Business Research Methods

This research study focuses on the impacts of employee job performance behavior on organizational productivity in the retail industry. It aims to determine the relationship between employee behavior and business performance, with a case study on eBay. The research design and methodology involve a qualitative approach, targeting employees of eBay in Australia. The study also addresses participant recruitment, informed consent, confidentiality, and potential risks. No payment or benefits will be provided to participants. The research data will be recorded through various methods such as audiotape, videotape, and written notes.

Business Research Methods
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Table of Contents
Business Research Methods............................................................................................................3
1 Research Title:..........................................................................................................................3
2 Research problem.....................................................................................................................3
3 Aim for this research................................................................................................................3
4 Need and value of research.......................................................................................................3
5 List the research questions........................................................................................................4
6 Outline research design and methodology................................................................................4
7 Indicate that whether research is first stage of larger project...................................................4
8 Who will be recruited and approached to research participants, how many people involved in
this study......................................................................................................................................5
9 Listing the selection, exclusion criteria for participants...........................................................5
10 How will recruit respondent in research study.......................................................................5
11 How will understand the detailed information about the study to potential participants.......6
12 How will obtain the consent to research participate from volunteering as participant in
study.............................................................................................................................................6
13. Detail how will you ensure that participants do not feel under any obligation to assist you
with your research as participants................................................................................................7
14. Describe how you will preserve participants' confidentiality as you collect and analyse the
data and when you report the results...........................................................................................7
15 Potential risks to individual participants’ wellbeing as a result of their involvement in
research........................................................................................................................................8
16 Potential safety implications as a researcher..........................................................................8
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17 Any payment, reimbursement, or other benefits to be received by participants from
participation in research...............................................................................................................9
18 Recording of Research Data...................................................................................................9
19 What will be done with recorded data once it has been analysed........................................10
20 Access to the research data and results.................................................................................10
21 Ownership of the data and the results of your research........................................................11
22 Timelines of the research study............................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15
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Business Research Methods
1 Research Title:
The impacts of Employee job performance behavior on the organizational productivity in retail
industry
2 Research problem
In this study, Researcher will focus on the identifying the employee’s behaviours towards job
performance which directly affecting on the overall business in context of profitability as well as
productivity. This research study will focus on the “workplace cultural” as problem that will
change the behaviour of each and every employees within organization (Hair Page and
Brunsveld, 2019 ). Cultural issue is one of the most common threat because it will develop
conflict among staff members. In this way, it is directly affecting on the overall business
performance in global marketplace. That’s why, through research study will concern about
culture issues, eliminating with in organization through effective strategies or planning.
3 Aim for this research
 To determine the impacts of Employee job performance behavior on the organizational
productivity in retail industry. A case study on eBay.
4 Need and value of research
The primary needs of research is to identify the current Organizational Citizenship
Behaviour such as employees. Sometimes, it is not identified the employee favorable behavior
and not specified in person’s contract. Through this research study, it will collect more evidence
in the organization on productivity and performance of every employee. Sometimes, it will
recommend to bring more improvement in employee culture and environment. There will be
more value of research to identify the significant impact of employee job performance behavior
on the business productivity.
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5 List the research questions
 What are impact of employee job performance behaviour on organization production and
sales?
 What is the Organizational Citizenship Behaviour?
 What are advantage of leadership style in employee job performance within
organization?
 What are different factors that promotes employee towards functioning of organization?
6 Outline research design and methodology
In this study, researcher will use the qualitative method for conducting cross sectional
survey as research design. This will help for gathering or collecting large amount of information
related to research topic or subject. In qualitative method, investigator will do study on the pre-
existing theories that applicable in previous study (Gray, 2019). So as it help for identifying
relevant data and support to make better decision, generating accurate conclusion. For
conducting the survey, it will be targeting the employee of eBay company in Australia.
7 Indicate that whether research is first stage of larger project
As per identified that the existence of research in initial or first stage where it can define
the planning phase. Investigator will select the topic and other plan to what type of method
useful for conducting research. This research study will also expand with large project because
whenever targeting the maximum respondents. In this way, it will identify the answer on
different manner. Afterwards, it will take longer time to decide whether going into positive and
negative aspect.
