This document provides a model question paper for a business research methods exam consisting of 3 sections with a total of 70 marks. Section A contains 7 short answer questions worth 25 marks testing concepts like intervening vs moderating variables, factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, research validity, scale construction, experimental designs. Section B contains 6 long answer questions worth 30 marks on research reports, research types, rating scales, and hypothesis testing. Section C is worth 15 marks and asks students to construct a questionnaire using different scale types to study smart phone brand preferences.

1. BUSINESS RESEARCHMETHODS
MODELQUESTION PAPER-1
PROF VENKATESHGANAPATHY
Time: 2 hours Max marks: 70
SECTION A
Answer any 5 questions: 25 marks
1. Bring out the salient differences between intervening variables, mediating variables and
moderating variables. Give examples to support your answer.
2. Based on the data below, explain if factor analysis can be done. Sample size=80. There
are 7 variables.
KMO of sampling adequacy 0.591
Bartlett’s test of
sphericity
Chi Square 80.004
Degrees of freedom 21
Significance 0.000
3. Explain what is Cronbach alfa. Researcher A got a Cronbach alfa value of 0.4 and
researcher B got a Cronbach alfa value of 0.85. Analyze the implications of the same.
4. What is validity of research? Explain different types of validity.
5. Air Asia wants to ascertain the image it has in the minds of its patrons. Construct a seven
item Likert scale and semantic differential scale to measure the perceived image of the
airlines. The seven items under each format must correspond to the same seven
dimensions.
6. Bring out the differences between randomized block design and Latin square design.
7. The training manager at ABC Limited has asked you to identify the kind of training
programs that should be offered to the young recruits who have joined as management
trainees. These trainees are to be imparted five additional general management programs
along with their specific job training modules. The trainees are a mixed bunch of
engineering and management graduates.
a. Formulate your research problem
b. Identify the sources you would use to carry out a problem audit
c. State your research objectives and the research hypotheses.

2. SECTION B
Answer any 3 questions: (each question carries 10 marks) 30 marks
1. Briefly explain the format of a research report.
2. Differentiate between exploratory research and explanatory research.
3. Explain with examples non comparative rating scales.
4. A consumer electronics company wants to determine job satisfaction level of its
employees. It is estimated that no more than 30% of the employees would answer “yes”
to the question if they were satisfied with the job. Calculate the sample size if confidence
level is 95% and the researcher wants a margin of error of 4%.
5. Two brands of bulbs are quoted at the same price. A buyer tested a random sample of 100
bulbs of each brand and found the following.
Brand MeanLife (hrs) Standard Deviation
Brand I 1300 82
Brand II 1248 83
Is there a significant difference in the quality of two brands of bulbs at 5% level of
significance?
6. Raju Restaurant has average sales of 500 tea cups per day. Sales are expected to increase
due to development of a bus stand nearby. During the first few days after the start of the
bus stand, the daily sales were as under
550, 570, 490, 615, 505, 580,570,460,600, 580,530,526.
Can one conclude that Raju Restaurant’s sales have increased? Use 5% level of
significance.
SECTION C (Compulsory) 15 marks
As a researcher you are interested in knowing the brand preferences of consumers who
wish to buy a smart phone. Prepare a questionnaire for a survey using all the 4 types of
scales – nominal, ordinal, ratio and interval scale.