mb0034 research methodology - feb 10

8/8/2019 MB0034 Research Methodology - Feb 10

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Master of Business Administration- MBA Semester 3MB0034 Research Methodology - 3 Credits

Assignment Set- 1 (60 Marks)

Q1. What do you mean by research? Explain its significance in social and businesssciences.

Ans. Research simply means a search for facts answers to questions and solutions toproblems. It is a purposive investigation. It is an organized inquiry. It seeks to findexplanations to unexplained phenomenon to clarify the doubtful facts and to correct themisconceived facts.

The search for facts may be made through either :

Arbitrary (or unscientific) method : Its a method of

seeking answers to question consists of imagination,opinion, blind belief or impression. E.g. it wasbelieved that the shape of the earth was flat; a bigsnake swallows sun or moon causing solar or lunareclipse. It is subjective; the finding will vary fromperson to person depending on his impression orimagination. It is vague and inaccurate.

Or

Scientific Method : this is a systematic rational

approach to seeking facts. It eliminates thedrawbacks of the arbitrary method. It is objectiveprecise and arrives at conclusions on the basis ofverifiable evidences.

Therefore, search of facts should be made by scientific method neither than by arbitrarymethod. Then only we may get verifiable and accurate facts. Hence research is a systematicand logical study of an issue or problem or phenomenon through scientific method.

Young defines Research as a scientific undertaking which, by means of logical andsystematic techniques, aims to :

(a) Discover of new facts or verify and test old facts.

(b) Analyze their sequences, interrelationships and casual explanations.

(c) Develop new scientific tools, concepts and theories which would facilitate reliableand valid study of human behavior.

(d) Kerlinger defines research as a systematic, controlled, empirical and criticalinvestigation of hypothetical propositions about the presumed relations among naturalphenomena.

Significance of Research in Social and Business Sciences.


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According to a famous Hudson Maxim, All progress is born of inquiry. Doubt is oftenbetter that overconfidence, for it leads to inquiry, and inquiry leads to invention. It brings outthe significance of research, increased amounts of which makes progress possible. Researchencourages scientific and inductive thinking, besides promoting the development of logicalhabits of thinking and Organisation.

The role of research in applied economics in the context of an economy or business isgreatly increasing in modern times. The increasingly complex nature of government andbusiness has realized the use of research in solving operation problems research assumessignificant role in formulation of economic policy, for both the government policies of aneconomic system. Government budget formulation, for example, depends particularly on theanalysis of needs and desires of the people, and the availability of revenues, which requiresresearch. Research helps to formulate alternative policies, in addition to examining theconsequences of these alternatives. Thus, research also facilitates the decision making ofpolicy-makers, although in itself it is not a part of research. In the process, research also helpsin the proper allocation of a countrys scare resources. Research is also necessary for

collection information on the social and economic structure of an economy to understand theprocess of change occurring in the country. Collection of statistical information though not aroutine task, involves various research problems. Therefore, large staff of research techniciansor experts is engaged by the government these days to undertake this work. Thus, research asa tool of government economic policy formulation involves three distinct stages of operationwhich are as follows :

Investigation of economic structure through continualcompilation of facts.

Diagnosis of events that are taking place and theanalysis of the forces underlying them: and

The prognosis, i.e, the prediction of futuredevelopments.

Research also assumes a significant role in solving various operational and planningproblems associated with business and industry. In several ways, operations research, marketresearch, and motivations research are vital and their results assist in taking businessdecisions. Market research is refers to the investigation of the structure and development of amarket for the formulation of efficient policies relating to purchases, production and sales.Operational research relates to the application of logical, mathematical, and analyticaltechniques to find solution to business problems such as cost minimization or profitmaximization, or the optimization problems. Motivational research helps to determine why

people behave in the manner they do with respect to market characteristics. More specifically,it is concerned with the analyzing the motivations underlying consumer behavior. All theseresearches are very useful for business and industry, which are responsible for businessdecision making.

