I. Research is a sequential method of enquiry, directed towards a clear implicit or explicit objective.

Describe in detail the steps to be carried out in a typical research study.

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:

Defining the research problem

Formulating the research hypothesis
Developing the research proposal
Research Design formulation
Sampling Design
Planning and Collecting data for research
Data refining and preparation for analysis
Data Analysis and Interpretation of findings
The research report and implications for the managers dilemma

Explanation of the steps

a) Defining the research problem
This is the first and most critical step of the research journey. There has to be complete clarity in the
mind of the researcher regarding the information he must collect.
b) Formulating the research hypothesis
Hypothesis is, in fact, the assumptions about the expected results of the research. Every
research study might not always begin with a hypothesis; in fact the task of the study might be to
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.

Kinds of Descriptive Research Design

Types of Descriptive Research Design Methods

a) Cross-sectional studies involve a slice of the population. One takes a current sub division of the
population and studies the nature of the relevant variables being investigated. The cross-sectional
study is carried out at a single moment in time and thus the applicability is most relevant for a
specific period. These studies are carried out on a section of respondents from the population units
under study. ( e.g. organizational employees, voters, consumers, industry sectors). This sample is
under consideration and under investigation only for the time coordinate of the study.
There are also situations in which the population being studied is not of a homogeneous
nature but composed of different groups. Thus it becomes essential to study the sub-segments
independently. This variation of the design is termed as multiple cross-sectional studies. Cohort
analysis is the name given to such cross-sectional surveys conducted on different sample groups at
different time intervals.
b) Longitudinal Studies- A single sample of the identified population that is studied over a longer
period of time is termed as a longitudinal study design. A panel of consumers specifically chosen to
study their grocery purchase pattern is an example of a longitudinal design. It involves the selection
of a representative panel, or a group of individuals that typically represent the population under
study. It involves the repeated measurement of the group over fixed intervals of time. This
measurement is specifically made for the variables under study. Once the sample is selected, it needs
to stay constant over the period of the study. That means the number of panel members has to be
same.

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.

Steps in Hypothesis Testing:

1. Setting up of a Hypothesis

2. Setting up of a Suitable Significance Level.

3. Determination of a Test Statistic.
4. Determination of Critical Region.
5. Computing the Value of Test Statistic.
6. Making Decision.
Step 1: Setting up of a Hypothesis
The first step is to establish the hypothesis to be tested. The hypothesis specifies a single value or
range of values for two different hypotheses rather than constructing a single hypothesis. These two
hypotheses are generally referred to as (1) the null hypotheses denoted by H and (2) alternative hypothesis
denoted by H1.
Step 2: Setting up of a Suitable Significance Level
The next step is to choose a suitable level of significance. The significance level (denoted by the
Greek letter alpha a) is generally set at 0.05. This means that there is a 5% chance that you will accept
your alternative hypothesis when your null hypothesis is actually true. The smaller the significance level,
the greater the burden of proof needed to reject the null hypothesis, or in other words, to support the
alternative hypothesis.
Step 3: Determination of a Test Statistic.
The next step is to determine a suitable test statistic and its distribution. As would be seen later, the
test statistic could be t, Z, or F, depending upon various assumptions.
Step 4: Determination of Critical Region.
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.

a) i) Differences between Schedules and Questionnaires

S.No

Questionnaire

1.

No personal contact is possible in case of Direct personal contact is established.

questionnaire as they are sent to respondents by
mail who also returns the same by mail

Schedule

2.

This method can be used only when respondents The information can be gathered even when
are literate and cooperative.

3.

the respondents happen to be illiterate.

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

4.

response often remains indeterminate.

the danger of interviewer bias and cheating.
Wider and more representative distribution of There remains the difficulty in sending

5.

sample is possible.
enumerators over relatively wider area.
The questionnaire method is likely to be very Information is collected well in time as they
slow since many respondents do not return the are 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
and in mailing the same to respondents.

trainings to them. Money is also spent in

preparing schedules.

ii) Open ended and closed ended questions.

Open-ended questions
In open-ended questions, the openness refers to the option of answering in ones own words. They
are also referred to as unstructured questions or free response or free-answer questions. Some illustrations of
this type are listed.
What is your age?
Which is your favorite TV serial?
I like Nescafe because ________________________
My career goal is to ________________________
Closed-ended questions
In closed-ended questions, both the question and response formats are structured and defined. There
are three kinds of formats as we observed earlier dichotomous questions, multiplechoice questions and
those that have a scaled response.

b) Explain the questionnaire design process

Process of Questionnaire Designing
Even though the questionnaire method is most used by researchers, designing a well-structured
instrument needs considerable skill. Presented below is a standardized process that a researcher can follow.
1. Convert the Research Objectives into the Information Needed.
2. Method of Administering the Questionnaire.
3. Content of the Questions.
4. Motivating the Respondent to Answer
5. Determining the Type of Questions
6. Question Design Criteria.
7. Determine the Questionnaire Structure.
8. Physical Presentation of the Structure.
9. Pilot Testing the Structure.
10. Administering the Questionnaire.
V.a) What is the analysis of variance? What are the assumptions of the technique? Give a few examples
where the techniques could be used.
b. The following data represents the number of units produced by four operators during three different
shifts:

Shifts
I
II
III

A
10
10
12

Operator
B
8
12
10

Perform a two-way analysis of variance and interpret the result.

a) Meaning of analysis of variance

C
12
14
11

D
13
15
14

Suppose we know that the sales of a product is influenced by the price level. In this case, sales are a
dependent variable and the price is the independent variable. Let there be three levels of price, namely, low,
medium and high. We wish to determine the most effective price level i.e. at which price level the sale is
highest. Here, the test units are the stores which are randomly assigned to the three treatment level. The
average sales for each price level is computed and examined to see whether there is any significant
difference in the sale at various price levels. The statistical technique to test for such a difference is called
analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Assumptions of the technique

This design is used when a researcher is investigating the effect of one independent variable on the
dependent variable. The independent variable is required to be measured in nominal scale i.e. it should have
a number of categories. Each of the categories of the independent variable is considered as the treatment.
The basic assumption of this design is that there are no differences in the test units. All the test units are
treated alike and randomly assigned to the test groups. This means that there are no extraneous variables that
could influence the outcome.

b.
Sources of

Degrees of

Variation

freedom

Treatments

k-1

Sum of Squares

TrSS

Mean Square

MSTr=TrSS
k-1

k-1
MSTr
F

= MSE

(k-1)(n-1)
Blocks

n-1

SSB

MSB= SSB
n-1

n-1
MSB
F

MSE

(k-1)(n-1)

Error

(k-1) (n-1)

SSE

MSE= SSE
(k-1)(n-1)

Total

Kn-1

TSS

The Error sum of squares would be obtained as

SSE= TSS TrSS SSB
The required computations for the two-way ANOVA are as under:
T.1

10 + 10 + 12 = 32

T.2 = 8 + 12 + 10 = 30
T.3

= 12 + 14 + 11 = 37

T.4

= 13 + 15 + 14 = 42

SSB = 1/3 * [322 + 302 + 372 + 422] 1/12 (141)2

= 1/3 [ 1024+900+ 1369+1764] 1/12 (19881)
=1685.66 1656.75 = 28.92
Therefore, SSE= TSS-TrSS-SSB

VI. Explain the Structure of the Research Report. What are the guidelines for effective report writing?

Report Writing: Structure of the Research Report

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.