DRIVE SUMMER 2014

ASSIGNMENT
PROGRAM- BBA
SEMESTER- 2
SUBJECT CODE & NAME
BBA 201
RESEARCH METHODS
BK ID- B1518
CREDITS 2
MARKS 30

NAME-SAGAR SINGH
ROLL-1308002677

Q.1. Briefly describe the different steps involved in a research process. What are the
characteristics of good research? ( Meaning of Research, Listing the steps of the research
process, Explanation of the steps involved in a research process, Characteristics of good
research)
ANS:

Meaning of Research

Research is the orderly approach towards purposeful investigation. Thus the term research needs
formulating a hypothesis, collection of data on relevant variables, analysing and interpreting the result
and reacting conclusions, either in the form of an explanation or certain generalizations. It can also be
called an academic activity and a systematised attempt to gain new knowledge Research has been
defined by various authors in different ways. Research in ordinary mans language refers to search
for knowledge. It can also be defined as an art of scientific investigation.
Steps in Research process

Usually the research process starts with the formulation of research problem, selecting from among
various methods of research, research design, sample design, data collection analysis and
interpretation of data, finally ending in a research report.

1. Identify the Research Problem
2. Categorize the Methodology
3. Finalising Research Plan
4. Designing a Research

1. Identify the Research Problem: A research problem refers to some difficulty, which an
organisation faces and wishes to obtain a solution for. While undertaking research, defining the
problem is very vital because problem clearly stated is half solved. This shows how significant it is
to identify the problem correctly. While defining the difficulty, it should be noted that the
explanation should be unambiguous. If the problem defining is ambiguous, then the researcher will
not know what data is to be collected or what technique is to be used etc.
2. Categorize the Methodology: You have to understand that this is next to the process of identifying
the actual research problem. This involves gathering data, use of statistical techniques, interpretations
and drawing conclusions about the research data. It is a blueprint which is followed in the earlier
process to complete the study.

3. Finalising Research Plan: This is one of the significant ladders in marketing research. It helps to
achieve the proper objective of the study. The preparation of the research plan involves a careful
consideration of the questions mentioned below and building appropriate choices regarding them.

4. Designing a Research:

A. Problem formulation: This is a key to the research process. The four factors that you should
follow here are to determine the objective of the study, to judge various ecological factors, indentify
the nature of the difficulty and stating the alternative.

B. Evaluate the cost of research: You have to think about the question should the company spend
this money to conduct research?. The following methods can be established. They are-

i) Bayesian approach
ii) Simple saving method.
iii) ROI /Return on investment method.
iv) Cost benefits approach.

C. Prepare a list of needed information: The Company needs to know the extent of competition,
price and quality acceptance from the market. In this context the following is the list of information
required.

i) Total demand.
ii) Distribution coverage.
iii) Market awareness.
iv) Market expenditure
v) Competitors marketing expenditure.

Characteristics of Good Research

The following are the major characteristics of good research.

1. A good research should be systematic: This means that research should be ordered. A good
research will follow the steps to be engaged in an orderly series according to set defined rules.
Researchers always use scientific methods, and therefore it is called systematic.

2. A good research should be logical: There should be logical reasoning in any research. This
logical process used could be induction or deduction. Induction is a process of reasoning from
the part to the whole. For example: All products manufactured by Reebok company are
good. This leather wallet is a product of Reebok, so it must be good.

3. A good research should be empirical: Empirical means that realistic study is possible. Its
authority can be checked through trustworthy sources and evidence. Research must be such
that it can be validated, (i.e.) it should be possible to interpret and explain the process.

4. A good research is replicable It means the research conducted can be repeated by any
amount of times. A research can validate the results by repeating the study and thereby
bringing a sound decision-making framework. For example: If two research organisations
commence the same study, the results must be similar and not different. If the results are
similar, then the research conducted is replicable.

Q.2. a. Explain the different types of research designs. b. Differentiate between Probability and
Non-probability sampling methods. (Meaning of research design, Types of research designs,
Meaning of Probability and Non-probability sampling methods, Differences) 1,4,2,3
ANS:

Meaning of Research Design

It is a systematic plan of what is to be done, how it will be done and how the data will be analyzed.
Research design basically shows what the major topics in the research are and their details. It provides
an outline of how the research will be carried out and the methods that will be used. It includes an
abstract of the research study, descriptors of the research design, dependent and independent
variables, the assumptions and limitations of the research, research question hierarchy, sampling
design and a format for the dummy data, showing how data will be presented.

Types of Research Design

The process of Research design can be divided into fixed and flexible research designs. Others have
referred to this distinction as quantitative research designs and qualitative research designs.
However, fixed designs need not be quantitative, and flexible design need not be qualitative. In fixed
designs the design of the study is fixed before the main stage of data collection takes place. Fixed
designs are normally theory-driven; otherwise its impossible to know in advance which variables
need to be controlled and measured. Often these variables are quantitative. Flexible designs allow for
more freedom during the data

1. Philosophical/discursive: This may cover a variety of approaches, but will draw primarily on
existing literature, rather than new empirical data. A discursive study could examine a particular issue,
perhaps from an alternative perspective (e.g. feminist). Alternatively, it might put forward a particular
argument or examine a methodological issue.

