BRM1: Syllabus discussion

Syllabus pdf link 

BC5B08 BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS

 Lectures Hours per week: 4 & Credit – 4

Internal: 20 & External: 80

Objectives:

Ø    To enable students for acquiring basic knowledge in business research methods and to develop basic skills in them to conduct survey researches and case studies.

 Module I

Business Research: – Definition and significance - Features of business research – The research process – Variable - Proposition - Types of research – Exploratory and causal research –Theoretical and empirical research - Basic and applied research - Descriptive research - Phases of business research – Research Hypothesis – Characteristics – Research in an evolutionary perspective – Role of theory in research - Theory building - Induction and Deduction Theory.                         (10 Hours, 10 marks)

 

Module II

Research Design – Definition – Types of research design – Exploratory and causal research design - Descriptive  and  experimental  design  –  Types  of  experimental  design  – Validity of  findings –Internal and external validity – Variables in research – Measurement and scaling – Different scales –Construction of instrument -      Validity and reliability of instrument(15 Hours, 20 marks)

 

Module III

Data Collection: - Types of data – Primary Vs secondary data – Methods of primary data collection – Survey Vs observation – Experiments – Construction of questionnaire and instrument – Validation of questionnaire – Sampling plan – Sample size – Sampling methods - Determinants of optimal sample size – Sampling techniques – Probability Vs non probability sampling methods.                    (15 Hours, 25 marks)

 Module IV

Data Processing: Processing stages - Editing - Coding and data entry – Validity of data – Qualitative Vs quantitative data analysis – Frequency table - Contingency table - Graphs - Measures of central tendency and index number – Testing of Hypothesis - Bivariate and multi variate statistical techniques – Factor analysis – Discriminant analysis- Cluster analysis – Interpretation.                             (15 Hours, 15 marks)

 Module V

Research   Report:     Different   types –       Contents   of report         – Need of  executive  summary   – Chapterisation – Contents of chapter - Report writing stages – The role of audience – Readability – Comprehension – Tone – Final proof – Report format – Title of the report – Ethics in research – Subjectivity and objectivity in research.     (09 Hours, 10 marks)

Reference Books:

1. Donald R.Cooper and Pamela S, Schindler: Business Research Methods. Latest Edition, Irwin McGraw- Hill International Editions, New Delhi.
2. John Adams, Hafiz T.A. Khan Robert Raeside, David white: Research Methods for Graduate Business and Social Science Students, Response Books. New Delhi- 110044.
3. Neresh K. Malhotra: Marketing Research, Latest edition. Pearson Education.
4. William G. Zikmund, Business Research Methods, Thomson
5. Wilkinson T.S. and Bhandarkar P.L.: Methodology and Techniques of Social Research, Himalaya.
6. S N Murthy &. U Bhojanna: Business Research Methods, Excel Books, New Delhi.
7. Jan Brace: Questionnaire Design, Kogan Page India
8. Michael V.P. Research Methodology in Management, Himalaya.
9. Dipak kumar Bhattacharyya. Research Methodology. Excel Books, New Delhi.
10. R. Paneerselvan: Research Methodology, Prentice-Hall of India
11. Ajai S Gaur & Sanjaya S Gaur: Statistical Methods for Practice &. Research, Response Books, New Delhi.
12. Kultar Singh: Quantitative Social Research Methods. Response Books, New Delhi.