Unit 1: Research methodology & design
Business Research Methods notes · PTU syllabus (BBA401-18)
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Unit summary
Business research is the systematic investigation of business problems to support decisions. This unit covers the definition, objectives and scope of management research, the research process and its limitations, formulating the research problem, research designs and sources of experimental error.
After this unit you can
- Define business research and its objectives and scope
- Explain the steps of the research process and its limitations
- Formulate a research problem
- Compare research designs and identify sources of experimental error
PTU syllabus topics
- Definition
- objectives and scope of management research
- the research process and its limitations
- formulating the research problem
- choice and types of research design
- sources of experimental error
- 1
Define the problem
- 2
Review literature
What is already known
- 3
Formulate hypotheses
- 4
Research design
Exploratory, descriptive or causal
- 5
Collect data
Primary and secondary
- 6
Analyse and interpret
- 7
Write the report
Topic 1
Meaning, objectives and scope
Business research is a systematic and objective process of gathering, recording and analysing data to aid business decision-making. Objectives: to explore a new area, describe a situation, diagnose causes, test hypotheses and predict outcomes. Scope: marketing research (consumer behaviour, advertising), financial research, HR research (attrition, satisfaction), production and operations, and strategy.
Topic 2
The research process
- 1
Define the research problem
- 2
Review the literature
- 3
Formulate objectives and hypotheses
- 4
Choose the research design
- 5
Decide sampling and data collection
- 6
Collect data
- 7
Analyse and interpret data
- 8
Write and present the report
Limitations: time and cost, respondent bias, sampling errors, difficulty measuring human behaviour, and changing environments.
Topic 3
Formulating the research problem
A well-defined problem is half solved. Steps: identify the broad area, understand the background, review literature, narrow the problem, state it clearly with objectives and research questions.
Example
Broad: "Low sales". Defined: "Why have repeat purchases of our herbal shampoo among women aged 20–35 in Ludhiana fallen by 15% in the last six months?"
Topic 4
Research designs
Exploratory
Gain insight into a vague problem
Literature, expert interviews, focus groups, case studies
Descriptive
Describe characteristics of a situation or group
Surveys, observation
Diagnostic
Find the causes of a problem
Surveys with analysis of relationships
Experimental (causal)
Test cause and effect
Controlled experiments, test markets
Topic 5
Sources of experimental error
- History: outside events during the experiment.
- Maturation: changes in subjects over time (fatigue, learning).
- Testing effect: the first test influences the second.
- Instrumentation: changes in measuring tools or observers.
- Selection bias: groups that differ from the start.
- Mortality (attrition): subjects dropping out.
- Statistical regression: extreme scores moving toward the average.
Using a control group and random assignment reduces these errors.
Key terms
- Business research
- Systematic investigation to support business decisions
- Research problem
- The specific issue to be investigated
- Research design
- The blueprint for collecting and analysing data
- Exploratory research
- Research to gain insight into an unclear problem
- Experimental error
- Factors other than the treatment that affect results
Quick revision
- Process: problem → literature → hypotheses → design → sampling → data → analysis → report.
- Designs: exploratory, descriptive, diagnostic, experimental.
- Errors: history, maturation, testing, instrumentation, selection, mortality.
- Control groups and randomisation reduce errors.
Important exam questions
Practice questions written to the PTU exam pattern for this unit's syllabus: short answers (Section A style) and long answers (Sections B and C style).
Short-answer questions
- Q1.Define business research.
- Q2.List the steps in the research process.
- Q3.What is exploratory research?
- Q4.Differentiate between descriptive and experimental research.
- Q5.What is a maturation effect?
Long-answer questions
- Q1.Explain the objectives, scope and limitations of business research.
- Q2.Explain the research process in detail.
- Q3.Compare the types of research design with examples.
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