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Preparing to Conduct Research

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Preparing to Conduct Business Research
Charles Page and Brandy Stiffler
February 25, 2013
RES 351
Abdulhamid Sukar

Preparing to Conduct Business Research
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that builds homes for underprivileged families around the world. The foundation was started in 1968 and over the years has helped build or repair nearly 600,000 homes around the world. They also originate and keep all of the home loans on their own books. In recent years they have come under scrutiny because of the numerous foreclosures that their borrowers have suffered.
Research Questions
When doing research on Habitat for Humanity and their financial structure, a few interesting questions arise. What are the problems with Habitat for Humanity’s financial structure? How can they improve on their lending techniques? Are they helping or hurting the people they donate the homes to? Figuring out why the borrowers are having trouble with their loans will help determine if Habitat for Humanity is actually helping or hurting their communities they’re working in. Researching these financial questions will enable borrowers and volunteers to be make informed decisions when deciding to either take a loan from Habitat for Humanity or volunteer their time and money.

Hypothesis After posing the research questions, the hypotheses take form in order to give possible explanations to the questions being asked. For the questions we posed earlier, possible hypothesis include the following: Habitat for Humanity lends to families that have struggled financially in the past. By helping the families find steadier work and pay, they will help them to advance further. Increasing their overall involvement in the families lives will allow Habitat for Humanity insure their investment of helping a struggling family.
Variables
The variables of these research questions are the different problems that Habitat for Humanity faces with funding. Since they are non-profit they depend on donations of money and supplies. Habitat for Humanity’s financial structure relies mostly on donations, which help create homes for needy people in the United States and Internationally. Utilizing the funding in an appropriate manner is essential to the success of the company. Advertising in papers, magazines, television ads, and on the Internet will increase the chance of obtaining the funding that is needed to help the people in need. Obtaining funding from fundraisers and government funding are variables in non-profit organizations. With increased donations and government funding Habitat for Humanity can improve the lending techniques. Habitat for Humanity is helping people find suitable shelter. Since 1976 Habitat for Humanity has built 400,000 homes, which has been steadily increasing (Habitat for Humanity, 2013). Along with building homes Habitat for humanity has also helped people with rehabilitation and repairs (Habitat for humanity, 2013). Habitat for humanity strives on their mission and values, which was founded by Christian Ministries (Habitat for Humanity, 2013). According to Habitat for Humanity (2013) “The mission statement is seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.”

Ethical Considerations
Habitat for humanity is responsible for providing a quality service to their community, as well ensuring they put less fortunate first. They have to always maintain proper integrity when dealing with the borrowers information, because financials are always considered to be highly private and sensitive. If this integrity is ever broken, it can lead to an unwanted situation by both parties. .” Habitat for Humanity is adhering to the transparency of financial statements, so that donors can see that there is no misappropriation of funds.
Research Design
The problem Habitat for Humanity faces in regards to funding is best solved by the exploratory research design. We choose the exploratory research design because we lack the clear idea of the problems we will meet at the end of the research. Habitat for Humanity wants new ideas as to how to create funding for the program. We need to explore different options to get a clear idea of how we will increase funding. Descriptive Studies usually have clearly stated hypothesis and investigative questions. This is not appropriate for the Habitat for Humanity’s issue. Casual studies are the relationship between A and B or that A forces B. This research design is also not a match for Habitat for Humanity’s issue.
Data Collection
The data collection tool that Habitat for Humanity will use is the survey. There will be a few questions that will need to be answered by the participants. These questions will reflect the different types of advertisements (newspaper, television, magazines, billboards etc...), and what appeals to the participants. Habitat for Humanity will send out surveys by mail, and over the Internet. We will use the existing instruments, as Habitat for Humanity has seen results from that form of data collection instruments.
Sampling
Habitat for Humanity is going to use probability sampling. Probability sampling is based on random selection, a controlled procedure that assures that each population element is given a nonzero chance of selection (Cooper & Schindler, 2011). Since Habitat for Humanity is conducting research to get different ideas to get more funding. Probability sampling is more precise and that is important when dealing with funding for the Habitat for Humanity. Systematic sampling is more appropriate for Habitat for Humanity because it uses the skip interval, which is determined by dividing the sample size by the population size. Habitat for Humanity is using this frame because it is simple and flexible; it also ends up being cheaper. This will be done at each Habitat for Humanity offices, and the sample size will be 200 at each location. This will give Habitat for Humanity a better idea on how to increase funding.
Overall Data Analysis Approach The research gathered will appears by means of the Internet and by the telephone nationwide. This research will be done in order to include families who currently have a loan with Habitat for Humanity and others who may be contemplating entering in one. When research is reviewed, it is important to know and understand the data that has been gathered and for the groups viewing to understand it as well. There has been an understanding on how data is gathered and surveys conducted contribute to the wisdom and understanding of the sampling we conducted in our research. Overall, there is a clearer understanding of Habitat for Humanity and how to provide the best service possible.

Conclusion In Conclusion, Habitat for humanity is a non-profit organization that aims to build, restore, and repair homes for people in need. All of this is made possible by donations of money and supplies, and government funding. Advertising increases the chances of funding, making building a house for needy people a reality. Habitat for humanity sells donated supplies at a reduced cost, which also helps with their funding, while helping other save money. Funding is one of the main problems that non-profit organizations face. Having funding improves Habitat for Humanity’s financials structure, and lending techniques. With this funding Habitat for Humanity has helped thousands of people have suitable housing. Habitat for humanity strives to come up with innovative ways to get funding, further improving the odds of building new homes, and making a difference in so many people’s lives.

References
Habitat for Humanity. (2013). Habitat for Humanity: A Christian Ministry. Retrieved from http://www.habitat.org/how/mission_statement.aspx

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