Research is equally important to social scientist for analyzing social relationships andseeking explanations to various social problems. It gives intellectual satisfaction of knowingthings for the sake of knowledge. It also possesses practical utility for the social scientist togain knowledge so as to be able to do something better or in a more efficient manner. This,research in social sciences is concerned with both knowledge for its own sake, and knowledgefor what it can contribute to solve practical problems.

Q2. What is meant by research problem? And what are the characteristics of a good


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research problem?

Ans. Research really begins when the researcher experiences some difficulty, i.e., a problemdemanding a solution within the subject are of his discipline. This general area of interest,however, defines only the range of subject-matter within which the researcher would see andpose a specific problem for research. Personal values play an important role in the selection of

a topic for research. Social conditions do often shape the preference of investigators in asubtle and imperceptible way.

The formulation of the topic into a research problem is, really speaking the first step in ascientific enquiry. A problem in simple words is some difficulty experienced by the researcherin a theoretical or practical situation. Solving this difficulty is the task of research.

RL Ackoffs analysis affords considerable guidance in identifying problem for research.He visualizes five components of a problem.

Research-consumer: There must be an individual or a group which experiences somedifficulty.

Research-consumers Objectives : The research-consumer must have available,alternative means for achieving the objectives he desires.

Alternative Means to Meet the Objectives : The research-consumer must haveavailable, alternative means for achieving the objectives he desires.

Doubt in Regard to Selection of Alternatives : The existence of alternative courses ofaction is not enough ; in order to experience a problem, the research consumer musthave some doubt as to which alternative to select.

There must be One or More Environments to which the Difficulty or ProblemPertains : A change in environment may produce or remote a problem. A research-consumer may have doubts as to which will be the most efficient means in oneenvironment but would have no such double in another.

Characteristics of a Good Research Problem

Horton and Hunt have given following characteristics of scientific research :

1. Verifiable evidence : That is factual observations which other observers can seeand check.

2. Accuracy : That is describing what really exists. It means truth or correctness ofa statement or describing things exactly as they are and avoiding jumping tounwarranted conclusions either by exaggeration or fantasizing.

3. Precision : That is making it as exact as necessary, or giving exact number ofmeasurement. This avoids colorful literature and vague meanings.

4. Systematization : That is attempting to find all the relevant data, or collectingdate in a systematic and organized way so that the conclusions drawn are reliable. Databased on casual recollections are generally incomplete and give unreliable judgmentsand conclusions.

5. Objectivity : That is free being from all biases and vested interests. It meansobservation is unaffected by the observers values, beliefs and preferences to the extent

possible and he is able to see and accept facts as they are, not as he might wish themto be.


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6. Recording : That is jotting down complete details as quickly as possible. Sincehuman memory is fallible, all data collected are recorded.

7. Controlling conditions : That is controlling all variables except one and thenattempting to examine what happens when that variable is varied. This is the basic

technique in all scientific experimentation allowing one variable to vary while holdingall other variable constant.

Q 3. What is hypothesis? Examine the procedures for testing hypothesis.

Ans. A hypothesis is an assumption about relations between variables. It is a tentativeexplanation of the research problem or a guess about the research outcome. Before startingthe research, the researcher has a rather general, diffused, even confused notion of theproblem. It may take long time for the researcher to say what questions he had been seekinganswers to. Hence, an adequate statement about the research problem is very important. Whatis a good problem statement? It is an interrogative statement that asks: what relationship exists

between two or more variables? It then further asks questions like: Is A related to B or not?How are A and B related to C? Is A related to B under conditions X and Y? Proposing astatement pertaining to relationship between A and B is called a hypothesis

According to Theodorson and Theodorson, a hypothesis is a tentative statementasserting a relationship between certain facts. Kerlinger describes it as a conjectural statementof the relationship between two or more variables. Black and Champion have described it asa tentative statement about something, the validity of which is usually unknown. Thisstatement is intended to be tested empirically and is either verified or rejected. It the statementis not sufficiently established, it is not considered a scientific law. In other words, a hypothesiscarries clear implications for testing the stated relationship, i.e., it contains variables that are

measurable and specifying how they are related. A statement that lacks variables or that doesnot explain how the variables are related to each other is no hypothesis in scientific sense.

