T.A.

PAI MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE, MANIPAL

BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS

Programme: PGDM
Batch: 2020 - 2022
Term: 3
Course Name: Business Research Methods-OPS 5003
Credits: 3 (30 Hours)
Course Instructors: Prof. Shirshendu Ganguli (Core), Prof. Jighyasu Gaur (Core) &
Prof. Tathagata Ghosh (Core)

PART 1
INTRODUCTION:
Business Research is the process of identifying solutions for problems related to business
situations. This process involves identifying the problem in its correctness, formulating research
design to systematically collect, record, analyze & interpret the data that can help to solve
problems for decision makers involved in various areas of business and leads to its improvement.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
• To understand, formulate and conduct research design including research methodology,
analysis, and report making to solve business research problems.
• To learn application of various univariate and multivariate techniques for solving business
research problems.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the end of the course, the students should be able to:
CLO 1: Define the business research problem, formulate research objectives, prepare an
appropriate research design including the methodology, data collection procedure, and
identify appropriate analysis to arrive at the solution. (PLG 2)
CLO 2: Understand, analyze and interpret the basic tools and techniques for data analysis such
as T-tests and ANOVA, as well as advanced techniques such as factor analysis, cluster
analysis, discriminant analysis etc. (PLG 3)
CLO 3: Interpret the results obtained from data analysis and communicate the same in
appropriate business language (PLG 4)
1
COURSE CONTENT:
• Business research methods: The fundamentals of qualitative, quantitative and experimental
research.
• Research design.
• Testing of hypotheses.
• Questionnaire design: Purpose, sequencing, coding, types of questions and scales of
measurement.
• Sampling methods: Sample size, sampling techniques and sampling errors.
• Data analysis with SPSS / Excel / R, cross tabulation, chi-squared test, t-tests, and ANOVA.
• Multivariate techniques: Multiple Regression Analysis, Factor Analysis, Discriminant Analysis
and Cluster analysis.

PRESCRIBED TEXT BOOK:

Malhotra, N. K. & Dash, S. (2019). Marketing Research: An Applied Orientation. (7th edition
revised), Pearson India Education Services Pvt. Ltd.

OTHER READINGS REFERENCES:

Students can also refer to other books to supplement their study:
a. Chawla, D. & Sondhi, N. (2011). Research Methodology, Concepts and Cases, Vikash
Publishing House.
b. Cooper, D. R., Schindler, P. S. & Sharma, J. K. (2012). Business Research Methods, New
Delhi: McGraw Hill Education (India) Private Limited.

POLICY ON PLAGIARISM:

Plagiarism of any kind and to any extent would attract penalties. The assessment would be ‘zero’
for the particular component, with no further opportunity to improve. Repetition of the offence
would result in failure in the subject.

ASSESSMENT SCHEME AND WEIGHTAGE

{a} END-TERM

Duration Open/close
Evaluation Weightage (%) CLO Tested
(in minutes) Book
End-Term 50 120 Open CLO 1 & CLO 2

2
 {b} OTHER EVALUATIONS

Unit of
S. No. Evaluation Item Weightage Time CLO Tested
Evaluation
Research Project
& Presentation Presentation
Group +
1 (Intermittent 30% in 27th – 30th CLO 3
Individual
check on the Sessions
research process)
Surprise Quizzes / Throughout
2 Individual 20% -
Assignments the course

PART 2: SESSION PLAN

Additional
Session Topic Pedagogy Readings Concepts to be covered Reading &
References
Chapter-1, 2 and The research process and
Introduction to Lecture and
1-2 3 introduction to qualitative
Business Research discussion -
and quantitative techniques

Exploratory Research: Obtaining Insights through Qualitative Research

Focus Group
Discussion; In- Conducting FGD & Article: Learning
Lecture and Chapter 5
3-4 depth interviews interviews, and analyzing its from extreme
discussion consumers
and projective results
techniques
Capturing Data

Measurement
Lecture and Chapter-8 and 9 Type of scales and their
5-6 Scales (types of -
discussion utility
scales)
Brainstorming, Pretesting
Article:
and final design (covers
Questionnaire Lecture and Chapter 10 Questionnaire
7 purpose, sequencing,
design discussion design and
coding, and types of
development
questions)
Types of sampling, sample
Discussion Chapter 11 and
8 Sampling size, sampling, and non- -
and exercise 12
sampling errors
9 Review Session

Tools and Techniques for Data Analysis

3
 Additional
Session Topic Pedagogy Readings Concepts to be covered Reading &
References
Hypothesis testing process:
Hypotheses Null and alternate
Discussion
10-11 testing; T-Tests and Chapter 15 & 16 hypothesis, T-tests, and chi-
and exercise -
Chi-square; ANOVA square tests; One-way
ANOVA
Factor analysis through
Discussion
12-14 Factor analysis Chapter 19 principal component -
and exercise
analysis

Discussion Hierarchical and non-

15-17 Cluster Analysis Chapter 20 -
and exercise hierarchical clustering

18 Review Session
Correlation, simple &
Correlation and
Discussion multiple regression,
19-21 Linear Regression Chapter 17
and exercise regression with dummy -
analyses
variables
Discriminant Discussion Two group discriminant
22-24 Chapter 18 -
analysis and exercise function
25 Review Session

Research Report Lecture and The do’s and don’ts of

26 Chapter 23 -
Writing discussion report writing

Presentation of
27-30 - - - -
Projects

4
 PLG MAPPING FOR THE COURSE
Addressed
CLO
PLG# Program Level Learning Goal by Course?
No.
(Yes / No)
Application of Fundamentals
PLG1 Traits: Demonstrate application of functional / conceptual knowledge to No NA
business situations
Problem Identification and Solution
PLG2 Traits: Demonstrate ability to identify a problem, critically assess various Yes CLO1
alternatives and suggest appropriate solution
Integrative Thinking
Traits: Demonstrate ability to identify inter-linkages among functional
PLG3 Yes CLO2
areas within an enterprise and assess the impact of external
environment on its performance
Effective Communication
PLG4 Yes CLO3
Traits: Demonstrate proficiency in Oral and Written Communication
Ethical Responsibility
PLG5 Traits: Demonstrate awareness and assess impact of ethical behavior on No NA
business
Leadership
PLG6 Traits: Demonstrate capability to take leadership role in a business No NA
situation

PART 3: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Project Details
The project in this course is a group project and is an important part in the learning process. The
topic for the project will be allocated to students within the first few sessions. Each group is
required to conduct proper research and prepare a report for the topic allocated. Further details
on this will be shared in the class.