KABBBOS: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY IN AGRIBUSINESS.

KABBBOS: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY IN AGRIBUSINESS.

Definition:

Research:- it is a systematic investigation into a subject of interest in order to establish facts that will facilitate reaching a new conclusion.

Research seeks to answer the critical, basic societal question that are the pillars of our daily actions plans.

These are;

1. Who b. What c. Why d. How e. When f. Where.

Research methodology: procession of planning, organizing, and implementing the research in order to answer the research lifeline questions.

This is a  process used to collect data and /or information for the purpose of making comparisons and or decisions.

Research methodology in agribusiness, therefore, refers to process that aim at generating data or information to facilitate business decisions (planning execution and evaluation)

In other words, Research Methodology has been defined as a systematic, theoretical analysis of methods applied to a field of interest.

It encompasses the theoretical analysis of the body of methods and principals associated with a branch of knowledge.

Research techniques.

It simply a manner in which technical details are handled or treated in the event of planning for or doing research. They must be sound and scientifically acceptable.

Types of research

Research can be classified into two folds;

1. Qualitative research.

This type of research is mainly exploratory and is used to gain and an understanding of the underlying reasons, opinions, and motivation towards a subject of interest.

It is therefore used to provide insights into problems or to help to develop ideas for potential quantitative research.

1. Quantitative research.

It is a formal, objective, systematic process in which numerical data are used in order to obtain information about a subject or phenomenon.

This type of research is used to describe variables in order to facilitate or determine cause-effect interactions or relationships.

Importance of research.

In the economic world, any and all undertakings must be guided by an informed choice that justifies a clear satisfaction for value proposition.

This is, by extension, the expected choice modest for all rational managers living or operating under a framework of scare resources.

Research is an expensive undertaking that requires enormous resources that include human resources and time.

However, the desire to do research must be informed by the following:-

• The need to answer the basic lifeline question (six questions)
• The need to address the following

1. Exploratory curiosity (gaining some familiarity about a phenomenon as a basis for planning more structured research.
2. A descriptive focus which is about understanding the structure of particular phenomena (the actor or players beneficiaries contributors)

• Exploratory insight which is more about the structure and condition of the actors.

1. Evaluation or being evaluative, which is concerned with the nature of the outcomes following particular interventions.

Basic elements of research.

Essentially research ought to use scientific methods or approaches which must conform to the following elements;

1. Empiricism

This is the notion that inquiry is conducted through observation and knowledge verified through evidence.

1. Determinism

This is the notion that events occurs according to regular laws and causes, and the goal of research is to discover this. (They follow a cause-effect relationship).

• Scepticism

This is the notion that any proportion is open to analysis and critic.

Steps of scientific method.

Research is all about acquiring knowledge which must be through reasoning and intuition. But most important is through the use of appropriate methods which must address the 3 basic elements of research mentioned above.

Hence the following are the iterative steps in a scientific method;

1. Choice of a research question or problem to address or investigate.
2. Identification of a hypothesis that is related or best fit/addresses the research questions.
3. Develop or formulate testable predictions for the hypothesis you have identified or formulated.
4. Do enough and focused literature review of the problem and or concept to be research on.
5. Design an experiment or survey that suits the subject of interest.
6. Collect data

This step requires that you have developed data collection tools which responds to the subject of inquiry.

7. Determine the result ( do an objective analysis of the data and assess the overall validity of the results in addressing the subject of interest.
8. Interpret the results.

Types of research

From a broad point view research can be broken down into two categories i.e qualitative and quantitative research. However, from a motivation type of view, we have the following categories.

1. Pure research

This essentially contributes to abstract theoretical understanding of some phenomena of interest and usually deals with attribution.

2. Applied Research

This essentially sets to offer working solutions to some phenomena or subject of interest.

3. Instrumentalist research

This is similar to applied research but in most cases, only proposes further research steps in order to get or recommend working solution.

Basically all research work is designed to offer output, outcomes and impacts that should change the way we do business or the way we enjoy the proceed of the output.

These outputs and outcomes are listed and discussed below and by extension they sometimes forms the subject or thematic classification that our research work is sometimes referred to.

Some of these outputs that forms the thematic area are; subcategories of them

• Exploratory Research.