Procedures for Testing Hypothesis

To test a hypothesis means to tell (on the basis of the data researcher has collected)whether or not the hypothesis seems to be valid. In hypothesis testing the main question is:whether the null hypothesis or not to accept the null hypothesis? Procedure for hypothesistesting refers to all those steps that we undertake for making a choice between the two actionsi.e., rejection and acceptance of a null hypothesis. The various steps involved in hypothesistesting are stated below:

Making a Formal Statement

The step consists in making a formal statement of the null hypothesis (Ho) and also of

the alternative hypothesis (Ha). This means that hypothesis should clearly state, considering

the nature of the research problem. For instance, Mr. Mohan of the Civil EngineeringDepartment wants to test the load bearing capacity of an old bridge which must be more than10 tons, in that case he can state his hypothesis as under:Null hypothesis HO: =10 tons

Alternative hypothesis Ha: >10 tons

Take another example. The average score in an aptitude test administered at the national level

is 80. To evaluate a states education system, the average score of 100 of the states students


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selected on the random basis was 75. The state wants to know if there is a significancedifference between the local scores and the national scores. In such a situation the hypothesismay be state as under:

Null hypothesis HO: =80

Alternative hypothesis Ha: 80

The formulation of hypothesis is an important step which must be accomplished with duecare in accordance with the object and nature of the problem under consideration. It alsoindicates whether we should use a tailed test or a two tailed test. If H

ais of the type greater

than, we use alone tailed test, but when Hais of the type whether greater or smaller then we

use a two-tailed test.

Selecting a Significant Level

The hypothesis is tested on a pre-determined level of significance and such the sameshould have specified. Generally, in practice, either 5% level or 1% level is adopted for the

purpose. The factors that affect the level of significance are: The magnitude of the difference between sample ; The size of the sample; The variability of measurements within samples; Whether the hypothesis is directional or non directional (A directional hypothesis is

one which predicts the direction of the difference between, say, means). In brief, thelevel of significance must be adequate in the context of the purpose and nature ofenquiry.

Deciding the Distribution to Use

After deciding the level of significance, the next step in hypothesis testing is to determinethe appropriate sampling distribution. The choice generally remains between distribution andthe t distribution. The rules for selecting the correct distribution are similar to those which wehave stated earlier in the context of estimation.

Selecting A Random Sample & Computing An Appropriate Value

Another step is to select a random sample(S) and compute an appropriate value fromthe sample data concerning the test statistic utilizing the relevant distribution. In other words,draw a sample to furnish empirical data.

Calculation of the Probability

One has then to calculate the probability that the sample result would diverge as widelyas it has from expectations, if the null hypothesis were in fact true.

Comparing the Probability

Yet another step consists in comparing the probability thus calculated withthe specified value for , the significance level. If the calculated probability is equalto smaller than value in case of one tailed test (and /2 in case of two-tailed test),then reject the null hypothesis (i.e. accept the alternative hypothesis), but if the probability is

greater then accept the null hypothesis. In case we reject H0 we run a risk of (at most level of


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significance) committing an error of type I, but if we accept H0, then we run some risk of

committing error type II.


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Flow Diagram for Testing Hypothesis

committing type II

error

Q4. Write an essay on the need for research design and explain the principles of


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experimental designs.

Ans. The need for the methodologically designed research:

(a) In many a research inquiry, the researcher has no idea as to how accurate theresults of his study ought to be in order to be useful. Where such is the case, the

researcher has to determine how much inaccuracy may be tolerated. In a quite fewcases he may be in a position to know how much inaccuracy his method of research willproduce. In either case he should design his research if he wants to assure himself ofuseful results.

