ASSIGNMENT SET 2

Research Methodology

NAME: RUPESH KUMAR SINHA

ROLL NUMBER: 581122888

Master of Business Administration MBA Semester 3 MB0050 Research Methodology (Book ID: B1206) Assignment Set- 2

Submitted By

Rupesh Kumar Sinha Roll: 581122888

NAME: RUPESH KUMAR SINHA ROLL NUMBER: 581122888

Page 1

ASSIGNMENT SET 2

Research Methodology

NAME: RUPESH KUMAR SINHA

ROLL NUMBER: 581122888

NAME: RUPESH KUMAR SINHA ROLL NUMBER: 581122888

Page 2

ASSIGNMENT SET 2

Research Methodology

NAME: RUPESH KUMAR SINHA

ROLL NUMBER: 581122888

Master of Business Administration MBA Semester 3 MB0050 Research Methodology (Book ID: B1206) Assignment Set- 2 Note: Each question carries 10 Marks. Answer all the questions

Q 1. What is questionnaire? Discuss the main points that you will take into account while drafting a questionnaire? A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of questions and other prompts for the purpose of gathering information from respondents. Although they are often designed for statistical analysis of the responses, this is not always the case. The questionnaire was invented by Sir Francis Galton. Questionnaires have advantages over some other types of surveys in that they are cheap, do not require as much effort from the questioner as verbal or telephone surveys, and often have standardized answers that make it simple to compile data. However, such standardized answers may frustrate users. Questionnaires are also sharply limited by the fact that respondents must be able to read the questions and respond to them. Thus, for some demographic groups conducting a survey by questionnaire may not be practical. As a type of survey, questionnaires also have many of the same problems relating to question construction and wording that exist in other types of opinion polls. Types A distinction can be made between questionnaires with questions that measureseparate variables, and questionnaires with questions that are aggregated into either a scale or index. Questionnaires within the former category are commonly part of surveys, whereas questionnaires in the latter category are commonly part of tests. Questionnaires with questions that measure separate variables, could for instance include questions on: preferences (e.g. political party) behaviors (e.g. food consumption) facts (e.g. gender)

NAME: RUPESH KUMAR SINHA ROLL NUMBER: 581122888

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ASSIGNMENT SET 2

Research Methodology

NAME: RUPESH KUMAR SINHA

ROLL NUMBER: 581122888

Questionnaires with questions that are aggregated into either a scale or index, include

NAME: RUPESH KUMAR SINHA ROLL NUMBER: 581122888

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for instance questions that measure: latent traits (e.g. personality traits such as extroversion) attitudes (e.g. towards immigration) an index (e.g. Social Economic Status) Examples: A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is a questionnaire to assess the type of diet consumed in people, and may be used as a research instrument. Examples of usages include assessment of intake of vitamins or toxins such as acrylamide. Question types : 1. Open ended 2. Closed ended Usually, a questionnaire consists of a number of questions that the respondent has to answer in a set format. A distinction is made between open-ended and closedended questions. An open-ended question asks the respondent to formulate his own answer, whereas a closed-ended question has the respondent pick an answer from a given number of options. The response options for a closed-ended question should be exhaustive and mutually exclusive. Four types of response scales for closed-ended questions are distinguished: Dichotomous, where the respondent has two options Nominal-polytomous, where the respondent has more than two unordered options Ordinal-polytomous, where the respondent has more than two ordered options (Bounded)Continuous, where the respondent is presented with a continuous scale A respondent's answer to an open-ended question is coded into a response scale afterwards. An example of an open-ended question is a question where the testee has to complete a sentence. Basic rules for questionnaire item construction Use statements which are interpreted in the same way by members of different Sub populations of the population of interest. Use statements where persons that have different opinions or traits will give different answers. Think of having an "open" answer category after a list of possible answers. Use only one aspect of the construct you are interested in per item. Use positive statements and avoid negatives or double negatives. Do not make assumptions about the respondent. Use clear and comprehensible wording, easily understandable for all educational levels Use correct spelling, grammar and punctuation. Avoid items that contain more than one question per item (e.g. Do you like strawberries and potatoes?). Questionnaire administration modes Main modes of questionnaire administration are: Face-to-face questionnaire administration, where an interviewer presents the items orally. Paper-and-pencil questionnaire administration, where the items are presented on paper. Computerized questionnaire administration, where the items are presented on the computer. Adaptive computerized questionnaire administration, where a selection

of items is presented on the computer, and based on the answers on those items, the computer selects following items optimized for the testee's estimated ability or trait. Main Points while Drafting a Questionnaire : Good questionnaire questions have several points working for them. Planning and drafting good questions for a questionnaire is not an easy task as it demands a deep understanding of the research purpose and the corresponding procedures, The following points reveal, to a good extent, the characteristics of good questionnaire questions The questions should focus solely on the research topic and aim at evoking the truth study of the

For concrete responses, it is better to make the questions one-dimensional, so that the answers are variegated yet in a particular direction to bring coherence in processing the research The questions of the questionnaire are good if they present with a wide range of practical answers. That means a provision of multiple options instead of dichotomous alternatives of replying must be integrated to make the inquiry more wholesome. A very important element to be accounted for while planning good questionnaire questions is to make the answers prominently exclusive in order to erase or minimize the factor of ambiguity in the minds of the respondents. From an overall perspective, the process of transition from one question to the next should be very smooth in order to make the full structure of the questionnaire more scientific. Usage of terms or complex phrases is strictly prohibited in framing good questionnaire questions so that the confidence of the respondents remains intact while answering Another crucial point about good questionnaire questions is that they dont tend to assume an answer from the participants.

