QUESTION PAST SEM JAN 2014 (PART B)

AC 30

ShazwanIli iryantiAtiqah

Zanurain

BUSINESS

RESEARCH

METHOD

1. a) Briefly explain the following terms used in research:

iv. Operational definitionresult of the process of operationalization and is used to define something in terms of a process needed to determine its existence, duration, and quantity.

v) Qualitative investigationis exploratory in nature and generates non-numerical data.

2a) Purpose of the study

Purpose of the studyHypothesis Testing – studies

that engage in hypothesis testing usually explain the

nature of certain relationship, or establish the differences

among groups or the independence of two or more

factors in a situation.

Example – a marketing manager wants to know if the

sales of the company will increase if he doubles the

advertising dollars.

Types of the investigation

Causal Study – it is necessary to establish a

definitive cause and effect relationship.

Correlation study – identification of the

important factors “associated with”

the problem.

Example – does smoking cause

cancer?? (a casual study question), are smoking and cancer

related ? (a correlation study),

are smoking, drinking and

chewing tobacco associated with

cancer? If so, which of these contributes

most of the variances in the

independent variable?

Study Setting

Contrived : artificial setting – closely related to casual

study, because the researcher tries to manipulate certain

variable so as to study the effect of such manipulation on the dependent

variable of interest.

Non- contrived – the natural environment

where work proceeds normally

Field study – studies conducted to

establish cause and effect relationship

using the same natural environment in which employees normally function

are called field experiment

Lab experiment – the environment is

controlled to study the cause and effect

relationship

Population to be studied

Unit of analysis – individual. E.g : employees motivation.

• - dyads. E.g : two person interaction• - groups• - organization• - cultures

Time Horizon

•Snapshot of construct at a single point in time•Data is collected just one time it could be over a period of days, weeks, or month in order to answer a research question•Use a representative sample.

Cross sectional studies

Time Horizon

Longitudinal studies.• Construct measured at multiple points in time

• E.g : the researcher might want to study employee’s behavior before and after a changes in the top management

Question 2 (B)Minimizing the risk of harm

Dissertation research should not harm participants.

Such scenario will also require additional planning to illustrate how participant will be reduced, informed consent, and detailed debriefing

Obtaining informed consent

Informed consent means that

participants should understand that they are taking part in the

research and what research requires of

them.

Such information may include the purpose of

the research, the method being used,

and also the possible outcomes of the

research

Protecting anonymity and confidentiality

Participants will typically only be willing to volunteer information, especially information of private or sensitive nature if the researcher

agrees to hold such information in confidence.

Avoiding deceptive practices

Deceptive practices fly in

the face of informed consent.

How can participant know

that they are taking part in research and

what the research requires of them if they are being

deceived???

In most circumstance, dissertation

research should avoid any kind of

deceptive practice

Deceptive is sometimes a

necessary component of

covert research, which can be

justified in some cases.

Providing the right to withdraw

Research participa

nts should always

have the right to withdraw from

the research process.

Furthermore,

participants

should have the right to

withdraw at any

stage in the

research process.

They should not be

pressured or

coerced in any

way to try and stop

them from

withdrawing.

3(A)Discuss and evaluate three different methods of collecting primary data. Be sure to consider issues of reliability, generalizability, validity, ethics and practically in your answer. Describe situations where one method or the other may be most appropriate.

Methods

Focus groups*consist of 8-10 members with a

moderator leading the

discussion about 2 hours on

particular topic and concept.Eg: computer

specialist discuss on matters related to

computers and computing.

Panels*similar to focus groups but meet more than one

time*very useful to study the effect

certain interventions to

be studied overtime

Eg: change flavor of coffee

Unobstrusive measures

*does not involve any specific individuals

Eg; signatures on checks, to

measure usage of library books by

looking at the wear and tear of

those books

3(B)Describe the development of a questionnaire in detail. Describe the three basic principles in ensuring good questionnaire design.

• Content and purpose of question• Wording and language• Type and form of questions• Sequencing• Classification data or personal information

1) Principles of wording

• Categorization• Coding• Scales and scaling• Reliability and validity

2) Principles of measurements

• Appearance of questionnaire• Length of questionnaire• Introduction to respondents• Instruction for completion

3) General ‘’getup’’

4. A) Briefly explain the following sampling procedures. Use appropriate diagram if necessary to better illustrate your answer.

1) DATA REDUCTION

Selecting data; Quotes, matrix, graph, chart ,etc.

Coding data; Analytic process; data are reduced, rearranged & integrate to form theory. Codes are label for units of text. E.g words, sentence, paragraph & themes.

Categorizing data; Process of organizing, arranging & classifying coding units, to form theory

2) DATA DISPLAY

•Data display involves taking your reduced

data and displaying them in an organized,

condensed manner. Charts, matrix, diagram,

graph, phrases, drawings. To discover patterns

and relationship.

3) DRAWING CONCLUSIONS

•Final analytical activity in the process of qualitative data analysis. Where you answer your research question by:

•a) Identifying themes

•b)Explanations of observed pattern and

relationship

•c)Making contrasts and comparisons.

Thank You