(b) In many research projects, the time consumed in trying to ascertain what the datamean after they have been collected is much greater than the time taken to design aresearch which yields data whose meaning is known as they are collected.

(c) The idealized design is concerned with specifying the optimum researchprocedure that could be followed were there no practical restrictions.

Characteristics of a Good Research Design

1. It is a series of guide posts to keep one going in the right direction.

2. It reduces wastage of time and cost.

3. It encourages co-ordination and effective organization.

4. It is a tentative plan which undergoes modifications, as circumstances demand,when the study progresses, new aspects, new conditions and new relationships come to

light and insight into the study deepens.

5. It has to be geared to the availability of data and the cooperation of theinformants.

6. It has also to be kept within the manageable limits

Principles of Experimental Designs

Professor Fisher has enumerated three principles of experimental designs:1. The principle of replication: The experiment should be reaped more than once.Thus, each treatment is applied in many experimental units instead of one. By doing so,the statistical accuracy of the experiments is increased. For example, suppose we are toexamine the effect of two varieties of rice. For this purpose we may divide the field intotwo parts and grow one variety in one part and the other variety in the other part. Wecan compare the yield of the two parts and draw conclusion on that basis. But if we areto apply the principle of replication to this experiment, then we first divide the field intoseveral parts, grow one variety in half of these parts and the other variety in theremaining parts. We can collect the data yield of the two varieties and draw conclusionby comparing the same. The result so obtained will be more reliable in comparison tothe conclusion we draw without applying the principle of replication. The entireexperiment can even be repeated several times for better results. Consequentlyreplication does not present any difficulty, but computationally it does. However, itshould be remembered that replication is introduced in order to increase the precision of


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a study; that is to say, to increase the accuracy with which the main effects andinteractions can be estimated.

2. The principle of randomization: It provides protection, when we conduct anexperiment, against the effect of extraneous factors by randomization. In other words,this principle indicates that we should design or plan the experiment in such a way that

the variations caused by extraneous factors can all be combined under the generalheading of chance. For instance if we grow one variety of rice say in the first half of theparts of a field and the other variety is grown in the other half, then it is just possible thatthe soil fertility may be different in the first half in comparison to the other half. If this isso, our results would not be realistic. In such a situation, we may assign the variety ofrice to be grown in different parts of the field on the basis of some random samplingtechnique i.e., we may apply randomization principle and protect ourselves against theeffects of extraneous factors. As such, through the application of the principle ofrandomization, we can have a better estimate of the experimental error.3. Principle of local control: It is another important principle of experimentaldesigns. Under it the extraneous factors, the known source of variability, is made to vary

deliberately over as wide a range as necessary and this needs to be done in such a waythat the variability it causes can be measured and hence eliminated from theexperimental error. This means that we should plan the experiment in a manner that wecan perform a two-way analysis of variance, in which the total variability of the data isdivided into three components attributed to treatments, the extraneous factor andexperimental error. In other words, according to the principle of local control, we firstdivide the field into several homogeneous parts, known as blocks, and then each suchblock is divided into parts equal to the number of treatments. Then the treatments arerandomly assigned to these parts of a block. In general, blocks are the levels at whichwe hold an extraneous factors fixed, so that we can measure its contribution to thevariability of the data by means of a two-way analysis of variance. In brief, through the

principle of local control we can eliminate the variability due to extraneous factors fromthe experimental error.

Q5. Distinguish between primary and secondary of data collection. Explain thefeatures, uses, advantages and limitations of secondary data. Which is the best way ofcollecting the data for research Primary or secondary. Support your answer.

Ans. Meaning and Importance of Data :The search for answers to research questions iscalled collection of data. Data are facts, and other relevant materials, past and present, servingas bases for study and analyses. The data needed for a social science research may bebroadly classified into (a) Data pertaining to human beings, (b) Data relating to organizationand (c) Data pertaining to territorial areas.

