MCM607 CU-MCOM-SEM-II-RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

MASTER OF COMMERCE SEMESTER-I RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 21MCM616 1 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

CHANDIGARH UNIVERSITY Institute of Distance and Online Learning Course Development Committee Chairman Prof. (Dr.) Parag Diwan Vice Chancellor, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Punjab Advisors Prof. (Dr.) Bharat Bhushan, Director – IGNOU Prof. (Dr.) Majulika Srivastava, Director – CIQA, IGNOU Programme Coordinators & Editing Team Master of Business Administration (MBA) Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Coordinator – Dr. Rupali Arora Coordinator – Dr. Simran Jewandah Master of Computer Applications (MCA) Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) Coordinator – Dr. Raju Kumar Coordinator – Dr. Manisha Malhotra Master of Commerce (M.Com.) Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) Coordinator – Dr. Aman Jindal Coordinator – Dr. Minakshi Garg Master of Arts (Psychology) Bachelor of Science (Travel &Tourism Management) Coordinator – Dr. Samerjeet Kaur Coordinator – Dr. Shikha Sharma Bachelor of Arts (General) Master of Arts (English) Co-ordinator – Ms. Neeraj Gohlan Coordinator – Dr. Ashita Chadha Academic and Administrative Management Prof. (Dr.) R. M. Bhagat Prof. (Dr.) S.S. Sehgal Executive Director – Sciences Registrar Prof. (Dr.) Abhishek Prof. (Dr.) Inderpreet Kaur Executive Director – Management Director – IDOL Prof. (Dr.) Manaswini Acharya Executive Director – Liberal Arts © No part of this publication should be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording and/or otherwise without the prior written permission of the authors and thepublisher. SLM SPECIALLY PREPARED FOR CU IDOL STUDENTS Printed and Published by: SCHOOLGURU EDUSERVE PVT LTD B-903, Western Edge II, Western Express Highway, Borivali (E), Mumbai - 400066 Call Us: +91 22 4896 8005 Mail Us: [email protected] For: CHANDIGARH UNIVERSITY Institute of Distance and Online Learning 2 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

First Published in 2020 All rights reserved. No Part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from Chandigarh University. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this book may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. This book is meant for educational and learning purpose. The authors of the book has/have taken all reasonable care to ensure that the contents of the book do not violate any existing copyright or other intellectual property rights of any person in any manner whatsoever. In the even the Authors has/ have been unable to track any source and if any copyright has been inadvertently infringed, please notify the publisher in writing for corrective action 3 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

CONTENT Unit-1 Introduction To Research ...................................................................................................4 Unit-2 Research Process ............................................................................................................... 16 Unit-3 Review Of Literature ........................................................................................................ 24 Unit-4 Identification Of Problems And Formulation Of Hypothesis ...................................... 31 Unit-5 Research Design ................................................................................................................. 45 Unit-6 Sampling Design................................................................................................................ 70 Unit-7 Understanding Of Qualitative And Quantitative Research.......................................... 81 Unit-8 Collection Of Data ............................................................................................................ 90 Unit-9 Scaling .............................................................................................................................. 116 Unit-10 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................. 147 Unit-11 Hypothesis Test.............................................................................................................. 159 Unit-12 Interpretation Of Data And Report Writing ............................................................. 173 4 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

UNIT-1 INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH Structure Learning Objectives Introduction Definition Meaning Characteristics Types Limitations Scope Summary Keywords 1.10.Learning Activity 1.11.Unit End Questions (Mcq and Descriptive) 1.12.References LEARNING OBJECTIVES After studying this Unit, you will be able to:  Explain the basics of research  State the characteristics & limitations while conducting the research  Discuss various types of research INTRODUCTION Research in simple terms refers to search for knowledge. It is a scientific and systematic search for information on a particular topic or issue. It is also known as the art of scientific investigation. Several social scientists have defined research in different ways. DEFINITION According to Redman and Mory (1923), research is a “systematized effort to gain new knowledge”. It is an academic activity and therefore the term should be used in a technical sense. According to 5 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

Clifford Woody (Kothari, 1988), research comprises “defining and redefining problems, formulating hypotheses or suggested solutions; collecting, organizing and evaluating data; making deductions and reaching conclusions; and finally, carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulated hypotheses”. In the Encyclopedia of Social Sciences, D. Slesinger and M. Stephension (1930) defined research as “the manipulation of things, concepts or symbols for the purpose of generalizing to extend, correct or verify knowledge, whether that knowledge aids in the construction of theory or in the practice of an art”. Thus, research is an original addition to the available knowledge, which contributes to its further advancement. It is an attempt to pursue truth through the methods of study, observation, comparison and experiment. In sum, research is the search for knowledge, using objective and systematic methods to find solution to a problem. MEANING Research methods include all those techniques/methods that are adopted for conducting research. Thus, research techniques or methods are the methods that the researchers adopt for conducting the research studies. On the other hand, research methodology is the way in which research problems are solved systematically. It is a science of studying how research is conducted scientifically. Under it, the researcher acquaints himself/herself with the various steps generally adopted to study a research problem, along with the underlying logic behind them. Hence, it is not only important for the researcher to know the research techniques/ methods, but also the scientific approach called methodology. CHARACTERISTICS The objective of research is to find answers to the questions by applying scientific procedures. In other words, the main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden and has not yet been discovered. Although every research study has its own specific objectives, the research objectives may be broadly grouped as follows: 1. T o gain familiarity with new insights into a phenomenon (i.e., formulative research studies); 2. T o accurately portray the characteristics of a particular individual, group, or a situation (i.e., descriptive research studies). 6 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

3. T o analyses the frequency with which something occurs (i.e., diagnostic research studies); and 4. T o examine the hypothesis of a causal relationship between two variables (i.e., hypothesis-testing research studies). TYPES There are different types of research. The basic ones are as follows. 1. D escriptive Versus Analytical: Descriptive research consists of surveys and fact-finding enquiries of different types. The main objective of descriptive research is describing the state of affairs as it prevails at the time of study. The term ‘ex post facto research’ is quite often used for descriptive research studies in social sciences and business research. The most distinguishing feature of this method is that the researcher has no control over the variables here. He/she has to only report what is happening or what has happened. Majority of the ex post facto research projects are used for descriptive studies in which the researcher attempts to examine phenomena, such as the consumers’ preferences, frequency of purchases, shopping, etc. Despite the inability of the researchers to control the variables, ex post facto studies may also comprise attempts by them to discover the causes of the selected problem. The methods of research adopted in conducting descriptive research are survey methods of all kinds, including correlational and comparative methods. Meanwhile in the Analytical research, the researcher has to use the already available facts or information, and analyses them to make a critical evaluation of the subject. 2. A pplied Versus Fundamental: Research can also be applied or fundamental in nature. An attempt to find a solution to an immediate problem encountered by a firm, an industry, a business organization, or the society is known as applied research. Researchers engaged in such researches aim at drawing certain conclusions confronting a concrete social or business problem. On the other hand, fundamental research mainly concerns generalizations and formulation of a theory. In other words, “Gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake is termed ‘pure’ or ‘basic’ research” (Young in Kothari, 1988). Researches relating to pure mathematics or concerning some natural phenomenon are instances of Fundamental Research. Likewise, studies focusing on human behavior also fall under the category of fundamental research. 7 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

