ASSIGNMENT (SET-1)

Ques.1 Define business research and explain the process of research?

Ans. Business research is a field of practical study in which a company obtains

data and analyzes it in order to better manage the company. Business research
can include financial data, consumer feedback, product research and
competitive analysis. Executives and managers who use business research
methods are able to better understand their company, the position it holds in
the market and how to improve that position.

Following are the main steps in social or business research process.

Selection of Research Problem

The selection of topic for research is a difficult job. When we select a title or
research statement, then other activities would be easy to perform. So, for the
understanding thoroughly the problem it must have to discuss with colleagues,
friend, experts and teachers. The research topic or problem should be practical,
relatively important, feasible, ethically and politically acceptable.

Literature Review or Extensive Literature Survey

After the selection of research problem, the second step is that of literature
mostly connected with the topics. The availability of the literature may bring
ease in the research. For this purpose academic journals, conference and govt.
reports and library must be studied.

Making Hypothesis
The development of hypothesis is a technical work depends on the researcher
experience. The hypothesis is to draw the positive & negative cause and effect
aspects of a problem. Hypothesis narrows down the area of a research and
keep a researcher on the right path.

Preparing the Research Design

After the formulation of the problem and creating hypothesis for it, research
Design is to prepare by the researcher. It may draw the conceptual structure of
the problem. Any type of research design may be made, depend on the nature
and purpose of the study. Daring R. Design the information about sources, skill,
time and finance is taken into consideration.

Data collection
Data collection is the most important work, is researcher. The collection of
information must be containing on facts which is from the following two types
of researcher.

Primary Data Collection: Primary data may be from the following.

1. Experiment
2. Questionnaire
3. Observation
4. Interview
Secondary data collection: it has the following categories:
1. Review of literature
2. Official and non-official reports
3. Library approach
Data Analysis
When data is collected, it is forwarded for analysis which is the most technical
job. Data analysis may be divided into two main categories.

Data Processing: it is sub-divided into the following.

Data editing, Data coding, Data classification, Data tabulation, Data
presentation, Data measurement

Data Exposition: Date Exposition has the following sub-categories.

Description, Explanation, Narration, Conclusion/Findings,
Recommendations/Suggestions

Hypothesis Testing
Research data is then forwarded to test the hypothesis. Do the hypothesis are
related to the facts or not? To find the answer the process of testing hypothesis
is undertaken which may result in accepting or rejecting the hypothesis.

Generalization and Interpretation

The acceptable hypothesis is possible for researcher to arrival at the process of
generalization or to make & theory. Some types of research has no hypothesis
for which researcher depends upon on theory which is known as
interpretation.

Preparation of Report
A researcher should prepare a report for which he has done is his work. He
must keep in his mind the following points:

Report Design in Primary Stages

The report should carry a title, brief introduction of the problem and
background followed by acknowledgement. There should be a table of
contents, grapes and charts.

Main Text of the Report

It should contain objectives, hypothesis, explanations and methodology of the
research. It must be divided into chapters and every chapter explains separate
title in which summary of the findings should be enlisted. The last section
would be clearly of conclusions to show the main theme of the R-study.

Closing the Report

After the preparation of report, the last step in business research process
contains of bibliography, references, appendices, index and maps or charts for
illustration. For this purpose the information should more clearer.

Ques.2 Discuss Descriptive Research designs? Explain the different kinds of

descriptive research designs.

Ans. Descriptive research is a common method of qualitative research used in the

social sciences and psychology to monitor the behavior of a subject without
affecting that subject in any way.