3. Case study: This will involve collecting empirical data, generally from only one or a small number
of cases. It usually provides rich detail about those cases, of a predominantly qualitative nature. There
are a number of different approaches to case study work (e.g. ethnographic, hermeneutic, estrogenic,
etc.) and the principles and methods followed should be made clear.

4. Survey: Where an empirical study involves collecting information from a larger number of cases,
perhaps using questionnaires, it is usually described as a survey. Alternatively, a survey might make
use of already available data, collected for another purpose. A survey may be cross-sectional (data
collected at one time) or longitudinal (collected over a period). Because of the larger number of cases,
a survey will generally involve some quantitative analysis.

5. Evaluation: This might be an evaluation of a curriculum innovation or organisational change. An
evaluation can be formative (designed to inform the process of development) or summative (to judge
the effects). Often an evaluation will have elements of both. If an evaluation relates to a situation in
which the researcher is also a participant, it may be described as action research. Evaluations will
often make use of case study and survey methods and a summative evaluation will ideally also be
used as experiments.

Differences and Meaning of Probability and Non-probability

Probability: Here, each member of the universe has a known prospect of being selected and included
in the sample. Any personal bias is avoided. The associate cannot use his concern in selection of
sample items.

Example: Random sample and cluster sampling.

Non-probability: In non-probability sampling, the probability of selecting population elements is
unknown. But in a situation when a sampling frame is absent, one can easily go for non-probability
sampling methods to serve the objectives of the study. However, a question may arise as to how
closely these approximate for representativeness
Example: quota sampling, judgement sampling.


Q.3. The important task ahead of the researcher is to document the entire work done in the
form of a well-structured research report. Describe in brief the components of a Research
Report. What are the guidelines for writing the research report? (Meaning of a Research
Report, Components of a Research Report, Guidelines for writing the Research Report) 2,4,4
ANS:

Meaning of a Research Report

The written research report and the oral presentation typically provided for those who occupy
executive positions. The report is confusing or poorly written, the time and the effort spent on
gathering and analysing data would not carry any result. Research report is the most important part of
the research process.


Components of Research Reports

All as a student you must understand that that there is no single format which is appropriate for all
situations. The following outline is generally accepted as the basic format for most research projects:

1. Title page: The title page should contain a title which conveys the essence of the study, the data,
name of the organisation submitting the report and the name of the recipient organisation. If the report
is confidential, the individuals to receive the report should be named on the title page. While some of
this may seem to duplicate the function of the transmittal, consider that the transmittal letter or memo
will probably not accompany the report throughout its readership route, or make it to the company
library or files where the report may be stored for future reference. Try to make the title brief but
descriptive of the studys intent. If you did a good job of thinking out the purposes of the study in the
first place, you should have no trouble in arriving at a suitable title. For example: profile of car
owners in Delhi city Hard contact lenses: is the market softening? The title should be descriptive,
but catchy.

2. Table of contents: The table of contents sequentially lists the topics covered in the report along
with their page references. Its purpose is to help readers find the particular sections of the report that
are of most concern to them. The table of contents used in reports written by the marketing research
department can be referred to as an example.

3. List of tables: The table lists the titles and page numbers of all visual aids. It can be placed either
on the same page with the table of contents or on a separate page.

4. Executive summary: If your report is long, you should be realistic and assume that some key
person may not have time to read it in its totality. In addition, providing a summary of the report will
help ensure that readers get the major points you are trying to make. The management summary is a
condensed accurate statement of what is important in the report. This one to two page synopsis is a
must for most research reports.

5. Body of report: The details of the research project are found in the body of the report. This section
includes (1) Introduction (2) Methodology (3) Results (4) Limitations.

6. Conclusions and recommendations: In the concluding section, briefly summarize your major
findings and describe the implications of these findings for marketing decisionmaking. The
conclusions and recommendations must flow logically from the presentation of the results.

7. Appendix: The principle of the appendix is to provide a place for material which is not very
essential to the body of the report. This material is usually more specialized and complex than the
material presented in the main report and it is intended to serve the needs of the technicallyoriented
reader. The appendix will often contain copies of data collection forms, particulars of the sampling
plan, estimates of statistical errors, interviewers information and detailed statistical tables related
with the data analysis process.

Guidelines for Writing Research Reports

Researchers who are effective in report writing agree that there are a series of guidelines which should
be followed. Such guidelines can be listed as:

Consider the Audience: make the report clear; use only words familiar to the readers and define all
technical terms. To make the comparison of figures easier, use percentages, rounded off figures, ranks
of ratios; put the exact data within the text or in the appendix. Use graphic aids (charts, graphs,
pictures, etc) wherever they help clarify the presentation of data.

Address the Information Needs: remember the research report is designed to communicate
information to decision makers. Make sure that it clearly relates the research findings to the objectives
of the management.

Be concise, Yet complete: most managers will not want to read about the details of a research report.
Knowing what to include and what to leave out is a difficult task. It is up to you, the researcher, to
take into account the information needs of the decision maker when writing your report.

Be objective: You will probably face at least one situation in which you know that the client will not
easily accept the results. The findings may conflict with the decision makers experience and
judgement or they may reflect unfavourably on the wisdom of previous decisions.