Thus, while the principal objective of applied research is to find a solution to some pressing practical problem, the objective of basic research is to find information with a broad base of application and add to the already existing organized body of scientific knowledge. 3. Q uantitative Versus Qualitative: Quantitative research relates to aspects that can be quantified or can be expressed in terms of quantity. It involves the measurement of quantity or amount. Various available statistical and econometric methods are adopted for analysis in such research. Which includes correlation, regressions and time series analysis etc. On the other hand, Qualitative research is concerned with qualitative phenomena, or more specifically, the aspects related to or involving quality or kind. For example, an important type of qualitative research is ‘Motivation Research’, which investigates into the reasons for certain human behavior. The main aim of this type of research is discovering the underlying motives and desires of human beings by using in-depth interviews. The other techniques employed in such research are story completion tests, sentence completion tests, word association tests, and other similar projective methods. Qualitative research is particularly significant in the context of behavioral sciences, which aim at discovering the underlying motives of human behavior. Such research helps to analyses the various factors that motivate human beings to behave in a certain manner, besides contributing to an understanding of what makes individuals like or dislike a particular thing. However, it is worth noting that conducting qualitative research in practice is considerably a difficult task. Hence, while undertaking such research, seeking guidance from experienced expert researchers is important. 4. C onceptual Versus Empirical: The research related to some abstract idea or theory is known as Conceptual Research. Generally, philosophers and thinkers use it for developing new concepts or for reinterpreting the existing ones. Empirical Research, on the other hand, exclusively relies on the observation or experience with hardly any regard for theory and system. Such research is data based, which often comes up with conclusions that can be verified through experiments or observation. Empirical research is also known as experimental type of research, in which it is important to first collect the facts and their sources, and actively take steps to stimulate the production of desired information. In this type of research, the researcher first formulates a working hypothesis, and then gathers sufficient facts to prove or disprove the stated hypothesis. He/she formulates the experimental design, which according to him/her would manipulate the variables, so as to obtain the desired information. This type of research is thus characterized by the researcher’s control over the variables under study. In simple term, empirical research is most appropriate when an attempt is made to prove that certain variables 8 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

influence the other variables in some way. Therefore, the results obtained by using the experimental or empirical studies are considered to be the most powerful evidences for a given hypothesis. 5. O ther Types Of Research: The remaining types of research are variations of one or more of the afore-mentioned type of research. They vary in terms of the purpose of research, or the time required to complete it, or may be based on some other similar factor. On the basis of time, research may either be in the nature of one-time or longitudinal time series research. While the research is restricted to a single time-period in the former case, it is conducted over several time-periods in the latter case. Depending upon the environment in which the research is to be conducted, it can also be laboratory research or field- setting research, or simulation research, besides being diagnostic or clinical in nature. Under such research, in-depth approaches or case study method may be employed to analyses the basic causal relations. These studies usually undertake a detailed in-depth analysis of the causes of certain events of interest, and use very small samples and sharp data collection methods. The research may also be explanatory in nature. Formalized research studies consist of substantial structure and specific hypotheses to be verified. As regards to historical research, sources like historical documents, remains, etc. Are utilized to study past events or ideas. It also includes philosophy of persons and groups of the past or any remote point of time. Research has also been classified into decision-oriented and conclusion-oriented categories. The decision-oriented research is always carried out as per the need of a decision maker and hence, the researcher has no freedom to conduct the research according to his/her own desires. On the other hand, in the case of Conclusion-oriented research, the researcher is free to choose the problem, redesign the enquiry as it progresses and even change conceptualization as he/she wishes to. Operations research is a kind of decision-oriented research, where in scientific method is used in providing the departments, a quantitative basis for decision-making with respect to the activities under their purview. LIMITATIONS F ormulation of research aims and objectives. You might have formulated research aims and objectives too broadly. You can specify in which ways the formulation of research aims and objectives could be narrowed so that the level of focus of the study could be increased. I mplementation of data collection method. Because you do not have an extensive experience in primary data collection (otherwise you would not be reading this book), there is a great chance 9 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

that the nature of implementation of data collection method is flawed. S ample size. Sample size depends on the nature of the research problem. If sample size is too small, statistical tests would not be able to identify significant relationships within data set. You can state that basing your study in larger sample size could have generated more accurate results. The importance of sample size is greater in quantitative studies compared to qualitative studies. L ack of previous studies in the research area. Literature review is an important part of any research, because it helps to identify the scope of works that have been done so far in research area. Literature review findings are used as the foundation for the researcher to be built upon to achieve her research objectives. However, there may be little, if any, prior research on your topic if you have focused on the most contemporary and evolving research problem or too narrow research problem. For example, if you have chosen to explore the role of Bitcoins as the future currency, you may not be able to find tons of scholarly paper addressing the research problem, because Bitcoins are only a recent phenomenon. S cope of discussions. You can include this point as a limitation of your research regardless of the choice of the research area. Because (most likely) you don’t have many years of experience of conducing researches and producing academic papers of such a large size individually, the scope and depth of discussions in your paper is compromised in many levels compared to the works of experienced scholars. SCOPE A. Environmental Level T echnological innovations: Research is conducted to know & adapt new technological innovations, developments in machinery, method, etc. used. For e.g., to know level of use of information technology e.g. Networking, Tally, SAP, etc. in the organization. E nvironmental level • Economical, Socio-Cultural, Natural, Political - Legal Environments: Research is also done to know the characteristics, complexity, dynamism of socio-Cultural, economic, political- legal, which ultimately gives the idea of the potential, feasibility, 10 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

