K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research

Vidyanagar, Vidyavihar (E)

Mumbai - 400077
AOL/01/2014

Course Details

Program

MMSFaculty Email Shweta.dixit@somaiya.edu

A&B Div. ID
II

Trimester

Faculty
Name
Course
Name
Max Marks
Course Objectives
and Outcomes

9833048398
Faculty
Contact
Number

Dr.
Shweta
Dixit
Business
Research
Methods
100

Students
Contact
Hours
Course Code

3hours/week
(2-3 p.m.: W,T,F)

Credits

Full

Objectives:
The primary objective of this course is to develop a research orientation
among the students and to acquaint them with fundamentals of research
methods. Specifically, the course aims at introducing them to the basic
concepts used in research. Some other objectives of the course are:
To highlight importance of research in management & in decision
making processes in business.
To develop understanding of the basic framework of research
process.
To identify various sources of information for literature review and
data collection.
To give exposure of data analysis using software.
To develop an understanding of the ethical dimensions of conducting
applied research.
Appreciate the components of scholarly writing and evaluate its
quality.

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K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research

Vidyanagar, Vidyavihar (E)
Mumbai - 400077
AOL/01/2014

Course Coverage/ Upon completion of the course the students will be able to :
Topics relevant to
Acquire skills to locate problem areas in organizational
the Learning Goals
settings, and plan, organize, design, and conduct
(LG)
research to help solve the identified problems

Indicate extent to
which the same is
addressed for each
LG
* - Addresses the
Learning
Goal
Barely
** - Addresses the
Learning
Goal
Moderately
*** - Addresses the
Learning
Goal
Strongly

Get conversant with the use of statistical analysis(SPSS,

excel) (MK***)

Pedagogy/Learning
Methodology
Indicative of
Student
Activity/
Interaction/
Peer
Learning in form
of
(Assignments,
Quiz,
Group Project,
Group
Presentations,
etc., )
Session Sessi
Plan
on
No.

Primary data based on projects, which students are required to

take up in groups.
A hands on experience on Excel /SPSS is integral part of the
course.
Activities related to primary data collection (nonverbal
communication) will be taken up in the class.
Group presentation of the analysis and findings.

1,2

Write and present research reports

Develop skills and knowledge to discriminate good
from bad research reported in academic, journals and
elsewhere.(ML**),(CT***)

Interpret data analysis output with using statistical techniques.

Work in groups with effectiveness (TO**), (ER*)

Topics to be Covered

Introduction to research
Importance of research

Pre Readings/ Suggested

Readings / Cases

Re
mar
ks

Reading: Chapter 1:
Business Research
Methods, Zikmund,
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K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research

Vidyanagar, Vidyavihar (E)
Mumbai - 400077
AOL/01/2014

3,

Research Process
Ethical Issues in Business
Research

CENGAGE Learning.

Problem definition and

preliminary data gathering
Variables & their classification
Theoretical framework

Reading: Chapter 6:

Research Design
Exploratory and Descriptive
research design
Causal research
Hypothesis generation

Reading: Chapter 12,

Conceptual and operational

definition of
variables/parameters
Measurement: Scaling,
reliability, validity.

Reading: 15 Business

Scaling techniques and

construction of scale and
questionnaire Design.
Data- Primary secondary
Survey Research
Qualitative and Quantitative
Ethical issues

Reading: Chapter 8,15:

6,7

8,9

10-12

Sampling techniques
Types of errors
Determination of sample size
Activity on sampling
techniques and errors
How to write a research
Proposal
Data Analysis Using SPSS:

Business Research
Methods , Zikmund,
CENGAGE Learning
Business Research
Methods , Zikmund,
CENGAGE Learning

Research Methods ,
Zikmund, CENGAGE
Learning

Business Research
Methods , Zikmund,
CENGAGE Learning

Reading: Chapter 9,17:

Business Research
Methods , Zikmund,
CENGAGE Learning

Reading: Chapter 20-22:

