The Research Process
Step 1-4 IBC464
International College http://library.spu.ac.th
Step 1-4
• The broad problem area
• Preliminary data gathering
• Problem definition
• Theoretical framework
Step1:The broad problem area
• 1 Observation
• a problem currently existing
• A situation requiring improvement
• To find some answer empirically
• The broad problem area would be narrowed down to specific issues for investigation after some
preliminary data are gathered by the researcher.
Step2:Preliminary data gathering (Literature review)
• Types of data
– Primary data
– Secondary data
• Nature of data to be collected
– Background information of the organization – Managerial philosophy, company policies – Perception,attitudes,behavioral
responses,client systems
– Relevant surveys or research
Step3:Problem definition
• Or problem statement is a clear, precise, and succinct statement of the question or issue that is to be investigated with the goal of finding an answer or
solution.
• Ex.What are the components of “quality of life”?
Step4: Theoretical framework
• Is a conceptual model of how one theories or make logical sense of the relationships among the several factors that have been identified as important to the problem.
• Then hypotheses can be developed
• Variables
– Dependent variable – Independent variable
• Variables
– Dependent variable is the variable of primary interest to the researcher.The researcher’s goal is to understand and describe the
dependent variable.
– Independent variable is one that influences the dependent variable in either a positive or a negative way.
Ex.The development of a successful new product influences the stock market price.
Survey Research
• http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/survey.php
• Types Of Questions
• Survey questions can be divided into two broad types: structured and unstructured
• http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/questype.php
• Question Content
• http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/quescont.php
• Response Format
• http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/quesresp.php
• Likert Scaling
• http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/scallik.php
Research Design
• http://www.waier.org.au/forums/2002/siragusa.html
http://www.ccsr.ac.uk/methods/projects/posters/benchmarking.shtml
Step 1 Problem definition
Step 2: Hypothesis generation
• http://www.fao.org/docrep/W3241E/w3241e02.htm
Levels Of Measurement And Scaling
• http://www.fao.org/docrep/W3241E/w3241e04.htm#TopOfPage
Probability Sampling
A probability sampling method is any method of sampling that utilizes some form of random selection
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/sampprob.php
Levels of Measurement
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/design.php
Descriptive Statistics
• Frequency distribution table
Frequency distribution bar chart.
formula for the standard deviation:
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/statdesc.php
