Course Outline

Subject: Research Methods for Business

Class: M.Com
Course Objective: Business research methods provide the insight into the challenges faced by managers in
research for business decision making. The course aims at:
To meet the challenge of the fast pace decision making environment,
Provide the knoledge and skills a manager needs to solve the problems.
The course is designed to prepare the students to manage business, not!for!profit, and public
organi"ation in all functional areas.
Course Contents:
Serial # Topic
# The Role of Business Research
! The scope of Business Research.
! Business Research $efined.
! Managerial %alue of Business Research
! &hat is 'ood Research(
! )o the research industry orks.
! Business Research is a global activity.
* +cientific ,nvestigation
The )all Marks of +cientific Research
Research - the scientific Method
$eduction - ,nduction
The language of Research
Concepts
Constructs $efinitions
%ariables
Propositions - )ypotheses
Theory
Models
+ome .bstacles to conducting +cientific Research in the Management /rea
The )ypothetico!$eductive Method
0 The Research Process:
+tages in the Research process
$ecision alternatives in the research process
,nfluence of uncertainty on types Research.
Research Process ,ssues
1 Business Research Re2uests and Proposals
! Research Proposal.
! Purpose of Research Proposal.
! Types of Research Proposal.
! $evelopment of the proposals.
! 3ormatting the Research proposal
! Contents of the Research proposal
! Re2uirements of the sponsoring agent.
! 4valuation of Research proposal.
! Professional ,mplicit Considerations.
5 4thics in Business Research.
! &hat are research ethics
! 4thical treatment of participants.
! 4thics and the +ponsors.
! Professional +tandards.
6 47perimental Research
! The nature of e7periments.
! Basic ,ssues in 47perimental $esign.
! 47perimental research $esign
Pre!e7perimental $esigns
True 47perimental $esigns
3ield 47periment
! %alidity in 47perimentation
,nternal %alidity
47ternal %alidity
! Threats to 47perimentation %alidity.
8 $oing a 9iterature Revie
Purpose of Revieing Research
Research ,nvestigation
&riting the revie - its use
Referencing - :uotations in 9iterature Revie +ection
; The Research design:.
! &hat is Research $esign(
! Classification of $esigns.
! 47ploratory +tudies Techni2ues.
! $escriptive +tudies.
! Causal +tudies
< :ualitative and :uantitative Research
! Comparison of :ualitative - :uantitative Research
! The Process of :ualitative Research
! :ualitative Research Methodologies
! ,ntervie
! ,ndividual $epth ,ntervies
! 'roup ,ntervies
! 3ocus 'roups
! Case +tudy
! Merging :ualitative - :uantitative Methodologies
#= +econdary $ata Collection
! &hat are secondary data(
! /dvantages and disadvantages.
! Classification of secondary data.
! ,nternal and Proprietary data.
! Common e7ternal sources.
## Primary $ata Methods.
! +ources of $ata
! ,ntervieing
! +tructure - >nstructured ,ntervies
! Personal ,ntervies.
! Telephone ,ntervies.
! +elf!/dministered :uestionnaires.
! .bservation.
$irect .bservation
.bserving social settings
Content analysis
Mechanical observation
#* Measurement +cales
! +ources of Measurement $ifferences
! Characteristics of good Measurements
%alidity
Reliability
Practicality
#0 +electing a Measurement +cale
! +imple Category +cale
! +ingle!Response +cale
! Multiple Response +cale
! 9ikert +cale
! +emantic $ifferential +cale
! ?umerical +cale
! Multiple Rating 9ist +cale
! Constant!+um +cale
! +taple +cale
! 'raphing Rating +cale
! Ranking +cale
! Cumulative +cale
#1 Crafting the Research ,nstrument
:uestions categories - +tructure
:uestion Content
:uestion @&ording
Response +trategy
Types - 3orms of :uestions
! .pen ended versus Close ended
! Positively - ?egatively orded :uestions
! $ichotomous :uestions
! Multiple!Choice :uestions
! Rating :uestions
! Ranking :uestions
Biases in :uestions
! $ouble Barrelled :uestions
! /mbiguous :uestions
! Re!call $ependent :uestions
! 9eading :uestions
! 9oaded :uestions
9ength of :uestions
$rafting - Refining the ,nstrument
:uestions +e2uencing
Classification $ata or personal information
Principles of Measurement
.ver Coming ,nstrument Problem
#5 +ampling $esign
! The nature of sampling.
! +teps in +ampling $esign.
! +ampling Method.
Probability +ampling.
?on!probability sampling
! &hat is appropriate sample design(
! Random sampling errors and non!sampling.
#6 )ypothesis Testing
! +tatistical +ignificance
! 9ogic of )ypothesis Testing
! +tatistical Testing Procedure
! Tests of +ignificance
! Types of Tests
! )o to select test
! .ne!sample test
! To!,ndependent +amples Test
! To!Related +amples Test
! A!,ndependent! +ample Test
! A!Related +ample Test
#8 The case study as a Research +trategy
! Comparing case studies ith other research strategies in the social sciences
! Common $efinition of Case +tudies
! 'eneral /pproach to $esigning Case +tudies
! Criteria for Budging the :uality of Research $esigns
! Modest /dvice in +electing Case study designs
#; /nalysing 2ualitative data
! 'rounded Theory ,ntroduction
! Coding Procedure
! /nalysis through Microscopic 47amination of $ata
! Basic .peration: /sking :uestions and Making Comparisons
! /nalytical Tools
! .pen Coding
! /7ial Coding
! +elective Coding
! Theoretical +ampling
#< $ata Preparation and $escription
! 4diting
! 3ield 4diting
! Central 4diting
! Coding
! Codebook Construction.
! Coding Closed :uestion.
! Coding Rules
! Missing $ata
*= Presenting insights and 3indings: CResearch ReportD
! &ritten Research Report
! +hort Reports
! 9ong Reports
! Research Report Components.
! &riting the Report
! Pre!riting Concerns
! &riting the draft
! Presentation Consideration.
! Presentation +tatistics
! .ral Presentation
! Preparation
! $elivery
! /udio!visuals
*# Computer Technology - Business Research
! ,nformation ?eeds
! /dvantages of ,CT
! Role of ,CT in Managerial $ecision Making
! PC /pplications using +oftare
! 4nd ?ote +oftare
! +P++ +oftare
! ?!vivo +oftare
! $ata Recording by using M+ 47cel - M+ /ccess
! Presentation of Report by using M+ Poer point
! 9iterature +earch through internet
! >sing the database of +cience $irect C4lsevierD, 4merald, E+T.R etc.
! )o to use the Turnitin CPlagiarism +oftareD
Recommended Text:
#. Cooper - +chindler, Business Research Methods, ?inth 4dition
*. Figmund, &illiam ', Business research methods, +i7th 4dition.
0. Collins Eill - )ussey Roger, Business research, +econd 4dition
1. +ekaran >ma, Research Methods for Business, 3ourth 4dition.
5. +traus - Corbin, Basics of :ualitative Research, 9atest 4dition.
6. Gin A Robert, Case +tudy Research $esign and Method.
8. Chris )art, $oing 9iterature Revie, +age Publications.