Master of Business Administration- MBA Semester 3 MB00 50 Research Methodology - 4 Credits (Book ID: B1206) Assignment Set - 1 (60

0 Marks) Q1. a. Explain the types of research. b. What is the significance of research in social and business sciences? Answer: a) Types of Research Pure Research: It is undertaken for the sake of knowledge without any intention to apply it in practice, e.g., Einsteins theory of relativity. It is undertaken out of intellectual curiosity or inquisitiveness. It is not necessarily problem-oriented. It aims at extension of knowledge. It may lead to either discovery of a new theory or refinement of an existing theory. Applied Research: It is carried on to find solution to a real-life problem requiring an action or policy decision. It is thus problem-oriented and action-directed. It seeks an immediate and practical result. Though the immediate purpose of an applied research is to find solutions to a practical problem. Exploratory Research: It is also known as formulative research. It is preliminary study of an unfamiliar problem about which the researcher has little or no knowledge. It is ill-structured and much less focused on pre-determined objectives. It usually takes the form of a pilot study. The purpose of this research may be to generate new ideas, or to increase the researchers familiarity with the problem or to make a precise formulation of the problem or to gather information for clarifying concepts or to determine whether it is feasible to attempt the study. 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. Diagnostic Study: It is similar to descriptive study but with a different focus. It is directed towards discovering what is happening, why it is happening and what can be done about. It aims at identifying the causes of a problem and the possible solutions for it. It may also be concerned with discovering and testing

whether certain variables are associated. This type of research requires prior knowledge of the problem, its thorough formulation, clear-cut definition of the given population, adequate methods for collecting accurate information, precise measurement of variables, statistical analysis and test of significance. Evaluation Studies: It is a type of applied research. It is made for assessing the effectiveness of social or economic programmes implemented or for assessing the impact of developmental projects on the development of the project area. It is thus directed to assess or appraise the quality and quantity of an activity and its performance, and to specify its attributes and conditions required for its success. It is concerned with causal relationships and is more actively guided by hypothesis. Action Research: It is a type of evaluation study. It is a concurrent evaluation study of an action programme launched for solving a problem for improving an exiting situation. It includes six major steps: diagnosis, sharing of diagnostic information, planning, developing change programme, initiation of organizational change, implementation of participation and communication process, and post experimental evaluation. b) The role of research in applied economics in the context of an economy or business is greatly increasing in modern times. The increasingly complex nature of government and business has raised the use of research in solving operational problems. Research assumes significant role in formulation of economic policy, for both the government and business. It provides the basis for almost all government policies of an economic system. Government budget formulation, for example, depends particularly on the analysis of needs and desires of the people, and the availability of revenues, which requires research. Research helps to formulate alternative policies, in addition to examining the consequences of these alternatives. Thus, research also facilitates the decision making of policymakers, although in itself it is not a part of research. In the process, research also helps in the proper allocation of a countrys scare resources. Research is also necessary for collecting information on the social and economic structure of an economy to understand the process of change occurring in the country. Collection of statistical information though not a routine task, involves various research problems. Therefore, large staff of research technicians or experts is engaged by the government these days to undertake this work. Thus, research as a tool of government economic policy formulation involves three distinct stages of operation which are as follows: Investigation of economic structure through continual compilation of facts Diagnoses of events that are taking place and the analysis of the forces underlying them; and The prognosis, i.e., the prediction of future developments Research also assumes a significant role in solving various operational and planning problems associated with business and industry. In several ways, operations research, market research, and motivational research are vital and

their results assist in taking business decisions. Market research is refers to the investigation of the structure and development of a market for the formulation of efficient policies relating to purchases, production and sales. Research is equally important to social scientist for analyzing social relationships and seeking explanations to various social problems. It gives intellectual satisfaction of knowing things for the sake of knowledge. It also possesses practical utility for the social scientist to gain knowledge so as to be able to do something better or in a more efficient manner. This, research in social sciences is concerned with both knowledge for its own sake, and knowledge for what it can contribute to solve practical problems. Q2. What is meant by validity? How does it differ from reliability and what are its types? Answer: Validity: A measurement scale may be considered to be valid if it effectively measures a specific property or characteristic that it intends to measure. The question of validity does not arise in the case of measurement of physical characteristics such as length, weight and height. This is because the measurement is direct and can be done through standard measuring devices. Types of Validity 1. Content validity: This type of validity may be of two types a) Face validity and b) Sampling validity. Face validity is determined through a subjective evaluation of a measuring scale. However, the limitation of this type of validity is that it is determined by opinions, rather than through a statistical method. Sampling validity refers to how representative the content of the measuring instrument is. In other words, the measuring instruments content must be representative of the content universe of the characteristic being measured. 2. Predictive validity: This type of validity refers to the extent to which one behavior can be predicted based on another, based on the association between the results yielded by the measuring instrument and the eventual outcome. One limitation of determining predictive validity using this statistical association is that the eventual outcome, in this case, the grade point average of students during the first semester, may be influenced by other extraneous variables or factors. In other words, the grade point average may have been influenced by other factors and may not necessarily be linked to the score on the admission test. Therefore, predicting behavior from one situation to another is not always accurate. 3. Construct validity: A construct is a conceptual equation that is developed by the researcher based on theoretical reasoning. Various kinds of relationships may be perceived by the researcher between a variable under study and other variables. These relationships must be tested in order to determine the construct

