Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

Chapter 13

Writing Research Proposal

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-1

University of Dhaka
 Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

The Format of a Research Proposal

I. Introduction
II. Review of the Relevant Literature (the more complete the
better)
III. Method
IV. Implications and limitations
V. Appendices

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-2

University of Dhaka
 Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

The Format of a Research Proposal

Introduction
 Problem statement
Rationale for the research
Statement of the research objectives
Hypothesis
Definitions of terms
Summary, including a restatement of the problem

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-3

University of Dhaka
 Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

The Format of a Research Proposal

Review of the relevant literature (the more complete the better)

 Importance ofthe question being asked
Current status ofthe topic
Relationship between the literature and the problem statement
 Summary, including a restatement of the relationships between
the important variables under consideration and how these
relationships are important to the hypothesis proposed in the
introduction

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-4

University of Dhaka
 Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

The Format of a Research Proposal

Method
Participants (including a description and selection procedures)
Research design
Data collection plans
1. Operational definition of all variables
2. Reliability and validity of instruments
3. Results of pilot studies
Proposed analysis of the data
Expected results of the data

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-5

University of Dhaka
 Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

The Format of a Research Proposal

Implications and limitations

Appendices
Copies of instruments that will be used
Results of pilot studies (actual data)
IRB (Institutional Review Board) application and letter of
approval
Participant permission form
Time line
Actual data collected

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-6

University of Dhaka
 Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

Appearance

The guidelines set forth in the fifth edition of the Publication
Manual of American Psychological Association
All pages should be typed with at least l-inch margins on top, bottom,
left, and right to allow sufficient room for comments.
All pages should be double-spaced.
All written materials should be proofread. This does not mean just
using a spell checker. These marvels check only your typing skills (to,
two, or too?), not your spelling or grammar. So, proofread your paper
twice--once for content and once for spelling and grammatical errors.
And, it would not he a had idea to ask a fellow student to read
it once.
The final document should be paper clipped or stapled together, with
no fancy covers or bindings (too expensive and unnecessary).
All pages should be numbered with a running head (all of which is
right justified) and a page number like this:
Cognitive Style and Gender Differences/Salkind 15

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-7

University of Dhaka
 Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

Evaluating the Studies You Read

Ward and Comer (1988) made the following criticisms while
reviewing 128 published research articles.
 The data collection procedure was not carefully controlled.
 There were weaknesses in the design or plan of the research.
 The limitations of the study were not stated.
 The research design did not address the question being asked by the
researcher(s).
 The results of the study were not clearly presented.
 The wrong methods were used to analyze the information collected.
 The article was not clearly written.
 The assumptions on which the study was based were unclear.
 The methods used to conduct the study were not clearly described or
not described.

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-8

University of Dhaka
 Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

Criteria for Judging a Research Study

Review of Previous Research

 How closely is the literature reviewed in the study related to
previous literature?
 Is the review recent? Are there any outstanding references you
know about that were left out?

Problem and the Purpose
 Can you understand the statement of the problem?
 Is the purpose of the study clearly stated?
 Does the purpose seem to be tied to the literature that is reviewed?
 Is the objective of the study clearly stated? "
 Is there a conceptual rationale to which the hypotheses are
grounded?
 Is there a rationale for why the study is an important one to do?

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-9

University of Dhaka
 Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

Criteria for Judging a Research Study

Hypotheses
 Are the research hypotheses clearly stated?
 Are the research hypotheses explicitly stated?
 Do the hypotheses state a clear association between variables?
 Are the hypotheses grounded in theory or in a review and
presentation of relevant literature?
 Are the hypotheses testable?

Method
 Are the independent and dependent variables clearly defined?
 Are the definition and description of the variables complete?
 Is it clear how the study was conducted?

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-10

University of Dhaka
 Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

Criteria for Judging a Research Study

Sample
 Was the sample selected in such a way that you think it is
representative of the
population?
 Is it clear where the sample came from and how it was selected?
 How similar are the subjects in the study to those that have been
used in other similar studies?

Results and Discussion
 Does the author relate the results to the review of the literature?
 Are the results related to the hypotheses?
 Is the discussion of the results consistent with the results?
 Does the discussion provide closure to the initial hypotheses
presented by the author?

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-11

University of Dhaka
 Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

Criteria for Judging a Research Study

References
 Is the list of references current?
 Are the references consistent in their format?
 Are the references complete?
 Does the list of references reflect some of the most important
reference sources in the field?
 Does each reference cited in the body of the paper appear in the
reference list?

General Comments About the Report
 Is the report clearly written and understandable?
 Is the language unbiased (nonsexist and relatively culture free)?
 What are the strengths and weaknesses of the research?
 What are the primary implications of the research?
 What would you do to improve the research?

