Business Research Methods

Syllabus

MBA  Semester II

Unit 1

Introduction & Research Design

Concept, Nature, Scope, Need and Role of Business Research, Characteristic of Research, Types of Research, the Research Process: An Overview. Concept, Types of Research Design, Including Exploratory, Descriptive and Experimental, Research Design Process.

Unit 2

Time Series and Forecasting

Time Series- Introduction, Objectives of Time Series, Identification of Trend, Variation in Time Series-Secular Variation, Cyclical Variation, Seasonal Variation, and Irregular Variation, Methods of Estimating Trend, Choosing Appropriate Forecasting Model Classical and Axiomatic Approaches, Basic Theorems- Addition, Multiplication- Conditional and Bayes Theorem, Random Variables and Concept of Probability Distribution. Theoretical Probability Distributions: Binomial, Poisson, and Normal, Exponential Distribution and its Problems.

Unit 3

Questionnaire Design and Schedule

Concept of Questionnaire and Schedule, Principles of Designing Questionnaire and Schedule, Limitations of Questionnaire, Reliability Validity of Questionnaire.

Unit 4

Sampling Theory

Concept, Need and Importance of Sampling, Types of Sampling Methods, Sampling and Non Sampling Errors, Sample Design, Determinants of Sample Size, Steps in Designing the Sample.

Unit 5

Data Analysis

Tabulation and Processing of Data, Basic Aspects of Statistical Inference Theory including Hypothesis Testing, Type I and Type II Errors, Applications of T- Test, Z Test, F-Test, Chi-square Test and ANOVA, Introduction to Computerised Statistical Packages.