BA 9227-BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS

UNIT-I-Significance of business research

Making a formal statement
Selecting a significance level
Identify critical issues
Deciding the distribution
Gather relevant
Selecting the random sampling
Predict and control the environment
Computing an appropriate value
To get the maximum benefit out of them
Calculation of the probability
To get the good solutions
Comparing the probability
To calculate the risks
To solve the problems
UNIT-II RESEARCH DESIGN
For taking business decisions
Types of research design
Objectives of research
Exploratory research
It develops focus
Casual research
It reveals characteristics
Descriptive design
It determines frequency of occurrence
Experimental design
It tests hypothesis
Components of research design
Steps in research process
Title of the study
Formulating the research design
Introduction
Extensive literature survey
Statement of the problem
Development of working hypotheses
Review of selected literature
Preparing the research design
Scope of the study
Determine sample design
Objectives of the study
Collecting the data
Hypothesis to be tested
Executive of the project
Operational definition of concepts
Analysis of data
Geographical are to be covered
Hypothesis testing
Reference period
Generalization and interpretation
Methodology
Preparation of the report
Sampling
Types of research
Tests for collection of data
Pure research
Plan of analysis
Applied research
Research report
Historical research
Time schedule and financial budget.
Descriptive research
Experimental research designs
Exploratory studies research
Pre experiments
Casual research
True experiments lab experiments
Theoretical and empirical research
Field experiments
Comparative research
Pre-experimental design
Operation research
One-shot case study
Library research
One-group pretest, post test design
Individual research
Static group comparison
Research questions
True experimental- lab experiments
Discover management dilemma exploration
Pre-test and post-test control group design
Define management question exploration
Post-test only control group design
Define research question
Extensions of true experimental design
Characteristics of research
Completely randomized design
Purpose clearly defined
Randomized block design
Research process detailed
Latin square design
Research design thoroughly planned
Factorial design
High ethical standards applied
Field experiments
Limitations frankly revealed
Nonequivalent control group design
Adequate analysis for decision makers needs
Separate pretest and post-test design
Finding presented unambiguously
Conclusion justified
Group time series design
Researchers experience reflected
Validity of findings (or) validity of
Research hypotheses
experiments
Null hypothesis and Alternative hypothesis Internal validity
The level of significance
External validity
Test of hypothesis
Factor threatening internal validity
Type I and Type II
History
Two tailed and one tailed tests
Maturation
Procedure for hypothesis testing
Pre-testing

 Measuring instruments
Statistical regression
Differential selection
Experimental mortality
Interaction of factor
Factor threatening external validity
Pre-testing
Deferential selection
Experimental procedures.
Multiple treatment interference
Variable in research classified four
categories
Independent variable
Dependent variable
The moderating variable
The intervening variables
Types of variables
Descriptive variable
Categorical variable
Numeric variable
Discrete variable
Continuous variable
Measurement and scale
Levels of measurement (or) types
Nominal measurement
Ordinal measurement
Interval measurement
Ratio measurement
Measurement scale
Social distance scale
Likert scale
Guttmann scale
Rank ordering scale
Thurston scale
Sementic differential
Visual analog rating scale
Rating scales
Graphic rating scale
Itemized rating scale
Rank order rating scale
Paired comparison rating scale
Constant sum rating scale
Fractionation rating scale
Different types of scale
Nominal scale
Ordinal scale
Interval scale
Ratio scale
Construction of instruments
Arbitrary scaling
Consensus scaling
Item analysis scaling
Cumulative scaling
Factor scaling
Reliability and validity
Reliable not valid
Valid not reliable
Neither reliable nor valid
Both reliable and valid

UNIT-III DATA COLLECTION

Types on data collection
Primary data
Secondary data
Methods of primary data
Observation
Questionnaire
Interview
Focus groups
Projective techniques
Omnibus studies
Surveys
Panel data
Source of secondary data
Government publication
Technical reports
Scholarly journals
Literature review articles
Trade journals
Syndicate
Reference books
International publications
Construction of questionnaire
Information wanted
Type of questionnaire
Structured direct questionnaire
Structured indirect questionnaire
Unstructured direct questionnaire
Unstructured indirect questionnaire
Contents of individual questions
Types of questions
Open ended questions
Multiple choice questions
Working of the questions
Sequence of questions
Layout and production
Retesting the questions
Find draft of the questions
Construction of a good data instrument
Reliability of the instrument
Relevancy
Brevity
Non ambiguity
Specificity
Test the validity of the data
Unbiased reply
Cost effective
Possibility of pre-test
Sampling plan
Define the target population
Select the data collection method
Indentify the sampling frames needed
Select the appropriate sampling method
Determine necessary sample size
Create an operating plan
Execute the operational plan
Sampling techniques
Probability sampling method
Non probability sampling method
Probability sampling methods

