Module 1 (5 hours)
Research: – Definition, Meaning, Importance types and Qualities of Research Research applications in functional areas of Business, Emerging trends in Business research. Research & the Scientific Method: Characteristics of scientific method. Steps in Research Process Concept of Scientific Enquiry: – Formulation of Research Problem – Management Question – research Question – Investigation Question

Module 2 (8 hours)
Research design: Concept, Features of a good research design, Use of a good research design Qualitative and Quantitative research approaches, Comparison – Pros and Cons of both approaches. Research Designs: Concept, types and uses. Concept of Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Research. Experimental Design: Concept of Cause, Causal relationships, Concept of Independent & Dependent variables, extraneous variable, Treatment, Control group, Experimental designs and their types

Module 3 (5 hours)
Scaling & measurement techniques: Concept of Measurement: Need of Measurement Problems in measurement in management research – Validity and Reliability. Levels of measurement – Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, Ratio. Concept of Scale – Rating Scales viz. Likert Scales, Semantic Differential Scales, Constant Sum Scales, Graphic Rating Scales – Ranking Scales – Paired comparison & Forced Ranking – Concept and Application.

Module 4 (6 hours)
Sampling and sampling distributions: Basic Concepts: Defining the Universe, Concepts of Statistical Population, Sample, Characteristics of a good sample, Sampling errors, Non Sampling errors, Methods to reduce the errors, Sample Size constraints, Non Response. Types of Sampling. Determining size of the sample – Practical considerations in sampling and sample size, sample size determination

Module 5 (8 hours)
Data Analysis: Editing, Coding, Tabular representation of data, Graphical Representation of Data. Descriptive Statistics and Probability: Measures of Central Tendency, Dispersion, Skewness & Kurtosis. Probability Distribution and Sampling: Discrete, Binomial, Poisson, Continuous, Normal Sampling Distribution, Statistical Estimation. Questionnaire Construction, Content Analysis, Validity and Reliability Test

Module 6 (8 hours)
Bi-variate Analysis: Linear Regression Analysis: Meaning and two lines of regression relationship between correlation and regression co-efficient, Cross tabulations, Chi-square test Concept of Hypothesis & Hypothesis Testing (one sample test and two sample tests). Test of Significance: Small sample tests: t (Mean, proportion) and F tests, Z test, Analysis of Variance: One way and two-way Classifications, Interpretation of the given data and report preparation. Multivariate Data Analysis: Factor Analysis, Multi- Dimensional Scaling

To develop an understanding of the fundamentals of business research, including its meaning, importance, types, applications, emerging trends, scientific method, and research process.

To familiarize students with research approaches and designs, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental designs.

To develop an understanding of measurement and scaling techniques, including levels of measurement, rating and ranking scales, validity, and reliability.

To equip students with knowledge of sampling methods and sample size determination, along with an understanding of sampling and non-sampling errors and non-response issues.

To develop competency in data preparation, presentation, and descriptive analysis, including questionnaire construction, probability distributions, sampling distributions, and assessment of measurement quality.

To develop skills in statistical analysis and interpretation of research data using bivariate, inferential, and multivariate techniques and in preparing research reports.

After successful completion of this course, the learners shall be able to explain and formulate business research problems and research questions using the scientific method and systematic research process.

After successful completion of this course, the learners shall be able to select appropriate research approaches and designs for addressing different business and managerial research problems.

After successful completion of this course, the learners shall be able to apply appropriate measurement and scaling techniques and evaluate the validity and reliability of research instruments.

After successful completion of this course, the learners shall be able to design appropriate sampling strategies and determine sample sizes, while identifying and minimizing sampling and non-sampling errors.

After successful completion of this course, the learners shall be able to organize, present, and analyze research data using appropriate descriptive statistics, probability distributions, and data collection techniques.

After successful completion of this course, the learners shall be able to apply, interpret, and report statistical findings using bivariate, hypothesis-testing, ANOVA, regression, and selected multivariate techniques such as factor analysis and multidimensional scaling.

Kothari, C. R. & Gupta, G., Research Methodology, New Age International Publishers , 4th Multi Colour Edition

Cooper & Schindler, Business research methods, McGraw Hill

Malhotra & Dash, Marketing Research, Pearson , 7th Edition