1. Business Research & Field Survey
Professor B. P. Singh
Chairman
Delhi School of Professional Studies & Research
Formerly, Head & Dean
Faculty of Commerce & Business
Delhi School of Economics
University of Delhi, Delhi
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2. Agenda for Presentation
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Business Research: Concept
Determining When To Conduct Research
Some Important Distinctions
Research Process
Sources of Data
Questionnaire Method
Measurement and Scaling
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3. Cont….
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Criteria for Good Measurement
Sampling
Criteria for Good Research
Application of Research in:
– Finance
– Human Resource
– Marketing
– Production & Operations Management
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4. Business Research
• An organized, systematic, data based,
critical, objective, scientific enquiry or
investigation into a specific problem,
undertaken with the purpose of finding
answers or solutions to it.
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5. Determining when to conduct Research
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6. Quantitative vs. Qualitative
• Quantitative Research:
– Use numbers, statistics, emphasis on
measurement, precision, prediction
• Qualitative Research:
– Emphasis on verbal descriptions
– Reflect the world as seen by participant (Focus
on the ‘lived experience’ of participant)
– Use word-for-word quotations when reporting
findings
– Typically employs small samples
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7. Descriptive vs. Explanatory
• Descriptive: goal is to describe some aspect of
society
– Census: description of entire population
– Sample: a small portion of the population
who are selected to represent the population
• Explanatory: goal is to explain relationships
– E.g.: why is that females who select gender
non-traditional careers come from higher
socio-economic backgrounds
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8. Basic vs. Applied
• Basic Research:
– Attempts to expand the limits of
knowledge
– Not directly involved in the solution to a
pragmatic problem
• Applied Research:
– Conducted when a decision must be
made about a specific real-life problem
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9. Research Process
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10. Sources of Data
DATA SOURCES
PRIMARY METHODS
SECONDARY METHODS
INTERNAL
Fully
Processed
Need Further
Analysis
EXTERNAL
Published
Electronic
Database
Syndicated
Sources
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11. Classification of data
• Primary data is original, problem or project
specific, and collected for the specific
objectives and needs spelt out by the
researcher. The authenticity and relevance is
reasonably high.
• Secondary data is information that is not
topical or research specific and has been
collected and compiled by some other
researcher or investigative body. It is recorded
and published in a structured format.
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12. Uses of secondary data
Problem identification and formulation
stage: past data and information on the topic
under study. Can be extremely useful in
developing a conceptual framework for
investigation.
Hypotheses designing: earlier work done on
the topic and market data as well as industry
trends and market facts could help in
developing assumptions that can be translated
into testable hypotheses for the study.
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13. Cont….
Sampling considerations: respondent-related
databases are important sources of respondent
statistics and relevant contact details.
Primary base: can be used to design
questionnaires for the primary study.
Validation and authentication board: earlier
records and studies as well as data pools can
also be used to support or validate the
information collected through primary sources.
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14. Internal data sources
Company records: historical as well as
current manufacturing information, process
and policy documents
Employee records: demographic data sets,
performance appraisals & grievance data
Sales data: cash register receipts,
salespersons call records, sales invoices and
sales reports
Other sources: customer databases, CRM
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15. External data sources
• Published data: data that is in or on public
domains, which could be compiled by public or
private sources
Government sources: census data, other
documented and available government
publications
Other data sources: essentially nongovernment sources like books, periodicals,
guides and directories, Indices and
standardized non-government statistical data
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16. Qualitative vs Quantitative Methods of Data Collection
Research stage
Study objective
Qualitative
Quantitative
Exploratory,
Definite, conclusive &
investigative
predictive
Research design Loosely structured Structured, controlled
conditions
Sampling plan
Small samples Large/representative
samples
Type of
Loosely structured
Formatted &
approach
structured
Data analysis
Textual & non- Statistically tested &
statistical
authenticated
Study
Explanatory &
Conclusive & action
deliverables
supportive
oriented
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17. Questionnaire Method
This is the simplest and most often used
method of primary data collection
There is a pre-determined set of questions in
a sequential format
Is designed to suit the respondent’s
understanding and language command
Can be conducted to collect useful data from
a large population in a short duration of time
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18. Cont….