The data serve as the bases or raw materials for analysis. Without an analysis of factualdata, no specific inferences can be drawn on the questions under study. Inferences based onimagination or guess work cannot provide correct answers to research questions. Therelevance, adequacy and reliability of data determine the quality of the findings of a study.

Data form the basis for testing the hypothesis formulated in a study. Data also providethe facts and figures required for constructing measurement scales and tables, which areanalyzed with statistical techniques. Inferences on the results of statistical analysis and tests ofsignificance provide the answers to research questions. Thus, the scientific process ofmeasurements, analysis, testing and inferences depends on the availability of relevant dataand their accuracy. Hence, the importance of data for any research studies.

The sources of data may be classified into (a) primary sources and (b) secondary


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sources.

Primary Sources of Data

Primary sources are original sources from which the researcher directly collects datathat have not been previously collected e.g.., collection of data directly by the researcher on

brand awareness, brand preference, brand loyalty and other aspects of consumer behaviourfrom a sample of consumers by interviewing them,. Primary data are first hand informationcollected through various methods such as observation, interviewing, mailing etc.


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Advantage of Primary Data

It is original source of data It is possible to capture the changes occurring in the course of time. It flexible to the advantage of researcher. Extensive research study is based of primary data

Disadvantage of Primary Data

1. Primary data is expensive to obtain2. It is time consuming3. It requires extensive research personnel who are skilled.4. It is difficult to administer.

Methods of Collecting Primary DataPrimary data are directly collected by the researcher from their original sources. In this

case, the researcher can collect the required date precisely according to his research needs,

he can collect them when he wants them and in the form he needs them. But the collection ofprimary data is costly and time consuming. Yet, for several types of social science researchrequired data are not available from secondary sources and they have to be directly gatheredfrom the primary sources.

In such cases where the available data are inappropriate, inadequate or obsolete,primary data have to be gathered. They include: socio economic surveys, socialanthropological studies of rural communities and tribal communities, sociological studies ofsocial problems and social institutions. Marketing research, leadership studies, opinion polls,attitudinal surveys, readership, radio listening and T.V. viewing surveys, knowledge-awarenesspractice (KAP) studies, farm managements studies, business management studies etc.

There are various methods of data collection. A Method is different from a Tool while a

method refers to the way or mode of gathering data, a tool is an instruments used for themethod. For example, a schedule is used for interviewing. The important methods are

(a) Observation

(b) Interviewing

(c) Mail Survey

(d) Experimentation

(e) Simulation and

(f) Projective Technique.

Secondary Sources of Data

These are sources containing data which have been collected and compiled for anotherpurpose. The secondary sources consists of readily compendia and already compiled statisticalstatements and reports whose data may be used by researchers for their studies e.g., censusreports , annual reports and financial statements of companies, Statistical statement, Reportsof Government Departments, Annual reports of currency and finance published by the ReserveBank of India, Statistical statements relating to Co-operatives and Regional Banks, publishedby the NABARD, Reports of the National sample survey Organization, Reports of trade


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associations, publications of international organizations such as UNO, IMF, World Bank, ILO,WHO, etc., Trade and Financial journals newspapers etc.

Secondary sources consist of not only published records and reports, but alsounpublished records. The latter category includes various records and registers maintained bythe firms and organizations, e.g., accounting and financial records, personnel records, registerof members, minutes of meetings, inventory records etc.

Features of Secondary Sources

Though secondary sources are diverse and consist of all sorts of materials, they havecertain common characteristics.

First, they are readymade and readily available, and do not require the trouble ofconstructing tools and administering them.

Second, they consist of data which a researcher has no original control over collectionand classification. Both the form and the content of secondary sources are shaped by others.Clearly, this is a feature which can limit the research value of secondary sources.

Finally, secondary sources are not limited in time and space. That is, the researcher

using them need not have been present when and where they were gathered.