viability etc. of the market. C ompetitors Analysis: Companies conducts research for studying the strategic patterns of competitors, their strengths & weaknesses for making better strategies for competing effectively in order to survive & thrive in the market. I ndustry fears: Research is conducted sometimes to know the survival & growth opportunities of an industry. it may be due to the extinction of raw material/sources of raw material. E.g. Finishing stock of Petroliam, coal may cause the extinction for automobile & power industry thus research for alternative sources/solutions is conducted. For the above e.g., the solutions are electric car(automobile), CNG gas generated Automobile, Battery driven Automobiles. N ew Market entry: Before making any entry into any new market, companies conduct research/pilot survey to know market potential, commercial feasibility, growth rate for the acceptance level of the consumers. N ew product development: Research is mainly conducted to know needs, wants, desires, tastes, preference, problems, demography, psychography etc. of consumers. On the basis of which Organizations may develop new products & Services. B. O rganizational level H RM: it is related to Efficiency, productivity, Effectiveness, performance, Satisfaction level of Employees, structure, culture etc. of the organization. F inance: It may be related to any operation like financial analysis, Capital structure, Ratio analysis etc. Research is done to evaluate the performance or viability of the existing systems /procedures /approaches for the same, in order to improve the existing one or develop new methods for the same. Ultimately the motive remains for reducing loss & increase profitability. P roduction: Here, research is related to know and improve the efficiency, productivity, effectiveness level of workers , process planning, materials planning, layout, purchasing etc. 11 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

which ultimately have objectives of cost minimization & Profit maximization. O rganizational Effectiveness and Success: It is related to effectiveness, efficiency, rationality, viability of general management, administration, systems, procedures, operations, policies, rules, Regulations etc. prevailing currently in the organization. Any research which can contribute to enhance the effectiveness of the organization or towards the success of the organization C. M arketing level P roduct: Research is conducted to improve quality, features, design, packaging, labeling, and differentiation etc. of the products or services. P rice: Research is conducted for the cost minimization, determining Pricing methods(strategies), develop new pricing strategies etc. for the product in order to attract & retain the customers. P lace: Research is also conducted for evaluating & improving the performance, satisfaction, effectiveness of the distribution channels (Retailers, Dealers, agents etc.) P romotion: Research is also conducted to determine & develop appropriate & new approaches/methods for Advertising, Sales promotion as per the target market. S ales : Research is conducted to know the sales performance(sales audit), effectiveness & efficiency of the sales force, Determination of Sales Quota, defining Sales Territory, developing innovative & effective sales training & motivating technique  C ustomer: current trend of shopping & Consumption patterns of consumers Scope. SUMMARY R esearch may be very broadly defined as systematic gathering of data and information and its 12 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

analysis for advancement of knowledge in any subject. Research attempts to find answer intellectual and practical questions through application of systematic methods. Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines research as \"studious inquiry or examination; esp.: investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws\". Some people consider research as a movement, a movement from the known to the unknown. I t is actually a voyage of discovery. We all possess the vital instinct of inquisitiveness for, when the unknown confronts us, we wonder and our inquisitiveness makes us probe and attain full and fuller understanding of the unknown. This inquisitiveness is the mother of all knowledge and the method, which man employs for obtaining the knowledge of whatever the unknown, can be termed as research. R esearch is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict and control the observed phenomenon. To research is to purposely and methodically search for new knowledge and practical solutions in the form of answers to questions formulated beforehand. Research is also defined as a systematic inquiry that investigates hypotheses, suggests new interpretations of data or texts, and poses new questions for future research to explore. R esearch is not a solitary activity –but an act of community. As a member of the research community, you are building on the knowledge that others have acquired before you and providing a road map for those who come after you. You are adding to a body of work that will never be complete. Research is an ongoing, collaborative process with no finish line in sight. A ccording to Babbie, 1998, Research involves inductive and deductive methods. Inductive methods analyze the observed phenomenon and identify the general principles, structures, or processes underlying the phenomenon observed; deductive methods verify the hypothesized principles through observations. The purposes are different: one (inductive method) is aimed at or directed to develop explanations, and the other (deductive method) is aimed at or directed to test the validity of the explanations. R esearch and development refers to a wide range of business, governmental, and academic activities designed to gather new knowledge. Sometimes, the new knowledge leads to new 13 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

products or processes, and sometimes it doesn't. The purpose of R&D is to expand the frontiers of human understanding and to improve our society as a whole. In other words, to supply the innovations that took us from the wall phone to the iPhone 5 R&D activities has to take place. R & D can be subdivided into three categories: Pure research, Applied research, and Development activities KEYWORDS P  rimary Source: It is one that itself collects the data.  S econdary Source: It is one that makes available data collected by some other agency. C ollection of Statistics: Collection means the assembling for the purpose of particular investigation of entirely new data presumably not already available in published sources. Q uestionnaire: A list of questions properly selected and arranged pertaining to the investigation. LEARNING ACTIVITY S 1. tate the limitations of the research activity conducted by you. 2. E xplain the scope of the research conducted by a financial company. UNIT END QUESTIONS (MCQ AND DESCRIPTIVE) D S A. 14 escriptive Questions 1. tate the characteristics of research. CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

2. E xplain the types of research E W 3. G xplain the limitations of the research R R 4. M rite a short note on Research Methodology T R 5. R ive definition of – R N a. T esearch Methods R R b. 15 esearch Methodology B. ultiple Choice Questions (MCQs) 1. he systematic way to solve the research problem is called as— a. esearch methodology b. esearch methods c. esearch d. one of these 2. he techniques that are used for conduct of a research are known as— a. esearch methodology b. esearch methods CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

c. R esearch N d. one of these 3. R esearch is defined as \"a careful critical inquiry or examination in seeking facts or principles, diligent investigation in order to ascertain something\" by— R P a. W obert Ross J W b. S rof. Young L T c. N ebster's International Dictionary d. ohn W Best 4. hich of the following is not a limitation in research? a. ample size b. ack of literature review data c. ime constraints d. one of these 5. _ research consists of surveys and fact-finding enquiries of different types 16 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

a. D escriptive A A b. F pplied 2. (b), 3. (c) 4. (d) 5. (a) c. nalytical d. undamental Answers: 1. (a), REFERENCES  D onald, R. Cooper & Pamela S. Schindler (2014). Business Research Methods. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. Ltd.  G upta, S.C. (2010). Fundamentals of Statistics. 6th Ed. Mumbai: HPH.  G upta, S. P. (2002). Statistical Methods. New Delhi: Sultan Chand & Sons.  Beri, G. C. (2012). Business Statistics. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. Ltd.  Zikmund. (2015). Business Research Methods. New Delhi: Cengage Learning  Bhandarkar & Wilkinson, Methodology& Techniques of Social Research, Himalaya Publishing House, 2007.  Lundberg G.A., Social Research, N.Y, 1942.  Goffman. F, The Methodology of Social Sciences, N.Y. 1944.  Goode W & P. Hatt, Methods in Social Research, Oxford Printing Press, 1952. 17 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

