This document outlines the course units for a business research methods course. It covers key topics such as defining business research, the research process, types of research, research design and measurement, data collection, data preparation and analysis, and writing the research report. The course aims to provide students with an understanding of business research concepts and techniques to conduct organized, systematic research to solve business problems.

1. BUSINESS RESEARCH
METHODS
BA 4203
Dr. J.Jeya Sunitha
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR / MBA
Vijay Institute of Management
Dinidigul

2. UNIT – I: INTRODUCTION
• Business Research
• Definition and Significance
• The research process
• Types of Research
– Exploratory and causal Research
– Theoretical and empirical Research
– Cross –Sectional and Time – Series Research
• Research questions / Problems
• Research objectives
• Research hypotheses – characteristics
• Research in an evolutionary perspective
• the role of theory in research.

3. UNIT – II: RESEARCH DESIGN AND
MEASUREMENT
• Research design – Definition
• Types of research design
– Exploratory and causal research design
– Descriptive and experimental design
– Different types of experimental design
• Validity of findings
– Internal and external validity
• Variables in Research
• Measurement and scaling – Different scales
• Construction of instrument
• Validity and Reliability of instrument.

4. UNIT III: DATA COLLECTION
• Types of data
• Primary Vs Secondary data
• Methods of primary data collection
• Survey Vs Observation
• Experiments
• Construction of questionnaire and instrument
• Validation of questionnaire
• Sampling plan – Sample size – determinants
optimal sample size
• Sampling techniques – Probability Vs Non–
probability sampling methods.

5. UNIT IV: DATA PREPARATION
AND ANALYSIS
• Data Preparation
• Editing – Coding
• Data entry – Validity of data
• Qualitative Vs Quantitative data analyses
• Bivariate and Multivariate statistical techniques
• Factor analysis
• Discriminant analysis
• Cluster analysis
• multiple regression and correlation –
multidimensional scaling
• Conjoint Analysis
• Application of statistical software for data
analysis.

6. UNIT V: REPORT DESIGN,
WRITING AND ETHICS IN
BUSINESS RESEARCH
• Research report – Different types – Contents of
report
• Need of executive summary
• chapterization – contents of chapter
• report writing
• the role of audience
• readability – comprehension – tone – final proof –
report format – title of the report
• ethics in research – ethical behaviour of research –
subjectivity and objectivity in research.

7. UNIT – I: INTRODUCTION
• Business Research
• Definition and Significance
• The research process
• Types of Research
– Exploratory and causal Research
– Theoretical and empirical Research
– Cross –Sectional and Time – Series Research
• Research questions / Problems
• Research objectives
• Research hypotheses – characteristics
• Research in an evolutionary perspective
• the role of theory in research.

9. Research
• Research is an organized inquiry carried out to
provide information for solving problems.
• Re + Search Process: Again + Find + Step by
Step phases

10. Understanding the concept of Research
• A search for knowledge.
• A scientific, systematic search for pertinent
information on a specific topic.
• A careful investigation or inquiry specially
through search for new facts in any branch of
knowledge.
• A movement from the known to the unknown.
• A voyage of discovery.
• Redman and Mory: A systematized effort to
gain new knowledge.

11. • Clifford Woody defined:
• Research comprises of:
–defining and redefining problems, formulating
hypothesis or suggested solutions;
–collecting, organizing and evaluating data;
–making deductions and reaching conclusions;
and
–at last carefully testing the conclusions to
determine whether they fit the formulating
hypothesis.
Defining the concept of Research

12. Research - Definition
• Research is an organized, systematic,
disciplined approach to answering questions
about our observations and experiences in the
world. It is a structured approach to gathering
and interpreting information that allows us to
understand, theorize about or explain the
experience.
• Research is a systematic, controlled, empirical
and critical investigation of hypothetical
propositions about the presumed relations
among natural phenomenon.

13. Business Research - Definition
• Business research is to re-search from the
available primary and secondary data to arrive
at relevant information so as to gain
substantial knowledge for the organization in
order to achieve business goals and objectives.
• Business research is the logical process of
accumulating data and investigating the
information so as to enhance the understanding
and knowledge of that incident which interests
or concerns the manager of an organization.