Q 2. What do you mean by primary data? What are the various methods of collecting primary data? Primary Data is collected to address the specific issue or problem under study. These data can be gathered internally or externally though surveys, observations, experiments, and simulation. Primary data is more accommodating as it shows latest information. Primary data is accumulated by the researcher particularly to meet up the research objective of the subsisting project. Primary data takes a lot of time and the unit cost of such data is relatively high. All methods of data collection can supply quantitative data (numbers, statistics or financial) or qualitative data (usually words or text). Quantitative data may often be presented in tabular or graphical form. Secondary data is data that has already been collected by someone else for a different purpose to yours. Primary research entails the use of immediate data in determining the survival of the market. The popular ways to collect primary data consist of surveys, interviews

and focus groups, which shows that direct relationship between potential customers and the companies. Whereas secondary research is a means to reprocess and reuse collected information as an indication for betterments of the service or product. Both primary and secondary data are useful for businesses but both may differ from each other in various aspect s.

Q 3.a. Analyze the case study and descriptive approach to research. Case Study Case study is a method of exploring and analyzing the life of a social unit or entity, be it a person, a family, an institution or a community. The aim of case study method is to locate or identify the factors that account for the behaviour patterns of a given unit, and its relationship with the environment. The case data are always gathered with a view to attracting the natural history of the social unit, and its relationship with the social factors and forces operative and involved in this surrounding milieu. In short, the social researcher tries, by means of the case study method, to understand the complex of factors that are working within a social unit as an integrated totality. Looked at from another angle, the case study serves the purpose similar to the clue-providing function of expert opinion. It is most appropriate when one is trying to find clues and ideas for further research. Descriptive Study It is a fact-finding investigation with adequate interpretation. It is the simplest type of research. It is more specific than an exploratory research. It aims at identifying the various characteristics of a community or institution or problem under study and also aims at a classification of the range of elements comprising the subject matter of study. It contributes to the development of a young science and useful in verifying focal concepts through empirical observation. It can highlight important methodological aspects of data collection and interpretation. The information obtained may be useful for prediction about areas of social life outside the boundaries of the research. They are valuable in providing facts needed for planning social action program.

b. Distinguish between research methods & research Methodology. Research Methods and Research Methodology are two terms that are often confused as one and the same. Strictly speaking they are not so and they show differences between them. One of the primary differences between them is that research methods are the methods by which you conduct research into a subject or a topic. On the other hand research methodology explains the methods by which you may proceed

with your research. Research methods involve conduct of experiments, tests, surveys and the like. On the other hand research methodology involves the learning of the various techniques that can be used in the conduct of research and in the conduct of tests, experiments, surveys and critical studies. This is the technical difference between the two terms, namely, research methods and research methodology. In short it can be said that research methods aim at finding solutions to research problems. On the other hand research methodology aims at the employment of the correct procedures to find out solutions. It is thus interesting to note that research methodology paves the way for research methods to be conducted properly. Research methodology is the beginning whereas research methods are the end of any scientific or non-scientific research. Let us take for example a subject or a topic, namely, employment of figures of speech in English literature. In this topic if we are to conduct research, then the research methods that are involved are study of various works of the different poets and the understanding of the employment of figures of speech in their works. On the other hand research methodology pertaining to the topic mentioned above involves the study about the tools of research, collation of various manuscripts related to the topic, techniques involved in the critical edition of these manuscripts and the like. If the subject into which you conduct a research is a scientific subject or topic then the research methods include experiments, tests, study of various other results of different experiments performed earlier in relation to the topic or the subject and the like. On the other hand research methodology pertaining to the scientific topic involves the techniques regarding how to go about conducting the research, the tools of research, advanced techniques that can be used in the conduct of the experiments and the like. Any student or research candidate is supposed to be good at both research methods and research methodology if he or she is to succeed in his or her attempt at conducting research into a subject.

Q 4. Explain the important concepts in Research design? 1) First step: What is your question? a) You must ASK a question that can be ANSWERED. i) Common mistakes: (1) Just identifying an area of interest. This is a fine place to start, but as a strategy for conducting a research project, it will take you nowhere. (2) Stating an area but not a question: (a) The problem of poverty in inner cities vs. (b) Why is there more poverty in inner cities than in suburbia (3) Stating a question but not a relationship (a) Why is there poverty in inner cities vs. (b) Is the poor educational system a cause of poverty in inner cities? (4) Asking TOO BIG of a question FOR THE PROJECT AT HAND.