UNIT-2 RESEARCH PROCESS Learning Introducti Structure An Steps in Objectives Summary on Keyword overview Learning the research process Unit End Reference s Activity Questions (Mcq And Descriptive) s LEARNING OBJECTIVES After studying this Unit, you will be able to:  Explain the process of research.  Discuss the different stages of research process INTRODUCTION There are a variety of approaches to research in any field of investigation, irrespective of whether it is applied research or basic research. Each particular research study will be unique in some ways because of the particular time, setting, environment, and place in which it is being undertaken. Nevertheless, all research endeavors share a common goal of furthering our understanding of the problem and thus all traverse through certain basic stages, forming a process called the research process. 18 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

AN OVERVIEW Scientific research involves a systematic process that focuses on being objective and gathering a multitude of information for analysis so that the researcher can come to a conclusion. This process is used in all research and evaluation projects, regardless of the research method (scientific method of inquiry, evaluation research, or action research). The process focuses on testing hunches or ideas in a park and recreation setting through a systematic process. In this process, the study is documented in such a way that another individual can conduct the same study again. This is referred to as replicating the study. Any research done without documenting the study so that others can review the process and results is not an investigation using the scientific research process. The scientific research process is a multiple-step process where the steps are interlinked with the other steps in the process. If changes are made in one step of the process, the researcher must review all the other steps to ensure that the changes are reflected throughout the process. Parks and recreation professionals are often involved in conducting research or evaluation projects within the agency. STEPS IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS Research process consists of a series of steps or actions required for effectively conducting research. Figure 2.1 Research Process S 1. 19 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

electing the research area. You are expected to state that you have selected the research area due to professional and personal interests in the area and this statement must be true. The importance of this first stage in the research process is often underestimated by many students. If you find research area and research problem that is genuinely interesting to you it is for sure that the whole process of writing your dissertation will be much easier. Therefore, it is never too early to start thinking about the research area for your dissertation. 2. F ormulating research aim, objectives and research questions or developing hypotheses. The choice between the formulation of research questions and the development of hypotheses depends on your research approach as it is discussed further below in more details. Appropriate research aims and objectives or hypotheses usually result from several attempts and revisions and these need to be mentioned in Methodology chapter. It is critically important to get your research questions or hypotheses confirmed by your supervisor before moving forward with the work. 3. C onducting the literature review. Literature review is usually the longest stage in the research process. Actually, the literature review starts even before the formulation of research aims and objective; because you have to check if exactly the same research problem has been addressed before. Nevertheless, the main part of the literature review is conducted after the formulation of research aim and objectives. You have to use a wide range of secondary data sources such as books, newspapers, magazines, journals, online articles etc. 4. S electing methods of data collection. Data collection method(s) need to be selected on the basis of critically analyzing advantages and disadvantages associated with several alternative data collection methods. In studies involving primary data collection, in-depth discussions of advantages and disadvantages of selected primary data collection method(s) need to be included in methodology. 5. C ollecting the primary data. Primary data collection needs to be preceded by a great level of preparation and pilot data collection may be required in case of questionnaires. Primary data collection is not a compulsory stage for all dissertations and you will skip this stage if you are conducting a desk-based research. 6. D ata analysis. Analysis of data plays an important role in the achievement of research aim and objectives. Data analysis methods vary between secondary and primary studies, as well as, 20 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

between qualitative and quantitative studies. 7. R eaching conclusions. Conclusions relate to the level of achievement of research aims and objectives. In this final part of your dissertation you will have to justify why you think that research aims and objectives have been achieved. Conclusions also need to cover research limitations and suggestions for future research. 8. C ompleting the research. Following all of the stages described above, and organizing separate chapters into one file leads to the completion of the first draft. The first draft of your dissertation needs to be prepared at least one month before the submission deadline. This is because you will need to have sufficient amount of time to address feedback of your supervisor. SUMMARY  R esearch process refers to various decision stages involved in a research project and the relationship between those stages. A researcher has to proceed systematically in the already planned directions with the help of number of steps in sequence.  T he Research Process is a process of multiple scientific steps in conducting the research work. Each step is interlinked with other steps. The process starts with the research problem at first. Then it advances in the next steps sequentially. Generally, a researcher conducts research work within seven steps. In research work, primarily, you require a Research Proposal. It is because the proposal approves the research project whether you achieve the ability to conduct research or not. So when you write a research proposal, present the detailed plans and specific objectives of your research correctly.  S cientific research includes a systematized procedure that emphases on being objective and gathering a multitude of information for analysis so that the researcher can come to a conclusion. This procedure is used in all research and evaluation projects, irrespective of the research technique. The procedure focuses on testing ideas in a park and regeneration setting through a systematic procedure. In this procedure, the study is recognized in such a move that another individual can conduct the similar study again. This is referred to as duplicating the study. Any research done without documenting the study so that others can review the procedure and consequences is not an investigation using the scientific research procedure. 21 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

The scientific research procedure is a multiple-step procedure where the steps are interlinked with the other steps in the procedure. If deviations are made in one step of the procedure, the researcher or investigator must review all the other steps to guarantee that the changes are reflected throughout the procedure. Parks and recreation experts are often involved in conducting research or assessment projects within the activity. These experts need to recognize the eight steps of the research procedure as they apply to conducting a study. KEYWORDS Investigat Responde  or: Investigator is a person who collects the information.  nt: A person who fills the questionnaire or provides the required information. LEARNING ACTIVITY 1. Write an outline for a research process which needs to be conducted by a student. 2. Write an outline for a research process which needs to be conducted by a faculty writing a research paper. UNIT END QUESTIONS (MCQ AND DESCRIPTIVE) 22 A. Descriptive Question 1. Explain the steps of research process 2. Draw the diagram of the stages of the research process B. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) 1. Which of the following is not included in research? a. feedback on published research report b. Defining problem c. collecting data d. drawing conclusions CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

2. Which is not the purpose of research? a. Informing actions b. Acquiring Monopoly c. Forming knowledge d. Solving Problem 3. is usually the longest stage in the research process. a. Literature Review b. Data collection c. Hypothesis testing d. None of these 4. is not a compulsory stage for all dissertations and you will skip this stage if you are conducting a desk-based research. a. Primary data collection b. Literature review c. Hypothesis testing d. Report writing 5. varies between the type of study conducted for research a. Report writing b. Literature review c. Primary data d. Data analysis Answers: 1. (a) 2. (b) 3. (a) 4. (a) 5. (d) REFERENCES  Donald, R. Cooper & Pamela S. Schindler (2014). Business Research Methods. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. Ltd.  Gupta, S.C. (2010). Fundamentals of Statistics. 6th Ed. Mumbai: HPH.  Gupta, S. P. (2002). Statistical Methods. New Delhi: Sultan Chand & Sons.  Beri, G. C. (2012). Business Statistics. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. Ltd.  Zikmund. (2015). Business Research Methods. New Delhi: Cengage Learning  Krishna Swamy K.N., Siva Kumar A.I., Mathirajan M., “Management Research Methodology (2006), Pearson Education, New Delhi. 23 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

