Business Research Methodology

Professor. M. Mokarrom Hossain Professor,Faculty of Business & Economics

Daffodil International University

Abdullah Al Maruf – 113 – 11- 2295

What is a Research Proposal?

Research Proposal is a written statement of the research design. It is actually a blue-print for the future activities of a research project. A research Proposal represents the designing stage of a research project. It is a work-frame for completing in the research.

What purposes do a research proposal serve?

A research proposal serves with the idea of researcher about – What the wants to do.What objectives and methodology he has set for the

researcher.How much time and resources will be required to complete it.How the research findings would be reported and so on.

Point out the Techniques of preparing a Research Proposal?

Planning of Research Proposal/ Techniques of Preparing a Research Proposal :- Tittle:- Contribution and impact of RMG sector in

Bangladesh economy.

(The title should reflect the main theme of a research work. It should be self-explanatory, should be as brief as possible. Language should be simple. It should indicate the overall contents of research findings.)

Introduction Statement of the problemObjective of the problem

a) Main objective/Broad objective b) Specific objective

Formulation of hypothesisReview of related literature

(Some previous research work or that field)

Justification of the study/Rational of the study

Scope of the studyWorking definition of the

concepts, assumptions, limitations and delimitation

Research designing and methodology a) Population/Universe of the

study i. Census i.e. that is

individual unite ii. Sample i.e. that is sample

size, method of sampling b) Sources of data

i. Primary source ii. Secondary source

Theoretical and conceptual framework (The theoretical frame work is the foundation on which the entire research project is based)

Techniques/Methods of data collectiona) By mailing Questionnaire

Through personal & telephone Interview

b) By observationc) Through scheduled) Projective Techniquee) Document study

Reliability and validity of data

Processing of data a) Editing of the questionnaire

and scheduleb) Codingc) Classification of datad) Tabulatione) Statistical test of

significance

Analysis of data a) Descriptive Analysisb) Inferential Analysis/

Statistical Analysisc) Correlation Analysisd) Causal Analysis / Regression

Analysise) Chi-square Test ( )

Time Reference ( Period for which data are collected )

Time schedule/Time budget (Time required for the completion of the research project )

Money BudgetPersonnel, Researcher,

Enumerator, supervisor, statistician

Chapter Outline of the proposed study

Major findings of the studySummary, Conclusions and

Recommendations

Bibliographya) Questionnaire

b) Articlesc) Journald) Dissertatione) Ph. D. Thesis

Appendices/Appendix

Researcher Name:Address:

Supervisor Name :Address:

What is “Inductive Reasoning” ? Give ExampleInductive reasoning is the reasoning from particular facts to a general conclusion, whereby observations and data are collected with the assumption that relationship will become apparent.Example: 1. A drops of blood from any part of the body will indicate

the group of blood.2. A house wife boiling rice tests only two or three grains

and tasks decision as to the whole rice is boiled or not.

What is “Deducting Reasoning” ? Give ExampleDeductive reasoning is a process whereby through a series of local steps conclusions can be reached based on valid premises.Example: The car does not start, to start the car you may hypothesizeSeveral possibilities:1. There is no gasoline in the tank.2. The spark plus are workout.3. Moisture has condensed in the distributor cap.

Define independent variable. Distinguish between Moderating variable and intervening variable with example and diagram.

Moderating variableThe variable which directly influences both the independent variable and dependent variable is called moderating variable.

Intervening variableThe variable which directly influences the independent variable to make effecting of the dependent variable its called intervening variable.

An independent variable is one that influences the dependent variable and accounts for or explains the variance in the dependent variable.

Moderating Variable Suppose you are studying job applications to various departments within a large organization. You believe that in overall, women applicants are more likely to get the job than men applicants, but that this varies by the number of women already in the department the person applied to. Specifically, departments that already have a lot of women will favor female applicants, while departments with few women will favor male applicants. We can diagram this as follows

Intervening Variable

We said that diversity is good for profitability because diversity leads to innovation (fresh looks) which in turn leads to profitability. Here, innovation is an intervening variable. We diagram it this way

What is sampling?

Sampling is a method obtaining data or information about the population/ universe by investigation only a representative portion of them. For example, a housewife while boiling rice tests only two or three grains, and takes decision as to whether the whole rice is boiled or not.

