Department of Finance

University of Dhaka
F – 508: Business Research Methodology
Course Outline
Introduction
Managers of organizations, businessmen, and women need a lot of information to make decisions about their
markets, customers, business opportunities, resource use, and growth of the firms they operate. They obtain all
kinds of information through different sources, either from company intelligence network or through the
scientific method. The company intelligence network may not use formal data collection methods and subject
the data to rigorous analysis. The resulting data may not be that reliable but still useful information. The data
may give some indications as to the current situation and a chance for the business person to make intuitive
decisions. Unreliable data and information suggest that a more reliable and systematic approach be used to
obtain adequately dependable data and information. The quest for more reliable data has made expert to develop
the scientific research methods to suit the needs of business researchers. This course is a core component of the
MBA degree program.
Learning Objectives
The main of this course is to provide the basic knowledge of concepts and theories which are the building blocks
of business research methods. In addition to this aim, the intention is to enable the student to acquire the skills
required for conducting practical exercises in business research methods.

Staff:
M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, PhD Office:
Professor Room No: 3007 (Second Floor)
MBA Building, Faculty of Business Studies

Lectures:
There is only one lecture in a weak. The duration of a lecturer is 80 (eighty) minutes. In around 20 (twenty)
lecturers and 10 class-slots of presentations will be conducted to cover all topics of the course. The planned
schedule of lecturers is given below.

Text:
NS: Salkind, Neil J. (2009). Exploring Research, Seventh Edition, Pearson Prentice Hall,
New Jersey: USA.
Reference:
WN: Neuman, W. L. (2009). Understanding Research, First Edition, Pearson Prentice Hall,
New York: USA.

Evaluation Scheme:
Your grade will be based on two mid-term tests, the final exam and two quizzes. Extra credit can be
earned for class participation. Class participation includes class attendance and submission of
assignments in due time. Please note carefully the dates of the tests since I do not give make-ups. If
you miss a test due to a documented emergency, your grade will be based entirely on your other score.
A predictable absence such as travel does not qualify and counts as zero. Students may expect surprise
quizzes. They are requested t be prepared all the time.
Mid-term I = 15%
Mid-term I = 15%
Term Final = 40%
Term Paper = 15%
Presentation = 15%
Total Points = 100
Syllabus:
# Topic Reference (Chapters)
# 1 The Role and Importance of Research NS: 1
# 2 The Research Process: Coming to Terms NS: 2
# 3 Selecting a Problem and Reviewing the Research NS: 3A
# 4 The Importance of Practicing Ethics in Research NS: 3B
# 5 Sampling and Generalizability NS: 4
# 6 Measurement, Reliability, and Validity NS: 5
# 7 Writing a Research Proposal NS: 13
# 8 Writing a Research Manuscript NS: 14
#9 Qualitative Research: PRA & Focus Group Discussion
# 10 Quantitative Research: OLS Diagnostics
# 11 Quantitative Research: Logit, Probit, Tobit, Poisson, and
Negative Binomial
# 12 Quantitative Research: Impact Assessment and Endogeneity
Correction