 Kothari C.R., “Research Methodology, Methods and Techniques, Second edition,(2008), New Age International Publication.  Ranjit Kumar: Research Methodology, A step by step guide for beginners, Pearson Education, sixth Edition 2009.  Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis, Adrain Thornhiu: Research Methods for Business Students, Pearson Education.  Ram Ahuja, “Research Methods”, (2001), Rawat Publications, New Delhi.  Cooper D., Schindler P., Business research methods”, (2003) Tata Mc-Graw Hill, New Delhi. 24 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

  UNIT-3 REVIEW OF LITERATURE Structure Learning Objectives Introduction Meaning Purpose of literature review Sources of literature Primary Sources Secondary Sources Summary Keywords Learning Activity Unit End Questions (Mcq And Descriptive) References LEARNING OBJECTIVES After studying this Unit, you will be able to:  Explain the literature review sources  Discuss the purpose of literature review INTRODUCTION In essence, a literature review identifies, evaluates and synthesizes the relevant literature within a particular field of research. It illuminates how knowledge has evolved within the field, highlighting what has already been done, what is generally accepted, what is emerging and what is the current state of thinking on the topic. In addition, within research-based texts such as a Doctoral thesis, a literature review identifies a research gap (i.e. unexplored or under-researched areas) and articulates how a particular research project addresses this gap MEANING A literature review is a comprehensive summary of previous research on a topic. The literature review surveys scholarly articles, books, and other sources relevant to a particular area of research. The review should enumerate, describe, summarize, objectively evaluate and clarify this previous 25 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

research. It should give a theoretical base for the research and help you (the author) determine the nature of your research. The literature review acknowledges the work of previous researchers, and in so doing, assures the reader that your work has been well conceived. It is assumed that by mentioning a previous work in the field of study, that the author has read, evaluated, and assimilated that work into the work at hand. A literature review creates a \"landscape\" for the reader, giving her or him a full understanding of the developments in the field. This landscape informs the reader that the author has indeed assimilated all (or the vast majority of) previous, significant works in the field into her or his research. PURPOSE OF LITERATURE REVIEW The aim of a literature review is to show particular reader that researcher have read, and have a good grasp of, the main published work concerning a particular topic or question in specific field. This work may be in any format, including online sources. It may be a separate assignment, or one of the introductory sections of a report, dissertation or thesis. In the latter cases in particular, the review will be guided by research objective or by the issue or thesis researcher are arguing and will provide the framework for researchers’ further work. It is very important to note that review should not be simply a description of what others have published in the form of a set of summaries, but should take the form of a critical discussion, showing insight and an awareness of differing arguments, theories and approaches. It should be a synthesis and analysis of the relevant published work, linked at all times to your own purpose and rationale. SOURCES OF LITERATURE Primary Sources The term primary source is used broadly to embody all sources that are original. Primary sources provide first-hand information that is closest to the object of study. Primary sources vary by discipline. In the natural and social sciences, original reports of research found in academic journals detailing the methodology used in the research, in-depth descriptions, and discussions of the findings are considered primary sources of information. Other common examples of primary sources include speeches, letters, diaries, autobiographies, interviews, official reports, court records, artifacts, photographs, and drawings. Galvan, J. L. (2013). Writing literature reviews: A guide for students of the social and behavioral 26 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

sciences. Glendale, CA: Pyrczak. Secondary Sources A secondary source is a source that provides non-original or secondhand data or information. Secondary sources are written about primary sources. Research summaries reported in textbooks, magazines, and newspapers are considered secondary sources. They typically provide global descriptions of results with few details on the methodology. Other examples of secondary sources include biographies and critical studies of an author's work SUMMARY A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources on a specific topic. It provides an overview of current knowledge, allowing you to identify relevant theories, methods, and gaps in the existing research. Writing a literature review involves finding relevant publications (such as books and journal articles), critically analyzing them, and explaining what you found. There are five key steps:  Search for relevant literature Evaluate Identify  Outline sources Write  themes, debates and gaps  the structure  your literature review A good literature review doesn’t just summarize sources – it analyzes, synthesizes, and critically evaluates to give a clear picture of the state of knowledge on the subject.  “ A literature review is a description of the literature relevant to a particular field or topic. It gives an overview of what has been said, who the key writers are, what are the prevailing theories and hypotheses, what questions are being asked, and what methods and methodologies are appropriate and useful\" (Emerald Insight).  A 27 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

literature review is not just a summary of everything you have read on the topic. It is a critical analysis of the existing research relevant to your topic, and you should show how the literature relates to your topic and identify any gaps in the area of research.  T he idea of “literature” usually conjures up images of dusty books that you are required to read for English, American, or World literature classes. The “literature” in a literature review, however, refers to all the previous research and scholarship on a particular topic, no matter what discipline you are studying; the “review” is your explanation of what the literature says.  A literature review is the synthesis of the available literature regarding your research topic. This synthesis merges the conclusions of many different sources to explain the overall understanding of the topic, thus laying a foundation for both the research question and primary research. Although a literature review will cite sources and should discuss the credibility of the sources included, it is more than an annotated bibliography. Your literature review needs to review all the significant sources on a topic, regardless of whether or not they support the claims you will eventually be working toward. Your literature review, like any other document, should contain an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. KEYWORDS  Action research - Research aimed at helping powerless people in society to solve their problems and be empowered to fight for social justice.  Anonymi ty - \"A situation where even the researcher will not know who provided which specific responses or data for a research project, e.g., an anonymous survey. \"  Applied research - Research carried out for practical applications and problem-solving functions.  Archival analysis - Research that examines collections of public and other documents or records, to study a specific topic, issue or phenomenon.  Archival records - Public or private records or documents related to the phenomenon under study which can be examined as research data. 28 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1. Mention various websites from where the data can be collected on the status of the national income & its concepts in India 2. Make a list of sources from where data can be collected regarding the consumer behaviours & their changes. UNIT END QUESTIONS (MCQ AND DESCRIPTIVE) Explain Discuss A. Descriptive Questions Explain 1. State State the the sources of literature review? 2. An Bibliogra types of data. Directory 3. Encyclop purpose of literature review. 29 4. meaning of review literature. 5. sources of primary and second data B. Multiple Choice Questions 1. appropriate source to find out descriptive information is................. a. phy b. c. aedia CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

d. Dictionar y Which of 2. They are the following is not true about e journals? They also a. They are distributed through digital methods They are b. have editors or editorial boards Which of c. Interview publications of serial nature Speech d. Personal always free of cost Newspap 3. Which of the following is not a source of primary data? Textbook a. Magazine b. Surveys c. Journals diaries Literature d. True ers False 4. 30 the following is not a source of secondary data? a. s b. s c. d. 5. review is conducted at the beginning of the research a. b. Answers: CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