• The spelt out research objectives need to
be converted into specific questions
• It must be designed to engage the
respondent and encourage meaningful
response
• The questions should be designed in simple
language and be self-explanatory
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19. Converting the research objectives into
information areas
Research Research
Questions Objectives
Variables to
be studied
What is
the nature
of plastic
bag usage
amongst
the people
in the NCR
(National
Capital
Region)?
Usage
behavior
Demographic
details
•Disposal of
plastic bags
•To identify the
different used of
plastic bags
•To find our the
method of
disposal of
plastic bags
•To find out what
is the level of
consciousness
that people
have about the
environment
Information
(Primary
Required)
•Uses of
Plastic bags
Population
to be
studied
Consumers
Relations

20. Cont….
Research
Questions
Research
Objectives
Variables to
be studied
Information
(Primary
Required)
What is the •To find out Environmental •Respondent
level of
whether they consciousness attitudes and
environment understand Effect of
perceptions
consciousnes how plastic Plastic bag
towards the
s amongst
bags can be usage
environment
them?
harmful for
•Perception
the
about the
environment
impact of
plastic bags
•To identify
strategies to
on the
discontinue
environment
plastic bag
usage
Population
to be
studied
Consumer
Retailer

21. Cont….
Research
Questions
What
measures
can be taken
to encourage
people not
to use plastic
bags?
Research
Objectives
Variables to Information
be studied
(Primary
Required)
Corporation indicative
laws (if any) measures for
Attitudinal
encouraging
change
the general
strategies
public to
discontinue
the use of
plastic bags
Population
to be
studied
Policy
maker
consumer
retail

22. Questionnaire Administration
• Physical characteristics of the
questionnaire
• Pilot testing the questionnaire
• Preparing the final draft of the
questionnaire
• Administering the questionnaire
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23. Questionnaire Method
Advantages
• Adaptability
• Assurance of
anonymity
• Cost- & time-effective
Disadvantages
• Limited applicability
• Skewed sample
• Return ratio
• Clarification
• Spontaneity of response
• Scope of coverage
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24. Meaning of Measurement and Scaling
Measurement: The term ‘measurement’ means
assigning numbers or some other symbols to the
characteristics of certain objects. When numbers
are used, the researcher must have a rule for
assigning a number to an observation in a way
that provides an accurate description.
Scaling: Scaling is an extension of measurement.
Scaling involves creating a continuum on which
measurements on objects are located.
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25. Types of Measurement Scale
Nominal scale: there must be distinct classes but
these classes have no quantitative properties.
Therefore no comparison can be made in terms of
one being higher category than the other.
Example: there are two classes for the variable
gender – males and females. There are no
quantitative properties for this variable or these
classes and, therefore, gender is a nominal variable.
Country of origin, gender, married or single.
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26. Cont….
Ordinal scale: these are distinct classes but these
classes have a natural ordering or ranking. The
differences can be ordered on the basis of
magnitude.
For example: final position of horses in a race is an
ordinal variable. The horses finish first, second,
third, forth, and so on. The difference between first
and second is not necessarily equivalent to the
difference between second and third, or between
third and fourth.
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27. Cont….
Interval scale: it is possible to compare
difference in magnitude, but importantly the
zero point does not have a natural meaning. It
captures the properties of nominal and ordinal
scales – used by most psychological test.
Designates and equal-interval ordering – The
distance between, for example, a 1 or a 2 is
the same as the distance between a 4 or a 5.
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28. Cont….
Example: Celsius temperature is an interval
variable. It is meaningful to say that 25 degrees
celsius is 3 degree hotter than 22 degrees
celsius, and that 17 degrees celsius is the same
amount hotter (3 degrees) than 14 degrees
celsius. Notice, however, that 0 degree celsius
does not have a natural meaning. That is, 0
degree celsius does not mean the absence of
heat!
