BRM Expected Questions
Q. 1 Define Business Research. What are the objectives of Business Research?
a ns: The term Business Research refers to academic research on topics related to questions that
are relevant to the field of business and management and have a social science orientation. We
include in this category research in areas such as organizational behavior, marketing, accounting,
HRM, and strategy, which draw on the social sciences for conceptual and theoretical inspiration.
Objectives of business research:
•1. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it (studies with this
object in view are termed exploratory or formulative research studies);
•2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation, or a group (studies
with this object in view are known as descriptive research studies);
•3. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables (such studies are known as
hypothesis-testing research studies).
.2 Differentiate between research methods, methodology, and techniques with suitable
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examples.
ans: Research methods vs research methodology:
(i)Research Methods are the methods researchersuse in performing research operations,
hereas Research Methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem.
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(ii) Research Methods help in the analysis of collected data to aid in finding Results, and thus
are a subset of Research Methodology, which provides a complete footprint of the research,
starting from Formulating the problem up to Logical Conclusion.
(iii) The scope of Research Methodology is wider than that of Research Methods.
Thus, when we talk of Research Methodology, we not only talk of Research Methods, but also
consider the logic behind the methods we utilize in the context of the research, and explain why
we are utilizing a particular method or technique so that research results are capable of being
evaluated by the researcher or by others.
RESEARCH METHODS Vs TECHNIQUES:
R esearch techniques refer to the behavior and instrumentswe use in performing research
operations such as making observations, recording data, techniques of processing data, and the
like. And, Research methods refer to the behavior and instruments used in selecting and
constructing research techniques. example:
.3 Explain the research process flow chart and the various steps required to
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perform scientific inquiry with relevant research problems.
ans:
The research process flow chart typically includes the following steps:
1. Identifying a Research Problem: The first step inthe research process is to
identify a problem or question that needs to be solved or answered. This could
be a gap in current knowledge, a societal issue, or a theoretical question.
2. Reviewing Literature: Once the problem has been identified,the researcher
reviews existing literature on the topic. This helps to understand what has
already been discovered and where gaps in knowledge exist.
3. Formulating a Hypothesis: Based on the literaturereview, the researcher
formulates a hypothesis or a set of hypotheses. A hypothesis is a proposed
explanation for a phenomenon, which can be tested.
4. D esign Research: The researcher then designs a study to test the hypothesis.
This includes deciding on the research methodology, selecting a sample, and
determining how data will be collected and analyzed.
5. Collecting Data: The researcher collects data accordingto the study design.
This could involve conducting experiments, surveys, interviews, or
observations.
6. Analyzing Data: The collected data is then analyzed.This could involve
statistical analysis, qualitative analysis, or a combination of both.
7. Interpreting Results: The researcher interprets theresults of the data analysis.
This involves determining whether the data supports the hypothesis, and what
the implications of the findings are.
8. Reporting Findings: Finally, the researcher reportsthe findings. This typically
involves writing a research paper or report, which includes an introduction,
literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion.
Each of these steps is crucial in ensuring that the research is valid, reliable, and
contributes to the body of knowledge in the field.
ere's how the research process flow chart would be applied to the research problem
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"Does the use of technology in the classroom improve student learning
outcomes?"
1. Identifying a Research Problem:The researcher identifiesthat the impact of
technology use in the classroom on student learning outcomes is a significant
issue that needs further investigation.
2. Reviewing Literature: The researcher reviews existingstudies on technology
use in the classroom and its effects on student learning outcomes. They find that
while some studies suggest a positive impact, others do not find a significant
effect.
3. Formulating a Hypothesis: Based on the literaturereview, the researcher
hypothesizes that the use of technology in the classroom will improve student
learning outcomes.
4. Design Research: The researcher designs a study wherethey will compare
student learning outcomes in classrooms that use technology (experimental
group) with classrooms that do not (control group).
5. Collecting Data: The researcher collects data on studentlearning outcomes
from both groups, using measures such as test scores, grades, and student
engagement levels.
6. A nalyzing Data: The researcher uses statistical analysis to compare the
learning outcomes of the two groups.
7. Interpreting Results: The researcher finds that thegroup with technology use
in the classroom performed significantly better on the measures of learning
outcomes, supporting the hypothesis.
8. Reporting Findings: The researcher writes a researchpaper detailing the study
design, results, and implications of the findings, contributing to the body of
knowledge on the impact of technology use in the classroom on student learning
outcomes.
This example illustrates how the research process flow chart guides the scientific
inquiry from start to finish.