1. (c), 2. (d) 3. (d) 4. (c) 5. (a) REFERENCES  Donald, R. Cooper & Pamela S. Schindler (2014). Business Research Methods. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. Ltd.  Gupta, S.C. (2010). Fundamentals of Statistics. 6th Ed. Mumbai: HPH.  Gupta, S. P. (2002). Statistical Methods. New Delhi: Sultan Chand & Sons.  Beri, G. C. (2012). Business Statistics. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. Ltd.  Zikmund. (2015). Business Research Methods. New Delhi: Cengage Learning  Garragha n G. S., A Guide to Historical Method New York, Fordham University Press 1996.  Gottstack , L., Understanding History, New York, Alfred A. Knof 1951.  McMillan J. H. and Schumander S. Research in Education: A Conceptual Introduction Boston MA: Little Brown and Company 1984.  Shafer R. J., A Guide to Historical Method Illions: the Dorsey Press, 1974. 31 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

UNIT-4 IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEMS AND H FORMULATION OF HYPOTHESIS y p Structure o Learning Objectives t Introduction h Building Hypothesis e Qualities of a good Hypothesis s Null Hypothesis & Alternative Hypothesis i Null Hypothesis Definition s Alternate Hypothesis Definition T CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM) e s t i n g - L o g i c & I 32

The Logic of Hypothesis Testing m Summary p Keywords o r CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM) t a n c e I m p o r t a n c e o f a T e s t a b l e H y p o t h e s i s 33

Learning Activity Unit End Questions (Mcq And Descriptive) References LEARNING OBJECTIVES After studying this Unit, you will be able to:  Understand the formulation of hypothesis  Explain the Null & Alternate hypothesis  Outline good hypothesis qualities INTRODUCTION “Hypothesis may be defined as a proposition or a set of propositions set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide some investigation in the light of established facts” (Kothari, 1988). A research hypothesis is quite often a predictive statement, which is capable of being tested using scientific methods that involve an independent and some dependent variables. For instance, the following statements may be considered: 34 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

 “ Students who take tuitions perform better than the others who do not receive tuitions” or,  “ The female students perform as well as the male students”. These two statements are hypotheses that can be objectively verified and tested. Thus, they indicate that a hypothesis states what one is looking for. Besides, it is a proposition that can be put to test in order to examine its validity. BUILDING HYPOTHESIS A testable hypothesis is not a simple statement. It is an intricate statement that needs to offer a clear introduction to a scientific experiment, its intentions, and the possible outcomes. However, there are some important things to consider when building a compelling hypothesis.  S tate the problem that you are trying to solve.  M ake sure that the hypothesis clearly defines the topic and the focus of the experiment.  T ry to write the hypothesis as an if-then statement.  F ollow this template: If a specific action is taken, then a certain outcome is expected.  D efine the variables In scientific experiments, a hypothesis proposes and examines the relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable. The effect on the dependent variable (the idea being tested) depends on or is determined by what happens when you change the independent variable (the factor being changed). For example, let us take a look at this hypothesis: You should not ignore the importance of the above steps. The validity of your experiment and its results rely on a robust testable hypothesis. Developing a strong testable hypothesis has few advantages, it compels us to think intensely and specifically about the outcomes of a study. It enables us to understand the implication of the question and the different variables involved in the study. It helps us to make precise predictions based on prior research. Hence, forming a hypothesis would be of great value to the research. Here are some good examples of testable hypotheses. 35 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

QUALITIES OF A GOOD HYPOTHESIS P a. ower of Prediction One of the valuable attribute of a good hypothesis is to predict for future. It not only clears the present problematic situation but also predict for the future that what would be happened in the coming time. So, hypothesis is a best guide of research activity due to power of prediction. b. C losest to observable things A hypothesis must have close contact with observable things. It does not believe on air castles but it is based on observation. Those things and objects which we cannot observe, for that hypothesis cannot be formulated. The verification of a hypothesis is based on observable things. c. S implicity A hypothesis should be so dabble to every layman, P.V young says, “A hypothesis wo0uld be simple, if a researcher has more in sight towards the problem”. W-ocean stated that, “A hypothesis should be as sharp as razor’s blade”. So, a good hypothesis must be simple and have no complexity. d. C larity A hypothesis must be conceptually clear. It should be clear from ambiguous information’s. The terminology used in it must be clear and acceptable to everyone. e. T estability A good hypothesis should be tested empirically. It should be stated and formulated after verification and deep observation. Thus testability is the primary feature of a good hypothesis. f. R elevant to Problem If a hypothesis is relevant to a particular problem, it would be considered as good one. A hypothesis is guidance for the identification and solution of the problem, so it must be accordance to the problem. g. S 36 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

pecific It should be formulated for a particular and specific problem. It should not include generalization. If generalization exists, then a hypothesis cannot reach to the correct conclusions. h. R elevant to available Techniques Hypothesis must be relevant to the techniques which is available for testing. A researcher must know about the workable techniques before formulating a hypothesis. i. F ruitful for new Discoveries It should be able to provide new suggestions and ways of knowledge. It must create new discoveries of knowledge J.S. Mill, one of the eminent researcher says that “Hypothesis is the best source of new knowledge it creates new ways of discoveries”. j. Consistency & Harmony Internal harmony and consistency is a major characteristic of good hypothesis. It should be out of contradictions and conflicts. There must be a close relationship between variables which one is dependent on other. NULL HYPOTHESIS & ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESIS Null hypothesis definition The null hypothesis is a general statement that states that there is no relationship between two phenomena under consideration or that there is no association between two groups. A hypothesis, in general, is an assumption that is yet to be proved with sufficient pieces of evidence. A null hypothesis thus is the hypothesis a researcher is trying to disprove. A null hypothesis is a hypothesis capable of being objectively verified, tested, and even rejected. If a study is to compare method A with method B about their relationship, and if the study is preceded on the assumption that both methods are equally good, then this assumption is termed as the null hypothesis. The null hypothesis should always be a specific hypothesis, i.e., it should not state about or approximately a certain value. Null hypothesis symbol 37 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

