August / Fall 2012 Master of Business Administration - MBA Semester III MB0050 Research Methodology Assignment Set 1 Q1.

1. Define Research. What are the features and types of Research? Meaning and Definition of Research Research in simplified terms means searching for the facts searching for the replies to the various queries and also for the solutions to the various problems. Research is an inquiry or an investigation with a specific purpose to fulfill, it helps in clearing the various doubtful concepts and tries to solve or explain the various unexplained procedures or phenomenons. According to the encyclopedia of social science, research can be explained as the manipulation of generalizing to extend, connect or verify knowledge. The features that a good research procedure must possess are 1. Should be systematic in nature. 2. Should be logical. 3. Should be empirical and replicable in nature. 4. Should be according to plans. 5. Should be according to the rules and the assumptions should not be based on the false bases or judgments. 6. Should be relevant to what is required. 7. Procedure should be reproducible in nature. 8. Controlled movement of the research procedure. Types of Research 1. Pure research a. Also called as the fundamental or the theoretical research. b. Is basic and original. c. Can lead to the discovery of a new theory. d. Can result in the development or refinement of a theory that already exists. e. Helps in getting knowledge without thinking formally of implementing it in practice based on the honesty, love and integrity of the researcher for discovering the truth. 2. Applied research a. Based on the concept of the pure research. b. Is problem oriented. c. Helps in finding results or solutions for real life problems. Roll No. XXXXX

d. Provides evidence of usefulness to society. e. Helps in testing empirical content of a theory. f. Utilizes and helps in developing the techniques that can be used for basic research. g. Helps in testing the validity of a theory but under some conditions. h. Provides data that can lead to the acceleration of the process of generalization. 3. Exploratory research a. Involves exploring a general aspect. b. Includes studying of a problem, about which nothing or a very little is known. c. Follows a very formal approach of research. d. Helps in exploring new ideas. e. Helps in gathering information to study a specific problem very minutely. f. Helps in knowing the feasibility in attempting a study. 4. Descriptive research a. Simplest form of research. b. More specific in nature and working than exploratory research. c. It involves a mutual effort. d. Helps in identifying various features of a problem. e. Restricted to the problems that are describable and not arguable and the problems in which valid standards can be developed for standards. f. Existing theories can be easily put under test by empirical observations. g. Underlines factors that may lead to experimental research. h. It consumes a lot of time. i. It is not directed by hypothesis. 5. Diagnostic study a. Quite similar to the descriptive research. b. Identifies the causes of the problems and then solutions for these problems. c. Related to causal relations. d. It is directed by hypothesis. e. Can be done only where knowledge is advanced. 6. Evaluation study a. Form of applied research. b. Studies the development project. c. Gives access to social or economical programmes. d. Studies the quality and also the quantity of an activity.

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Q2. How is a research problem formulated? What are the sources from which one may be able to identify research problems? Formulating the Problem The selection of one appropriate researchable problem out of the identified problems requires evaluation of those alternatives against certain criteria, which may be grouped into: Internal Criteria: Internal Criteria consists of: 1) Researchers interest: The problem should interest the researcher and be a challenge to him. Without interest and curiosity, he may not develop sustained perseverance. Even a small difficulty may become an excuse for discontinuing the study. Interest in a problem depends upon the researchers educational background, experience, outlook and sensitivity. 2) Researchers competence: A mere interest in a problem will not do. The researcher must be competent to plan and carry out a study of the problem. He must have the ability to grasp and deal with int. he must possess adequate knowledge of the subject-matter, relevant methodology and statistical procedures. 3) Researchers own resource: In the case of a research to be done by a researcher on his own, consideration of his own financial resource is pertinent. If it is beyond his means, he will not be able to complete the work, unless he gets some external financial support. Time resource is more important than finance. Research is a time-consuming process; hence it should be properly utilized. External Criteria 1) Research-ability of the problem: The problem should be researchable, i.e., amendable for finding answers to the questions involved in it through scientific method. To be researchable a question must be one for which observation or other data collection in the real world can provide the answer. 2) Importance and urgency: Problems requiring investigation are unlimited, but available research efforts are very much limited. Therefore, in selecting problems for research, their relative importance and significance should be considered. An important and urgent problem should be given priority over an unimportant one. 3) Novelty of the problem: The problem must have novelty. There is no use of wasting ones time and energy on a problem already studied thoroughly by others. This does not mean that replication is always needless. In social sciences in some cases, it is appropriate to replicate (repeat) a study in order to verify the validity of its findings to a different situation. 4) Feasibility: A problem may be a new one and also important, but if research on it is not feasible, it cannot be selected. Hence feasibility is a very important consideration.

