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Research Methodology is a science of studying how research is done scientifically. It is a way to systematically solve the research problem by logically adopting various steps. Methodology helps to understand not only the products of scientific inquiry but the process itself. The objectives of this course are acquiring knowledge and understanding of basic primciples of business research methods. This course serves participants who have on or limited background in academic social research to equip them with knowledge, skills and insights in business research Methods. This includes both an introduction in Methodological concepts as well as a guide in gaining insights in the research process. Fundamental as well as applied social research will be discussed. The program focuses on different types and Methods of research, by which participants are afterwards able to understand a journal article and can perform research themselves. The course will start with the basics (strategy, research question, design) and focuses hereinafter on quantitative and qualitative data collection Methods and data analysis techniques. Application of the theory by doing some limited research makes sure the theory becomes applicable to participants. Course Objectives: Upon completion of the course the students should be able to: 1. Understand the framework of the business research process. 2. Develop an understanding of research design and techniques. 3. Conduct basic qualitative and quantitative research under supervision. 4. Appreciate the components of scholarly writing and evaluate its quality.

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PART I: INTRODUCTION 1. The Role of Business Research The Nature of Business research, Business research Defined, Applied and Basic Business research, The Scientific Method, Managerial value of Business research, Identifying problems or Opportunities, selecting and implementing a Course of Action, Evaluating the Course of Action 2. Theory Building Theory building: what a Theory? What are the Goals of Theory? Research Concept, Constructs, propositions, Variables, and Hypotheses Tactical value of Theories, Deductive and Inductive Reasoning Understand the scientific method. 3. The Business Research Process: An Overview Decision making, Certainty, uncertainty, Ambiguity, Types of Business Research, Descriptive Research, Exploratory Research, Stages in the Research process, Alternatives in the Research process, Defining the Research Objectives, Sampling, Gathering Data, processing and Analyzing Data, Drawing Conclusions and preparing a Report 4. The Human Side of Business Research: Organizational and Ethical Issues Organizational Structure of Business research, Research Jobs, The Director of Research as a Manager, Sources of Conflict between senior management and Research, Reducing the Conflict between management and Researchers, Ethical issues in Business Research, Ethical Questions are philosophical Question, General Rights and Obligations of Concerned parties, Rights and Obligations of the Researcher to participant, Rights and Obligations of the Client sponsor privacy. PART II: BEGINNING STAGES OF THE RESESRCH PROCESS 5. Problem Definition: The Foundation of Business Research Importance of Starting with a Good problem, Definition, The Problem- Definition process, The Problem- Definition process Steps, The Research proposal, The Research proposal as a planning Tool, The proposal as a Contract. 6. Qualitative Research Tools What is Qualitative Research? Uses Qualitative Research Qualitative ―versus‖ Quantitative Research, Contrasting Qualitative and Quantitative Methods, Contrasting Exploratory and Confirmatory Research, Orientations to Qualitative Research, Ethnography, and phenomenology. 7. Secondary Data Research in a Digital Age Advantages of Secondary data, Disadvantages of Secondary data, Typical Objectives for Secondary data, Research Designs, Model Building. Data Mining, Database Marketing and Customer Relationship Management, source of Secondary data, sources of Internal and proprietary Data, External Data: the Distribution system, Information as a product and Its Distribution Channels, Single- source Data- Integrated Information. PART II: RESESRCH METHODS FOR COLLECTING PRIMARY DATA 8. Survey Research Advantages of Survey, Errors in Survey Research. Satisfaction, Administrative Errors, Classifying Survey Research Methods, Structured/Unstructured and Disguised/Undisguised Questionnaires, Communicating with Respondents, Interviews, as Interactive Communication, personal Interviews, Telephone Interviews, Central Location Interviewing, Mail Questionnaires, Self- Administered Questionnaires, Using Other Forms of Distribution, 9. Observation Methods Observation in Business Research, The Nature of Observation studies, Observation of Human Behavior, Complementary Evidence, Direct Observation, Ethical issues in the Observation of Humans. 10. Experimental Research, Creating an Experiment. Designing an Experiment to minimize Experimental Error, Manipulation of the Independent variable, selection and measurement of the Dependent- Variable, Selection and Assignment of Test Units, Experimenter bias and Demand Effects, Hawthorne Effect, Reducing Demand Characteristics. Establishing control, problems Controlling Extraneous Variables, Ethical Issues in Experimentations, practical Experimental Designs Issues, and Basic versus Factorial Experimental Designs. Laboratory Experiments, Field Experiments, issues of Experimental Validity, Internal Validity, External Validity, Classification of External Designs, symbolism for Diagramming Experimental Designs, Three Examples of Quasi- Experimental Designs, Complex Experimental Designs. PART IV: MEASUREMENT CONCEPTS 11. Measurement and Scaling Concepts Concepts, operational definitions. Levels of Scale Measurement, Mathematical and Statistical Analysis of Scales, Three Criteria for Good Measurement, Attitudes as Hypothematical Constructs, importance of Measuring Attitudes, Techniques for measuring Attitudes, Attitude Rating Scales, Simple Attitude Scale, Category Scales, Method of Summated Ratings: The Likert Scale, Semantic Differential, Measuring Behavioral Intention, Behavioral Differential, Ranking, paired Comparisons, Sorting, Other Methods of Attitude Measurement, Selecting a Measurement Scale: Some practical Decisions, Monadic or Comparative Scale? Positions, 12. Questionnaire Design Questionnaire Quality and Design: Basic Considerations, Questionnaire Relevancy, Questionnaire Accuracy, Wording Questions, Guidelines for Constructing Questions, Language , Climate Change, Traditional Questionnaire, Designing Questionnaire, for Global Markets PART V: SAMPLING AND FIELDWORK 13. Sampling Design and Procedures Explain reasons for taking a sample rather than a Complete census, Describe the process of identifying a target population and selecting a sampling frame, Compare random sampling and systematic (non sampling) Errors, identify the types of nonprobability sampling, including their advantages and disadvantages, Summarize the advantages and disadvantages of the various types of probability samples, Discuss how to choose an appropriate sample design, as well as challenges for Internet sampling 14. Determination of Sample Size: A Review of Statistical Theory Understand basic Statistical terminology; Interpret frequency distributions, proportions, and measures of central tendency and dispersion; distinguish among population, sample, and sampling distributions; Explain the central-limit theorem; Summarize the use of confidence interval estimates; Discuss major issues in specifying sample size 15. Fieldwork Describe the role and Job requirements of fieldworkers; Summarize the skills to cover when training inexperienced interviewers; list principles of good interviewing; Describe the activities involved in the management of fieldworkers; Discuss how supervisors can minimize errors in the field. PART VI: DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION 16. Data Collection and Analysis of Data : Editing and coding: Transforming Raw Data into Information, Basic data analysis: descriptive Statistic, Univariate Statistical Analysis, Bivariate Statistical Analysis: Differences Between Two Variables, Bivariate Statistical Analysis: Measures of Association, multivariate Statistical Analysis. 17. Research Report Significance of Report Writing – Different Steps in Writing Report – Layout of the Research Report- Types of Reports – Oral presentation – mechanics of Writing a Research Report- precautions for Writing Research Reports.

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