Use of Secondary Data

The second data may be used in three ways by a researcher. First, some specificinformation from secondary sources may be used for reference purpose. For example, thegeneral statistical information in the number of co-operative credit societies in the country, theircoverage of villages, their capital structure, volume of business etc., may be taken frompublished reports and quoted as background information in a study on the evaluation ofperformance of cooperative credit societies in a selected district/state.

Second, secondary data may be used as bench marks against which the findings of

research may be tested, e.g., the findings of a local or regional survey may be compared withthe national averages; the performance indicators of a particular bank may be tested againstthe corresponding indicators of the banking industry as a whole; and so on.

Finally, secondary data may be used as the sole source of information for a researchproject. Such studies as securities Market Behaviour, Financial Analysis of companies, Tradein credit allocation in commercial banks, sociological studies on crimes, historical studies, andthe like, depend primarily on secondary data. Year books, statistical reports of governmentdepartments, report of public organizations of Bureau of Public Enterprises, Censes Reportsetc, serve as major data sources for such research studies.

Advantages of Secondary Data

Secondary sources have some advantages:

(a) Secondary data, if available can be secured quickly and cheaply. Once theirsource of documents and reports are located, collection of data is just matter of deskwork. Even the tediousness of copying the data from the source can now be avoided,thanks to Xeroxing facilities.

(b) Wider geographical area and longer reference period may be covered withoutmuch cost. Thus, the use of secondary data extends the researchers space and timereach.

(c) The use of secondary data broadens the data base from which scientific


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generalizations can be made.

(d) Environmental and cultural settings are required for the study.

(e) The use of secondary data enables a researcher to verify the findings bases onprimary data. It readily meets the need for additional empirical support. The researcher

need not wait the time when additional primary data can be collected.

Disadvantages of Secondary Data

The use of a secondary data has its own limitations.

(a) The most important limitation is the available data may not meet our specificneeds. The definitions adopted by those who collected those data may be different; unitsof measure may not match; and time periods may also be different.

(b) The available data may not be as accurate as desired. To assess their accuracy

we need to know how the data were collected.

(c) The secondary data are not up-to-date and become obsolete when they appear inprint, because of time lag in producing them. For example, population census data arepublished tow or three years later after compilation, and no new figures will be availablefor another ten years.

(d) Finally, information about the whereabouts of sources may not be available to allsocial scientists. Even if the location of the source is known, the accessibility dependsprimarily on proximity. For example, most of the unpublished official records andcompilations are located in the capital city, and they are not within the easy reach of

researchers based in far off places.

Evaluation of Secondary DataWhen a researcher wants to use secondary data for his research, he should evaluate

them before deciding to use them.

1. Data Pertinence The first consideration in evaluation is to examine the pertinence of theavailable secondary data to the research problem under study. The following questions shouldbe considered.

What are the definitions and classifications employed? Are they consistent ? What are the measurements of variables used? What is the degree to which they

conform to the requirements of our research? What is the coverage of the secondary data in terms of topic and time? Does this

coverage fit the needs of our research?On the basis of above consideration, the pertinence of the secondary data to the

research on hand should be determined, as a researcher who is imaginative and flexiblemay be able to redefine his research problem so as to make use of otherwise unusableavailable data.

2. Data Quality If the researcher is convinced about the available secondary datafor his needs, the next step is to examine the quality of the data. The quality of datarefers to their accuracy, reliability and completeness. The assurance and reliability of theavailable secondary data depends on the organization which collected them and the

purpose for which they were collected. What is the authority and prestige of the


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organization? Is it well recognized? Is it noted for reliability? It is capable of collectingreliable data? Does it use trained and well qualified investigators? The answers to thesequestions determine the degree of confidence we can have in the data and theiraccuracy. It is important to go to the original source of the secondary data rather than touse an immediate source which has quoted from the original. Then only, the researchercan review the cautionary ands other comments that were made in the original source.

