VINOD GUPTA SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, KHARAGPUR

Subject: Business Research Methods

Quiz: 1

Name: SAIKAT SARKAR

Roll No: 19BM61K15

Attempt any Five

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1. Give few examples of dichotomous and polychromous variables from the

market.

Ans 1:

Dichotomous- Gender, Bit or Binary digit, American Poltical parties-

Repulic or Democaratic.

Polychromous-Age, Degree, Senior.

2. Is it that all the qualitative variables could be quantified? Give reasons for your

answer by providing a few examples from the market.

3. Is the following could be a construct?

‘Stress in office is a function of working hours’

How many variables are there in the above statement? What types of variables are

these? Can we measure the variables? Which measurement scale can be used to

measure these variables?

4. What precautions should be taken to reduce the measurement error originating

from the data collection instrument such as a structured questionnaire in a survey?

Ans 4:

1. The questions should not be too lengthy.

2. The questions should be specific.

3. The questions should be logical.

4. The questions should be simple and not very complex.

5. The questions should be direct and analytical.

5. What could be the a priori reasoning for the relationship between the variables

mentioned below?

a) Infant Mortality = f (Per Capita Expenditure on Health, Per Capita NNP at

current prices, Medical Practitioner per 1,00,000 people).

b) Exports of a country over a period = f (Balance of Payments, Inflation and

Exchange Rates).

c) Number of domestic airlines passengers in India = f (Number of foreign tourists

in India, Number of domestic tourists in India and per capital Income of India).

6. Please specify the type of the following variables and their scale of

measurement:

Household Expenditure, Rates of interest, Cereal production of a country over

period of twenty years, Humility, Risk evasiveness, Intelligence, Power

consumption, family conflict, investment.

7. Is it that all qualitative variables are categorical variables? Please give reasons
for your answer.

Ans 7:

A qualitative variable, also called a categorical variable, are variables that are

not numerical. It describes data that fits into categories. For example:

Eye colors (variables include: blue, green, brown, hazel).

States (variables include: Florida, New Jersey, Washington).

Dog breeds (like Alaskan Malamute, German Shepherd).

These are all qualitative variables as they have no natural order. On the other

hand, quantitative variables have a value and they can be added, subtracted,

divided or multiplied

8. What is information value chain in business research methods; and what are the

features of a good business research.

9. What is the basic structure of language of research.

Ans 9:

The structure of research language should have five components. They are

phonemes, morphemes, lexemes, syntax, and context.

10. Elaborate the difference between primary and secondary research; points out

few examples.

Ans 10:

a. Primary research is based on raw data, whereas secondary research is

based on analyzed and interpreted information

b. Primary research is carried on by researchers himself, but secondary

research is carried on by someone else

c. Data is specific to the needs of the researchers whereas in secondary

research, data may not be specific to the needs to the researchers

d. Process in very long, cost is high whereas secondary research is fast, easy

and short.