This is research which is expected to give new or emerging outcomes that suggest new ways of doing business or simply new products that never existed.

• Descriptive research

It sets to inform the researcher on behavior issues outcomes of a particular phenomena or a subject of interest.

• Explanatory Research.

Sets to provide a systematic explanation of how why past behavior were and what changes have taken place.

• Predictive Research.

This thematic research provide a statement that may or will arise in the event of particular happening or an intervention, and it normally address a cause-effect relationship or understanding.

5)Normative Research

This simply provides a statement of the intervention necessary or required in order to achieve some desired outcomes.

For research to be in action a standard process must be followed in an orderly or acceptable manner. This process must also be guided by scientific principles.

THE RESEARCH PROCESS

It is important to note that doing or proposing to do research requires one to appreciate and follow some standard steps that enable the researcher to communicate or to be understood by different and specific stakeholders.

Most important to appreciate in that research seeks to answer the basic lifeline questions. These questions can be answered by a standard research process which must clearly define the problem, set out a goal to be achieved, list the objectives of the research, give a list of the testable and measurable hypothesis or research question and then propose a standard and acceptable methodology for the proposed research.

Important to note also is that research sets to come up with new findings, new knowledge, and therefore there is need to cite all past work related to the subject of interest which will also give a basis for identifying the knowledge gaps.

Below is a step by step review of the important area of a research proposal;

The research problem/problem statement.

Introduction.

Real life situation provide a two level experience;

• An experience of “what it is.”
• An experience of “what it ought to be.”

The two levels provide a variance between the real situation and the desired situation or the attained situation and the potential and therefore suggest that there is a gap.

This gaps stand out as a problem while on the other hand the circumstances causing the gap could be the striking problem which needs to be explored and addressed.

Research problem.

It refers to some difficulty that a researcher experiences in the context of either a theoretical or practical situation and therefore want to obtain a solution for the same.

Components of a Research problem.

1. There must be a subject to which some kind of difficulty can be attributed to i.e an individual, a group of people or a particular phenomena.
2. There must be some objectives to be obtained or some purpose for which the difficulty must be addressed for it to be attained.
3. There must some alternative means of action for achieving the desired end on fulfilling the objectives (where there exist no alternative / no choice in the course of action you cannot talk of a problem existing).
4. There must be doubt in the mind of the researcher with regard to selection of the alternative and this doubt may be within the context of ethical economical, aesthetic value life issues.
5. There must be some environment to which the difficulty pertains to i.e it must be site specific.

Given the above components of research problem we can therefore attest that a problem exist where and when;

• There is a subject you can attribute the problem to.
• Where and when there exist at least two choice options or alternative for the course of action.
• There is a possibility of at least two outcome for the course of action and that one of the two outcome is likely to be a better one.
• That the course of action available or chosen must provide a chance for addressing the objective. However out of the two alternative outcomes they should not provide the same choice otherwise the choice would not matter.
• That there is doubt in the researcher mind about the solutions set.

Selecting a research problem.

On a general note, effective research starts with a sound problem identification selection. To do this one needs a clear professional understanding of the subject or concept to be researched on however,top and above all a wide understanding can be complimented through a focused reading and exploration of the subject of interest guided by the considerations or guidelines;

Guidelines for selecting a research problem.

1. Know yourself and your limitation in terms of experience,ability and professional capacity.
2. Avoid subjects that have been over searched.
3. Avoid problems that are too narrow or vague.
4. Select problems that are feasible in normal life situation.

N/B

There exist a difference between a research problem statement and statement of the research problem.

Research problem statement – Broadly stating the situation as it manifest itself.

Statement of research problem- Quantify the scope of that problem to justify the problem. Many times a research problem statement may be followed by precise statement of a problem justification, this justification essentially summarizes the impact of the problem that the proposed research sets to address, Where possible the problem justification statement may present some relevant statistics that show case the scope of the problem.

Setting the Research Questions, Objectives and Hypothesis.

On a general point of view research aims at generating or adding knowledge to society. Simply what should be peculiar about research is that it should bring new ideas, outcomes and or products. This concept of bringing new ideas requires a level of originality in the research process from a geographical, social, temporal, contextual and methodological perspective.

