PROJECT WORK – SEM VI GUIDELINES

• The Project is for 100 Marks

• General Guidelines for preparation of project work based on Research Methodology:

(I) The topic & title should be specific, clear & with definite scope
• The project report shall be prepared as per the broad
guidelines given below:
 Font type: Times New Roman
 Font size: 12-For content, 14-for Title
 Line Space : 1.5-for content and 1-for in table work
 Paper Size: A4
 Margin : in Left-1.5, Up-Down-Right-1
 The Project Report shall be bounded.
 The project report should be minimum 100 pages
NOTE: THESE PAGES ARE SHOWN HERE FOR IDEA PURPOSES AND BFM STUDENTS WILL HAVE
TO MAKE THE APPROPRIATE CHANGES AS REQUIRED – EG. ABOVE DEGREE WILL BE
BACHELOR OF COMMERCE (FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT) AND DOWN BOARD OF STUDIES IN
COMMERCE, UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI
MODEL STRUCTURE OF THE PROJECT WORK

TYPICAL PATTERN

(I) Title Page: Please write the title of your study, followed by your complete name,
qualifications, name of institution affiliated to, contact numbers, email id

(II) Abstract: Abstract is simply a brief summary of your entire study, which gives the reader
a brief overview of what your study is about
• It should not exceed 200 to 250 words
• I suggest that abstract to be written last, after finishing your entire study
• At the bottom of the abstract, you have to put KEYWORDS - 4-5 words from the main
theme of your study which will help retrieve your study when somebody searches by
using those words
(III) Introduction: Introduction should contain a basic explanation of the main theme of your
study, brief profile, characteristics, related concepts, etc
• Example: If your main theme is CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) then your
introduction should cover what is CSR, how is it practiced, status of CSR around the
world or in India, etc
• Introduction should not exceed ten pages
• If you are quoting any definitions or any figures or diagrams, please mention the
source of the same below the diagram or figures or the name of the author in case of
definitions
• At the end of the introduction, in this same chapter, write a brief Statement of Problem
about 8-10 lines as to why you as a researcher are undertaking this study on this
particular problem – what is the main problem you are trying to address
Statement of Problem: The research problem should clearly state what you intend to
find out about
• It should be structured in a way that it is focused, pointed & absolutely clear as to
what you are trying to find out
• It should be defined in concise & clear terms of the research questions of the study
• Example: If a marketer is planning to launch a new product, the research problem can
be in the form of “What would be the demand for the new product?”
• Basically the statement of problem covers why you are doing this study? What is the
problem to which you are trying to find answers for

• After this write Objectives of the study

Objectives of the Study: Once the problem is defined, the next step is to establish the
purpose of the research
• Objectives need to be specific & measurable as they provide guidelines to focus during
the research
• Example: Research Problem is to check the awareness level of teachers and students
about Yoga as a spiritual science and also to find their views on the benefits of Yoga
• Objectives of the study would be:
(1) To study yoga & its benefits
(2) To study teachers’ & students’ perception of yoga
(3) To know the benefits of yoga as per teachers & students
(4) To find the relationship between yoga practice & its benefits

(IV) Review of Literature: This is done to find out what work has been done by prior
researchers on the subject matter or related fields
• This helps the researcher in identifying any gaps that exist and gives him scope to fill
those gaps through his own research
• Also helps in avoiding duplication if almost similar work has been done by someone else
prior to him
• To adopt alternative method of study in case someone has done almost similar work on
the topic
 • Review can be done by going through research reports, papers, reference books,
periodicals, journals, magazines, internet websites, etc
• You can put about 30—40 reviews which will take up about 20 pages at the least

Typical sample of how it should appear in your study is given below:

 Bhagwat Pranjali (2011) in her paper on Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable
Development tried to establish a correlation between CSR & Sustainable Development
and tried to find out by way of an extended literature study, whether CSR represents
sustainable development at corporate level, whether both are used synonymously or
whether articles exist focussing especially on the social dimension of sustainable
development without using terms such as CSR

 Potluri, Rajsekhara Mouly, Ansari Rizwana, Khan Saqib Rasool & Challa Siva Kumar
(2012) in their study, attempted to discern the perceptions of Indian financial
institutions towards corporate social responsibility and also made attempts to be
acquainted with the opinions of employees, customers and general public shedding light
on their socially responsible actions

(V) Research Methodology/Research Design: This is the next broad heading under which
various sub-heading feature

 This is a logical & systematic plan prepared for conducting the study – a sort of blue
print for collection, measurement & analysis of data
• The research design must include:
 Sources & methods of data collection
 Time period of the research study
 Sampling plan
 Methods of data analysis