validity of a measuring instrument. The instrument may be considered to have construct validity only if the expected relationships are found to be true. Q3. a. Why literature survey is important in research? b. What are the criteria of good research problem? Ans. Research really begins when the researcher experiences some difficulty. Frequently , anexploratory study is concerned with an area of subject matter in which explicit hypothesis have notyet been formulated. The researcher's task is to review the available materials with an eyes on thepossibilities of developing an hypothesis from it. In some areas of the subject matter, hypothesismay have been stated by previous research workers . The researcher has to take stock of thesevarious hypothesis with the view to evaluate their usefulness for further research and to considerwhether they suggest any new hypothesis. Sociological journal ,economic reviews, the bulletin of abstracts of current social sciences research , directory of doctoral dissertation accepted by theuniversities etc afford a rich store of valuable clues. In addition to these general sources , somegovernmental agencies and voluntary organisations publish listing of summaries of research in theirspecial filed of services .Professional organisations ,research groups and voluntary organisations area constant sources of information about unpublished works in their special filedThe criteria of good research problem are discussed below: Horton and Hunt have givenfollowing characteristics of scientific research:i. (1)Verifiable Evidence : This is the factual observations which other observers can see andcheck.ii. (2)Accuracy : That is describing what really exists. It means truth or correctness of a statementor describing things exactly as they are and avoiding jumping to unwanted conclusions eitherby exaggeration or fantasizing.iii. (3)Precision : That is making as exact as necessary, or giving exact number of measurement.This avoid colorful literature and vague meaning.iv. (4)Systematization : This is attempting to find all the relevant data, or collecting data in thesystematic and organized ways so that the conclusion drawn are reliable .v. (5)Objectivity : This is free being all biases and vested interest.vi.

(6)Recording : this is jotting down complete details as quickly as possible. Since human memoryis fallible , all data collected are recorded. (7).Controlling conditions : This is controlling all variable s except one and then attempting toexamine what happened when that variable is varied.viii. (8)Training investigators : This is imparting necessary knowledge to investigators to make themunderstand what to look for , how to interpret in and avoid inaccurate data collection. Q4. Explain the procedure for Testing Hypothesis. Ans. The procedure of testing hypothesis are given below:i. Making a formal statement : The step consist of making a formal statement of the nullhypothesis and also of the alternative hypothesis.The formulation of an hypothesis is an important steps which must be accomplished with due care in accordance with objectand nature of the problem under consideration. ii.Selecting a significant level : The hypothesis is tested on a predetermined level of significance and such the same should be specified. Generally in practise, either 5% level or1% level is adopted for the purpose. iii.Deciding the distribution to use : After deciding the level of significance , the next step of hypothesis is to determine the appropriate sampling distribution. The choice generallyremains between distribution and the t distribution. The rules for selecting the correctdistribution are similar to those which we have stated either in the context of theestimation iv.Selecting a random sample & computing an appropriate value : Another step is to select therandom sample(S) and compute an appropriate value from the sample data concerning thetest statistic utilizing the relevant distribution. v.Calculation of the probability : One has than to calculate the the sample result woulddiverse as widely as is has from expectation ,if the null hypothesis were in fact true. vi.Comparing the probability : Yet another step consist of calculating the probability with the specified value of , the significant level. If the calculated probability is less than the valueas in case of one tailed test( /2 as in case of two tailed test) then reject the null hypothesis , but if the probability is greater than accept the null hypothesis. In case we arerejectingwe run arisk of committing an error of type I, but if we accept the null hypothesis. In case we reject H 0 we run arisk of committing an error of type I, but if we accept H

0 than we run some risk of committing error type II.