.4 Explain Applied, Descriptive, analytical, Qualitative, Quantitative, and
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fundamental research with examples.
ans:
Descriptive Vs Analytical :
he main purpose of Descriptive research is to find out the state of affairs as it exists at
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present. It includes Surveys and fact-finding inquiries of various kinds. The researcher
has no control over the variables. He/She can only find out what has happened or what
is happening.
whereas, In Analytical research, the researcher has to use facts and information
already available, and analyze these through various methods to make a critical
evaluation, and arrive at the final conclusion.
pplied Vs Fundamental:
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Applied research aims at finding the Solution for an immediate problem facing a
business organization or society. It includes research related to social, economic &
political trends that may affect a business institution, marketing research, etc
undamental Research is concerned with generalizations and with the formulation of
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a theory. It includes research concerning human behavior.
Quantitative Vs. Qualitative:
Quantitative research is based on quantified measurements. It applies to phenomena
which can be expressed in terms of quantities.
ualitative research is concerned with qualitative phenomena, which cannot be
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measured. Examples, investigating the reasons for human behaviour in a particular
situation, Motivation Research, Attitude or opinion research, etc. In-depth interviews
are used for this purpose.
.5 What is research design ? Its types . Differentiate between single
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cross-sectional and multiple cross-sectional and longitudinal research
designs with examples.
Ans:
• Research design A framework or blueprint for conducting the marketing research
project. It specifies the details of the procedures necessary for obtaining the
information needed to structure and/or solve marketing research problems.
• Research design stands for advance planning of the methods to be adopted for
collecting therelevantdataandthetechniquestobeusedintheiranalysis,keepingin
view the objective of the research and the availability of staff, time and money.
ingle Cross-Sectional Design: In a single cross-sectionaldesign, data is collected at
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a single point in time from a sample of a population. This design is often used to
nderstand the prevalence of a phenomenon or to compare groups at a specific point in
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time. However, it does not allow for the examination of changes over time.
Example:A researcher might use a single cross-sectional design to study the
prevalence of smoking among adults in a city. They would collect data from a sample
of adults in the city at one point in time to determine how many are current smokers.
ultiple Cross-Sectional Design: In a multiple cross-sectional design, data is
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collected at multiple points in time, but from different samples of the same population.
This design allows for the examination of changes over time, but because different
samples are used, it's not possible to track the changes at the individual level.
Example: A researcher might use a multiple cross-sectionaldesign to study changes in
smoking habits among adults in a city over a decade. They would collect data from a
sample of adults in the city at the start of the decade and then from a different sample
of adults at the end of the decade to see if the prevalence of smoking has changed.
ongitudinal Design: In a longitudinal design, data is collected from the same
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individuals at multiple points in time. This design allows for the examination of
changes over time at the individual level, making it possible to track the development
and progression of a phenomenon.
Example:A researcher might use a longitudinal designto study the progression of a
disease in a group of patients. They would collect data from the same group of patients
at multiple points in time to track the progression of the disease.
.6 What do you understand by the term experimental research design?
Q
Explain the different types of informal experimental research design(with
flow chart) with the help of the suitable example of your choice
ans:
esearch in which the independent variable is manipulated is termed ‘experimental
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hypothesis-testing research’
•Experiment:The process of examining the truth ofa statistical hypothesis, relating to
some research problem, is known as an experiment. For example, we can conduct an
experiment to examine the usefulness of a certain newly developed drug. Experiments
can be of two types viz., absolute experiment and comparative experiment. If we want
to determine the impact of a fertilizer on the yield of a crop, it is a case of absolute
experiment; but if we want to determine the impact of one fertilizer as compared to the
impact of some other fertilizer, our experiment then will be termed as a comparative
e xperiment. Often, we undertake comparative experiments when we talk of designs of
experiments.
Informal Experimental Designs:
• Before-and-after without control design: In such a design a single test group or area
is selected and the dependent variable is measured before the introduction of the
treatment. The treatment is then introduced and the dependent variable is measured
again after the treatment has been introduced. The effect of the treatment would be
equal to the level of the phenomenon after the treatment minus the level of the
phenomenon before the treatment. The main difficulty of such a design is that with the
passage of time considerable extraneous variations may be there in its treatment effect.
