M.B.A.

DEGREE EXAMINATION, APRIL/MAY 2011 Second Semester Subject: BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS (Regulation 2009) Anna University Time: Three hours Maximum Marks: 100 Instructions: Answer ALL questions PART A (10x2 = 20 marks) 1. What do you mean by research? 2. Name different types of research. 3. Explain internal and external validity. 4. Define Research Design. 2freshesworld.com 5. What are the factors influencing Sample Size? 6. Analyze the observational method of Data Collection. 7. Explain Factor Analysis. 2freshesworld.com 8. Explain the features of multivariate techniques. 9. Research report should be written keeping in mind the intended audience Comment. 10. Explain subjectivity in research. PART B (5x16 = 80 marks) 11. (a) What is research problem? Define the main issues which should receive the attention of the researcher in formulating the research problem. Give suitable examples. Or (b) What is a Hypothesis? How can a hypothesis improve the quality of research? Explain how research will be useful for decision makers. 12. (a) Give your understanding of a good research design. Is single research design suitable in all research studies? If not, why? (b) What is an Exploratory Research? Give an example to explain its application to business situation. 13. (a) Enumerate the different methods of collecting data. Which one is the most suitable for conducting enquiry regarding welfare schemes in India? Explain its merits and demerits. Or (b) Under what circumstances would you recommend (i) A Probability sample. (ii) A Non-probability sample. (iii) A stratified sample. 14. (a) Processing of data implies editing, coding, classification and tabulation. Describe in brief these four operations pointing out the significance of each in context of research study. Or (b) A researcher has collected data of 100 shops in a particular region. In Town 40 shops run by men and 10 by women and In villages 20 shops run by men and 20 by women Can it be inferred that most of the shops are run by men? Test level of significance by applying 2-tail test. The value of 2-tail for one degree of freedom at 5 percent level of significance is 3.841.

15. (a) In general, explain how the results of research are to be presented? What are the different types of reports? Or (b) What are the ethical issues involved in research? Explain ethical behaviour of researcher

COMSATS INSTITUTE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Department of Management Sciences Islamabad Campus

Class: MBA (E), III Semester Subject: Research Methodology Marks: 50 Exam: Final Examination, Fall 2005 Instructor: Dr. Aurangzeb Z. Khan Time: Three Hours Dated: 20 January, 2006

i. ii. iii. iv.

Attempt all questions. Dont try to write unnecessary details, it will be considered as negative point. Carrying of digital diaries is not allowed Mobile phones, calculators, laptops etc. are not allowed in the examination hall

The Happy Housewife Appliances Corporation is an American manufacturer of kitchen appliances. Based in Boston, Massachussetts, in 1962, and with an employee base of around 5,000, the Corporation markets its range of high-quality kitchen products, comprise numerous electrical items such as microwave ovens, fuel-efficient cookers and stoves, vegetable cutters, juice mixers etc. throughout North America, Europe, the Far East, and parts of the Middle East. It is now trying to expand into the South Asian market. Pakistan, with its population of 150 million, ranks high on the Corporations market priority list. In a chance encounter at a dinner reception in Islamabad sometime in January 2006, you meet and strike up a long conversation with the Corporations Marketing Director, who visited Islamabad on a three-day preliminary fact-finding mission. You inform her that in the course of your recent Fall Semester MBA evening progamme at the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology in Islamabad, you have studied the ins and outs of undertaking business research, and have gained some basic experience in undertaking empirical research in a group setting as part of the course. Now you are eagerly looking forward for the opportunity to apply your knowledge in a professional business research endeavour, and would be willing to assist Happy Housewife Appliances Corporation in finding out whether it can profitably market its products in Pakistan. Impressed by your enthusiasm, and by your description of the course you attended, she hires as a consultant on the spot and gives you a series of assignments as under: Question 1: The Marketing Director asks you to undertake some quick exploratory research with a view to determining the opportunities for selling its kitchen appliances in the Pakistani domestic market. For a start, this would entail obtaining out all sorts of data and information which are relevant to the planned venture.

