Business Research Methods

1. Preparation of the
Research Report
For III B.Com and BBA

2. Research report
 Communication of generalisations/findings and conclusions made by the
researcher/investigator in a comprehensive written form
 Small projects  Oral reports
Extensive projects  Written documents + Interim reports + Long final reports
+ Several oral presentations
Defenition by William G Zigmund

3.  Functions:
1. Organised/systematic and permanent form of report  future research
2. Know quality of work done
3. Helps policy makers
 Importance:
1. Communication
2. Evaluation of success
3. Reveals researcher’ ability
4. Policy and decision making

4. Types of Report
 Based on background of potential audience
 What & how
 Readers of report  General public
Administrator/ Project sponsor
Fellow researcher/ technical expert
 Oral Report  Government & industries – USA – Continuous communication
 Written Report :
1. Popular Report  For layman – Simple style – Broad facts, findings and
recommendations- no technical aspects
2. To administrators  (Essence) Take decisions – Technical details + Supporting
data + Summary + Important recommendations of the study
3. Technical report  For specialists – detailed report – 4 items included

5. Format
The Preliminaries The text The Reference material
Title page Abstract Bibliography
Letter of transmittal Introduction Appendix
Acknowledgement Research procedure Index
Letter of authentication Results
Table of contents Discussions
List of tables Conclusion & summary
List of figures &
illustrations

6. Executive summary
 Key points
 Project summary, Background, process, Findings & conclusions,
Recommendation(Not inclu. In abstract)
 Steps:
1. Read entire document
2. Important Points
3. Sections
4. Combine information
5. Re-read executive summary
 Points to remember:
Length, Cutting & pasting, Audience, Clarity

7. Chapterisation Of Research Report
1. Introduction, Theoretical concept of the study, Terminologies, Defenitions,
Statement of the problem, Objectives of the study, Scheme of the report,
Limitations
2. Review of literature  Different heads
3. Research methodology  Design, Location of study, Nature & source of data,
Components of questionnaire(if used), Scale, Pilot study result, Sampling
design, Research tools and software packages for analysis etc.
4. Analysis & interpretation  Different heads – Based on objectives –
Descriptive and statistical techniques
5. Findings, Suggestions and conclusion
 Bibliography and references
Planning Report writing:
1. Organisation/structure [Horizontal/ sequential, Mixed ]
2.Writeup 3.Documentation

8.  Role of Audience:
1. Experts
2. Technicians
3. Executives
4. Non specialists
Readability  Ease with which a reader can understand the text –
factors & Guidelines
Comprehension  Whether an user can understand the intended
meaning of a text and can draw the correct conclusions from the text -
Guidelines
Tone  Writer’ voice in a written work
 Technical Report

9. Report writing stages
 No universally accepted standard format
 Depends on researcher and decision maker
 Allocate time for planning & preparation
 Clear, concise & well structured
 Convince readers  findings can be acted on for their benefit
 Time allocation for each stage  deadline
 8 stages

10. 1. Understanding the report brief
- Researcher understand the purpose of the report
2. Gathering material & data
- Relevant material  to understand topic/issue
- Questionnaire, survey etc.  Inclusion, grouping, sequence of information
3. Make overall report format
- Before 1st draft  make note
- Consider  heading, introduction, methodology, report, conclusion, evidence -
limitation/flaw & conflicts
- Relate information to issue/problem & organize(sections & heading)
 Title  main idea(s) of the study – capture attention – fewer words
Parameters  purpose, tone, methods
Working title & Final title

11. 4. Make a detailed outline  basic structure
- Organise materials  sections & headings
- Ideas  Major & supporting, develop & eliminate
- 3 parts  Introduction, Body (3-5 points), Conclusion
5. Drafting of the report
1st  Accurate facts – balance, transition, development,unity comprehensive
report
- Less importance  language & form
- 2 ways  One’s own head, From notes
- Problems & steps
2nd Form & language
- Critical evaluation
- Tips
3rd  Final touch
- Polishes – Attractive & reliable

12. 6. Editing of the final draft
- Spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, hyphenation, abbreviations
- Points
7. Documentation
- Purpose
- Footnotes  Authenticate or supplement
- Tables, charts & diagrams
- Bibliography  Working & Final – 4 forms – Point & General guide
- Quotations
- Appendices  To avoid cluttering
8. Final word processing & publishing

13. Ethics In Research
 To protect the dignity, rights and welfare of research participants
 Sponsors, those who permit access to source of data, research
participants/respondents
 Principle of voluntary participation
- Earlier  Captive audience (Ex:Prisons)
 Informed consent  Fully inform procedures and risk (Physical or
psychological)
 2 standards :
1. Participant’ confidentiality
2. Principle of anonymity
 No-treatment control group

14. Reasons For Following Norms
 Knowledge, truth and avoidance of error
 Trust, mutual respect and fairness
 Accountable
 Moral and social values
Ethical Principles In Research
Honesty Confidentiality Social Responsibility Respect for
Intellectual property
Objectivity Competence Responsible
publication
Non discrimination
Integrity Carefulness Responsible
mentoring
Human subjects
protection
Legality Openness Respect for
colleagues
Animal care

15. Objectivity Subjectivity
Considered/Interpreted Mind
independent  Personal impartiality
Mind dependentPersonal impressions,
feelings, opinions,rumor etc.
Information Based on facts Based on opinion
Information  Does not vary Can vary from person to person or day
to day
Close to the truth as possible Can be wrong or far from truth
Used in decision making process Less strongly considered
Differences between OBJECTIVITY and SUBJECTIVITY