• After-only with control design:In this design, twogroups or areas (test area and
control area) are selected and the treatment is introduced into the test area only. The
dependent variable is then measured in both areas at the same time. Treatment impact
is assessed by subtracting the value of the dependent variable in the control area from
its value in the test area. The basic assumption in such a design is that the two areas are
identical with respect to their behavior toward the phenomenon considered. If this
assumption is not true, there is the possibility of extraneous variation entering into the
treatment effect. However, data can be collected in such a design without the
introduction of problems with the passage of time.
• Before-and-after with control design:In this design, two areas are selected and the
dependent variable is measured in both areas for an identical time period before the
treatment. The treatment is then introduced into the test area only, and the dependent
variable is measured in both for an identical time period after the introduction of the
treatment. The treatment effect is determined by subtracting the change in the
dependent variable in the control area from the change in the dependent variable in the
test area.
.7 Explain in detail various types of observation methods with suitable
Q
illustrations, relative advantages, and disadvantages of observation
methods.
ans:
ersonal Observation:
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•A researcher observes actual behavior as it occurs.
•The observer does not attempt to manipulate the phenomenon being observed but
merely records what takes place.
• For example, a researcher might record traffic counts and observe traffic flows in a
department store.
echanical Observation:
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Do not require respondents' direct participation.
•the AC Nielsen audiometer
•turnstiles that record the number of people entering or leaving a building.
•On-site cameras (still, motion picture, or video)
•Optical scanners in supermarkets
•
Do require respondent involvement.
•eye-tracking monitors
•pupilometers
•psychogalvanometers
•voice pitch analyzers
•devices measuring response latency
udit:
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•The researcher collects data by examining physical records or performing inventory
analysis.
•Data are collected personally by the researcher.
•The data are based upon counts, usually of physical objects.
•Retail and wholesale audits conducted by marketing research suppliers were discussed
in the context of syndicated data in
ontent Analysis:
C
•The objective, systematic, and quantitative description of the manifest content of a
communication.
•The unit of analysis may be words, characters (individuals or objects), themes
(propositions), space and time measures (length or duration of the message), or topics
(subject of the message).
•Analytical categories for classifying the units are developed and the communication is
broken down according to prescribed rules.
race Analysis:
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Data collection is based on physical traces, or evidence, of past
behavior.
• The selective erosion of tiles in a museum indexed by the replacement rate was used
to determine the relative popularity of exhibits.
•The number of different fingerprints on a page was used to gauge the readership of
various advertisements in a magazine.
•The position of the radio dials in cars brought in for service was used to estimate the
share of the listening audience of various radio stations.
•The age and condition of cars in a parking lot were used to assess the affluence of
customers.
•The magazines people donated to charity were used to determine people's favorite
magazines.
•Internet visitors leave traces that can be analyzed to examine browsing and usage
behavior by using cookies.
elative Advantages of Observation :
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•They permit measurement of actual behavior rather than reports of intended or
preferred behavior.
•There is no reporting bias, and potential bias caused by the interviewer, and the
interviewing process is eliminated or reduced.
•Certain types of data can be collected only by observation.
•If the observed phenomenon occurs frequently or is of short duration, observational
methods may be cheaper and faster than survey methods.
elative disadvantages of Observation :
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•The reasons for the observed behavior may not be determined since little is known
about the underlying motives, beliefs, attitudes, and preferences.
•Selective perception (bias in the researcher's perception) can bias the data.
•Observational data are often time-consuming and expensive, and it is difficult to
observe certain forms of behavior.
•In some cases, the use of observational methods may be unethical, as in observing
people without their knowledge or consent.
•
It is best to view observation as a complement to survey methods, rather than as
competing with them.
.8 Explain various scale characteristics and levels of measurement.
Q
ans:
• All the scales that we use in research can be described in terms of four basic
characteristics.
•These characteristics are description, order, distance, and origin, and together they
define the level of measurement of a scale.
•The level of measurement denotes what properties of an object the scale is measuring
or not measuring. An understanding of the scale characteristics is fundamental to
understanding the primary type of scales.
• D escription: By description, we mean the unique labelsor descriptors that are used to
designate each value of the scale. Some examples of descriptors are as follows:
•1=Female, 2=Male
•1=Strongly disagree, 2= Disagree, 3=Neither agree nor disagree, 4=Agree, and
5=Strongly agree
•To amplify, Female and Male are unique descriptors used to describe values 1 and 2
of the gender scale
rder: By order, we mean the relative sizes or positionsof the descriptors. There are
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no absolute values associated with order, only relative values. Order is denoted by
descriptors such as “greater than,” “less than,” and “equal to.”
•For example, a respondent’s preference for three brands of athletic shoes is expressed
in the following order, with the most preferred brand being listed first and the least
preferred brand last.