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8 Who will be recruited and approached to research participants, how many people involved in
this study
The scholar or investigator will recruit, hire and approach to the different research
participants. In this way, it will be decided that which type of participant suitable for different
tasks (De Massis and Kammerlander, 2020). It is consider as important aspect of researcher to
find out the suitable participant members, who have already skills and knowledge to handle
complex situation in proper manner.
In this research study, it will be involved at least 20-30 participant members and
investigator will assign the work on the basis of their performance.
9 Listing the selection, exclusion criteria for participants
In this study, Exclusive criteria are considered the characteristics that disqualify
prospective subjects from inclusion study. This type of criteria will increase likelihood of
providing the reliable and reproducible outcome or result. The exclusive criteria of research
study might be test the behaviour of employee during business task executions, if the
combination of study include both positive as well as negative aspect of employee job
performance behaviour within organization. Through this, it is also defining the interest of every
participants within research study. Exclusive criteria is based on questioned so that researcher
should review interest of participants group, decide whether it is appropriately for research
project.
10 How will recruit respondent in research study
A great way to reach out the suitable participants and ask them to take participate within
different activities. But nowadays, investigator will recruit participants in this study on the basis
of social media platform. It is consider as powerful way to interact with, built tryst and gather
insight from target audience. Generally, researcher is mainly focused on the younger age groups
or niches audience. Another way, it will recruit, hire respondent through advertising, newspaper
and so on. This will help for researcher to enable study participant to feel like they are joining
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the research team. Afterwards, it keep them to engage over time and make study experience so
positive people will want to share great idea.
11 How will understand the detailed information about the study to potential participants
When recruiting the potential participants, it is important to understand the different
method for establishing a good communication or interaction. For instance, Email is not
preferred option for every users but also considered the text instead of phone calls which might
be preferred option. The investigator will consider as informed consent which is one of important
aspect in term of research ethics (Ghauri, Grønhaug and Strange, 2020). It will follow all rules,
regulations and informed consent that every participant should know about current status of
research.
During research study, it will use basic ethical principles behind informed consent
legalities which is always protect or secure autonomy of participants. In this way, they will show
a proper interest of research subject or topic. Employee job performance behaviour related
research directed towards implementation leadership style, in order to improve overall business
performance in global world. Each and every research participants are performing their different
tasks in proper manner.
12 How will obtain the consent to research participate from volunteering as participant in study.
In this research study, obtaining consent involves informing the research subject about
right or wrong this. The purpose of study is performed the different procedures to be undertaken,
identifying potential, risks and benefits of every participants. Sometimes, researcher will be
expected to maintain the personal identification and protect confidential information regarding
research data.
Researcher will try to prerequisite before enrolling every participants in research which
involving employee behaviours such as giving a reward and award, afterwards, it will measure
the performance of employee towards business operational activities. According to researcher,
design informed consent form fill with properly by every participants, ensuring that include all
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essential elements such as regional regulatory bodies. As approved the consent form with
participants regarding risks, threats in this study.
Moreover, Voluntary participants are also obtaining the informed consent form to
identify and consider all essential ethical research with human participants. It will be testing the
consent on the basis of three important pillars such as Absence of coercion, relevant information
about participants (Chang van Witteloostuijn and Eden, 2020). These will help for voluntary
participants in this study to use appropriate capacity of information and make authentic decision-
making.
13. Detail how will you ensure that participants do not feel under any obligation to assist you
with your research as participants
For conducting research study, it is very important for every participants do not feel
under any kind of obligation. Also, assisting the research as participate to handle different tasks
in proper manner. According to researcher, there will no required any type of obligation to act
solely in the interest of individual people. Basically, it will require to follow legal duties to
protect them by obtaining informed consent, ensuring that all type of risks become proportional
to generate expected result or outcome.
In particularly, researcher need to inform all participants about the intervention so that
they will be carried out at the time of research, identifying advantage, benefit and risks.
Investigator must provide as guard against the possibility of conflating research.
14. Describe how you will preserve participants' confidentiality as you collect and analyse the
data and when you report the results
Researcher employs a number of several method of technique to keep their subjects
identity as confidential. Thus, it keep protect or secure the records with the help of password.