The symbol for the null hypothesis is H0, and it is read as H-null, H-zero, or H-naught. The null hypothesis is usually associated with just ‘equals to’ sign as a null hypothesis can either be accepted or rejected. Null hypothesis purpose The main purpose of a null hypothesis is to verify/ disprove the proposed statistical assumptions. Some scientific null hypothesis helps to advance a theory. The null hypothesis is also used to verify the consistent results of multiple experiments. For e.g., the null hypothesis stating that there is no relation between some medication and age of the patients supports the general effectiveness conclusion, and allows recommendations. Null hypothesis principle The principle of the null hypothesis is collecting the data and determining the chances of the collected data in the study of a random sample, proving that the null hypothesis is true. In situations or studies where the collected data doesn’t complete the expectation of the null hypothesis, it is concluded that the data doesn’t provide sufficient or reliable pieces of evidence to support the null hypothesis and thus, it is rejected. The data collected is tested through some statistical tool which is designed to measure the extent of departure of the date from the null hypothesis. The procedure decides whether the observed departure obtained from the statistical tool is larger than a defined value so that the probability of occurrence of a high departure value is very small under the null hypothesis. However, some data might not contradict the null hypothesis which explains that only a weak conclusion can be made and that the data doesn’t provide strong pieces of evidence against the null hypothesis and the null hypothesis might or might not be true. Under some other conditions, if the data collected is sufficient and is capable of providing enough evidence, the null hypothesis can be considered valid, indicating no relationship between the phenomena. When to reject null hypothesis? When the p-value of the data is less than the significant level of the test, the null hypothesis is rejected, indicating the test results are significant. 38 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

However, if the p-value is higher than the significant value, the null hypothesis is not rejected, and the results are considered not significant. The level of significance is an important concept while hypothesis testing as it determines the percentage risk of rejecting the null hypothesis when H0 might happen to be true. In other words, if we take the level of significance at 5%, it means that the researcher is willing to take as much as a 5 percent risk of rejecting the null hypothesis when it (H0) happens to be true. The null hypothesis cannot be accepted because the lack of evidence only means that the relationship is not proven. It doesn’t prove that something doesn’t exist, but it just means that there are not enough shreds of evidence and the study might have missed it. Null hypothesis examples The following are some examples of null hypothesis: If the hypothesis is that “the consumption of a particular medicine reduces the chances of heart arrest”, the null hypothesis will be “the consumption of the medicine doesn’t reduce the chances of heart arrest.” If the hypothesis is that, “If random test scores are collected from men and women, does the score of one group differ from the other?” a possible null hypothesis will be that the mean test score of men is the same as that of the women. H0: µ1= µ2 H0= null hypothesis µ1= mean score of men µ2= mean score of women Alternative hypothesis definition An alternative hypothesis is a statement that describes that there is a relationship between two selected variables in a study. An alternative hypothesis is usually used to state that a new theory is preferable to the old one (null hypothesis). This hypothesis can be simply termed as an alternative to the null hypothesis. The alternative hypothesis is the hypothesis that is to be proved that indicates that the results of a 39 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

study are significant and that the sample observation is not results just from chance but from some non-random cause. If a study is to compare method A with method B about their relationship and we assume that the method A is superior or the method B is inferior, then such a statement is termed as an alternative hypothesis. Alternative hypotheses should be clearly stated, considering the nature of the research problem. Alternative hypothesis symbol The symbol of the alternative hypothesis is either H1 or Ha while using less than, greater than or not equal signs. Alternative hypothesis purpose An alternative hypothesis provides the researchers with some specific restatements and clarifications of the research problem. An alternative hypothesis provides a direction to the study, which then can be utilized by the researcher to obtain the desired results. Since the alternative hypothesis is selected before conducting the study, it allows the test to prove that the study is supported by evidence, separating it from the researchers’ desires and values. An alternative hypothesis provides a chance of discovering new theories that can disprove an existing one that might not be supported by evidence. The alternative hypothesis is important as they prove that a relationship exists between two variables selected and that the results of the study conducted are relevant and significant. Alternative hypothesis principle The principle behind the alternative hypothesis is similar to that of the null hypothesis. The alternative hypothesis is based on the concept that when sufficient evidence is collected from the data of random sample, it provides a basis for proving the assumption made by the researcher regarding the study. Like in the null hypothesis, the data collected from a random sample is passed through a statistical tool that measures the extent of departure of the data from the null hypothesis. If the departure is small under the selected level of significance, the alternative hypothesis is accepted, and the null hypothesis is rejected. 40 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

If the data collected don’t have chances of being in the study of the random sample and are instead decided by the relationship within the sample of the study, an alternative hypothesis stands true. Alternative hypothesis examples The following are some examples of alternative hypothesis: 1.I f a researcher is assuming that the bearing capacity of a bridge is more than 10 tons, then the hypothesis under this study will be: Null hypothesis H0: µ= 10 tons Alternative hypothesis Ha: µ>10 tons 2. U nder another study that is trying to test whether there is a significant difference between the effectiveness of medicine against heart arrest, the alternative hypothesis will be that there is a relationship between the medicine and chances of heart arrest. HYPOTHESIS TESTING - LOGIC & IMPORTANCE Importance of a Testable Hypothesis To devise and perform an experiment using the scientific method, you need to make sure that your hypothesis is testable. To be considered testable, some essential criteria must be met:  T here must be a possibility to prove that the hypothesis is true.  T here must be a possibility to prove that the hypothesis is false.  T he results of the hypothesis must be reproducible. Without these criteria, the hypothesis and the results will be vague. As a result, the experiment will not prove or disprove anything significant. The Logic of Hypothesis Testing The Logic of Hypothesis Testing As just stated, the logic of hypothesis testing in statistics involves four steps. 41 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

S tate the Hypothesis: We state a hypothesis (guess) about a population. Usually the hypothesis concerns the value of a population parameter. D efine the Decision Method: We define a method to make a decision about the hypothesis. The method involves sample data.  G ather Data: We obtain a random sample from the population. M ake a Decision: We compare the sample data with the hypothesis about the population. Usually we compare the value of a statistic computed from the sample data with the hypothesized value of the population parameter. If the data are consistent with the hypothesis we conclude that the hypothesis is reasonable. NOTE: We do not conclude it is right, but reasonable! AND: We actually do this by rejecting the opposite hypothesis (called the NULL hypothesis). More on this later. If there is a big discrepancy between the data and the hypothesis we conclude that the hypothesis was wrong. SUMMARY A hypothesis is a statement that introduces a research question and proposes an expected result. It is an integral part of the scientific method that forms the basis of scientific experiments. Therefore, you need to be careful and thorough when building your hypothesis. A minor flaw in the construction of your hypothesis could have an adverse effect on your experiment. M ore importantly, you need to build a robust testable hypothesis for your scientific experiments. A testable hypothesis is a hypothesis that can be proved or disproved as a result of experimentation. H ypothesis testing is an act in statistics whereby an analyst tests an assumption regarding a population parameter. The methodology employed by the analyst depends on the nature of the data used and the reason for the analysis. 42 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

