Research methods in management and marketing
Question 3
Research ethics involves the use of moral rules and application professional code of conduct to collect, analyze, report, and publicize the information obtained from the research. Particular right to privacy and confidentiality and informed consent is taken into consideration i.e., the protection of the dignity of the subjects. Research ethics comprises informed consent, beneficence (Do not harm), respect for anonymity, and confidentiality.
Respect for anonymity and confidentiality deals with rights of beneficence, respect for dignity, and fidelity. Anonymity is protected when the respondents are not linked to personal outcomes. Confidentiality allows the respondents to give information freely and withhold information as much as they wish. The ethical principle of states that the research is of benefit and does not harm the constituents. It includes a professional mandate to effectively conduct quality research for the benefit of society. It may be difficult to predict beneficence when formulating a hypothesis for qualitative research. The respondents’ autonomy is protected by trough informed consent. The right to autonomy protects the respondents from assaults and boosts self-determination.
When collecting data one should take the following steps to ensure that ethical issues in research are applied in the process.
- Clarify the purpose of data collection. This step should not be overlooked when collecting data. It may look simple but it’s essential since individuals can make give information with informed consent.
- Develop the operational definition and procedures. Here we can identify what we are measuring, how it will be measured. Employ sampling techniques at this stage and develop an appropriate sampling method.
- Validate the sampling measurement system. This step allows the researcher to ensure that data will be collected is sufficient and appropriate.
- Start collecting data, ensure when collecting data you apply the process and guidelines you have identified in the previous steps.
Question 4
Research is the process of conducting a systematic investigation of a particular problem scientifically. It is through research that descriptions, explanations, predictions, and control to phenomena are made or deduced
Management of different business organization use research in their companies and organization to;
- It is through research that an organization can identify its main competitors and knowing the environment that your organization operates.
- A company conducts research to identify and understand its customers well. Through the research, the company can explore different markets and identify the gaps in the market.
- Business managers can get competitive strategy after conducting research. They are therefore able to compete efficiently and effectively.
- Research ensures an effective distribution channel that is effective and cost-efficient. This can be obtained from successful research by business management.
- Research enables the business to apply new production methods to introduce a new product that can compete in the market effectively.
Approaches to research include deductive research, inductive research, and adductive research.
The deductive research approach involves developing a research hypothesis from existing theories and designing a research strategy to test the hypothesis.
Inductive research involves observing and developing hypotheses towards the end of each observation.
The Abductive research approach gives new facts and research is conducted to prove the facts. It normally uses a process known to develop a conclusion.
A deductive research approach may be used to determine the preference between two commodities by gender. For example, males prefer coffee to tea, and women prefer tea to coffee.
The inductive research approach is suitable for researching the effect of price discrimination.
An Abductive research approach may be conducted to predict the occurrence of uncertain events for example when gambling in a casino.
Strengths and limitations of the abductive approach to research
- It starts from a logical point to make a conclusion
- One of its limitations is that it’s complicated and incoherent and difficult to interpret.
Strengths and weaknesses of inductive research approach
- This method is more accurate since it deduces a conclusion after subsequent observations.
- It allows one to make a mistake and rectify it later.
The inductive research approach is limited by the way the conclusion is deduced since it’s tiresome and repetitive.
Strengths and limitations of deductive research approach
It can be used to observe the relationship between two or more variables. Thus making it possible to measure variables quantitatively.
The deductive research method is unrealistic since the hypothesis is based on assumptions. It’s not universally applicable.