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-12

University of Dhaka
Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

Planning the Actual Research

Time Estimates

When Things
Activity When Things Things
Don't Go
Go Just as Don't Go
Exactly
Planned Well at All
as Planned

• Search general sources

and come up with an idea -- -- --
Introduction • Formulate <I research
question
-- -- --
• Present a preliminary
hypothesis -- -- --
• Search through
secondary sources -- -- --
• Search through
Review of the primary sources
-- -- --
literature
• Reconsider the literature
and state the research -- -- --
hypothesis

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-13

University of Dhaka
Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

Planning the Actual Research

Time Estimates

When Things
Activity When Things Things
Don't Go
Go Just as Don't Go
Exactly
Planned Well at All
as Planned

• Identify and describe the

dependent variables -- - --
• Identify and describe the
independent variables -- -- --
• Field test the dependent
variables -- -- --
Methodology • Create data entry forms -- -- --
• locate a suitable sample -- -- --
• Pilot test the research
hypothesis -- -- --
• Distribute permission
forms -- -- --
• Collect data -- -- --
• Analyze the data -- -- --
Results • Report the results
accompanied by tables -- -- --
and graphs, if useful

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-14

University of Dhaka
Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

Planning the Actual Research

Time Estimates

When Things
Activity When Things Things
Don't Go
Go Just as Don't Go
Exactly
Planned Well at All
as Planned
• Review the nature and
purpose of the research -- -- --

• Refer to the results in

light of the question -- -- --
being asked

• Draw the appropriate

conclusions about the
confirmation or refutation -- -- --
Discussion of the research hypothesis

• Discuss the limitation, of

the study --- -- --
• Discuss the implications
of the study -- -- --

• Discuss topics and directions

for future research -- -- --

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-15

University of Dhaka
 Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

Selecting a Dependent Variable

Even if you have a terrific idea for a research project and your
hypothesis is right on target, a poorly chosen dependent variable
will result in disaster.

The following nine items are important to remember when
selecting such a variable.
Try to find measures that have been used before.
Ensure that the validity of the measure has been established.
Ensure that the reliability of the measure has been established.
If the test requires special training, consider the time and the
commitment it will take to learn how to use it.
Be sure you can get a sample of the test before you make any
decision about whether you will use it.
If you will need them, be sure that norms are available. Some tests do
not require the use of norms, but you must have something
to compare it with.
Obtain the latest version of the test.
The test needs to be appropriate for the age group with which you are
working.
Finally, look for reviews of the test in various journals and reference
sources.
M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-16
University of Dhaka
 Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

Selecting a Sample

the population must match the characteristics of those groups you
want to study.

a poorly identified population is the first major error in
sample selection.
For example, If you want to study preschoolers, you cannot
study first graders just because the two groups are close in age.
The preschool and the first-grade experience differ
substantially.

The type of research you do will depend on the type and size of
sample you need.
For example, if you are doing case study descriptive research, which
involves long, intense interviews and has limited generalizability
(which is not one of the purposes of the method), you will need very
few participants in your sample.
If you are doing a group differences study. you will need at least 30
participants for each group.

Remember, the larger the sample (up to a point) the better, because
larger samples come closer to approximating the population of
which they are a part.

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-17

University of Dhaka
 Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

Data Collection and Analysis

Development of a data collection form to help you with

organization and accuracy.

Specification of which types of descriptive statistics you will use
to describe the variables you are examining. At what level of
measurement do they fall, and what level of measurement-
nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio-best reflects what you are
trying to say?

Identification of the other kinds of information you need to
present in this initial analysis of what your data look like. Maybe
you need demographic information, such as the gender, age,
socioeconomic status, or political affiliation, of the participants.

Pilot data collection.

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-18

University of Dhaka
 Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

Selecting an Inferential Statistic

Selecting an inferential test is a task that always takes care.

You can learn about some of the most common situations, such as
testing the difference between the means of two or more groups and
looking at the relationships between groups.

In both cases, the same principles of testing for the significance of
an outcome apply.

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-19

University of Dhaka
 Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

Protecting Human Subjects

The most organizations that sponsor research (such as universi-

ties) have some kind of committee that regularly reviews research
proposals to ensure that humans (and animals) are not in any danger
should they participate.

Before investigators begin their work, and as part of the proposal
process, an informed consent form is completed and attached to the
proposal.

The committee reviews the information and either approves the
project (and indicates that human subjects are not in danger) or tries
its best to work with the investigator to change the proposed
methods so that things proceed as planned.

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-20

University of Dhaka
Chapter 13 Business Research Methodology

Thank You

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury 13-21

University of Dhaka