3. Data Completeness The completeness refers to the actual coverage of thepublished data. This depends on the methodology and sampling design adopted by theoriginal organization. Is the methodology sound? Is the sample size small or large? Isthe sampling method appropriate? Answers to these questions may indicate theappropriateness and adequacy of the data for the problem under study. The question ofpossible bias should also be examined. Whether the purpose for which the originalorganization collected the data had a particular orientation? Has the study been made topromote the organizations own interest? How the study was conducted? These areimportant clues. The researcher must be on guard when the source does not report themethodology and sampling design. Then it is not possible to determine the adequacy of

the secondary data for the researchers study.

Q6. Describe interview method of collecting data. State the conditions under which itis considered most suitable. You have been assigned to conduct a survey on thereading habits of the house wives in the middle class family. Design a suitablequestionnaire consisting of 20 questions you propose to use in the survey.

Ans. Interviewing is one of the prominent methods of data collection. It may be defined as a

two way systematic conversation between an investigator and an informant, initiated for

obtaining information relevant to a specific study. It involves not only conversation, but also

learning from the respondents gesture, facial expressions and pauses, and his environment.Interviewing requires face to face contact or contact over telephone and calls for interviewing

skills. It is done by using a structured schedule or an unstructured guide.

Interviewing may be used either as a main method or as a supplementary one in studies

of persons. Interviewing is the only suitable method for gathering information from illiterate or

less educated respondents. It is useful for collecting a wide range of data from factual

demographic data to highly personal and intimate information relating to a persons opinions,

attitudes, values, beliefs past experience and future intentions. When qualitative information is

required or probing is necessary to draw out fully, and then interviewing is required. Where the

area covered for the survey is a compact, or when a sufficient number of qualified interviewersare available, personal interview is feasible.

Interviewing as a method of data collection has certain features. They are:

The Participants: The interviewer and the respondent are strangers. Hence, the

investigator has to get him introduced to the respondent in an appropriate manner.

The Relationship between the Participants is a Transitory one: It has a fixed beginning

and termination points. The interview proper is a fleeting, momentary experience for them.

Interview is not a mere casual conversational exchange: Interview is a conversation witha specific purpose, viz., obtaining information relevant to a study.


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Interview is a mode of obtaining verbal answers to questions put verbally: The

interaction between the interviewer and the respondent need not necessarily be on a face-to-

face basis, because interview can be conducted over the telephone also. Although interview is

usually a conversation between two persons, it need not be limited to a single respondent. It

can also be conducted with a group of persons, such as family members, or a group of children

or a group of customers, depending on the requirements of the study.

Interview is an inter-actionable process: The interaction between the interviewer and the

respondent depends upon how they perceive each other.

The respondent reacts to the interviewers appearance, behaviour, gestures, facial

expression and intonation, his perception of the thrust of the questions and his own personal

needs. As far as possible, the interviewer should try to be closer to the social-economic level of

the respondents. Moreover, he should realize that his respondents are under no obligations to

extend response. One should, therefore, be tactful and be alert to such reactions of the

respondents as lame- excuse, suspicion, reluctance or indifference, and deal with them

suitably. One should not also argue or dispute.

One should rather maintain an impartial and objective attitude. Information furnished by

the respondent in the interview is recorded by the investigator. This poses a problem of seeing

that recording does not interfere with the tempo of conversation.

Interviewing is not a standardized process: Like that of a chemical technician; it is rather

a flexible psychological process. The implication of this feature is that the interviewer cannot

apply unvarying standardized technique, because he is dealing with respondents with varying

motives and diverse perceptions. The extent of his success as an interviewer is very largely

dependent upon his insight and skill in dealing with varying socio-physiological situations.

The Questionnaire:-

1. How old were you when you learned how to read?2. Were you a big reader growing up?3. Are there any books that left a big impression on you as a kid?4. Favorite genres? (Do you read mainly fiction or non-fiction?) Do you have a

soft spot for honor, Sci-fi, or romance?)5. Top 5 favorite authors.6. Top 5 favorite books.7. What do you typically wear when you read?8. On average, how many books do you read a month?9. How do you get hold of the books? Do you buy them at a bookstore, visit an

online store, borrow from a friend or family member, or do you use thelibrary?