•Nike
•Reebok
•Adidas
•For this respondent, the preference for Nike is greater than the preference for Reebok.
Likewise, the preference for Adidas is less than the preference for Reebok.
istance: The characteristic of distance means thatabsolute differences between the
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scale descriptors are known and may be expressed in units. A five-person household
has one person more than a four-person household, which in turn has one person more
than a three-person household. Thus, the following scale possesses the distance
characteristic.
•Number of persons living in your household ___________________
•Notice, that a scale that has distance also has order. We know that a five-person
household is greater than a four-person household in terms of the number of persons
living in the household. Likewise, a three-person household is less than a four-person
household. Thus, distance implies order but the reverse may not be true.
rigin: The origin characteristic means that the scalehas a unique or fixed beginning
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or true zero point. Thus, an exact measurement of income by a scale such as: What is
the annual income of our household before taxes? $ ____________________ has a
fixed origin or a true zero point. An answer of zero would mean that the household has
no income at all. A scale that has origin also has distance (and order and description).
•Many scales used in marketing research do not have a fixed origin or true zero point,
as in the disagree-agree scale considered earlier under description. Notice that such a
scale was defined as 1 Strongly disagree, 2 Disagree, 3 Neither agree nor disagree, 4
Agree, and 5 Strongly agree. However, 1 is an arbitrary origin or starting point.
.9 What do you mean by measurement? Explain all primary scales of
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measurement.
ans:
easurementmeans assigning numbers or other symbolsto characteristics of objects
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according to certain prespecified rules.
The most important aspect of measurement is the specification of rules for assigning
numbers to the characteristics.
•One-to-one correspondence between the numbers and the characteristics being
measured.
•The rules for assigning numbers should be standardized and applied uniformly.
•Rules must not change over objects or time.
There are four primary scales of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio.
ominal Scale:
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•The numbers serve only as labels or tags for identifying and classifying objects.
•When used for identification, there is a strict one-to-one correspondence between the
numbers and the objects.
• The numbers do not reflect the amount of the characteristic possessed by the objects.
•Each number is assigned to only one object and each object has only one number
assigned to it.
•The only permissible operation on the numbers in a nominal scale is counting.
•Common examples include Social Security numbers and numbers assigned to football
players. In marketing research, nominal scales are used for identifying respondents,
brands, attributes, stores, and other objects
rdinal Scale: An ordinal scale is a ranking scalein which numbers are assigned to
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objects to indicate the relative extent to which the objects possess some characteristic.
An ordinal scale allows you to determine whether an object has more or less of a
characteristic than some other object, but not how much more or less. Thus, an ordinal
scale indicates the relative position, not the magnitude of the differences between the
objects. The object ranked first has more of the characteristics as compared to the
object ranked second, but whether the object ranked second is a close second or a poor
second is not known.
•The ordinal scales possess description and order characteristics but do not possess
distance (or origin). Common examples of ordinal scales include quality rankings,
rankings of teams in a tournament, socioeconomic class, and occupational status. In
marketing research, ordinal scales are used to measure relative attitudes, opinions,
perceptions, and preferences.
I nterval Scale: In an interval scale, numericallyequal distances on the scale represent
equal values in the characteristic being measured. An interval scale contains all the
information of an ordinal scale, but it also allows you to compare the differences
between objects.
•The difference between any two scale values is identical to the difference between any
other two adjacent values of an interval scale. There is a constant or equal interval
between scale values. The difference between 1 and 2 is the same as the difference
between 2 and 3, which is the same as the difference between 5 and 6. The distance
between descriptors is known.
•A common example in everyday life is a temperature scale.
•In an interval scale, the location of the zero point is not fixed, i.e., these scales do not
possess the origin characteristic. Both the zero point and the units of measurement are
arbitrary.
Ratio Scale:A ratio scale possesses all the propertiesof the nominal, ordinal, and
interval scales and, in addition, an absolute zero point. Thus, ratio scales possess the
c haracteristic of origin (and distance, order, and description). Thus, in ratio scales, we
can identify or classify objects, rank the objects, and compare intervals or differences.
It is also meaningful to compute ratios of scale values.
•Not only is the difference between 2 and 5 the same as the difference between 14 and
17 but also 14 is seven times as large as 2 in an absolute sense.
•Common examples of ratio scales include height, weight, age, and money. In
marketing, sales, costs, market share, and number of customers are variables measured
on a ratio scale.
