MNG501

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RESEARCH

METHODOLOGY

Welcome to MNG501: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

(MBA)

Dr. Davood Askarany

Office: Building 11H-14

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Teaching hours: Saturdays: 3.00pm-4.30pm

and Sundays: 3.30pm-4.30pm

Room: 4-15

Office hours: 10:00 – 12:00 Saturday and Sundays

Room: 11H-14

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Textbook:

Business Research Methods, 8th Edition, William

G. Zikmund, Barry J. Babin,, Jon C. Carr, Mitch

Griffin, ISBN-13: 9781439080672

© 2010

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Content Outline

Introduction

Scientific Method and Applications in Business

Problem Identification

Theoretical Framework and Hypothesis Development

Research Design

Measurement of Variables

Data Collection and Sampling

Data Analysis

Writing a Research Report

Conclusion And Review-Exams

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Expectations

• Prepare readings in advance

• Start writing ASAP and continue working on

your research project throughout the

semester

• Ask questions!

• Attend all lectures

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Additional Learning Resources

• Research Methods for Business by Uma Sekaran

• Research Methods for Business Students (Paperback) by Mark

Saunders (Author), Adrian Thornhill (Author), Philip Lewis (Author) 2006

Publisher: Financial Times/ Prentice Hall; 4 edition ISBN-13: 978-

0273701484 ISBN-10: 0273701487

• Statistical Methods for Organizational Research: Theory and Practice

By Chris Dewberry published 2004 Routledge ISBN 0415334241

• Research Methods for organizational studies by Donald P.Schwab

(1999) published by Lawrence Eerlbaum associates. ISBN 0805829725

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Assessment:

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Type of Assessment Percentage

Research project 50%

Mid-Term 20%

Final Exam 30%

Total 100%

Research project

• idea and theory development

• problem definition

• searching for and collecting information

• analyzing data

• communicating the findings and their

implications

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Research project format

• A written report between 5,000 to 8,000 words

• Title page,

• Abstract (½ page maximum)

• Table of contents,

• Tables, figures,

• Introduction (1-2 pages)

• Literature review (4-10 pages)

• Research methodology (1-3 pages)

• Results/expected results (2-5 pages)

• References (1-4 pages)

• Appendices (0-6 pages)

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Research project format

• Font: 12 point Times New Roman

• Spacing: 1.5 or double spacing

• Page margins: minimum of 2cm

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Research project evaluation

• 1. Was the research problem accurately

diagnosed and described?

• 2. How well was the research problem analysed

and put into context?

• 3. How well was the research problem linked to

the literature?

• 5. Were strong conclusions drawn from the

literature?

• 6. How well was the adopted research method

and how well was it exercised?

• 7. How well was the conclusion/s reached?

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Report Evaluation

• 1. Was the report typed and attractively laid

out and presented?

• 2. Was the report well written, properly edited

and easy to read?

• 3. Did the report make appropriate use of

headings, subheadings and lists?

• 4. Was referencing adequate?

• 5. Was the length of the report kept within the

maximum page limitation?

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Presentation Evaluation

• a. capture audience interest?

• b. present enthusiastically and creatively?

• c. present at a good pace?

• d. address issue directly ?

• e. prepare overhead slides carefully?

• f. make good use of their slides?

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Presentation Evaluation (cont)

• g. finish within the allotted time?

• h. prepare in depth?

• i. answer questions well?

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MNG501 BUSINESS

MARKET

RESEARCH

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Research philosophies and research

approaches

Saunders et al, (2008)

Figure 4.1 The research ‘onion’ 1–17

Research Approaches

Deduction

5 sequential stages of testing theory

• Deducing a hypothesis

• Expressing the hypothesis operationally

• Testing the operational hypothesis

• Examining the specific outcome of the enquiry

• Modifying the theory (if necessary)

Adapted from Robson (2002)

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Research Approaches

Characteristics of Deduction

• Explaining causal relationships between variables

• Establishing controls for testing hypotheses

• Independence of the researcher

• Concepts operationalized for quantitative measurement

• Generalisation

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Research Approaches

Induction

Building theory by –

• Understanding the way human build their world

• Permitting alternative explanations of what’s going

on

• Being concerned with the context of events

• Using more qualitative data

• Using a variety of data collection methods

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Choosing your research approach

The right choice of approach helps you to

• Make a more informed decision about the research design

• Think about which strategies will work for your research topic

• Adapt your design to cater for any constraints

Adapted from Easterby-Smith et al. (2008)

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Deductive and Inductive research

Major differences between these approaches

Saunders et al, (2009)

Table 4.2 Major differences between deductive and inductive approaches to

research 1–22

Summary

The two main research approaches are

Deduction - theory and hypothesis are

developed and tested

Induction – data are collected and a theory

developed from the data analysis

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