(a) How can government alleviate poverty in the inner cities vs. (b) Did the 1996 welfare reform acts provisions regarding work put move more Wisconsin welfare recipients into jobs (c) HOW BIG IS YOUR PROJECT? 2) How to build a theory? a) This about EMPIRICAL REGULARITIES. Think about VARIABLES (see below). Think about CAUSES or CORRELATIONS. b) Methods of comparison (Mills, Stephen Van Evera) i) Method of similarity, Method of difference (1) On what MEASURE or VARIABLE are cases most similar or most different? c) Inductive or Deductive Approach: for most of us, inductive approach is best 3) Variables: THINGS THAT VARY. a) VARIATION is a key to making causal statements b) DEPENDENT AND INDEPENDENT VARIABLES c) ARROW DIAGRAMS: useful ways to map out your theory 4) HYPOTHESES: explicit statement that indicates how a researcher thinks a phenomena of interest are related. a) What are the characteristics of a good hypothesis? i) Empirical: educated guesses about things that exist in the real world, not about things ought to be true or that you want to be true. ii) General: try to state your hypothesis in such a way that you refer to a larger set of events, not just one event in particular. iii) Fertile: good hypotheses generate additional rival, counter, complementary hypotheses iv) Directional if possible. MORE education leads to MORE income. v) Feasible: here is some evidence that will help us determine whether a hypothesis is false or not. 5) Unit of Analysis: i) Simply the level of your analysis, should be indicated in your hypothesis. 6) Measurement a) Concept: the THEORETICAL thing that you are interested in. Unobservable b) Measure: the OPERATIONAL thing you will look at. May or may not be closely related to the concept. The closer they are, the better off you are. c) Not all things are easy to measure; many things are impossible to measure. DONT ASSUME I SIMPLY MEAN QUANTIATIVE MEASUREMENT! 7) Measurement Concepts: a) Reliability: Will the measure yield the same result in repeated trials. b) Validity: is the measure closely related to the underlying concept 8) Details Final a) Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, Ratio Measures b) Indices: Measures made up of other (generally error prone) measures. (Example: political efficacy).

Q 5. What are the differences between observation and interviewing as methods of data collection? Give two specific examples of situations where either observation or interviewing would be more appropriate. Collection of data is the most crucial part of any research project as the success or failure of the project is dependent upon the accuracy of the data. Use of wrong methods of data collection or any inaccuracy in collecting data can have significant impact on the results of a study and may lead to results that are not valid. There are many techniques of data collection along a continuum and observation and interviewing are two of the popular methods on this continuum that has quantitative methods at one end while qualitative methods at the other end. Though there are many similarities in these two methods and they serve the same basic purpose, there are differences that will be highlighted in this article. Observation Observation, as the name implies refers to situations where participants are observed from a safe distance and their activities are recorded minutely. It is a time consuming method of data collection as you may not get the desired conditions that are required for your research and you may have to wait till participants are in the situation you want them to be in. Classic examples of observation are wild life researchers who wait for the animals of birds to be in a natural habitat and behave in situations that they want to focus upon. As a method of data collection, observation has limitations but produces accurate results as participants are unaware of being closely inspected and behave naturally. Interviewing Interviewing is another great technique of data collection and it involves asking questions to get direct answers. These interviews could be either one to one, in the form of questionnaires, or the more recent form of asking opinions through internet. However, there are limitations of interviewing as participants may not come up with true or honest answers depending upon privacy level of the questions. Though they try to be honest, there is an element of lie in answers that can distort results of the project. Though both observation and interviewing are great techniques of data collection, they have their own strengths and weaknesses. It is important to keep in mind which one of the two will produce desired results before finalizing. Observation vs Interviewing Data collection is an integral part of any research and various techniques are employed for this purpose. Observation requires precise analysis by the researcher and often produces most accurate results although it is very time consuming Interviewing is easier but suffers from the fact that participants may not come up with honest replies.

Q 6.Strictly speaking, would case studies be considered as scientific research? Why or why not? No, Case Study Cannot be Considered as the Scientific Research.

Case studies cannot be considered scientific since they do not subscribe to most of the hallmarks of scientific research. Though they may be purposive and parsimonious, they are not rigorous. Testability and replicability are difficult and generalizability is virtually non-existent since each case situation is unique. Case study is a method of exploring and analyzing the life of a social unit or entity, be it a person, a family, an institution or a community. Case study would depend upon wit, commonsense and imagination of the person doing the case study. The investigator makes up his procedure as he goes along. Efforts should be made to ascertain the reliability of life history data through examining the internal consistency of the material. A judicious combination of techniques of data collection is a prerequisite for securing data that are culturally meaningful and scientifically significant. Case study of particular value when a complex set of variables may be at work in generating observed results and intensive study is needed to unravel the complexities. The case documents hardly fulfil the criteria of reliability, adequacy and representativeness, but to exclude them form any scientific study of human life will be blunder in as much as these documents are necessary and significant both for theory building and practice. In-depth analysis of selected cases is of particular value to business research when a complex set of variables may be at work in generating observed results and intensive study is needed to unravel the complexities. Blummer points out that independently, the case documents hardly fulfil the criteria of reliability, adequacy and representativeness, but to exclude them form any scientific study of human life will be blunder in as much as these documents are necessary and significant both for theory building and practice.