What is Research?

• The word “Research” itself suggest the

meaning
• Re…… means “again” or “again and again”
• Search means “try to find something”
• Synonyms – look, exploration, survey, probe,
dig, rooting about/around, in quest of , in
pursuit of
• Research means explanation of world around us
 Purpose of the Research
• To get accurate knowledge of situations
happening around us
• To find solutions to the critical problems
related to industry, society or in overall
environment
• To convey your ideas to others
 Structure of the Research
• Title of the research
• Introduction
• Objectives/purpose statement/Problem Statement
• Hypothesis
• Scope of the research
• Profile
• Literature review
• Research Methodology
• Conclusions and findings
• Recommendations
• Bibliography
• Annexure
 Title of the Research
Eg. “A comparison of Indian Labour Productivity
and Japanese Labour Productivity in
Manufacturing Sector During 1998-2008”.

Above Title shows following characteristics

• Precise
• Purpose of the study
• Scope
• Assertive
• Nomenclature
• Identify key variables
• Correct Grammar and capitalization
Introduction
 Objective[s] of the Research
• The objective[s] of the research project
summarizes what is the expected outcome of
the research
• The objective include obtaining answers to
research questions/problems/testing research
hypothesis
 Hypothesis
• In social sciences hypothesis may or may not
be there
• Hypothesis means assumption/ presumption
• The statement which you want to prove
• Generally we starts with null hypothesis when
it disproves the alternate hypothesis approves
 Scope of the Research
• Scope of the research to be determine in term
of
– Area of operations
– Location, Area covered, Sample Size, Product
Range etc.
 Profile
• Area
• Company
• Respondent’s profile
 Literature Review
• Reading and using of existing material
available on our research topic
• Purpose of review
– To gain knowledge [ preliminary/uptodate]
– To identify research Gap [Already done- gap]
– To avoid duplication
– To become familiar with Research Methodology,
research techniques and measurement techniques
– Bibliography
 Research Methodology
• Type of research your project concern with
• Data Collection-Primary Data and Secondary Data
• Different sources and methods of data collection
– Questionnaire
– Interview Technique
– Observation
– Direct mail etc.
– Sample Size Calculation
– Different Sampling Techniques
– Designing a Questionnaire in proper way
– Scaling techniques
– Selection of proper data analysis methods or techniques
 Sample Size
• Population and Sample
• Sample Size
– Sample size should not be too large or small. It should
be optimum.
– Sample should represent the characteristics of universe
– The size of population, population variance,
parameters of interest must be considered while
determining sample size.
 Sampling Methods
• Probability samples are those based on
simple random sampling, systematic
sampling, stratified sampling, cluster/area
sampling
• Whereas non-probability samples are those
based on non random sampling such as
convenience sampling, judgment sampling and
quota sampling techniques.
Random Sampling
If we have to select a sample of
300 employees from a total
15,000 employees, then we can
put the names or numbers of all
the 15,000 employees on slips
of paper and conduct a lottery.
Systematic Sampling
A sample size of 300 is selected,
giving an interval of 15000/300 =
50 . A random number between 1
and 50 is generated and comes up
with 25. Starting with the 25th go
on 75,125,175,225 and so on upto
300 peoples can be selected.

Strata Sampling
Sample items are selected from each
strata. 1. Quota Sampling
Eg. If you want to do the customer 2. Convenience Sampling
survey select samples from different
strata like Doctor, Lawyer, Professor, 3. Judgment Sampling
entrepreneurs and so on
Designing A Questionnaire
Open Ended Questions
Leading Questions
Showing Degree of Importance
Likert Questions
Dichotomous Questions
Bipolar Questions
Rating Scales
Scaling Techniques
 Data Analysis
• This is the major & most important part of the research. It
should contain the analysis of all those questions asked to
the respondents through the questionnaire
For Finance
Ratio Analysis
Cash Flow
Comparative
Analysis
Operating
Cycle Study
Any other
Appropriate
Method
 Findings and Conclusions
• Findings
• Findings are nothing but simply what you have
find out from the analysis of each question.
• This will contain the interpretation or comment
made under each graph in data analysis.
Conclusions
• While concluding student should take care that
his conclusion is matching with the title of the
project & objective[s] of the research
 Sample Size
• There are different types of samples
– Probability Sampling and Non Probability
sampling methods
• Statistical formulas
• Sample size should not be too small or too
large
• Consider the entire population and take a
sample in proper proportion
 Recommendations
• Recommendations
• Student has to give different suggestions
which will act as solutions to all those problem
he/she has identified
 Bibliography
• It include-
• References, books & magazine used, web
sites, newspapers etc
 Annexure

• It includes Questionnaire and other supportive

documents