What are the basis of sampling? 1.Homogeneity of population.2.Representativeness of the

sampling.3.Level of accuracy of

prediction.

Distinguish between random sampling and non-random samplingRandom

Sampling Probability sampling is also known as ”random sampling” or “ chance sampling”. Under this sampling design, every item of the universe has an equal chance of inclusion in the sample. It is, so to say, "lottery method” in which individual units are picked up from the whole group( not deliberation) but by some mechanical process.

The implications of random sampling are- It gives each element in the

population an equal probability of getting into the sample, and all choices are independent of one another.

It gives each possible sample combination an equal probability of being chosen.

Random sampling is considered as the best technique of selecting a “representative sample”.

Probability sampling are of following types:1. Sampling random

sampling.2. Systematic random

sampling.3. Stratified sampling4. Area sampling5. Cluster sampling6. Multi-stage sampling

Sampling random sampling: Sampling random sampling refers to the sampling technique in which each and every item of the population is given an equal chance of being included in the sample.Example: Population size = 500Sample ” = 50(sampling interval) 500/50 = 10Method used:1. Lottery method2. Table of random number

Types of probability sampling (Random Sampling)

Systematic random sampling:In systematic sampling, only the unit is selected and randomly and the remaining units of the sample are selected at fixed interval.Example: Population size = 1500 familiesSample size = 100 families(Sampling interval) 1500/100=151st sample= 12th family2nd ” = 12 +15/27 family3rd ” = 27+15/42 family

Stratified sampling:Under stratified sampling the population is divided into several sub-population that individually more homogeneous than the total population and then we select items from each stratum to constitute a sample.Each sub-population is known “ strata” stratified is made according- 1. Economic condition-Rich, middle

class, poor or upper middle class, lower middle class.

2. 2. Social values- progressive ,conservative etc.

3. 3.Geographical location- districts, upo-zilla etc.

Cluster sampling: In cluster sampling the total population is divided into a number of relatively small subdivisions which are themselves clusters of still smaller units and then some of these clusters are randomly selected for inclusion in the overall sample.Example: In Dhaka city, we can not conduct a survey on "low and order situation in that case Dhaka city will be divided into a member of areas or cluster, say 100 cluster, out of 100 cluster sample will be selected at random basis according to homogeneity

Area sampling: If clusters happen to be some geographic subdivisions, in that case cluster sampling is better known as area sampling.

Multi-stage sampling:As the name implies this method refers to a sampling procedure which is carried out in several stages. Suppose, we want to take 5000 households from Bangladesh.At the first stage- Bangladesh should be divided into a member of districts and a few districts selected at random.At the second stage, each districts may be sub- divided into a number of villages and a sample of villages may be taken at random. At the third stage, a number of households may be selected from each of the villages selected at the second stage. In this way, at each stage the sample size becomes smaller and smaller.

Non-random sampling is that sampling procedure which does not afford any basis for estimating the probability that each item in the population has of being included in the sample.

Types of non-random sampling: 1. Quota sampling2. Judgment sampling3. Convenience sampling

1. Quota sampling: Quota sampling is a from of proportionate stratified sampling, in which a predetermined proportion of people are sampled from different groups, but on a convenience basis. Example: Maid survent-10%, Housewife- 50%, Shopkeepers-10%, Below 12 years- 10%, Student-10%, Other-10% = 100%

Non-Random Sampling

2. Judgement sampling: In this type of sampling items for the sample are selected deliberation by the researcher purposively choose the particular units of the universe for constituting a sampling.3. Convenience sampling: The method of convenience sampling is also called the chunk. A chunk is a fraction of one population taken for investigation because of its convenient availability.

Flowchart of the research process: This is cyclical

Research Process

Research begins with a problem; an

unanswered question in the mind of

researcher

Research sees the goal in a clear statement

Research subdivides the problem into, appropriate sub

problem. Each sub problem seeks

guidance through an appropriate hypothesis.

Research posits tentative solutions to the problems through

appropriate hypotheses. There

hypotheses direct the researcher to the facts.

Research looks for facts directed by the

problem. The facts are collected and organized.

Research interprets the meaning of the facts

which leads to a resolution of the

problem, thus confirming or rejecting

an answer to the question which began the research cycle.