1. What is Business Research?

Question 1

What is research?

Answer 1

Designed studies to find responses to worthwhile questions using a systematic/scientific approach

Question 2

Francis Bacon (theory)

Answer 2

He discovered and popularised the scientific method by gathering & analysing data from experiments & observations

Question 3

Early researchers

Answer 3

Nicolaus Copernicus
Galileo Galilei
Johannes Kepler
Rene Descartes
Blaise Pascal
Pierre De Fermat
Isaac Newton
Antony Van Leeuwenhoek
Ole Christensen Romer
Robert Boyle
Christian Huygens
Charles Darwin

Question 4

Karl Popper (different approaches)

Answer 4

He showed scientific theories can only be tested by falsification

Question 5

Karl Popper (Pseudo Science)

Answer 5

Many branches of applied science aren’t scientific (no potential for falsification)

Question 6

Pseudo Science example

Answer 6

Anthropology and Sociology:

Uses case studies to observe people in natural environment without testing any specific hypothesis or theories

Question 7

Why do we research?

Answer 7

Curious about the world
Daily life activities based on common sense (personal experience or observation) (common sense isn’t always the best approach - conflict theories about what’s best/works in particular situation)
Make things better
Health care research vitally important (can’t just experiment on patients)
Opportunity to see how people feel

Question 8

Why is competitive advantage important?

Answer 8

Companies use research to fully analyse business situation (industry analysis, product research, identify key /new customer groups)
Business Research is essential in enabling managers to make business decisions

Question 9

Key questions

Answer 9

5W's:
WHAT am I researching?
WHEN will it be done?
WHY am I doing the research?
WHERE will research be done?

How will I do the research?
Am I capable of carrying out this research? (experience, skills, personality traits)
Am I interested in what I am researching?

Question 10

Real World Researcher (Business vs Academia)

Answer 10

1. Interest in solving problems
2. Large effects (robust results) & concerns for actionable factors (changes feasible)
3. Almost always works in ‘field’ (industry, hospital, business, school)
4. Strict time constraints
5. Strict cost constraints
6. Little consistency of topic
7. General researchers (need for familiarity with range of methods & approaches)
8. Oriented to client needs (generally & particularly in reporting)
9. Viewed dubious by academic researchers
10. Some need for social skills

Question 11

Academic Researcher (Business vs Academia)

Answer 11

1. Interest in gaining knowledge & advancing discipline
2. Establishing relationships & developing theory (assessing statistical significance in quantitative studies)
3. Depends on focus of research but mainly in laboratories
4. As long as topic needs (increases time pressures)
5. As much finance as topic needs (or work shouldn’t be attempted)
6. High consistency of topic
7. Highly specialist researchers (need to be at forefront of their discipline)
8. Oriented to academic peers (reporting)
9. Carries high academic prestige
10. Need for well developed social skills