 Scope of study: This involves earmarking the scope of investigation or also known as
Delimitation – It determines the boundaries of the problem
• This mentions the functional & geographical limits of the study i.e. whether the study
will be covering a certain town, city, region, state or country
• Also we need to mention the subjects which will constitute the sample of the study
• Example: The study is restricted to the city of Mumbai. Primary data is gathered from
the students and teachers engaged at under-graduate level of education

 Hypothesis: This is a tentative proposition formulated to determine its validity – it may

prove correct or incorrect
 Whatever may be the outcome, the hypothesis is a question put in such a way that an
answer of some kind will be forthcoming
 Types of Hypothesis:
(a) Null Hypothesis: This is a hypothesis which assumes that there is no difference between
two values or variables such as population means or population proportions
• In many situations, null hypothesis is simply set up for the purpose of rejecting it
• For example, to know whether fertilizer manufactured by one firm (A) will produce a
higher yield of crop than fertilizer B manufacture by a second firm:
“There is no difference between the yield of the crops from fertilizer A & the yield of
crops from fertilizer B”
• Such null hypothesis are denoted by H0
• The intention of the researcher is to reject this with ample evidence

(b) Alternative Hypothesis: This is a hypothesis which differs from a null hypothesis – it is
a statement which will be accepted when the null hypothesis is rejected
• It assumes some difference or some relationship between the hypothesized variables
• It is denoted by H1
• Example: “There is a difference between the yield of the crops from fertilizer A & the
yield of crops from fertilizer B”

• IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT HYPOTHESIS

• Alternative hypothesis is usually the one, which one wishes to prove & the null
hypothesis is the one, which one wishes to disprove
• If rejection of a certain hypothesis when it is actually true involves great risk, it is
taken as null hypothesis because then the probability of rejecting it when it is true, is
very small
• Null hypothesis should always be specific hypothesis i.e. it should not state about or
approximate a certain value

 HYPOTHESIS WILL BE STATED AS FOLLOWS IN YOUR PAPER:

• H0: There is no relationship between practicing Yoga and the benefits derived from
Yoga.
• H1: There is a relationship between practicing Yoga and the benefits derived from Yoga

 Types & Sources of Data:

(a) Primary Data: This refers to the information obtained first hand by the researcher on
the variables of interest for the purpose of the study
• This data is collected afresh for the first time and therefore it is original in nature
• The methods of collection of primary data are:
 Survey / Interview Method
 Observation Method
 Experimentation Method

(b) Secondary Data: This refers to the second-hand information gathered from existing
sources
 • This data is that which has already been collected by someone else & which has
already passed through the statistical process
• The methods of collection of secondary data are:
(1) Internal Sources: Past records, sales reports, balance-sheets, employees records
including appraisals, claims, etc
(2) External Sources: Government publications, books, journals, research papers, reports,
thesis, websites, etc

 Sampling Technique/Plan & Sample Size:

• This is designed to select the appropriate sample in order to collect the right data so as
to achieve the research objectives
• Sampling Techniques:
(a) Probability Methods: Simple Random Sampling, Systematic Sampling, Cluster
Sampling, Stratified Sampling
(b) Non-Probability Methods: Convenience Sampling, Accidental Sampling, Judgment
Sampling, Quota Sampling, Sequential Sampling, Snowball Sampling or Chain Referral
Sampling

 Limitations:
(1) Time limitations
(2) Cost limitations
(3) Geographical reach / access limitations
(4) Lack of enthusiasm by respondents
(5) Sampling error
(6) Researcher or Respondent Biases

• Example:
• Limitations of the study
i) Only one statistical technique i.e. Chi-square is used for primary analysis. The remaining
analysis is done through graphs by resorting to secondary analysis.
ii) Due to limitation of time and cost the sample size is kept very small.
iii) Geographic location is also limited to South Mumbai.

(VI) Data Analysis

(VII) Findings
(VIII) Suggestions & Recommendations
(IX) Conclusions

(X) References / Bibliography

• Example: Always follow APA Format:
(1) Gautam, Richa & Singh, Anju (2010), “Corporate Social Responsibility Practices in India: A
Study of Top 500 Companies”, Global Business & Management Research Journal, Vol.2 No.1,
pp.41-56
(2) Potluri, Rajsekhara Mouly, Ansari, Rizwana, Khan, Saqib Rasool & Challa, Siva Kumar (2012),
“Corporate Social Responsibility: An Outlook of Indian Financial Institutions”, British Journal of
Economics, Management & Trade, Vol.5 No.3 pp.110-116

Last you add a page called ANNEXURES

Below Annexures you attach a blank copy of your questionnaire used for your survey