RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

PART A — (5 × 4 = 20 marks)

1. What Is Case Study Research?

2. List out the sources of Data.
3. Explain the hypothesis tests.
4. What are Two Factor Evaluation Approaches?
5. List out the characteristics of a good Research Report.
6. What are the Sampling Errors?
7. Bring out the significance of Standard Deviation.
8. How do you analyse the variance?
9. Explain different types of research.
10. Identify the factors to be considered while drafting a questionnaire.
11. Compute Standard Deviation from the following data of the income
of 10 employees of a firm: 600 620 640 620 680 670 680 640 700 650
12. Find regression lines
X 3 5 6 8 9 11
Y 2 3 4 6 5 10
13. What are the advantages of SPSS package?
14. Discuss the qualities of a researcher?
15. Briefly explain the Type I and Type II error?
16. Analyze the various types of report?
17. Define research and discuss the need for business research.
18. Define hypothesis and explain the types of hypothesis.
19. Distinguish between Exploratory and Formal studies.
20. What are the characteristics of a good sample design?
21. What is chi-square test? Explain its significance in statistical analysis.
22. What is meant by Annova? Highlight its uses in research analysis of business.
23. Give a brief overview of the data-preparation process.
24. List and discuss the two major observation methods used in descriptive research and at least one advantage
and one disadvantage for each of the two major observation methods.
25. Define exploratory and descriptive research.
26. When is secondary data better than primary data?
27. Mention the characteristics of a good research report.
28. Why should research be scientifically done?
29. Define multiple regression analysis.
30. What do you mean by stratified random sampling?
31. Enumerate the criteria for a good research.
32. Explain null hypothesis hypothesis. and alternative.
33. What are the qualities of a researcher?
34. What are the different types of research?
35. What are primary and secondary sources of data? Give examples of situations where each of those sources is
utilised.
36. What is hypothesis? What are the different types of hypothes?
37. What are the misconceptions regarding required sample size for a study?
38. List out the assumptions of regression models.
39. What is conjoint analysis? What are its uses in research?
40. Bring down the significance of report writing?
41. Explain various steps involved in Scientific Research.
42. What is Chi Square test? Explain its significance in statistical analysis of research.
43. Discuss various methods of collecting data for research.
 44. Describe the concept of Sampling Errors and its significance in sampling analysis.
45. Illustrate different components of Research Problem.
46. Describe Case Study Research.
47. Enumerate the properties of Distribution. a Normal
48. Briefly discuss the steps involved in Research Report Preparation.

PART B — (5 × 8 = 40 marks)

1. Examine the types of research.

2. Discuss the methods of data collection.
3. Evaluate the probability theories.
4. Analyse the stastical applications.
5. Examine the structure and components of Research Report.
6. Critically analyse the various steps in scientific research.
7. Highlight the various sampling methods and mention the merits and demerits.
8. Explain in detail about SPSS.
9. Discuss the different steps involved in a research process.
10. Explain the various methods of sampling.
11. 1,000 students at college level are graded according to their I.Q. and their economic conditions. Use chi-
square test to find out whether there is any association between economic conditions and the level of I.Q.
Economic IQ
Condition High Medium Low Total
Rich 160 300 140 600
Poor 140 100 160 400
Total 300 400 300 1,000
12. Find the Karl Pearson's Coefficient of Correlation.
X 6 2 10 4 8
Y 9 11 5 8 7
13. Discuss the various techniques of writing a research report.
14. Describe the properties of Binomial Distribution.
15. State the applications of Conjoint Analysis.
16. Briefly describe the procedure of testing a hypothesis.
17. Discuss various stages involved in the Business Research Process with a suitable example.
18. Define Research Design and types of various research designs.
19. List and discuss the four commonly used non- probability sampling techniques used in business researches.
20. State the importance of the research report and its presentation for a research project.
21. Discuss various elements/components that are included in a Research Proposal with suitable examples.
22. Master Computers estimated last year that 35 per cent of potential software buyers were planning to wait to
purchase the new operating system, Window Panes, until an upgrade had been released. After an advertising
campaign to reassure the public, Master Computers surveyed 3,000 people and found 950 who were still
skeptical. At the 5 per cent significance level, can the company conclude the proportion of skeptical people
has decreased?
23. An outdoor advertising company must know whether significantly different traffic volumes pass three
billboard locations in Newark because the company charges different rates for different traffic volumes. The
company measures the volume of traffic at the three locations during randomly selected 5-minute intervals.
The table shows the data gathered. At the 0.05 level of significance, Are the volumes of traffic passing the
three billboards the same?
Volume of Traffic
Billboard 1 30 45 26 44 18 38 42 29 -
Billboard 2 29 38 36 21 36 18 17 30 32
Billboard 3 32 44 40 43 24 28 18 - -
24. 16. From the following data calculate Karl Pearson's coefficient of skewness:
Marks more than 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
No. of students 150 140 100 80 80 70 30 14 0
25. What are the steps involved in the formation of research problem?
26. List out the advantages and disadvantages of. closed ended questions.
27. Enumerate the properties of normal and binomial distribution.
28. Explain the steps involved in case study research.
29. Distinguish between Type I and Type II errors with possible examples.
30. What is Chi-Square test? Explain its significance in statistical analysis.
31. What do you mean by. Multivariate analysis? How does it differ from Bivariate analysis?