 Simple random sampling

Systematic sampling
Stratified sampling
Cluster or multi stage sampling
Non probability sampling methods
Convenience sampling
Purposive sampling
Judgment sampling
Quota sampling
Snow ball sampling
Determination of appropriate sample design
Research objectives
Scope of research
Availability of resources
Time frame
Advanced knowledge of the target
popular
Degree of accuracy
Perceived statistical analysis needs
UNIT-IV DATA PREPARATIONAND ANALYSIS
Data preparation
Editing
Coding
Data entry
Classification
Tabulation
Interpretation
Types of editing
Field editing
In- house editing
Editing for consistency
Editing for completeness
Item non response
Editing questions
Stages of editing process
Initial screening
Establishing response categories
Field editing
Central editing
Coding of data
Deciding the categories to be used
Assigning individual codes to them
Computer coding
The broad general rules for coding
Computerized coding
Data collection preparation
Collect data
Enter data
Edit data file
Port code the instrument
Post code free response question
Data analysis and interpretation
Coding

Coding book construction

Coding free responses questions

Coding free-response questions

Coding rules
Appropriateness
Exhaustiveness

Mutual exclusivity
Derived from one classification
principles
Data entry SPSS
Data fields
Records
Files
Data base
Multivariate statistical techniques
Dependent methods
Number of dependent variable
Independent variable
Nominal
Dependent variable level of measurement
Interval or ratio
Factor
Cluster
Perceptual mapping
Ordinal
Variable multi variable analysis
Explanatory variable and criterion variables
Observable variable and latent variables
Discrete variable and continuous variable
Dummy variables
Factors analysis steps in conducting factors
analysis
Formulate the problem
Construct the correlation matrix
Indentify the method of factor analysis
Determine the number of factor
Rotate the factor
Interpret the factors
Cluster analysis steps in conducting
Formulate the problem
Select a distance measure
Select a clustering procedure
Decide on the number of cluster
Interpret and prefix cluster
Assess the validity of clustering
Select a clustering procedure
Linkage methods
Single linkage
Complete linkage
Average linkage
Variable methods
Centroid methods
Discriminate analysis
Formulating the problem
Research design issues
Assumption
Estimating the discriminate functions
Asses the validity of discriminate
Interpretation of discriminate functions
Validation of discriminate results
Research issues
Selection of dependent and independent
Sample size
Division of sample
Steps to multiple regression analysis

Formulating the research problem

Appropriateness research problem
Specifying a statistical relationship
Selection of dependent and independent
variable
Research design issues
Assumption
Estimating the regression model
Interpreting the regression variate
Validation of the results
Qualitative and quantitative
Research agenda qualitative and
quantitative
Focus
Involvement
Purpose
Sample design
Sample size
Research design
Participants
Data type
Insights and measuring
Multi dimensional scaling-Steps in
conducting research
Formulating the problem
Obtaining input data
Running the statistical program
The results and defining the dimensional
Test the results for reliability and validity
UNIT-V-RESEARCH REPORT
CONTENT OF RESEARCH
Title of report
Table of content
Copy of authority
Executive summary
The introduction
Problem of statement
Objective
Scope and limitation
Preliminary details
Structure
Unstructured interview
Review of literature
Hypothesis of formulation
Research methodology
Data analysis and interpretation
Table
Chart
Findings
Recommendation or suggestion
Conclusion
Bibliography
Appendices
Types of report
Technical report
Popular report
General outline of technical report
Summary of result
Nature of the study
Methods employed

Data
Analysis data and presentation of findings
Conclusion
Bibliography
Technical appendices
Index
Popular report
Finding their implications
Recommendation for action
Objective of study
Methods employed
Results
Technical appendices
Steps in Report writing
Logical analysis of the subject matter
Preparation of the final outline
Preparation of the rough draft
Rewriting and polishing of rough draft
Preparation of the final bibliography
Ethics in research
Beneficial
Autonomy
Justice
Respect for participate as right a dignity
Ethical behavioral research
Confidentially
Privacy
Unsolicited telephone calls
Spam
Online survey research and spam
Format of the research report
The Preliminaries
Title page
Preface including
acknowledgements
Table of tables
List of tables
List of figures or illustrations
The Text
Introduction
Main body of the report
Conclusion
The Reference Materials

Bibliography

Appendix or appendices

Index (if any) s