MBA 611: ADVANCED BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS COURSE OUTLINE

Credit hours-3
Course Description
This module develops the principles and techniques of research methods typically used in the
analysis of research projects in the business arena. After exploring the philosophical
underpinnings of research strategies, the course reviews the research design and data
collection strategies. The detailed tools of both quantitative and qualitative analysis are
explained and applied to the types of data typically collected. An exploration will be made of
the ethical issues that permeate all stages of the research process. The module concludes
with an examination of the ways in which research proposals are typically constructed and
conference/journal papers prepared, all with a view to providing the essential skills for the
research processes involved in preparing a Masters level dissertation.
Course objectives/Learning Outcomes:
This course gives grounding in the research philosophies, methods and techniques
appropriate for researches in the various areas of business.
Specifically the course will:
 Explore the underlying philosophical underpinnings of research strategies
 Review the quantitative techniques typically deployed in the presentation and analysis
of research findings
 Explore the scope for varieties of qualitative research design and analysis
 Analyze the application of ethical principles involved in the various stages of the
research process
 Detail the ways in which research papers are formulated, written and presented with a
view to informing the forthcoming dissertation
Chapter I - Research Methods: An introduction
1.1. Meanings of Research
1.2. Types of Research
1.3. Motivation of doing Research
1.4. Research and Scientific Method
1.5. Research Process
1.6. Criteria of Good Research
Chapter II - Defining Research Problem and Hypothesis Formulation
2.1. What is Research Problem?
2.2. Techniques and Approaches to Problem Definition
2.3. Problem Formulation, Research Question and Hypothesis
Chapter III - Research Proposal
3.1. What is a Research Proposal?
3.2. Functions of Research Proposal
3.3. General Format of research Proposal
Chapter IV - Research Design (planning of research project)
4.1. Meaning of Research Design
4.2. Important Concepts Concerning Research Design
4.3. Features of Research Design
4.4. Forms of Research Design
4.4.1. Research Design for Non-experimental Research
4.4.2. Research Design for Experimental Research
4.4.3. Case study design
Chapter V - Sources and Methods of data collection
5.1. Primary data
5.1.1. Source
5.1.2. Data collection method
5.2. Secondary
5.2.1. Source
5.2.2. Data collection Method
Chapter VI - Sample Design and Procedure
6.1. Some Fundamental Definitions
6.2. Sampling Procedure
 6.3. Sampling Techniques
6.4. Central limit Theorem and Sampling Theory
Chapter VII - Data analysis (an overview)
7.1. Data Processing
7.2. Data Analysis
7.2.1. Descriptive Analysis
7.2.2. Inferential Analysis
7.3. Data analysis softwares (STATA or SPSS)
7.3.1. Univariate analysis for Categorical Data
7.3.2. Univariate analysis for interval data
7.3.3. Bivariate analysis for Categorical Data
7.3.4. Bivariate analysis for interval data
7.3.5. Multivariate analysis for Categorical Data
7.3.6. Multivariate analysis for interval data
Chapter VIII - Interpretation & reporting the research result
8.1. Meaning & Techniques of Interpretation
8.2. Organization & Types of Reports
MODE OF TEACHING-LEARNING PROCESES
A combination of the following major methods of delivery will be used for each course of the
MBA Program:
 Lecture
 Individual & or group Assignment /projects / term papers.
 Class presentation and discussion.
 Case analysis.
ASSESSMENT SCHEME
Individual Assignment 30%
Group Assignment 20%
Final examination 50%
TOTAL 100%
Textbook:
 CR Kothari (2014), Research Methodology. 3rd ed. New age international Publishers.
Reference books:
 Agarwal, BL. (2015). Research Methodology. 1st ed. New Delhi: New Age
International (P) Limited Publishers.
 Ben Baarda(2010). Research This is it! Guide to quantitative & Qualitative research.
1st ed. Mc-Graw Hill.
 Mc Dougal Littell (2001), Writing Research Reports. Prentice Hall.
 Anol Bhattacherjee, social science research; principles, methods and practice, 2 nd ed.,
2012
 Donald R. cooper and Ramcis S. schindler, ‘’Business research methods’’, Tata
McGraw Hill Publishing Company limited, New Delhi
 C.R. Kothari, ‘’ Research methodology-methods and Techniques’’, new age
international(P)limited, publishers
 Willian G. zikmund, “Business Research Methods’’, the Dryden press, Harcourt
Brace college publishers.
 Donald H.MC.Burney,’’Research Methods’’, Thomson Asia Pvt. Ltd, Singapore
 Ranjit Kumar, ‘’ Research methodology’’, Saga publication, London, New
Delhi,1999
 Uma Sekaran, ‘’ Research Methods for Business’’, John Wiley and Sons Inc, New
York, 2000.
 Ron Mcqueen and Christina Knussen, ‘’research methods for social science: An
introduction’’, prentice Hall.
 Jill Hussey and Roger Hussey, ‘’Business Research: A practical guide for
undergraduate and post-graduate students’’, Macmillan Press Ltd.