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Meaning of Research
Management research is an unbiased, structured and sequential method of enquiry directed toward a
clear implicit or explicit business objective. This enquiry might lead to proving existing theorems and
models or arriving at new theories and models. Research helps in decision making, especially in business.
The Steps
With due concern for the economical completion of the research study, the design in such studies
must be rigid and not flexible and must focus attention on the following:
Sampling Design
collect detailed data that might lead to, at the end of the study, some indicative hypothesis to be
tested in subsequent research.
c) Developing the research proposal
The next step is to develop a plan of investigation. This is called the research proposal.
d) Research Design formulation
Based on the orientation of the research, i.e., exploratory, descriptive or casual, the
researcher has a number of techniques for addressing the stated objectives. These are termed in
research designs.
e) Sampling Design
It is not always possible to study the entire population. Thus, one goes about studying a small
and representative sub-group of the population. This sub-group is referred to as the sample of the
study.
f) Planning and Collecting data for research
The sampling plan helps in identifying the group to be tested and the data collection plan
helps in obtaining information from the specified population. The data collection methods may be
classified into primary and secondary data methods.
g) Data refining and preparation for analysis
Once the data is collected, it must be refined and processed in order to answer the research
questions and test the formulated hypothesis (if any).
h) Data Analysis and Interpretation of findings
This stage requires selecting the analytical tools for testing the obtained information.
Statistical tools such as frequency analysis, percentages, arithmetic mean, t-test and chi-square
analysis.
i) The research report and implications for the managers dilemma
The report preparation, from the problem formulation to the interpretation, is the final part of the
research process. This report has to give complete details about everything that was done right from
problem formulation, to the methodology followed to the conclusions of the study.
II. What are descriptive research designs? Explain the different kinds of descriptive research designs.
Descriptive Research Designs
As the name implies, the objective of descriptive research studies is to provide a comprehensive and
detailed explanation of the phenomena under study. The intended objective might be to give a detailed
sketch or profile of the respondent population being studied. For example, to design an advertising and sales
promotion campaign for high-end watches, a marketer would require a holistic profile of the population that
buys such luxury products. Thus a descriptive study, (which generates data on who, what, when, where, why
and how of luxury accessory brand purchase) would be the design necessary to fulfil the research objectives.
Descriptive research thus is conclusive studies. However, they lack the precision and accuracy of
experimental designs, yet it lends itself to a wide range of situations and is more frequently used in business
research. Based on the time period of the collection of the research information, descriptive research is
further subdivided into two categories: cross-sectional studies and longitudinal studies.
III. The procedure of testing hypothesis requires a researcher to adopt several steps. Describe in brief all
such steps.
A hypothesis is an assumption or a statement that may or may not be true. The hypothesis is tested
on the basis of information obtained from a sample. According to Grinnel, A hypotheses is written in such
a way that it can be proven or disproven by valid and reliable data-it is in order to obtain these data that we
perform our study. A hypothesis must be measureable and quantifiable.
The one that leads to the rejection of null hypothesis is called the critical region. Given level of
significance, a, the optimal critical region for a two-tailed test consists of that /2 per cent area in the right
hand tail of the distribution plus that /2 per cent in the left hand tail of the distribution where that null
hypothesis is rejected.
Step 5: Computing the Value of Test Statistic.
The next step is to compute the value of the test statistic based upon a random sample of size n.
Once the value of test statistic is computed, one needs to examine whether the sample results fall in the
critical region or in the acceptance region.
Step 6: Making Decision.
The hypothesis may be rejected or accepted depending upon whether the value of the test statistic
falls in the rejection or acceptance region. Management decisions are based upon the statistical decision of
either rejecting or accepting the null hypothesis.
In case a hypothesis is rejected, the difference between the sample statistic and the hypothesized
population parameter is considered to be significant. On the other hand, if the hypothesis is accepted, the
difference between the sample statistic and the hypothesized population parameter is not regarded as
significant and can be attributed to chance.
IV. a)Distinguish between:
i. Schedules and Questionnaires
ii. Open ended and closed ended questions
b) Explain the questionnaire design process.
Questionnaire
1.
Schedule
This method can be used only when respondents The information can be gathered even when the
are literate and cooperative.
3.
Non response is usually high as many people do Non response is very low because this is filled
not respond and many return the questionnaire by enumerators who are able to get answers to
without answering all questions. Bias due to non all questions. But even in this their remains the
response often remains indeterminate.
4.
Wider and more representative distribution of There remains the difficulty in sending
sample is possible.
5.
The questionnaire method is likely to be very Information is collected well in time as they are
slow since many respondents do not return the filled by enumerators.
questionnaire.
Questionnaire is generally sent through mail to A schedule is generally filled by the research
informants to be answered as specified in a worker or enumerator, who can interpret the
covering letter, but otherwise without further questions when necessary
assistance from the sender.
Data collection is cheap and economical as the Data collection is more expensive as money is
money is spent in preparation of questionnaire spent on enumerators and in imparting trainings
and in mailing the same to respondents.
Shifts
Operator
A
10
12
13
II
10
12
14
15
III
12
10
11
14
b.
Sources of
Degrees of
Variation
freedom
k-1
Treatments
Sum of Squares
TrSS
Mean Square
MSTr=TrSS
k-1
k-1
MSTr
F
= MSE
(k-1)(n-1)
n-1
Blocks
SSB
MSB= SSB
n-1
n-1
MSB
F =
(k-1)(n-1)
(k-1) (n-1)
Error
SSE
MSE= SSE
(k-1)(n-1)
Kn-1
Total
TSS
= 10
+ 10 + 12 = 32
T.2
= 8 + 12 + 10 = 30
T.3
= 12 + 14 + 11 = 37
T.4
= 13 + 15 + 14 = 42
MSE
VI. Explain the Structure of the Research Report. What are the guidelines for effective report writing?
Whatever the type of 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 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 Writing: Formulation Rules for Writing the Report
Listed below are some features of a good research study that should be kept in mind while
documenting and preparing the report.
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.
Thus, some guidelines should be kept in mind while writing the report.
Command over the Medium
A correct and effective language of communication is critical in putting ideas and objectives in the
vernacular of the reader/decision maker.
Phrasing Protocol
The use of personal pronoun such as I think, or In my opinion lends a subjectivity and
personalization of judgment. Thus, the tone of reporting should be neutral. Whenever the writer is
reproducing the verbatim information from another document or comment of an expert or published
source, it must be in inverted commas or italics and the author or source should be duly
acknowledged.
Simplicity of Approach
Along with grammatically and structurally correct language, care must be taken to avoid technical
jargon as far as possible. In case it is important to use certain terminology, then, the definition of
these terms can be provided in the glossary of terms at the end of the report.
Report Formatting and Presentation.
In terms of paper quality, page margins and font style and size, a professional standard should be
maintained. The font style must be uniform throughout the report. The topics, subtopics, headings
and subheadings must be constructed in the same manner throughout the report. The researcher can
provide data relief and variation by adequately supplementing the text with graphs and figures.