In practice it is important to dearly understand the extent of the project and enlist some operation question from which you can visualize what you wish the research you are proposing will address.

Research questions

These are a summary of the aims of the research.

They simply present in a logical way what the proposed research is expected to furnish the researcher or business in terms of solutions.

They are therefore usually presented in question form but in an orderly manner.

They also form the basis or background of the operational objectives of the research.

In summary, research questions set out to do with the following;

Role of research questions

1. They provide the detail of the problem statement.
2. They further describe and refine the issues under study.

• They add focus to the problem statement.

1. They guide on data collection and analysis.
2. They set out the context of the research.

Research goal and objective

The Research goal

The most interesting aspect about research is that it must address a desired outcomes which must provide a solution to the existing research problem.

Essentially a research goal is the long term desired picture or scenario information or product that would be a solution to the current problem.

A normal business example may be present as below;

The problem: poor or low product sales and incomes for Malindi farm.

The Goal: to grow Malindi farms product market share to market leadership in next 10 years.

NB:

The concept of market leadership is a product of a composite of different strategies, approaches and activities. It is therefore a summation of the desired end which on the overall means increased sales volume and income.

The Research objectives.

• Once the aim of the research has been stated the next concern is to outline how that aim will be achieved.This is well narrated by the statement of objectives which is simply a

set of closely and logically specified statement on how the aim would be achieved.

• In most research work (proposals) they may be represented as operational milestones of the research as it progresses.

Research objective.

• It is a clear concise declarative statement which provides direction to investigate a phenomena or subject of interest.
• Generally research objectives focus on the ways to measure the variables of interest in order to identify, describe or even establish relationship or differences between or among those variables.
• Good research objectives must meet the following:-

1. Must shade light on what the researcher wishes to achieve at the end of the study.
2. Should clearly provide a link with the problem statement.
3. Should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bound (SMART) to the problem.
4. Should suggest a course of action or activities/processes to be undertaken in addressing the problem.

Guidelines in formulating research objectives.

1. The objective should be stated briefly and concisely.
2. Objectives cover the different aspects of the problem and its contributing factors in a coherent way and logical sequence.
3. Objectives need to be clearly phrased in operational terms specifying exactly what the research is going to do where and for what purpose.
4. They must be realistic considering local conditions.
5. Must be operationalized using verb prefixes such as “ to ” ( assess, identify, determine, describe, analyze or establish ).

Research Hypothesis.

• A Hypothesis can be designed in a very simple form as an educated guess, alternative point of view, proposition not yet tested, a preliminary explanation or a preliminary postulate.
• Some selected authors have defined a hypothesis in the following manner:-

1. It is a conjectural statement of relation between two or more variables (Kelinger, 1956)
2. It is a single tentative guess ( a guess based on intuition rather than known facts ) assumed for use in devising theory or planning experiments intended to give a direct experimental test where and when possible ( Eric Rodger, 1966 )
3. It is a formal statement that presents the expected relationship between the independent and dependant variable (Creswell, 1994 )
4. It is a logical supposition, a reasonable guess or educated conjecture ( opinion ) which provides a tentative explanation for the phenomena under investigation ( Leedy and Amrold, 2001 )

• A hypothesis in summary a specific testable prediction about what you expect to see happening or being caused to happen in your study of interest.
• On the other hand, we also need to know a theory is a well established principle that has been developed in order to explain some aspects of the natural world or societal belief.
• A theory arises/is established from a set of repeated observations.

N.B While the theory and hypothesis concepts have been used interchangeably

It is important to note that:-

1. A theory predicts events in generals
2. A hypothesis makes a specific prediction about a specified set of circumstances.

Below are the specific contrasts between hypothesis, theory, and facts;

N.B:

One common feature for facts, theory and hypothesis in science is that they are all treated as fallible meaning that likelihood of error might vary greatly but they are still regarded as something less than absolute truth.

This proposition therefore makes all proposed research relevant as long as the problem is well stated, a goal and specific objective well constructed along with testable, hypothesis put in place.

Relevance/Purpose of a research hypothesis.