What fundamental criteria does the data or information you collect have to fulfill and why? What sort of data and information would you try to obtain for your exploratory research and where would you look for this data and information? Specifically name several possible categories and sources of data and information relevant for this venture. (10 Marks)

Question 2: Based on the preliminary findings of your exploratory research, the Marketing Director of Happy Housewife Appliances Corporation thinks that a venture in Pakistan may be financially rewarding, but she is not willing to formally commit her organization until further detailed research is undertaken by you. She assigns you the task of developing a formal research proposal for her based on the guidelines you learned in your Research Methodology course in your MBA programme at the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad. Design a formal research proposal for the Marketing Director, indicating the title of each section and specifically including important content which relates directly to your research undertaking. Choose arbitrary but reasonable values for any section where numerical data may be required. (10 Marks)

Question 3: The quality of business decisions are determined to a large extent by the quality of the informational input in the decision-making process. The Marketing Director is aware of this fact from previous bad experience in other foreign market entry ventures and she asks you to be especially careful in how you go about obtaining data and information. In particular, she asks you to explain to her the sampling methodology you intend to use for obtaining your data and information, your reasons for using use this particular sampling methodology, and about all the possible pitfalls or problems which may be associated with it. Discuss in detail. (10 Marks)

Question 4: Several techniques for obtaining data were discussed in your course on Research Methodology. Which one technique, or techniques, would you opt for in your research undertaking? Where in Pakistan would you apply this technique (or techniques)? Who would you target and why? What possible sources of error may arise in the course of your data gathering activity and how would you try to minimize the impact of these errors? Be as specific as possible in all your answers. (10 Marks)

Question 5: You have, finally and after painstaking effort, gathered all the data that you need for your research. The next step prior to compiling your research report for your subsequent written and oral presentation to the Marketing Director and Executive Board of Happy Housewife Appliances Corporation in Boston is to analyze the data using statistical tools and techniques. Briefly discuss some of the simpler statistical tools and techniques, including measures of dispersion, which may be relevant for your research undertaking. If possible, mention if you think any more sophisticated (univariate, bivariate, multivariate) statistical techniques need to be applied. (10 Marks)

Quality takes precedence over quantity! Remember, the essence of knowledge is having it to apply it! GOOD LUCK!

Barathidasan University MBA-I (Sem.II) Business Research Methods Answer any 10 1. Mention any 4 sources of secondary data. 2. What is questionnaire? 3. What is quota sampling? 4. Define research. 5. What do you mean by research abstract? 6. What is field study? 7. What is research problem? 8. Define pilot-test. 9. What do you mean by data? 10. Mention the classification of research problem. 11. What do you mean by applied research? 12. Mention any 4 parts of table. Answer any 5 13. Explain the objectives of business research. 14. Write the differences between census and sampling. 15. Explain the need for research design. 16. Write the steps involved in formulation of research problem. 18. What are the advantages of secondary data? 19. Explain the functions of a research report? 20. Explain the precautions to be taken in statistical interpretation. 21. Explain the different types of sampling. Answer any 3 22. What is research design? Explain the nature and importance of research design. 23. Explain the various sources to identify research problem.

24. Briefly explain the various types of research. 25. Explain the various visual devices in research report writing. 26. Discuss the various kinds of probability sampling.

SVKMs NMIMS University School of Distance Learning Research Methodology Date: 15.12.2007 Time: 11.00 to 2.00 Instructions Answer any five questions. All questions carry equal marks Q:1 Why is research called a scientific activity? Illustrate your answer with examples. Q:2 What is the significance of research proposal? Explain the points considered in preparing a research proposal with an example. Q:3 a. When will you use observation as the method of data collection? b. Compare Interview & Questionnaire as data collection tools. Q:4 Explain various techniques of sampling. Q:5 Write short notes on: a) Operational definitions b) Hypotheses c) Related literature d) Research Problem formulation Q:6 Discuss any two experimental designs in details, giving appropriate examples. Q:7 Explain Concept Map giving appropriate example. Q:8 The company wants to test the perception of the product (Toothpaste). i) Mention the objectives of the study ii) Identify & Classify the variables in the study. iii) Which research design would best achieve the objectives of the study? Q:9 A software company want you to study the reasons for attrition in programmers. i) Identify the variables & Classify them. ii) Formulate 3 hypotheses for the study iii) Suggest the sampling design. Q:10 Mobile service provider wants to study why customers switch the services. i) Identify & Classify the variables in the study. ii) Formulate at least 10 items to measure the causes. iii) Suggest suitable design for the study. Marks: 100