ethics Toward Participants
- Voluntary participation
- Right to be informed
- Right to safety
- No deception of participants
- Assurance of privacy and confidentiality
- Informed consent
💼 Ethics Toward Sponsors
- Maintaining confidentiality
- Maintaining competency
- Providing quality work
- No fabrication or falsification of data
- Maintaining professional practices
🤝 Ethics Toward Team Members
- Ensuring safety and security
- Maintaining open relationships
- Encouraging cooperation
- Respecting the contribution of team members
🌍 Ethics Toward Society
- Maintaining objectivity
- Maintaining scientific integrity
- Reporting research results honestly
- Considering the broader social impact of research
⚡ Quick Revision
Systematic search for knowledge or solutions.
Focuses mainly on developing knowledge, principles, and theories.
Focuses mainly on solving practical problems.
Systematic, controlled, critical, empirical, objective, and testable.
Focuses on identifying and solving organizational and managerial problems.
Protects participants, researchers, sponsors, and society.
