Research

Learning Team A will do research using the Century National Bank Data Set. This document will include a proposed purpose of research, reasoning why the problem is important, a problem statement, a hypothesis with three possible outcomes and operational definitions for each variable. A brief discussion of remaining steps in the research process will conclude this paper.

Purpose of the research

Identifying the research problem is a critical step in the research process. If a researcher has not defined clearly the problem or opportunity, they may be researching symptoms of the problem and not the real problem. Clearly phrasing a research problem helps the researcher develop an analytical approach to the issue. “A research problem and the way you formulate it determines almost every step that follows in the research study. Formulation of the problem is like the input into the study and the output is the quality of the contents of the research report” (Research Problem Hypothesis & Variables, 2012, para. 3). If a research problem is improperly identified, it can skew the data collected and therefore not provide enough information to resolve the problem or issue that needs to be addressed. The research problem is the foundation of a study and becomes a building block for the hypothesis.

Problem Statement

The current ratio of customers using debit cards is 43%. (Need citation here) Research will identify if increasing this ratio will provide the bank with cost savings and revenue opportunities.

Research Hypothesis

Increasing the number of customers with debit cards will have a positive effect on the banks bottom line.

Research Hypothesis

In hypothesis development, important variables and the relationships among them are identified through logical reasoning. These theoretical relationships are tested through statistical or case analysis to determine their validity and relativity. The test results offer clues regarding what could be changed to solve the...