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5) Facilities: Research requires certain facilities such as well-equipped library facility, suitable and competent guidance, data analysis facility, etc. Hence the availability of the facilities relevant to the problem must be considered. 6) Usefulness and social relevance: Above all, the study of the problem should make significant contribution to the concerned body of knowledge or to the solution of some significant practical problem. It should be socially relevant. This consideration is particularly important in the case of higher level academic research and sponsored research. 7) Research personnel: Research undertaken by professors and by research organizations require the services of investigators and research officers. But in India and other developing countries, research has not yet become a prospective profession. Hence talent persons are not attracted to research projects. Each identified problem must be evaluated in terms of the above internal and external criteria and the most appropriate one may be selected by a research scholar.

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Q3. What are the types of Observations? What is the utility of Observation in Business Research?

Types of observations : 1. Casual and Scientific observation An observation can be sometimes casual in nature or sometimes it may act scientifically. An observation with a casual approach involves observing the right thing at the right place and also at the right time by a matter of chance or by luck whereas a scientific observation involves the use of the tools of the measurement, but a very important point to be kept in mind here is that all the observations are not scientific in nature. 2. Natural Observation Natural observation involves observing the behaviour in a normal setting and in this type of observation, no efforts are made to bring any type of change in the behavior of the observed. Improvement in the collection of the information and improvement in the environment of making an observation can be done with the help of natural observations. 3. Subjective and Objective observation All the observations consist of the two main components, the subject and the object. The subject refers to the observer whereas the object refers to the activity or any type of operation that is being observed. Subjective observation involves the observation of the ones own immediate experience whereas the observations involving observer as an entity apart from the thing being observed, are referred to as the objective observation. Objective observation is also called as the retrospection. 4. Direct and Indirect observation With the help of the direct method of observation, one comes to know how the observer is physically present in which type of situation is he present and then this type of observation monitors what takes place. Indirect method of observation involves studies of mechanical recording or the recording by some of the other means like photographic or electronic. Direct observation is relatively more straight forward as compared to the indirect observation. 5. Participant and Non Participant observation Participation by the observers with the various types of operations of the group under study refers to the participant type of observation. In participant observation, the degree of the participation is largely affected by the nature of the study and it also depends on the type of the situation and also on its demands.But in the non participant type of observation, no participation of the observer in the activities of the group takes place and also there occurs no relationship between the researcher and the group. 6. Structured and Unstructured observation Structured observation works according to a plan and involves specific information of the units that are to be observed and also about the information that is to be recorded. The operations that are to be observed and the various features that are to be noted or recorded are decided well in advance. Such Roll No. XXXXX

observations involve the use of especial instruments for the purpose of data collection that are also structured in nature. But in the case of the unstructured observation, its basics are diametrically against the structured observation. In such observation, observer has the freedom to note down what he or she feels is correct and relevant to the point of study and also this approach of observation is very suitable in the case of exploratory research. 7. Controlled and Non Controlled observation: Controlled observations are the observations made under the influence of some of the external forces and such observations rarely lead to improvement in the precision of the research results. But these observations can be very effective in the working if these are made to work in the coordination with mechanical synchronizing devices, film recording etc. Non controlled observations are made in the natural environment and reverse to the controlled observation these observations involve no influence or guidance of any type of external force. Use of Observation in Business Research Observation is suitable for a variety of research purposes. It may be used for studying (a) The behaviour of human beings in purchasing goods and services.: life style, customs, and manner, interpersonal relations, group dynamics, crowd behaviour, leadership styles, managerial style, other behaviours and actions; (b) The behaviour of other living creatures like birds, animals etc. (c) Physical characteristics of inanimate things like stores, factories, residences etc. (d) Flow of traffic and parking problems (e) movement of materials and products through a plant.

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Q4. What is Research Design? What are the different types of Research Designs?

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