Introduction
The term scientific research refers to the organized method used in investigating, experimenting and evaluating a specific situation or aspect and using the insights from such a process to come to a conclusion. Scientific research is based on theories, facts; observation and predictability of results to map a way forward . Science has been used in the past to make judgments and evaluations in other fields other than business. However, scientific methods are now used in performing business research and using such results in making decisions. This paper reviews the scientific research methods used in a research paper by Stefaniak, Baaki, & Blake (2012) entitled An examination of the decision-making process used by organizational leaders during the great recession. The journal also reviews whether business leaders preferred a thinking-led processor an idea-imposition process.
Review of Methodology
The recession that faced the United States is said to have began December of 2007 and coming to an end in June 2009. According to Stefaniak, Baaki, & Blake, whereas every part of the country was affected by the recession, Michigan is said to be the lagging in the recovery process. To find out ways which the leaders in Michigan used to arrive at solutions the researchers used several methods in collection their data.
One of the methods used by researchers was participant-selection in which business leaders who would help in the research were sampled from three sources. The first source of the sample was from a regional business magazine column that profiled business leaders according to the size of their businesses. The author of the magazine column asked the leaders to contact the researchers. The second source of the leaders were to came from the same magazine column but were to be contacted directly by the researchers. Finally, the researchers used internet list to find business leaders who were members of the local chamber of commerce.
Once the sample was complete, Stefaniak, Baaki, & Blake relied on interviews to obtain the required information. They conducted in-person and telephone interviews. To ensure that the information collected was consistent and reliable, the researchers employed an interview analysis rubric . A research rubric is a measure that allows only specific kind of response. This gave the researchers good consistency and also allowed further analysis of the results. From the analysis, it can be said that the researchers’ methodology was very relevant since they targeted those business leaders who had personally been affected by the recession. Purposive sampling also ensured that they only got relevant information since they targeted specific people instead of random selection of businesses in the area.
Review of Interpretation and Conclusion
After the interviews, data that was collected was analyzed by categorizing the decision making process used by each business leader. Data was to be categorized into either ready-made solution or custom-made solution. To determine whether a decision making was custom-made or ready-made details of each interview was thoroughly presented in brainstorming sessions in order to find indicators of the decision making process employed by the leaders. Using t his classification the researchers had a clear view of the kind of process leader preferred.
In their conclusion Stefaniak, Baaki, & Blake arrived at the fact that about two thirds of the business leader preferred a discovery led process in coming up with custom made decision (2012). Several business leaders employed the use committees and task forces to evaluate the impact of the recession and provide alternatives. According to the outcome of the research most of the leaders thoroughly analyzed the alternatives before arriving at a conclusion.
Business research has now shifted to rely on scientific methods to arrive conclusions. It is important to be able to transfer insights gained from such research into making informed decisions. Scientific methods provide a means of evaluating several alternatives and getting to the most effective solution .
References
Bryman, A., & Bell, E. (2007). Business research methods. London: Oxford University Press
Herbst, F. C. (2008). Business Research. Toronto: Juta and Company Ltd.
Stefaniak, J., Baaki, J., & Blake, A. M. (2012, Nov 22). An examination of the decision-making process used by organizational leaders during the great recession. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 24 (4) , 81-102.
