What are research objectives?

Research objectives are the specific questions the research must answer to achieve its aim. Each objective should be clear and measurable.

How does a research aim differ from a research objective?

The aim states the broad purpose of the research. Objectives break the aim into specific, measurable steps.

Write two research objectives for a study of staff well-being in a law firm.

One objective is to measure how many hours a week fee-earners work. A second objective is to identify which support methods staff would use.

Why must research objectives be set before data is collected?

Objectives decide which questions are asked and who is asked. Research without objectives collects data that may not answer the real question.

What is a literature search?

A literature search is a systematic review of existing published sources on a topic. The search shows what is already known before new data is collected.

CCEA AS-Level Professional Business Services 3210

The Business Environment

Topic overview Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary production Private, public and voluntary sector objectives Sole traders and partnerships Private and public limited companies Stakeholder interests and conflicts Factors of production

The Professional Business Services Sector

Topic overview The nature of professional business services The range of consultancy services Tangible goods and intangible services Local, national and global firms Why businesses use consultancy services

The Consultancy Process

Topic overview The consultancy process and the entry phase The diagnosis phase The action planning phase Implementation and termination phases

Understanding the Client's Market

Topic overview Market size, market share and market growth Reasons for market research and using its findings Primary market research methods Secondary market research and choosing a method Sampling methods in market research Market segmentation

Client Relationships

Topic overview Why client relationships matter Communication, personal contact and client needs Business culture and professionalism Trust, ethical behaviour, intellect and ideas

Business Ethics

Topic overview Fairness, integrity and freedom from bias Trust, confidentiality, transparency and openness The benefits of an ethical code

Persuading, Negotiating and Influencing

Topic overview Persuasion techniques for consultants Negotiation stages and strategies Influencing clients and stakeholders

Business Planning and Risk Management

Topic overview Strategic planning and cost–benefit analysis SWOT and PESTEL analysis in strategic planning The Ansoff matrix and the Boston matrix Assessing and managing business risk

Government Regulation

Topic overview The purpose of business regulation Regulators and compliance in Northern Ireland Codes of conduct versus external regulation

Organisational Structure and Culture

Topic overview Human resources and effective HR management Tall, flat, centralised and decentralised structures Roles, chain of command, span of control and delayering Changing and comparing organisational structures Culture, Schein's model and the McKinsey 7S framework

Recruitment and Selection

Topic overview Internal and external recruitment methods Job descriptions and person specifications Interviews and psychometric testing Competency profiling, situational judgement tests and EI questionnaires Contracts of employment and effective recruitment

Learning and Development

Topic overview Why learning and development matters to a business Induction, on-the-job, off-the-job training and CPD Outcomes of learning and development

Employee Well-Being and Motivation

Topic overview What employee well-being is and why employers value it Methods of supporting employee well-being Causes of low workplace well-being Maslow and Taylor on motivation Herzberg and Mayo on motivation Financial and non-financial methods of motivation

Managing Conflict

Topic overview Functional and dysfunctional conflict Causes of conflict at work Effects of conflict on performance, motivation and behaviour Improving employer–employee relations

Business Research Methods

Topic overview Research aims, objectives and literature searches Questionnaires, interviews and designing research tools Sampling, reliability, validity and research ethics Presenting, analysing and evaluating research findings

Sources of Finance

Topic overview Financial decision making in a client business Internal sources of finance Loans, overdrafts and share issues Leasing, hire purchase and trade credit Choosing the right source of finance

Cash Flow

Topic overview Types of budget and why firms set them Adverse and favourable variances Cash flow, profit and why firms forecast Constructing and analysing a cash flow forecast

Financial Statements

Topic overview Revenue, cost of sales and gross profit Expenses and net profit Assets on the statement of financial position Equity and liabilities

Ratio Analysis

Topic overview Profit margins and return on capital employed The current ratio, liquidity and gearing Trade receivables and trade payables days Earnings per share and return on equity Using and evaluating ratio analysis

Investment Appraisal and Financial Decisions

Topic overview The payback method Net present value and discounting Average rate of return and choosing a method Appraising an investment for a client Using financial data for growth and staffing decisions

Business Research Methods

4 subtopics
12 things to know
AS 2

What Business Research Methods covers

Business Research Methods is assessed in Unit AS 2, Human Resource Services, which is internally assessed and externally moderated. It covers research aims, objectives and literature searches, questionnaires, interviews and designing research tools, sampling, reliability, validity and research ethics and presenting, analysing and evaluating research findings.

Where it is assessed

AS 2

Human Resource Services — an internally assessed portfolio.

Check the CCEA specification ↗

The 4 subtopics

Each one has its own page. CCEA AS Professional Business Services students sit this topic in the first year.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

How does a research aim differ from its objectives? Give two objectives for a law firm well-being study.

Key term

Which sources does a literature search draw on, and how does it inform primary research?

Key term

What is a questionnaire?

Key term

What is a sample in business research?

Key term

Name four formats for presenting research data.

Evaluation

Give two advantages of questionnaires in business research.

Key term

Why might a researcher use random sampling for a firm-wide staff survey?

Key term

When is a pie chart suitable for presenting research data?

Key term

What is the aim of a piece of business research?

Evaluation

Give two disadvantages of questionnaires in business research.

Key term

Why is stratified sampling suited to a firm with several departments of different sizes?

Key term

When is a bar chart suitable for presenting research data?

Take Business Research Methods further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

Research aim vs Research objective
Research aim: the broad overall purpose of a study stated in one sentence. Research objective: a specific measurable question the study must answer.
Reliability vs Validity
Reliability: consistency of results when a study is repeated in the same way. Validity: the extent to which a study measures what it claims to measure.
Structured interview vs Unstructured interview
Structured interview: a conversation asking every person the same set questions in order. Unstructured interview: a conversation that follows the discussion freely.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is the aim of a piece of business research?
Model answer
The aim is the overall purpose of the research, stated in one sentence. An example is to find out why staff turnover is high in a Belfast accountancy firm.
2
What are research objectives?
Model answer
Research objectives are the specific questions the research must answer to achieve its aim. Each objective should be clear and measurable.
3
How does a research aim differ from a research objective?
Model answer
The aim states the broad purpose of the research. Objectives break the aim into specific, measurable steps.
4
Write two research objectives for a study of staff well-being in a law firm.
Model answer
One objective is to measure how many hours a week fee-earners work. A second objective is to identify which support methods staff would use.
5
Why must research objectives be set before data is collected?
Model answer
Objectives decide which questions are asked and who is asked. Research without objectives collects data that may not answer the real question.
6
What is a literature search?
Model answer
A literature search is a systematic review of existing published sources on a topic. The search shows what is already known before new data is collected.

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The Business Environment

The Professional Business Services Sector

The Consultancy Process

Understanding the Client's Market

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A payback is usually preferred.

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AA firm might move its staff to a new office.

BA firm might install a new client database.

CA firm might run a graduate recruitment campaign.

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Equity means the owner's investment in the business.

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Business Research Methods revision questions

Is Business Research Methods examined at AS in CCEA Professional Business Services?: Yes. It sits in AS 2, which you take in the first year, so it is on the AS paper as well as counting towards the full A level.
What does Business Research Methods cover in CCEA AS-Level Professional Business Services?: 4 subtopics: research aims, objectives and literature searches, questionnaires, interviews and designing research tools, sampling, reliability, validity and research ethics and presenting, analysing and evaluating research findings. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
How is Business Research Methods organised?: By the CCEA 3210 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.

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