RESEARCH METHODS FOR

MANAGEMENT
UNIT - I
What is Research?
 What is Research?
• Research in common parlance refers to a search for knowledge.
• Systematic investigation towards increasing the sum of knowledge
- Chambers 20th Century Division
• Research fulfills the gap of knowledge
• The systematic and objectives process of gathering, recording and
analyzing data for aid in making decisions.
• Research is the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of
data to answers certain questions or solve problems.
OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH

• to verify and test important facts

• to analyse an event or process or phenomenon to identify the
cause and effect relationship
• to develop new scientific tools, concepts and theories to solve
and understand scientific and nonscientific problems
• to find solutions to scientific, nonscientific and social problems
and
• to overcome or solve the problems occurring in our every day
life.
TYPES OF RESEARCH
• Descriptive Research Vs Analytical Research:
Descriptive research includes surveys and fact-finding enquiries of
different kinds. The major purpose of descriptive research is
description of the state of affairs as it exists at present.
Analytical Research :
In analytical research, on the other hand, the researcher has to use
facts or information already available, and analyze these to make a
critical evaluation of the material.
2. Applied vs. Fundamental Research
Applied research aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem
facing a society or an industrial/business organization.

Fundamental Research
It is mainly concerned with generalisations and with the formulation of a
theory. “Gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake is termed ‘pure’ or
‘basic’ research.”
3. Quantitative vs. Qualitative research
Quantitative research is based on the measurement of quantity
or amount. It is applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms
of quantity.
Qualitative Research is concerned with qualitative phenomenon, i.e.,
phenomena relating to or involving quality or kind. Like opinions,
Feelings, Awareness level etc.
4. Conceptual vs. Empirical Research.
Conceptual research is that related to some abstract idea(s) or theory. It is
generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or
to reinterpret existing ones.

Empirical research
empirical research relies on experience or observation alone. Empirical
research is appropriate when proof is sought that certain variables affect
other variables in some way. Evidence gathered through experiments
or empirical studies is today considered to be the most powerful support
possible for a given hypothesis.
5.Other Researches:
• Historical Research
• Conclusion Oriented
• Clinical or Diagnostic Research
 Criteria of Good Research (characteristics)

• Research is half complete, when objectives or purposes of it are clearly

spelt out.
• It is necessary that every step followed in the process of research is
explained fully.
• This is because any other person who wants to repeat such a work to
achieve further
• improvement on lest the validity of the research work should be able to do
it.
 Criteria of Good Research (characteristics)

• The research design adopted for the study should be clear and match with
objectives.
• The research should be honest in reporting the facts and revealing the
flaws in the work.
• Every research work should be based on carefully selected analytical tools.
• The research work is incomplete without acknowledging the various data
(or) facts.
• Limitations should be frankly revealed.
 Research Problem

A researcher must find the problem and formulate it so that it becomes

susceptible to research. Like a medical doctor, a researcher must examine all
the symptoms (presented to him or observed by him) concerning a problem
before he can diagnose correctly.
 Research Problem

We can, thus, state the components1 of a research problem as under:

(i) There must be an individual or a group which has some difficulty or the
problem.
(ii) There must be some objective(s) to be attained at. If one wants nothing,
one cannot have a problem.
(iii) There must be alternative means (or the courses of action) for obtaining
the objective(s) one wishes to attain. This means that there must be at least
two means available to a researcher for if he has no choice of means, he
cannot have a problem.
(iv) There must remain some doubt in the mind of a researcher with regard
to the selection of alternatives. This means that research must answer the
question concerning the relative efficiency of the possible alternatives.
 Research Problem

We can, thus, state the components1 of a research problem as under:

(iv) There must remain some doubt in the mind of a researcher with regard
to the selection of alternatives. This means that research must answer the
question concerning the relative efficiency of the possible alternatives.
(v) There must be some environment(s) to which the difficulty pertains.
Research Problem