Descriptive research designs are of two kinds:

Cross-sectional studies: A cross-sectional study is that it can compare different

population groups at a single point in time. Think of it in terms of taking a
snapshot. Findings are drawn from whatever fits into the frame. The benefit of
a cross-sectional study design is that it allows researchers to compare many
different variables at the same time. We could, for example, look at age,
gender, income and educational level in relation to walking and cholesterol
levels, with little or no additional cost. However, cross-sectional studies may
not provide definite information about cause-and-effect relationships. This is
because such studies offer a snapshot of a single moment in time; they do not
consider what happens before or after the snapshot is taken. Therefore, we
cant know for sure if our daily walkers had low cholesterol levels before taking
up their exercise regimes, or if the behaviour of daily walking helped to reduce
cholesterol levels that previously were high.
Longitudinal studies: A longitudinal study, like a cross-sectional one, is
observational. So, once again, researchers do not interfere with their subjects.
However, in a longitudinal study, researchers conduct several observations of
the same subjects over a period of time, sometimes lasting many years.

The benefit of a longitudinal study is that researchers are able to detect

developments or changes in the characteristics of the target population at both
the group and the individual level. The key here is that longitudinal studies
extend beyond a single moment in time. As a result, they can establish
sequences of events.

Ques.3 Discuss the four types of measurements scales with appropriate

examples.

Ans. There are four measurement scales (or types of data): nominal, ordinal,
interval and ratio. These are simply ways to categorize different types of
variables.

Nominal
Nominal scales are used for labeling variables, without any quantitative value.
Nominal scales could simply be called labels. Here are some examples,
below. Notice that all of these scales are mutually exclusive (no overlap) and
none of them have any numerical significance. A good way to remember all of
this is that nominal sounds a lot like name and nominal scales are kind of
like names or labels.

Examples of Nominal Scales

Ordinal
With ordinal scales, it is the order of the values is whats important and
significant, but the differences between each one is not really known. Take a
look at the example below. In each case, we know that a #4 is better than a #3
or #2, but we dont knowand cannot quantifyhow much better it is. For
example, is the difference between OK and Unhappy the same as the
difference between Very Happy and Happy? We cant say.
Ordinal scales are typically measures of non-numeric concepts like satisfaction,
happiness, discomfort, etc.

Interval
Interval scales are numeric scales in which we know not only the order, but also
the exact differences between the values. The classic example of an interval
scale is Celsius temperature because the difference between each value is the
same. For example, the difference between 60 and 50 degrees is a measurable
10 degrees, as is the difference between 80 and 70 degrees. Time is another
good example of an interval scale in which the increments are known,
consistent, and measurable. Interval scales are nice because the realm of
statistical analysis on these data sets opens up. For example, central
tendency can be measured by mode, median, or mean; standard deviation can
also be calculated.
Ratio
Ratio scales are the ultimate nirvana when it comes to measurement scales
because they tell us about the order, they tell us the exact value between units,
AND they also have an absolute zerowhich allows for a wide range of
both descriptive and inferential statistics to be applied. At the risk of repeating
myself, everything above about interval data applies to ratio scales + ratio
scales have a clear definition of zero. Good examples of ratio variables include
height and weight.

ASSIGNMENT (SET-2)

Ques.1 Differentiate between Stratified random sampling and Systematic

sampling.
Ans. Simple random samples involve the random selection of data from the
entire population so that each possible sample is equally likely to occur. In
contrast, stratified random sampling divides the population into smaller
groups, or strata, based on shared characteristics. A random sample is taken
from each stratum in direct proportion to the size of the stratum compared to
the population. The sample subsets are then combined to create a random
sample.

Simple random sampling and stratified sampling are both types of probability
sampling where each sample has a known probability of being selected. This is
different from judgmental sampling, where the units to be sampled are
handpicked by the researcher.

The sampling method is the process used to pull samples from the population.
A simple random sample is a random sample pulled from the entire population
with no constraints placed on how the sample is pulled. This method has
no bias in selecting the sample from the population, so that each population
element has an equal chance of being included in the sample.

Stratified random samples group the population elements into strata based on
certain criteria, and then randomly choose elements from each stratum in
proportion to the stratums size versus the population. The researchers must
take care to ensure that the strata do not overlap. Each point in the population
must only belong to one stratum so that each point is mutually exclusive.
Overlapping strata would increase the likelihood that some data are included in
the sample, thus skewing the sample.