10. Paperback or hardcover?11. At what point do you give up on a book?12. How do you find about new books and authors?13. Best reading-related memory?14. Worst reading-related memory?15. What was the last book(s) you bought?16. What was the last book you checked out from the library?

17. On average, how many hours a week do you spend reading?


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18. Do you sometimes read more than one hook at the time?19. Whats the longest youve gone without reading?20. Why do you read?


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Master of Business Administration- MBA Semester 4MB0034 Research Methodology

Assignment Set- 2 (60 Marks)

Q1. Write a short notes on the following:

(a) Null Hypothesis(b) What is exploratory research?(c) What is Random Sampling?(d) Rank Order Correlation?

1.

(a) Null Hypothesis and Alternative Hypothesis

In the context of statistical analysis, we often talk null and alternative hypothesis.If we are to compare method A with method B about its superiority and if we proceed onthe assumption that both methods are equally good, then this assumption is termed asnull hypothesis. As against this, we may think that the method A is superior, it isalternative hypothesis. Symbolically presented as:

Null hypothesis = H0and Alternative hypothesis = H

a

Suppose we want to test the hypothesis that the population mean is equal to thehypothesis mean ( H

0) = 100. Then we would say that the null hypotheses are that the

population mean is equal to the hypothesized mean 100 and symbolical we can expressas: H

0: = H

0=100

If our sample results do not support these null hypotheses, we should concludethat something else is true. What we conclude rejecting the null hypothesis is known as

alternative hypothesis. If we accept H0, then we are rejecting Ha and if we reject H0, thenwe are accepting H

a. For H

0: = H

0=100, we may consider three possible alternative

hypotheses as follows:

AlternativeHypothesis

To be read as follows

Ha: H

0

(The alternative hypothesis is that the population mean is not equalto 100 i.e., it may be more or less 100)

Ha: > H

0

(The alternative hypothesis is that the population mean is greater

than 100)

Ha: < H

0

(The alternative hypothesis is that the population mean is less than

100)

The null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis are chosen before the sampleis drawn (the researcher must avoid the error of deriving hypothesis from the data hecollects and testing the hypothesis from the same data). In the choice of null hypothesis,the following considerations are usually kept in view:

Alternative hypothesis is usually the one which wishes to prove and the nullhypothesis are ones that wish to disprove. Thus a null hypothesis represents

the hypothesis we are trying to reject, the alternative hypothesis represents all


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X(height-cm)174175176177178182183186

189193

Y(weight-kg)

61

65

67

68

72

74

80

87

92

95

other possibilities.

If the rejection of a certain hypothesis when it is actually true involves greatrisk, it is taken as null hypothesis because then the probability ofrejecting it when it is true is (the level of significance) which ischosen very small.

Null hypothesis should always be specific hypothesis i.e., it should not stateabout or approximately a certain value.

Generally, in hypothesis testing we proceed on the basis of null hypothesis,keeping the alternative hypothesis in view. Why so? The answer is that onassumption that null hypothesis is true, one can assign the probabilities todifferent possible sample results, but this cannot be done if we proceed withalternative hypothesis. Hence the use of null hypothesis (at times also knownas statistical hypothesis) is quite frequent.

2. Elaborate the format of a research report touching briefly on the mechanics of writing.

3. Discuss the importance of case study method.

4. Give the importance of frequency tables and discuss the principles of table construction,frequency distribution and class intervals determination

5. Write a short notes on the following:(a) Type I error and type II error.(b) One tailed and two tailed test(c) Selecting the significance level

6. Explain Karl Pearson Co-efficient of correlation. Calculate Karl Pearson coefficient for thefollowing data:.

mb0034 research methodology - feb 10

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