Basically, investigator will use as encryption technique while sending information from one
participant to another through internet. Furthermore, it can use as code to label particular data
instead of their surname. This type of method will be considered as great opportunities for
recording or publishing the data. When preserving the information of participants that needs to
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be used as suitable approach so that it will be accessible in future at any place and any time. this
will support for protecting or securing confidential information within system effectively and
efficiently.
During questionnaires, researcher is mainly focused on the data protection regulation
while protecting the confidential information. Afterwards, it analysing data the collected data and
generating accurate reports. This is the best way to represent the large volume of information in
proper manner. Along with this in order to ensure confidentiality questionnaires will also provide
option to research participants whether they want to share their information or not. Participants
can select not to share their information and personal data and reveal their identity.
15 Potential risks to individual participants’ wellbeing as a result of their involvement in research
This is concerned with possible harm that research or participation in research can cause
of physical, emotional, social and legal wellbeing of participants. Concerned with potential risk
there is no risk to individual participants there is no risk involves because way of participation of
fulfilling questionnaire and questionnaire does not involve anything that can create risk for
participants’ wellbeing in any form. However assistance and support have been ensured to
participants when they cannot understand anything regarding research or related to any question
in questionnaire (Nebeker and et.al., 2016). Concerned with physical safety because research
does not involve any manual work there is no risk for participants and their physical wellbeing.
Possibility of risk for emotional, social and legal is also not there because during research and
questionnaire preparation has legal compliances has been considered. Because there is no risk
involved for researcher, hence any step or process to address risk also has not been developed.
Other than this confidentiality of participants has also been preserved ensuring their complete
safety regarding their participation in research.
16 Potential safety implications as a researcher
This is concerned with what ensuring safety of researcher regarding research. In order to
ensure safety of researcher before collection of data participants will requirement of express their
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agreement regarding filling of questionnaire in order to ensure safety of researcher regarding
research process. Further this agreement will also restrain participants from disclosure of
research they are participating in (Chiswell and Wheeler, 2016). Risk for researcher is also not
there in research because it is being conducted in form of questionnaire and questions have been
designed effectively considering different aspects like legal and ethical and this is why
researcher has less risk and this is why basic safety implications have been taken in order to
ensure safety of researcher.
17 Any payment, reimbursement, or other benefits to be received by participants from
participation in research
This is concerned with payment and benefit to participants in any monetary and non-
monetary form. This research does not promise any monetary and non-monetary benefit for
participants in research. Participants in the research will not be provided any kind of payment,
reimbursement or other benefit. Their participation and contribution in research does not make
researcher liable for any kind of payment to participants. Participants will be informed about this
before their participation and their participation in research will seek their permission that they
will not be paid in any way and their participation in research of non-payable (Mello, Lieou and
Goodman, 2018). Their participation in research is being included and they are involved in
sample because they are able to participate in research. Participation of participants is voluntary
and researcher does not have obligation to pay any reimbursement and give any other kind of
benefit to participants.
18 Recording of Research Data
Recording of research data involves creating and storing data regarding research. There
are different ways in which data can be recorded that are audiotape, videotape and written notes.
In audiotape data is recorded in form of respondents’ voice and in videotape it is collected in
form of video of respondents and their responses. This data involve responses of research
collected from participants and further data regarding analysis of research and then conclusion
and complete research data. Recording of research data will be done in written form, because
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data is being collected through written and questionnaire and this is why written notes for
recording of research data (Thieberger, 2018). There are different benefits of recording of
research data in written notes. Possibility of data being modified or damaged is less because it is
easy to identify any kind of alteration in written documents and writing of researcher. Written
document are also safe and everyone with limited knowledge of technology can understand what
has been written in written document and before that it is easy to create a written notes.
19 What will be done with recorded data once it has been analysed
This is concerned with final treatment of data of research and once data has been
analysed it will be stored in soft and hard data. Storing of data is important for future reference
of data. This means that if in future any query or doubt related to research occurs this data will
help in resolving issue. This data can also be utilised for reference for research in future. It is
important that data is stored and this can be given to others as a proof for research and on what
basis research was concluded.
20 Access to the research data and results
This is concerned with who will be able to access research data and results of research.
