Orientation Program on MBA

Summer Project
on

Research Methodology
 Outline…
 Statement of the problem

 Formulation of research Objectives

 Research methodology
 Identification of measurable Indicators/variables and
their theoretical links
 Data gathering: sources, tools, etc
 Data analysis
 Data presentation

 Scope and Limitations of the study

Statement of the Problem
The problem statement is the guiding theme of the proposal.

This includes a statement of the purpose of the study and should

specify objectives.

The purpose of the study explains why the research is being

conducted. It established the importance of the problem addressed
by the research and why the research is needed.

The specification of objectives describes what the investigator

hopes to accomplish with research.

This makes the reader to visualize clearly about the questions to

be asked, the kinds of answers expected, and the nature of the
information to be provided by the proposed research.
In order to demonstrate that the problem is researchable, the
statement of research problem should perform the following
functions:

The context of research

The focus of research

The significance of research

The framework of research

Research Objectives:

Goals are broad statements what the research proposal hopes

to accomplish. Research objectives are specific types of data
(qualitative or quantitative), that are planned to develop or gather
or that taken together, allow the researcher to answer research
questions.

Research objectives are logically developed from research

questions. It should be made clear that accomplishing these
objectives will provide the researcher with the information he
needs to address the research questions.

Objectives should be simple (not complex), specific (not vague)

and stated in advance (not after the research is done).
The objectives of a research project are what is to be achieved
by the study.

These should be closely related to the statement of the problem

and may be classified into primary objectives and secondary
objectives.

The general objective of a study states what researchers expect

to achieve by the study in general terms.

It is advisable to break down general objective into smaller,

logically connected parts, referred to as specific objectives.
Specific objectives should systematically address the various
aspects of the problem as defined under ‘statement of the
problem’. Specific objectives are statements of research
questions.
How should you state objectives?
The objectives should:
1.Cover the different aspects of the problem and its contributing
factors in a coherent way and in a logical sequence.

2.State the objectives clearly phrased in operational terms,

specifying exactly what you are going to do, where, and for what
purpose.

3. be realistic considering and situations at hand.

4. use action verbs that are specific enough to be evaluated.

(e.g. to determine, to compare, to verify, to calculate, to describe,
and to establish)

Note: Avoid use of vague non-action verbs such as : to appreciate,

to understand or to study.
It is important that the chosen question should satisfy certain criteria:

It must be feasible with available resources-time, money and

equipments

It must not be too broad or general or ambiguous

It should not have already been answered by previous research

Itought to be a clear statement or significant question that needs to be

answered/investigated.

It must be a question that can be answered through empirical means.