British School of Commerce Colombo/MBA- Research Methodologies (RM) Module/Tutorial Session

19-August-2015

Research Methodology - Report Structure-01

1.0

Title and Introduction (10 marks 700 words)

Set the scene for the research proposal with historical perspective as well as contemporary
interest.
1.1Background of the industry or company
1.2Problem or issue identified
2.0

Significance and Rationale of the Research (5 marks 100 words)

3.0

Research Questions (5 marks 100 words)

Importance of service quality and customer satisfaction for future sustainability.

3.1 Main Research Question
3.2 Specific Research Questions
4.0

Research Objectives and Conceptual Framework (10 marks 100 words)

4.1Research Objectives
4.2What to be measured and how?
Service quality and customer satisfaction---Customer Survey (Primary Data)
Dimension of gaps which exist within the organization---Internal Staff Survey (Primary
Data)
Industry/Market competition and opportunities---External Analysis (Secondary

Data)
5.0

Literature Review (35 marks 2000 words)

6.0

Research Methodology and Design (15 marks 700 words)

6.1Description of the research design
Deductive or Inductive
Exploratory or Conclusive
6.2 Research Strategy
Survey/Experimental/Case Studies/Action/Archival
6.3 Research Instruments
Questionnaire, Interview, Focus group discussion, Observation

Prepared By: Priyanka Nishantha (Lecturer)

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British School of Commerce Colombo/MBA- Research Methodologies (RM) Module/Tutorial Session

19-August-2015

Note:
Research Instruments and Pilot Assessment:
Personal questionnaires with 5 point Likert scale with the intention of improving
accuracy of analysis together converting qualitative data to quantitative outcomes.
It is important to conduct a pilot assessment to detect weaknesses of the design and
also to identify the usage of research instruments, with the intention of minimizing the
research inconsistency.
7.0

Sampling Plan
7.1Target population of the research
Customers
Internal Staff
Competitors
7.2Determining sample size
n=

N
1+Ne2

n= Sample size
N=Total population
e=Sample error
Example:
Total population is 2500 and if you want to work with 95% confidence level and error
rate at 5%.
n=

2500
1+ (2500) (0.05)2

2500

2500

1+ (2500) (0.0025)

1+6.25

2500

= 344

7.25

7.3Sampling plan for customer survey

7.4Sampling plan for internal staff survey
Target Population

Sample Size

Category

Sample
Requirement

Customers

xxx

All Categories of
Customers

Yes

Internal Staff

xxx

Employees from
Customer-end

Yes

Prepared By: Priyanka Nishantha (Lecturer)

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British School of Commerce Colombo/MBA- Research Methodologies (RM) Module/Tutorial Session

19-August-2015

Main Competitors

8.0

xxx

Key Competitors

No

Data Types and Data Collection Methods

8.1Sources of data required
Primary and Secondary
Quantitative and Qualitative

1st Specific Research Question

Data

Quantitative

Qualitative

Primary
Secondary
2nd Specific Research Question

8.2 Research strategies for data collection

Customers---Survey Research - Questionnaires, Personal Interviews
Internal Staff-------------- Survey Research - Questionnaires, Depth Interviews,
Primary Data
Focus Group Discussions
Competitors---------------Archive Research

Secondary Data

Better to use Likert Scale questionnaires with the intention of improving accuracy of
analysis together with expectation of converting qualitative data to quantitative
outcomes.
Strongly

Disagree

Uncertain

Agree

Disagree
(1)

Agree
(2)

Prepared By: Priyanka Nishantha (Lecturer)

Page 3 of 6

Strongly

(3)

(4)

(5)

British School of Commerce Colombo/MBA- Research Methodologies (RM) Module/Tutorial Session

19-August-2015

9.0

Data Processing and Analysis

9.1 Conceptual table and analysis of data
Core Area

Service quality and

customer
satisfaction

Type of Data

Research Instrument

How to Measure

Qualitative

5 point Likert Scale

questionnaires

Qualitative

Personal Interviews

5 point Likert Scale

questionnaires
facilitate to convert
qualitative
measurements to
quantitative
outcomes
Using coding
technique or
summarizing the
interview discussion.

|
|

9.2Analysis tools
MS Excel, SPSS, ATLAS.ti, QDA Miner, NVivo

10.0 Ethical Issues (5 marks 100 words)

Key Ethical Concerns to Addressed

Description

Data Protection(Confidentiality)
Data Ownership(Consent)

11.0 Expected Research Outcomes (5 marks 100 words)

11.1 Expected primary outcome and other significant outcomes
11.2 Research barriers and limitations
*Obtain feedbacks from overall populations
*Accuracy concern of feedbacks
Prepared By: Priyanka Nishantha (Lecturer)

Page 4 of 6

British School of Commerce Colombo/MBA- Research Methodologies (RM) Module/Tutorial Session

19-August-2015

*Dependency on third party secondary data

12.0 Timeline and Gantt chart (5 marks 100 words)

The research tasks to a time plan (Time schedule and Gantt chart in weeks)
The Research Start On ------------------------------- Expected to Complete On
03rd July 2015

11 th September 2015

12.1 Time schedule

Task Name

Duration

Start

Finish

Selection of Initial
Topic

3days

----

----

Literature Survey

21days

----

----

Refining the Research

Topic

4days

----

----

Determine the overall

Research Question

3days

----

----

12.2 Gantt Chart

13.0 References (5 marks)

14.0 Bibliography
15.0 Appendices

Prepared By: Priyanka Nishantha (Lecturer)

Page 5 of 6

British School of Commerce Colombo/MBA- Research Methodologies (RM) Module/Tutorial Session

19-August-2015

Important Information
Harvard Referencing Website Link:
http://libweb.anglia.ac.uk/referencing/harvard.htm
priyanka.nishantha@lsclondon.co.uk

Prepared By: Priyanka Nishantha (Lecturer)

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