Business Research
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K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research

Vidyanagar, Vidyavihar (E)
Mumbai - 400077
AOL/01/2014

13,14

15

Descriptive analysis

Testing of Hypothesis

ANOVA

Data Analysis Using SPSS:

Bivariate
Correlation/Regression

Multivariate Regression

Factor Analysis

Methods , Zikmund,
CENGAGE Learning

Reading: Chapter 23:

Business Research
Methods , Zikmund,
CENGAGE Learning

Reading: Chapter 24:

Business Research
Methods , Zikmund,
CENGAGE Learning

16

17-18
19-20

Class test
Project discussion

Project Presentations

Reading: Chapter 25:

Business Research
Methods , Zikmund,
CENGAGE Learning

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K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research

Vidyanagar, Vidyavihar (E)
Mumbai - 400077
AOL/01/2014

R10e
quire
d
Text
and
Cour
se
Mate
rial
Book

Books/Journals/Magazines/
Readings

Author

Publisher/Year/
Edition/
Other Details

Reference Books:
Business Research Methods
Marketing Research: An Applied
Orientation
Business Research Methods

William G.
Zikmund,

CENGAGE
Learning

Naresh k Malhotra

Pearson

Donald R. Cooper,
Pamela S.
Schindler

McGraw Hill

Marketing Research-Measurement
and Methods
Websites for literature review:

Tull S. Donald,

Weightage

www.proquest.com
www.sciencedirect.com
www.emeraldinsight.com

Component

Asses
smen
t
Crite
ria
(inclu
ding
conti
nuou
s
evalu
ation
and
end
term

Macmillan
publishers

Program
Specific
Goals
Assessed *
PSG1
(
)

Attendance
Class Participation
Research Proposal
(Questionnaire)

General Learning Goals Assessed *

PSG2 LG1 LG2

(
(MK) (CT)
)

LG3 LG4 LG5

(CS) (TO) (GA
)

LG6
(ER)

5
%
10
%
10
%
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K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research

Vidyanagar, Vidyavihar (E)
Mumbai - 400077
AOL/01/2014

assess Project Presentation

ment)

25
%

Indic End Term

ate
exten
t of
align
ment
with
inten
ded
Lear
ning
Goals
(LG)

50
%

Asses
ses
the
Lear
ning
Goal
Barel
y
Asses
ses
the
Lear
ning
Goal
Mode
rately
Asses
ses
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K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research

Vidyanagar, Vidyavihar (E)
Mumbai - 400077
AOL/01/2014

the
Lear
ning
Goal
Stron
gly
Expla This course is more applied in nature therefore, students are motivated to collect primary
natio data and analyze it too.
n of
the
choic
e of
meth
ods
for
assess
ment
of
Lear
ning
Goals
Learning Goals*
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

LG 1(MK) = Management Knowledge

LG 2(CT) = Critical Thinking
LG 3(CS) =Communication Skills
LG 4(TO) = Team Orientation
LG 5(GA) = Global Awareness
LG 6(ER) = Ethical Responsibility

Program Specific Goals*

PGDM
PGDMInternational
Business
PGDM- Financial

PSG1(IT) = Integrative Thinking

PSG2(L) =Leadership
PSG1(EIB) = Expertise in International Business
PSG2(SCGE) =Strategies in Changing Global Environment
PSG1(IFS)=Understanding Indian Financial System
Page 7 of 8

K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research

Vidyanagar, Vidyavihar (E)
Mumbai - 400077
AOL/01/2014

Services
PGDM- Retail
Management
PGDM- Executive
PGDMCommunications

PSG1(ITR) =Integrative Thinking in Retail

PSG2(CS)=Understanding Customer Service
PSG1(L) =Leadership
PSG1(MIC) =Managing Integrated Internal and External
Communication
PSG2(IMCP)=Designing Integrated Marketing Communication Plan

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