Q5. a. Explain the components of a research design. b. Briefly explain the different types of research designs. Ans.Components of research diagram : The various components of research diagram areexplained below:i. Dependent and independent variables : A magnitude that varies is known as variables. Whenchanges in one variable depends on the change in one or more other variables , it is knownas dependent or endogenous variables. The variable that causes the changes in thedependent variables are known as independent variables or explanatory variable orexogenous variables.ii. Extraneous variable : The independent variable which are not directly related to the purposeof the study but effect the dependent variable is known as extraneous variableiii. Control : One of the most important features of a good research design is to minimize theeffect of extraneous variable. The term control is used in the experimental research toreflect the restrain in the experimental conditions.iv. Confounded relationship : The relationship between dependent and independent variableare known as confounded variables by an

extraneous variable, when the dependent variableis not free from its effect. It is again subcategorised asa. Research hypothesis : When the prediction or the hypothesized relationship istested by adopting scientific methods, it is known as research hypothesis.b. Experimental and control group : When a group is exposed to the usual condition inan experimental hypothesis testing then it is called the control group. When thegroup is exposed to certain new or special condition than it is known asexperimental group.c. Treatments : Treatments are referred to the different conditions to which theexperimental and the control group are subject to.d. Experiments : An experiment refers to the process of verifying the truth of thestatistical hypothesis relating to the given research problem.e. Experiment unit : Experimental units refers to as the pre-determined plots,characteristics or the block to which different treatments are applied. Different types of research design : The various research design are discussed below:i. (1)Research design in case of exploratory research studies :Exploratory research designare also termed as formulative research studies. Generally , the following threemethods in the context of research design for such studies are talked about.a. (a)The survey of concerning literature : happens to be the most simple and thefruitful method of formulating precisely the research problem or thedeveloping hypothesis.b. (b)Experience survey : means the survey of people who have had practicalexperience with the problem to be studied.c. (c)Analyses of insight stimulating : examples are also fruitful method forsuggesting hypothesis for result.ii. (2)Research design in case of descriptive and diagnostic research studies : Descriptiveresearch studies are those studies which are concern with describing thecharacteristic of a particular individual or of a group where as diagnostic research studies determines the

frequencies with which something occurs or its associationwith something else. iii.Research design in case of hypothesis-testing research studies : Hypothesis-testingresearch studies are those where the researcher test the hypothesis of casualrelationship between variables. Such studies requires procedures that will not onlyreduce bias and increase reliability , but will permit drawing inference aboutcausality. Q6. a. What are the assumptions of Case Study Method? b. Explain the Sampling process. Ans. The assumptions of Case Study Method : are discussed below:i. Case study would depend upon wit ,commonsense and imagination of the person doing thecase study. The investigator makes up his procedure as he goes along.ii. I f the life history has been written in the first person, it must be as complete and coherentas possible.iii. Life histories should have been written for knowledgeable person.iv. It is advisable to supplement the case data by observational, statistical and historical datasince these data provides standards for accessing the reliability and consistency of the casematerials.v. Efforts should be made to ascertain the reliability of the life history data through examiningthe internal consistency of the materials .vi. A judicious combination of techniques of data collection is the prerequisite for securing datathat are culturally meaningful and scientifically significant.Sampling Process : The decision process of sampling is the complicated one The researcherhas to first identify the limiting factor and factors and must judiciously balance the conflictingfactors. The various criteria governing the choice of sampling process are discussed below: i.Purpose of the survey : What does the researcher aims at? ii.Measurability : The application of statistical inference theory requires computation of thesampling error from the sample itself. Probability sample only allows such computation.Hence, where the research objective requires statistical inference , the sampling should bedrawn by applying simple random sampling method or stratified random sampling methodsdepending on whether the population is homogenous or heterogeneous. iii.Degree of precision : Should the result of the survey be very precise ,or even though resultcould serve the purpose?

iv.Information about population : How much information is available about the population tobe studied? v.The nature of the population :In terms of the variables to be studied, is the nature homogenous or heterogeneous? vi.Geographical area of the study and size of the population : If area covered by the survey isvery large and the size of the population is quite large, multistage cluster sampling would beappropriate .But if area and size of the population are very small, single stage probabilitysampling methods could be used. vii.Financial resources : If the available finance is limited ,it may become necessary to choose aless costly sampling plan like multistage sampling or even quota sampling as a compromise. viii.Time limitation : The time limit within which the research project should be completedrestricts the choice of a sampling methods. ix.Economy : It should be the another criterion for choosing the sampling method. It meansachieving the desired level of precision at minimum.