There are two possibilities in this either research data and research results have open access or it
has limited access. In open research everyone can access research results and data whereas in
limited access to research only authorized people and organizations can access research data and
research results. This research access is limited this means that everyone cannot access this
research and only authorized people and organizations can access to research data and research
results. This research data and results of research will be accessed by superiors and will be
available for purchased by SME’s (Kriesberg and et.al., 2017). This means that because research
is being conducted to assess the effects of leadership styles and perceived justice on
organizational citizenship behavior of employee of SMEs in Sydney. Hence research and results
of research will be available to be purchased by SMEs in Sydney. This research further will be
availed to learning institutions in order to ensure that they can utilize for academic purpose and
academic references. However for academic purpose and learning only research results will be
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provided and similarly for SMEs and for being purchased by other organizations research results
will be provided. And research data will not be availed to anyone but seniors.
21 Ownership of the data and the results of your research
This is concerned with who is owner of the research data collected and results of researcher. It is
very important to determine ownership of the research in order to ensure decision-making
authority and other than this, determination of ownership is also important for protecting
research data and research results through legal regulations and protections. This research data
and results of research will be owned by researcher. Ownership is important in order to
determine what will happen with research and research results and also is important for decision
regarding treatment of research (Ożegalska-Trybalska, 2020). Owner can decide what will
happen with research data and research results. Access of research data and research results is
also a decision that is taken by owner of research data and research results. The reason that
researcher of owner of research data and research results is that this research has been
independently being carried out by researcher and every decision regarding research and
participants of the research has been taken by researcher. These elements outline and suggests
that researcher will be owner of the research data as well as research results.
22 Timelines of the research study
Activities of
research Details Week
1
Week
2
Week
3
Week
4
Week
5
Week
6
Week
7
Week
8
Determination This involves
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of research
aim
determining
why research
is being
conducted
Determination
of research
questions and
research
objectives
This involves
what
questions will
be answered
by research
Determination
of participants
Who will
participate in
research
Collecting
and
organizing
samples
Determination
of samples
from which
data will be
collected
Developing
questionnaires
Because
research data
will be
collected
through
research this
involves
developing
questionnaire
Taking
consent of
participants
This involves
taking
consent from
participants
and informing
them about
rules
regulations
for research
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Collecting
data through
questionnaire
Collection of
data by
providing
questionnaires
to samples
selected
Analyzing
data collected
This involves
analyzing
data collected
before any
conclusion
can be made
regarding
research
Drawing
results of
research
This involves
drawing result
for research
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REFERENCES
Book and Journals
Chang, S.J., van Witteloostuijn, A. and Eden, L., 2020. Common method variance in
international business research. In Research Methods in International Business (pp. 385-
398). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Chiswell, H.M. and Wheeler, R., 2016. ‘As long as you're easy on the eye’: reflecting on issues
of positionality and researcher safety during farmer interviews. Area. 48(2). pp.229-235.
De Massis, A. and Kammerlander, N. eds., 2020. Handbook of qualitative research methods for
family business. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Ghauri, P., Grønhaug, K. and Strange, R., 2020. Research methods in business studies.
Cambridge University Press.
Gray, D.E., 2019. Doing research in the business world. SAGE Publications Limited.
Hair Jr, J.F., Page, M. and Brunsveld, N., 2019. Essentials of business research methods.
Routledge.
Kriesberg, A and et.al., 2017. An analysis of federal policy on public access to scientific research
data. Data Science Journal. 16.
Mello, M.M., Lieou, V. and Goodman, S.N., 2018. Clinical trial participants’ views of the risks
and benefits of data sharing. New England Journal of Medicine. 378(23). pp.2202-2211.
Nebeker, C and et.al., 2016. Engaging research participants to inform the ethical conduct of
mobile imaging, pervasive sensing, and location tracking research. Translational
behavioral medicine. 6(4). pp.577-586.
Ożegalska-Trybalska, J., 2020. Protection and ownership of research results. Nowotwory.
Journal of Oncology. 70(4). pp.163-166.
Thieberger, N., 2018. Research methods in recording oral tradition: Choosing between the
evanescence of the digital or the senescence of the analog. In Research Methods for the
Digital Humanities (pp. 233-241). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
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