32. A sample of two variables of size 40 produces a correlation coefficient of r = 0.682.

(a) What is the point estimate for the population correlation coefficient, p.
(b) Construct a 95% confidence interval for p.
33. Describe the different stages in the formulation of research problem.
34. What is case study? What are the advantages and limitations?
35. Bring out the relative merits and demerits of different methods for collection of primary data.
36. Give a detailed account of analysis and presentation tools of research project.
37. Examine the applications and assumptions of analysis of variance.
38. Distinguish between correlation and regression analysis. Under what conditions are these tools used.
39. A salesman of a company visited at random eight cities and the number of orders obtained in different
cities are 5, 6, 4, 8, 2, 4, 9, 1. Check whether the number of orders obtained in each city is 7 (Ho: μ=7) as
against the alternate hypothesis H₁: μ<7 using sign test at a significance level of 0.05.
40. What is pie-diagram? Explain various types of diagrams used in research reports with their merits and
demerits.
41.Describe Sample Design. Mention the points that should be taken into consideration while deciding on
Sample size for any Research Project.
42.Data collection is the backbone of Business Research. Discuss about the various techniques used for data
collection.
43. Write short notes on the following:
(a) Factor Analysis
(b) Binomial Distribution
(c) One Sample Test
(d) Merits and Demerits of sampling.
44. What do you mean by Research Problem? Mention various points to be kept in mind while selecting and
formulating a research problem?
45. In an anti-malaria campaign in a city, Chloroquine was administered to 812 persons out of a total
population of 3248.
The number of fever cases is shown below:
Treatment Fever NonFever Total
With Chloroquine 20 792 812
Without Chloroquine 220 2216 2436
Total 240 3008 3248
Discuss the usefulness of Chloroquine in checking malaria using Chi-square test HO- The chloroquine is not
effective in checking malaria at confidence level of 95%.
46. Show the relationship among Exploratory, Descriptive and Causal research.
47. Discuss the basic requirement of report preparation including report format, report writing, graphs and
tables.
48. Should every research problem have a hypothesis? Discuss in detail the steps involved in hypothesis
testing.
PART C — (1 × 15 = 15 marks)

1. Case Study ( Compulsory Questions)

During the pandemic situation, as a researcher, how will you do your research:
(a) What innovative steps will you adopt in doing the research?
(b) Suggest the best research technique which is suitable for the current scenario.
(c) Suggest if any step to be altered in the process of research. As a researcher, examine the process of
research and validate the best way of taking up the research.