Stratified sampling offers certain advantages and disadvantages compared to

simple random sampling. A stratified sample can provide a more accurate
representation of the population based on the characteristic used to divide the
population into strata.

A stratified sample can ensure representation of certain strata for inclusion in

the population. Random sampling may not pull any data points from a smaller
stratum, but a stratified sample includes those samples with a
proportional representation.

More work is required to pull a stratified sample than a random sample.

Researchers must individually track and verify the data for each stratum for
inclusion, which can take a lot more time compared with random sampling.
Ques.2 Distinguish between coding closed-ended structured questions and
coding open-ended structured questions.

Ans. Following are the differences between coding closed-ended structured

questions and coding open-ended structured questions:

Questions that are closed-ended are conclusive in nature as they are designed
to create data that is easily quantifiable. The fact that questions of this type are
easy to code makes them particularly useful when trying to prove the statistical
significance of a surveys results. Questions that are open-ended provide rich
qualitative data. In essence, they provide the researcher with an opportunity to
gain insight on all the opinions on a topic they are not familiar with.

Furthermore, the information gained by closed-ended questions allows

researchers to categorize respondents into groups based on the options they
have selected. However, being qualitative in nature makes open-ended
questions lack of statistical significance needed for conclusive research.
Nevertheless, open-ended questions are incredibly useful in several different
ways

The major drawback to closed-ended questions is that a researcher must

already have a clear understanding of the topic of his/her questions and how
they tie into the overall research problem before they are created. Without
this, closed-ended questions will lead to insufficient options for respondents to
select from, questions that do not properly reflect the researchs purpose, and
limited or erroneous information. There are a few drawbacks to open-ended
questions as well. Though respondent answers are almost always richer in
quality, the amount of effort it takes to digest the information provided can
sometimes be overwhelming. That is why open-ended questions work best in
studies with smaller populations. Furthermore, if your survey sample is a
fraction of the population you are studying, you will be looking to find data
which can be inferred on the overall population as statistically significant.
Unfortunately, open-ended questions cannot be used in this manner, as each
response should be seen as a unique opinion.
Ques.3 Explain the Structure of Research Report. What are the guidelines for
effective report writing?

Ans. Structure of the Research Report:

The reporting requires a structured format and by and large, the process is
standardized. As stated above, the major difference amongst the types of
reports is that all the elements that make a research report would be present
only in a detailed technical report. Usage of theoretical and technical jargon
would be higher in the technical report and visual presentation of data would
be higher in the management report.
The process of report formulation and presentation is present. As can be
observed, the preliminary section includes the title page, followed by the letter
of authorization, acknowledgements, executive summary and the table of
contents. Then come the background section, which includes the problem
statement, introduction, study background, scope and objectives of the study
and the review of literature (depends on the purpose). This is followed by the
methodology section, which, as stated earlier, is again specific to the technical
report. This is followed by the findings section and then come the conclusions.
The technical report would have a detailed bibliography at the end.
In the management report, the sequencing of the report might be reversed to
suit the needs of the decision-maker, as here the reader needs to review and
absorb the findings. Thus, the last section on interpretation of findings would
be presented immediately after the study objectives and a short reporting on
methodology could be presented in the appendix.

Report Guidelines for effective report writing:

Clear report mandate: While writing the research problem statement and
study background, the writer needs to be absolutely clear in terms of why and
how the problem was formulated. Clearly designed methodology: Any research
study has its unique orientation and scope and thus has a specific and
customized research design, sampling and data collection plan. In researches,
that are not completely transparent on the set of procedures, one cannot be
absolutely confident of the findings and resulting conclusions.
Clear representation of findings: Complete honesty and transparency in stating
the treatment of data and editing of missing or contrary data is extremely
critical.
Representativeness of study finding: A good research report is also explicit in
terms of extent and scope of the results obtained, and in terms of the
applicability of findings.