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29. Cont….
Ratio scale: captures the properties of the other
types of scales, but also contains a true zero,
which represents the absence of the quality
being measured.
Example: heart beats per minute has a very
natural zero point. Zero means no heart beats.
Weight (in grams) is also a ratio variable. Again,
the zero value is meaningful, zero means the
absence of weight.
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30. Criteria for good measurement
Reliability
Reliability is concerned with consistency of the
instrument.
A reliable test is one that yields consistent
scores when a person takes the test two
alternative forms of the test or when an
individual takes the same test on two or more
different occasions.
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31. Cont….
Validity
The validity of a scale refers to the ability to
measure what it is supposed to measure and
the extent to which it predicts outcomes.
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32. Sampling
• Population: Population refers to any group of
people or objects that form the subject of study
in a particular survey and are similar in one or
more ways.
• Sampling frame: Sampling frame comprises all
the elements of a population with proper
identification that is available to us for selection
at any stage of sampling.
• Sample: It is a subset of the population. It
comprises only some elements of the
population.
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33. Cont….
• Sampling unit: A sampling unit is a single
member of the sample.
• Sampling: It is a process of selecting an adequate
number of elements from the population so that
the study of the sample will not only help in
understanding the characteristics of the
population but will also enable us to generalize
the results.
• Census (or complete enumeration): An
examination of each and every element of the
population is called census or complete
enumeration.
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34. Sampling & Non-Sampling Errors
Sampling error: This error arises when a sample is
not representative of the population.
Non-sampling error: This error arises not because a
sample is not a representative of the population but
because of other reasons. Some of these reasons are
listed below:
Plain lying by the respondent.
The error can arise while transferring the data from the
questionnaire to the spreadsheet on the computer.
There can be errors at the time of coding, tabulation and
computation.
Population of the study is not properly defined.
Respondent may refuse to be part of the study.
There may be a sampling frame error.
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35. Sampling Design
Probability Sampling Design - Probability sampling
designs are used in conclusive research. In a
probability sampling design, each and every
element of the population has a known chance of
being selected in the sample.
Types of Probability Sampling Design
Simple random sampling
Systematic sampling
Stratified random sampling
Cluster sampling
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36. Cont….
Non-probability Sampling Designs - In case of nonprobability sampling design, the elements of the
population do not have any known chance of being
selected in the sample.
Types of Non-Probability Sampling Design
Convenience sampling
Judgemental sampling
Snowball sampling or chain-referral sampling
Quota sampling
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37. Criteria For Research
MUST have: a clearly stated research purpose/
objective
MUST have: a sequential plan of execution
MUST have: a logical and explicitly stated
justification for the selected methods
MUST have: an unbiased and neutral method of
conduct and reporting
MUST have: complete transparency and ethical
conduction of the research process
MUST have: provision for being reliable &
replicable
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38. Research Applications In Marketing
• Market & consumer analysis
• Product research
• Pricing research
• Promotional research
• Place research
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39. Research Applications In Finance
• Asset pricing, capital markets and corporate finance
• Financial derivatives and credit risk modeling
research
• Market-based accounting research
• Auditing and accountability
• Other areas: financial forecasting, behavioural
finance, volatility analysis
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40. Research Applications In
Human Resources
Training & development studies
Selection and staffing studies
Performance appraisal–design and evaluation
Organization planning and development
Incentive and benefits studies
Emerging areas–critical factor analysis, employer
branding studies
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41. Research Applications In
Production & Operations Management
Operation planning and design
Demand forecasting and demand estimation
Process planning
Project management and maintenance effectiveness
studies
Logistics and supply chain-design and evaluation
Quality estimations and assurance studies
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42. Thank You All For the Patient Listening !
For Further Queries Contact us at :
chairman@dspsr.in
drbpsingh1958@gmail.com
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