10. Concepts of Research design
ariable:A concept which can take on different quantitative valuesis called a
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variable. As such the concepts like weight, height, income are all examples of
variables.
• Dependent Variable: If one variable depends upon or is a consequenceoftheother
variable, it is termed as a dependent variable.
Independent Variable:The variable that is antecedent to the dependent variableis
termed as an independent variable
Example:For instance, if we say that height depends upon age, then heightis a
dependent variable and age is an independent variable
• Extraneousvariable:Independentvariablesthatarenotrelatedtothepurposeofthe
study, but may affect the dependent variable are termed as extraneous variables.
• Example: The researcher wants to test the hypothesis that there is a relationship
between children’s gains insocialstudiesachievementandtheirself-concepts.Inthis
case self-concept is an independent variable and social studies achievement is a
dependentvariable.Intelligencemayaswellaffectthesocialstudiesachievement,but
sinceitisnotrelatedtothepurposeofthestudyundertakenbytheresearcher,itwillbe
termed as an extraneous variable.
• Control: One important characteristic of a good research design is to minimize the
influenceoreffectofextraneousvariable(s).Thetechnicalterm‘control’isusedwhen
we design the study minimising the effects of extraneous independent variables. In
e xperimental researches, the term ‘control’ is used to refer to restrain experimental
conditions
• Confoundedrelationship:Whenthedependentvariableisnotfreefromtheinfluence
of extraneous variable(s), the relationship between the dependent and independent
variables is said to be confounded by an extraneous variable(s).
• Theresearchhypothesisisapredictivestatementthatrelatesanindependentvariable
to a dependent variable. Usually a research hypothesis must contain, at least, one
independent and one dependent variable. Predictive statements which are not to be
objectively verified or the relationships that are assumedbutnottobetested,arenot
termed research hypotheses
• Experimentalandnon-experimentalhypothesis-testingresearch:Whenthepurpose
ofresearchistotestaresearchhypothesis,itistermedashypothesis-testingresearch.
It can be of the experimental design or of the non-experimental design.
• Research in which the independent variable is manipulated is termed ‘experimental
hypothesis-testing research’ and a research in which an independent variable is not
manipulated is called ‘non-experimental hypothesis-testing research’.
• Forinstance,supposearesearcherwantstostudywhetherintelligenceaffectsreading
abilityforagroupofstudentsandforthispurposeherandomlyselects50studentsand
tests their intelligence and readingabilitybycalculatingthecoefficientofcorrelation
between the two sets of scores. This is an example of non-experimental
hypothesis-testingresearchbecausehereintheindependentvariable,intelligence,isnot
manipulated.
• But now suppose that our researcher randomly selects 50 students from a group of
studentswhoaretotakeacourseinstatisticsandthendividesthemintotwogroupsby
randomly assigning25toGroupA,theusualstudiesprogramme,and25toGroupB,
the special studiesprogramme.Attheendofthecourse,headministersatesttoeach
group in order to judge the effectiveness of the training programme on the student’s
performance-level. This is an example of experimental hypothesis-testing research
because in thiscasetheindependentvariable,viz.,thetypeoftrainingprogramme,is
manipulated
• Experimental and control groups: In an experimental hypothesis-testing research
when a group isexposedtousualconditions,itistermeda‘controlgroup’,butwhen
thegroupisexposedtosomenovelorspecialcondition,itistermedan‘experimental
group’. It is possible to design studies which include only experimental groups or
studies which include both experimental and control groups.
• Treatments: The different conditions under which experimental and control groups
are put are usually referredtoas‘treatments’.Intheillustrationtakenabove,thetwo
treatments are the usual studies programme and the special studies programme.
Similarly, if we want to determine through an experiment the comparativeimpactof
three varieties of fertilizers on the yield of wheat, in that case the three varieties of
fertilizers will be treated as three treatments
• Experiment:Theprocessofexaminingthetruthofastatisticalhypothesis,relatingto
some research problem, is known asanexperiment.Forexample,wecanconductan
experimenttoexaminetheusefulnessofacertainnewlydevelopeddrug.Experiments
canbeoftwotypesviz.,absoluteexperimentandcomparativeexperiment.Ifwewant
to determine the impact of a fertilizer on the yield of a crop, it is acaseofabsolute
experiment;butifwewanttodeterminetheimpactofonefertilizerascomparedtothe
impact of some other fertilizer, our experiment then will betermedasacomparative
experiment.Often,weundertakecomparativeexperimentswhenwetalkofdesignsof
experiments.