H ypothesis testing is used to assess the plausibility of a hypothesis by using sample data. Such data may come from a larger population, or from a data-generating process. I n hypothesis testing, an analyst tests a statistical sample, with the goal of providing evidence on the plausibility of the null hypothesis. S tatistical analysts test a hypothesis by measuring and examining a random sample of the population being analyzed. All analysts use a random population sample to test two different hypotheses: the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis. T he null hypothesis is usually a hypothesis of equality between population parameters; e.g., a null hypothesis may state that the population mean return is equal to zero. The alternative hypothesis is effectively the opposite of a null hypothesis; e.g., the population mean return is not equal to zero. Thus, they are mutually exclusive, and only one can be true. However, one of the two hypotheses will always be true. All hypotheses are tested using a four-step process: T he first step is for the analyst to state the two hypotheses so that only one can be right.  T he next step is to formulate an analysis plan, which outlines how the data will be evaluated.  T he third step is to carry out the plan and physically analyze the sample data T he fourth and final step is to analyze the results and either reject the null hypothesis, or state that the null hypothesis is plausible, given the data. KEYWORDS B asic research - Research carried out to discover something simply for the sake of knowledge to improve our understanding of the world, and for academic rather than commercial 43 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

purposes B ibliography - A list of all sources of information consulted for the study, some of which may not have been cited within the body of the publication. C ase studies - A case study is the in-depth examination of just one or a few cases, instances or ‘objects of interest’ to analyses a complex, contemporary phenomenon. C ausality - Examining if one variable causes changes in another, in a given phenomenon. This cause and effect link is examined using experimental research where the time order release of the two variables is controlled, to see if the cause precedes the effect. LEARNING ACTIVITY C 1. reate 2 null & alternate hypothesis for the research on consumer behavior 2. Create 2 null & alternate hypothesis for the research on reasons for dip in sales revenue. UNIT END QUESTIONS (MCQ AND DESCRIPTIVE) Descripti Explain A. Describe ve Questions State the Discuss 1. Null Hypothesis. 44 2. Alternate Hypothesis. 3. qualities of a good Hypothesis. 4. the logic of hypothesis testing. CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

5. Outline the stages of building the hypothesis. Multiple B. - A Choice Questions (MCQs) Both Only 1. Unscienti hypothesis should be Inadequat a. deductible & testable A good b. Inter- deductible Inter- c. Inter- fically constructed Inter- d. e A Operation 2. Operation hypothesis to be testable should always be— Scientific a. All of objectively meaningful b. 45 subjectively un-meaningful c. objectively un-meaningful d. subjectively meaningful 3. hypothesis is not testable if it is— a. ally non-definable b. ally definable c. d. these CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

4. Which of the following is a quality of a good hypothesis a. Observati on b. Simplicit y c. Clarity d. All of these 5. Which of the following is not a stage of the hypothesis testing State the a. Define hypothesis Gather b. None of the decision methods c. (a) data d. these Answers: 1. 3. (a) 4. (d) 5. (d) 2. (d) REFERENCES  Donald, R. Cooper & Pamela S. Schindler (2014). Business Research Methods. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. Ltd.  Gupta, S.C. (2010). Fundamentals of Statistics. 6th Ed. Mumbai: HPH.  Gupta, S. P. (2002). Statistical Methods. New Delhi: Sultan Chand & Sons.  Beri, G. C. (2012). Business Statistics. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. Ltd.  Zikmund. (2015). Business Research Methods. New Delhi: Cengage Learning 46 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

 Garragha n G. S., A Guide to Historical Method New York, Fordham University Press 1996.  Gottstack , L., Understanding History, New York, Alfred A. Knof 1951.  McMillan J. H. and Schumander S. Research in Education: A Conceptual Introduction Boston MA: Little Brown and Company 1984.  Shafer R. J., A Guide to Historical Method Illions: the Dorsey Press, 1974. 47 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

 48  UNIT-5 RESEARCH DESIGN Structure Learning Objectives Introduction Meaning and Importance of Research Design Features of a good research design Exploratory Research Design – concept, types and uses Types & methodologies of exploratory research Exploratory research: Steps to conduct a research Characteristics of Exploratory research Advantages of Exploratory research Disadvantages of Exploratory research Importance of Exploratory research Descriptive Research Designs - concept, types and uses Characteristics of descriptive research Applications of descriptive research with examples Advantages of descriptive research Experimental Design-Causal relationships Concept of Independent & Dependent variables Diagnostic Research Design Summary Keywords Learning Activity Unit End Questions (Mcq And Descriptive) References LEARNING OBJECTIVES After studying this Unit, you will be able to:  Outline the concepts of research design  State importance of research design  Explain various types of research designs CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

INTRODUCTION Research design is the framework of research methods and techniques chosen by a researcher. The design allows researchers to hone in on research methods that are suitable for the subject matter and set up their studies up for success. The design of a research topic explains the type of research (experimental, survey, correlational, semi-experimental, review) and also its sub-type (experimental design, research problem, descriptive case-study). MEANING AND IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH DESIGN There are three main types of research design: Data collection, measurement, and analysis. The type of research problem an organization is facing will determine the research design and not vice-versa. The design phase of a study determines which tools to use and how they are used. An impactful research design usually creates a minimum bias in data and increases trust in the accuracy of collected data. A design that produces the least margin of error in experimental research is generally considered the desired outcome. The essential elements of the research design are:  A ccurate purpose statement  T echniques to be implemented for collecting and analyzing research  T he method applied for analyzing collected details  T ype of research methodology  P robable objections for research  S ettings for the research study  T imeline  M 49 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)

easurement of analysis Proper research design sets your study up for success. Successful research studies provide insights that are accurate and unbiased. You’ll need to create a survey that meets all of the main characteristics of a design. Research design is needed because it facilitates the smooth sailing of the various research operations, thereby making research as efficient as possible yielding maximal information with minimal expenditure of effort, time and money. Research design has a significant impact on the reliability of the results obtained. It thus acts as a firm foundation for the entire research. For example, economical and attractive construction of house we need a blueprint (or what is commonly called the map of the house) well thought out and prepared by an expert architect, similarly we need a research design or a plan in advance of data collection and analysis for our research project. Research design stands for advance planning of the methods to be adopted for collecting the relevant data and the techniques to be used in their analysis. The need for research design is as follows: I t reduces inaccuracy;  H elps to get maximum efficiency and reliability;  E liminates bias and marginal errors;  M inimizes wastage of time;  H elpful for collecting research materials;  H elpful for testing of hypothesis;  G ives an idea regarding the type of resources required in terms of money, manpower, time, and efforts; 50 CU IDOL SELF LEARNING MATERIAL (SLM)