Critical Evaluation of Business Research Methodologies

This article provides a critical evaluation of various business research methodologies, including secondary research, inductive and deductive approaches, basic and applied research, and exploratory and conclusive research. It discusses the methods and approaches used in each type of research and highlights their strengths and limitations. The article also explores the ethical issues and challenges in secondary data analysis.

Business research methodologies 1
CRITICAL EVALUATION OF BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
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Business research methodologies 2
Secondary research method
Secondary research method utilizes data that is already existent. Such data is sourced from a
wide array of sources and collated as well as correlated to raise the overall effectiveness of
the entire research process (Hair, 2015). There are various ways through which secondary
research is conducted. First is the use of the internet where data is collected from a wide array
of websites and used to complete the research at hand (Sreejesh, et al., 2013). Data may also
be obtained from government offices as well as non-governmental agencies. Public libraries
and educational institutions are other places where researchers obtain data and information
necessary to conduct secondary research.
Inductive and deductive approaches
The inductive it is primary research concerning the derivation of new theories from already
gathered data. While deductive refer as researching, mainly with an aim of testing an already
existing theory (Nola & Howard, 2014). The deductive approach, therefore, commences with
hypotheses and emphasizes more on causality. The deductive approach is also more
commonly used in quantitative researches, and develops hypothesis and design a researching
strategies according the provided theory and does not take long time to complete the study in
a given area. (Poincaré, 2010).
On other hand, inductive approaches commonly the qualitative researches and also narrows
down the scope of the study by employing research questions. It also focuses more on
exploring phenomena that had been previously researched from a different perspective or
better still embarking on a new phenomenon (Wilson, 2010). In inductive approach no set
time to complete the studies and no theory used thus risk is accepted.
Is good to consider the following when selecting the best research method: one, the reason
and purpose why the research is taking place, the method that suit the research question, test
hypothesis and how to explore the newly emerging are with discipline.

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Basic and applied research
Basic research is a scientific theory of understanding nature that gives the root knowledge of
natural and human processes While applied research is focusing on practical that give prompt
results, it is undertaken to determine new methods of achieving predetermined objectives
(Kaldewey & Schauz, 2018).
Basic research provides a strong foundation and gives the knowledge that will be important/
useful in the future by analyzing properties, structures, and relationships, this is done by
testing and formulating theories and law. Its studies how, why and when the reason for
certain actions and their consequences. It is important in a business plan for long term plan
success, also explains why customers are not always consumers and preservation of food.
Basic research presents the reality by laying down the foundation for future applied research.
While applied research is focusing on practical that give prompt results, it is undertaken to
determine new methods of achieving predetermined objectives. Applied research involves
giving the available knowledge and its extensions to solve current problems. Applied
research closely associates with the possible solutions, its objectives are set to provide the
solution of specific problems and only concerned with external validity (Bergmann, et al.,
2012). Basic and applied research is important when conducting scientific process because
both advances human knowledge.
Exploratory and Conclusive research
Exploratory research is conducted for problems that are not clarified yet. Aims to explore the
questions being researched but not expected to give the final solution to the existing
problems. While conclusive research is conducted to produce the findings that are useful in
final decision making, is used to test hypothesis and relationships (Exploratory and
Conclusive research, 2011). Exploratory research is done to identify the problem, look for
alternative and generate new ideas for solving that particular problem. This type of research

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is usually done to problems nor clearly defined yet. This research gives a better
understanding of the problems and not a conclusive solution. It is initial research that forms
the basis of conclusive research because it tackles news problems that no previous research
has been done. It also determines data collection methods, sampling methods, and research
designs. For conclusive research, the objectives and data should be clearly defined to verify
and quantify the finding of exploratory studies. Conclusive research possibly uses
quantitative rather than qualitative technique. This research provides a reliable picture of the
population through the application of valid research gadgets (Jiang, 2014).
Exploratory is hypothesis regardless of the method used, and should be flexible to access all
the problems studied, conclusive is comparative according to study and the available
resources.
Secondary methods of data collection
Secondary data is data that is collected and statically analysed by someone else, and can be
accessed from another source, it may be published or unpublished (Anon., 2012). The
secondary data collection method is collecting data that are readily available from other
sources like books, online portals, magazines, newspaper, reports, and publication of various
association connected with businesses, banks, industries, government, and other agencies.
Before using the data is good to be cautious by possessing the following characteristic that
includes the data that are suitable for one inquiry, gadgets to be used, the span of studied area
and origination nature of inquiry should carefully considered. When testing the reliability of
data one should determine the original source of the data, method used, and time of
collection, accuracy level and whether the data is adequate or inadequate. Inadequacy of data
varies depending on the data collection area whereby, the area may be wider or narrower than
the area presented in an inquiry, and shouldn’t be used by researcher.

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Ethical issues and challenges in secondary data analysis
Ethical issues includes: Acknowledging the owner of the original data, if the data is already
available insources like internet, books, and public forums for permission of further analysing
and use. Two, evaluating the data for method of collection, accuracy and reason of collecting
the data, the time taken to collect the data and the data content. Three, requires further
consent where no guidelines plot about required specific conditions. Four, in large scale
survey as collecting data take long and results are general agreement not detailed (Shokane,
et al., 2018).
Challenges in secondary data analysis include the following; determining the specification of
data to meet researcher needs, also, data may be incomplete to reach the required conclusion.
Data may be terminated from original sources, making the researched result to be skeptical
(Goodwin, 2012). It is therefore essential to ensure that the aforementioned issues are
considered when conducting business research to enrich its validity and coherence.

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