2. A tea company appoints four salesmen A,B C and D and observes their sales in three seasons - Summer,
winter and monsoon. The figures (in lakhs) are given in the following table:
Seasons Salesmen Season's Total
A B C D
Summer 36 36 21 35 128
Winter 28 29 31 32 120.
3. A case study on white goods and readymade garments Retail industry's doldrums.
The Retailers of white goods and readymade garments in Kanchipuram district face crisis' in the recent times.
In the recent Years, they observed that the number of customers visiting their shops slowly came down and
the sales were affected very much. In the recent meeting of the traders' association, the topic was discussed.
Many retailers agreed that average number of customers visiting the shops gradually on the declining side, in
spite of the growth in the various economic indicators.
Kanchipuram district is situated on the northern East Coast of Tamil Nadu, is adjacent by Bay of Bengal and
Chennai city, and is bounded in the west by Vellore and Thiruvannamalai district, in the north by Thiruvallur
district and Chennai district, in the south by Villuppuram district in the east by Bay of Bengal. For
administrative reasons, the district has been divided into 3 revenue divisions comprising of 8 taluks with
1214 revenue villages.
In the recent years, the district witnessed exponential growth in various industries. district is known for its
traditional Kanchipuram silk sarees and production of raw silk and agriculture. The district is one of the highly
industrialized areas in the state of Tamilnadu Besides MNCs like Ford, Hyundai, Saint Gobain, National Air
Conditioner of Japan, Indian software giants Infosys, Wipro, and TCS are having their outfits in Kanchipuram
district. Out of 17 Small Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu's Industrial parks, 4 of them located
in Kanchipuram district, in addition to special economic zones and export processing zones. The district has
accommodated 100s of arts and engineering colleges and many universities. As per as the per capita income
is concerned, for many years the district is within top 5 districts in the state.
Many retailers of white goods and readymade garments pointed out that they have invested huge amount on
inventory and shop modernization activities; huge budget is also allocated for advertisements for both local
television channels and newspaper insertions. Many of the white goods and garment retail outlets are air-
conditioned and the interiors are typical to that of the leading outlets in Chennai. The servicing setup also
changed to modern Organisational setups, where the sales persons are given with uniforms, and customer
service professionals also appointed by many outlets.
The retailer association concluded that a research might through light on this issue and suitable action plan
might be drawn upon to bring back the glory of retail industry in the district. The President of the association
has decided to contact research agency. If you are the research agency, what is your research proposal for
Kanchipuram White goods and garments retailers association?.
4. (a) What does a measure of central tendency indicate? Describe the important measures of central tendency
pointing out the situation when one measure is considered relatively appropriate in comparison to others?.
(b) The following sample data of the number of communications are taken from logs of Communication with
Distance Education students:
5, 9, 5, 23, 27, 55, 34, 7, 30, 15, 22, 60, 14, 52, 297, 8, 51, 15, 51, 35, 15, 39, 137, 43, 38, 14, 93, 7
(i) Compute the mean
(ii) Compute the standard deviation.
(iii) Which is a better representation of the central tendency: mean or median? Explain.

5. A district-Industries centre (DIC) has collected the data summarizing the number of industries in the district
under each combination of the level of technology used and the level of rate of return, as show below. Check
whether the rate of return is independent of the level of technology while grouping the industries, at a
significance level of 0.05.

Summary of data of Industries

Level of technology used
Rate of return Low Medium High
R<8% 20 50 10
8% R10% 50 70 20
10% ≤ R15% 30 75 70
15% ≤ R 10 35 60

6. (a) Explain the meaning of Analysis of Variance. Describe the technique of ANOVA for one way and two way
classification.

(b) Three varieties of wheat W1, W2 and W3 are treated with four different fertilizers viz., fi, f2, f3 and f₁. The
yields of wheat per acre were as under:

Fertilizer treatment Varieties of wheat Total

W1 W2 W3

f1 55 72 47 174

f2 64 66 53 183

f3 58 57 74 189

f4 59 57 58 174

Total 236 252 232 720

Set up a table for the analysis of variance and work out the F-ratios in respect of the above. Are the
F-ratios significant?