DR NEENA SONDHI

CHAPTER-2

FORMULATION OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

DR DEEPAK CHAWLA

&
DEVELOPMENT OF THE RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY CONCEPTS AND CASES

DR NEENA SONDHI SLIDE 2-1

Defining the research problem

A research problem can be defined as a gap or

uncertainty in the decision makers’ existing body
of knowledge which inhibits efficient decision
making. The gap could be academic &
DR DEEPAK CHAWLA

theoretical (basic) or real time and action

oriented (applied).

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY CONCEPTS AND CASES

 SLIDE 2-2

Problem identification process

DR NEENA SONDHI

Management Decision Problem

Discussions Review of Organization Qualitative

with subject existing Analysis analysis
experts literature

Management Research Problem / Question

DR DEEPAK CHAWLA

Research framework / Analytical model

Statement of Research Objectives

Formulation of Research Hypothesis

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY CONCEPTS AND CASES


Decision problems
DR NEENA SONDHI
DECISION PROBLEM
1. What should be done to increase the
customer base of organic products in the
domestic market?
2. How to reduce turnover rates in the BPO
sector?
3. How to improve the delivery process of
Widex hearing aids in India?
DR DEEPAK CHAWLA
4. Should the company continue with its
existing security services vendor or look at an
alternative?
5. Can the Housing and real estate growth be
accelerated?
6. Whom should ICICI choose as its next
Managing director- Mr ABC or Mrs. XYZ?
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY CONCEPTS AND CASES
SLIDE 2-3
Research problems
RESEARCH PROBLEM*
1. What is the awareness and purchase
intention of health conscious consumers for
organic products?
2. What is the impact of shift duties on work
exhaustion and turnover intentions of the BPO
employees?
3. How does Widex/ industry leader manage its
supply chain in India/Asia?
4. What is the satisfaction level of the company
with the existing vendor? Are there any gaps?
Can they be effectively handled by the vendor?
5. What is the current investment in Real Estate
and Housing? Can the demand in the sector be
forecasted for the next six months?
6a. what has been the Leadership initiatives
and performance record of ABC viz. XYZ?
6b. Can a leading aggressive private sector
bank accept a woman as its leader?
 SLIDE 2-4

Problem identification process

DR NEENA SONDHI

 Management decision problem: the issue/decision that

needs to be resolved through research

 Discussion with experts: to get the right perspective on

the issue, discussion/dialogue is held with subject/industry
expert.
DR DEEPAK CHAWLA

 Review of literature: the most valuable source of framing

the research question is to review the past work done on
related topic(s).
 Qualitative surveys: primary exploratory loosely
structured surveys to attain the environmental context.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY CONCEPTS AND CASES

 SLIDE 2-5

Problem identification process

DR NEENA SONDHI

 Management research problem: the four steps

might lead to multiple directions/research problems
the researcher can take.
 The researcher has to identify THE alternative he/she
will undertake
DR DEEPAK CHAWLA

 Theoretical model building (optional)

 Statement of research objectives

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY CONCEPTS AND CASES

 SLIDE 2-6

Elements of a research problem

DR NEENA SONDHI

 Unit of analysis

 Independent variable

 Dependent variable
DR DEEPAK CHAWLA

 Extraneous independent variable

 Intervening variables

 Moderating variables

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY CONCEPTS AND CASES

DR NEENA SONDHI SLIDE 2-7

The research hypotheses

A hypotheses is any assumption/presupposition that
the researcher makes about the probable direction of
the results that might be obtained on the completion of
the research process
 Descriptive hypotheses: This is simply a statement
about the magnitude, trend, or behaviour of a
DR DEEPAK CHAWLA

population under study.

 Relational hypotheses: These are the typical kind of
hypotheses which state the expected relationship
between two variables.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY CONCEPTS AND CASES

 SLIDE 2-8

Criteria for hypotheses formulation

DR NEENA SONDHI

 In simple, declarative statement form

 Measurable and quantifiable

 Is essentially a conjectural statement

DR DEEPAK CHAWLA

 Has underlying assumptions on the testing of the

stated relationships

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY CONCEPTS AND CASES

Application questions (1/3)
1. The Indian Army wants to ascertain
why young students do not select the
armed forces as a career option in their
graduation.
- formulate the research problem.
- what would be the variables under
study?
- generate descriptive and relational
hypothesis for your study.
Application questions (2/3) …
2. A diet drink manufacturer finds that young
women are more health conscious and are
looking at low calorie options. Thus,
advertizing has to emphasize the health
aspect. The purchase probability is also
influenced by their education level and
nature of their profession. Other factors such
as available brands, celebrity endorsement
and dieticians’ recommendations also have
an impact on them.
Application questions (2/3)
contd.
 Identify your research problem and
hypotheses.
 Identify and classify the variables under study.
 Is it possible to generate a theoretical
framework for the study?
Application questions (3/3) …
3.The training manager at ABC corporation has
asked you to identify the kind of training
programs that should be offered to the young
recruits who have joined as management
trainees and are to be imparted five additional
general management programs along with
their specific job training modules. The
recruits are a mix of engineering and
management graduates.
Application questions (3/3)
contd.
 Formulate your research problem.
 Identify sources you would use to carry out
a problem audit.
 State your research objectives and the
research hypotheses.