Developing research hypothesis serves the following purposes in the field of research:-

1. Guides and gives direction to the study or investigation
2. It defines and separates facts that are relevant from those that are irrelevant.
3. Hypothesis suggests which form of research design is likely to be the most appropriate.
4. Research hypothesis provides a framework for organizing the conclusion of the findings.
5. They limit the research to a specific area.
6. They offer explanation for relationship between those variables that can be empirically tested.
7. They furnish proof that the researcher has sufficient background knowledge to enable him or her make suggestions in order to extend existing knowledge.
8. They help structure the next phase in the investigation and therefore facilitates continuity to the exploration of the problem.

In theory and practice the basis for hypothesis formulation are:-

• Individual experience or intuition.
• Social cultural background.
• Business ethics and events among others.

Forms of hypothesis.

Hypothesis can take various forms depending on the question being asked, the type of study being conducted for example:-

1. Some hypothesis may simply describe how two things or variables maybe related (i.e correlational research) or
2. In others the researcher may hypothesis that one variable causes a change in/on the other variable (s) hence describing a causal relationship.

In the simplest form hypothesis are phrased as “if-then” statements.

 Basic conditions that hypothesis must fulfil (Consideration for setting hypothesis)

Hypothesis are the principle pillars that all scientific research will open on and must therefore satisfy the following;

• They must make/provide a prediction.
• They must identify atleast two variables.
• They should have an elucidating power (power of exercising clearity).
• They must be falsifiable (must be capable of results or evidence).
• They must be simple and understandable.
• They must correspond with existing knowledge.

Characteristics of a testable hypothesis

Testable hypothesis need to conform to the following attribute:

1. The must be conceptually clear _ which means
2. They must have concept clearly defined.
3. All definitions be commonly accepted.
4. Be easily communicated or understood.
5. A hypothesis should have an empirical reference such that variables in the hypothesis should be empirical reality.
6. Hypothesis must be specific about  place,situation and operation.
7. Hypothesis should be related to available techniques of research(there must be capacity in the researcher circumstances as it relates to the methodology of that research).
8. Hypothesis should be related to a body of theory_ this means it must borrow some wisdom from the proposition that hypothesis has to be supported by a theoretical argument from an existing body of knowledge.

Categories of hypothesis

Broad hypothesis can be categorized into 3:

A based on their formulation -hence there is:

1. Null hypothesis.
2. Alternative hypothesis.

B Based on direction- hence:

1. Directional hypothesis
2. Non-directional hypothesis

C   Based on their derivation/how they are derived- hence

1. Inductive hypothesis.
2. Deductive hypothesis.

Formulation Based Hypothesis.

1. Null Hypothesis

Null hypothesis are always expressed with a statement of equality or linearity i.e

There are no differences in sale volume or profits between a business entity A and B (Despite their promotional strategies)

Null hypothesis are commonly designated or abbreviated as “H_O’’

Under this formulation the alternative hypothesis will normally negate or be expressed as a negative of the null hypothesis as stated below:

‘’ that there exist some significant differences between sale volume and profit for business entities A and B’’

Hence

For Ho: we state as

Ho: sales or profit A= sale/profits of B and

H1: sales/profit A ≠ sale /profits of B.

N/B

Alternative Hypothesis can be classified further as directional or non-directional.e.g

H1: sales/ profit A ≠ sale/ profits B → Non -directional.

H1 : sales/ profits A> sales/profits  B →Directional.

i.e  It is non -directional if the hypothesis simply state that there is a difference in the sales volume but not stated whether more or less on the  reverse. It would be  directional  If  the  hypothesis states that  business  entity A had higher sales than B.

INDUCTIVE AND DEDUCTIVE HYPOTHESIS.

Inductive hypothesis-present a simple generalization of a phenomena present as a continuum i.e moving in the following trend;

Observation → pattern → hypothesis → Theory.

Deductive Hypothesis- are normally constructed in the reverse direction with or  to the inductive hypothesis hence THOC.

Theory→Hypothesis→Observation→Confirmation.

Hypothesis formulation is one of the very major step in the planning phase(proposal writing) of any research study and is done when:

1. The problem to be researched on has been clearly stated.
2. When sufficient literature with respect to the study has been consulted or simply when sufficient literature review has been done.At this point in time,the research is totally aware of the theoretical and empirical background of the problem.