Research Methodology

Module

Contents

Sessions

Marks

I

Business Research Fundamentals:

Research – Meaning and Types of Business Research – Basic, Applied, Comparative, Absolute, Problem Solving, Problem Identifying, Qualitative, Quantitative, Characteristics of Good Research.

Hypothesis, Types of Hypothesis – Descriptive, Relational – Correlational and Causal, Null and Alternate.

Brief Introduction to Business Research Process

10

17

II

Steps in Business Research Process – I:

1)      Problem Identification / Problem Statement

2)      Review of Literature (including Citation and Bibliography / References).

3)      Research Questions & Research Objectives

4)      Hypothesis Formulation

5)      Research Design:

            Exploratory Research Design:

            Difference between Qualitative and Quantitative Research.

            Qualitative Research:

            Observation, Focus Group, Depth Interview, Projective Techniques.

10

18

III

Conclusive Research Design:

Quantitative Research:

Descriptive Research – Survey, Survey Methods. Causal Research – Experimentation – Labs v/s Field Experiments, With and Without Control, Before and After.

Steps in Business Research Process - II:

6)      Sampling Design –  Probabilistic and Non-Probabilistic Sampling.

7)      Sources of Data – Primary and Secondary Measurement and Scaling. Validity and Reliability. Questionnaire Designing.

10

18

IV

Steps in Business Research Process – III:

8)      Data Preparation – Preliminary Questionnaire Screening, Editing, Coding and Data Entry (Using Statistical Software).

9)      Research Writing: - Research Proposal Synopsis, Research Report.

10

17

V

Practical:

A group of two students (Maximum) has to work on a Minor Research Project on the topic selected from the beginning of the semester in line with all the steps of Research Design starting from Identification of Research Problem to Findings & Conclusion and has to submit a Report to the concerned faculty member.

----

(30 Marks)