UKCBC Unit 7 Research Skills
Introduction Research is the process of analysing, processing and managing several sources of historical data and information regarding a particular topic. This process is basically a combination of several types of processes that help the organisations use to identify, collect, process, store and manage relevant information about a particular issue, which in turn helps the organisation to take major business decisions in the present time. The methods of research allow the already present data and historical events in the past to affect the decisions to be taken in the present and future. The methods of research can also be defined as the processes in which the works of others are referred to complete the current work. The methods of research are used by the organisations in various different situations . An organisation may use a research techniques to determine the demand of a particular product in the market, determine the needs of the customers, determine the trends in the market along with its size and cost, determine the available resources in the market, determine the threats and opportunities in the market, determine the marketing strategy and promotional strategies to be used for a particular product and to stay responsive to the changes in the market. The methods of research allow an organisation to gain and maintain a competitive advantage over its competitors in the same industry. The basic steps of a research method include identifying the issue, determining the purpose of research, determining the method to be used, collecting data, analysing and evaluating the collected data, reporting the evaluations of the research and communicating the research reports to people who require those data.
LO1 Understand different research methodologies 1.1 Different research methodologies There are several methods of researches which are differentiated by the purpose of the research, the type of the issue, the data to be collected, and the subject of the research, scope of the research and the importance of the research. The various established methods of research focus on each of these factors to a different extent. Some of the different types of research methodologies are mentioned below for development of Research skills. Experimental research – This type of research is done when a particular experiment is being performed in a particular scope or a particular theory is being tested. There are several factors that can affect the result of the experiment or can affect the events that occur during the experimentation. This type of research allows the researcher to gain a complete perception of all those factors (Cooper, 2003).
Survey research – This type of research is done by the organisation in a situation in which they are trying to collect data regarding a particular issue from the primary sources of data. This type of research is done by the organisations trying to communicate directly to their current and potential customers (Kothari, 2004). Evaluative research – This type of research is done by the organisations to determine and analyse the impact of a particular process, method or policy. The effect of that process is evaluated to determine the success rate. Observational research – This type of research is based on the concept of taking a step back and observing from a distance. This type of research method observes and records the behavioural patterns of individuals, groups or organisations. This type of research helps the organisation to gather data regarding the occurrence of various processes (Kothari, 2004). Applied research – This type of research is used by organisation to gather information to decide the course of action of a particular event, situation or issue. This type of research helps the organisation to take business decisions regarding a particular issue or problem in the business environment (Cooper, 2003).
1.2 Use of a research methodology Research proposal is the document which describes the course of action that should be taken by the organisation while carrying out a research. The research proposal describes the issue for which research is being done, the methodology to be used for the research, the type of data and information to be collected in the research, the evaluation methods to be used to process the collected data and the type of report to be created describing the findings of the research. The research proposal is the most important piece of document that is needed before the research process begins. This is the document which explains the requirement of the research to the management and higher authorities in the organisation (Harris, 1997). The research methodology to be used in the research process is clearly defined in the research proposal. The choice of research methodology depends on the number of the required subjects, the type of the issue being solved, the environment in which the research is being done and the amount of the required data and information. There are several research methodologies that can be used in a research process depending on the set of factor mentioned above. Primary and secondary data collection – The research methodology of primary data collection involves the processes in which the organisation conducting the research collects the data and information regarding a particular issue or event from the primary sources of data. The primary
sources of data are the customers, potential customers, employees and critics. So the data collection is done directly by the organisation carrying out the research (Robson, 1997). In the case of secondary data collection methodology, the organisation carrying out the research collects relevant data and information from secondary sources of data. Secondary sources of data are the repositories of data being managed by several private and government organisations which collect data and information regarding the particular issue or event. These secondary sources of data are analysed and processed to determine the result of the research. Observatory research methodology – This type of research methodology is used by the organisation which aims to observe the current trends in the environment along with the demands and needs of the customers. This type of research methodology is used in a research where the major aim of the process is to observe the behavioral pattern of individuals or groups (Cooper, 2003). Experimental research methodology – This type of research methodology is used in a research method in which the researcher wants to check the validity of a particular theory, process or theory in a particular environment. This methodology is proposed in the research proposal document to determine the effect of a policy on the environment (Robson, 1997).Order Now