BBA - II SEMESTERBBA 201 - RESEARCH METHODS

Q1. Discuss the primary data collection techniques in detail.

(Definition of Primary data, Primary data collection techniques)

Answer:

Primary data are first hand information’s. These information’s are collected directly from

the source by means of field studies. Primary data are original and are like raw materials. It

is the crudest form of information. The investigator himself collects primary data or

supervises its collection. It may be collected on a sample or census basis or from case

studies.

Techniques:

Primary data are always collected from the source. It is collected either by the investigator himself or through his agents. There are different methods of collecting primary data. Each method has its relative merits and demerits. The investigator has to choose a particular method to collect the information. The choice to a large extent depends on the preliminaries to data collection some of the commonly used methods are discussed below.

1. Direct Personal observation:

This is a very general method of collecting primary data. Here the investigator directly contacts the informants, solicits their cooperation and enumerates the data. The information are collected by direct personal interviews.

2. Indirect Oral Interviews:

This is an indirect method of collecting primary data. Here information are not collected directly from the source but by interviewing persons closely related with the problem. This method is applied to apprehend culprits in case of theft, murder etc. The information’s relating to one's personal life or which the informant hesitates to reveal are better collected by this method. Here the investigator prepares 'a small list of questions relating to the enquiry. The answers (information) are collected by interviewing persons well connected with the incident. The investigator should cross-examine the informants to get correct information.

3. Mailed Questionnaire method:

This is a very commonly used method of collecting primary data. Here information are collected through a set of questionnaire. A questionnaire is a document prepared by the investigator containing a set of questions. These questions relate to the problem of enquiry

directly or indirectly. Here first the questionnaires are mailed to the informants with a formal request to answer the question and send them back. For better response the investigator should bear the postal charges. The questionnaire should carry a polite note explaining the aims and objective of the enquiry, definition of various terms and concepts used there. Besides this the investigator should ensure the secrecy of the information as well as the name of the informants, if required.

4. Schedule Method:

In case the informants are largely uneducated and non-responsive data cannot be collected by the mailed questionnaire method. In such cases, schedule method is used to collect data. Here the questionnaires are sent through the enumerators to collect information’s. Enumerators are persons appointed by the investigator for the purpose. They directly meet the informants with the questionnaire. They explain the scope and objective of the enquiry to the informants and solicit their cooperation. The enumerators ask the questions to the informants and record their answers in the questionnaire and compile them. The success of this method depends on the sincerity and efficiency of the enumerators. So the enumerator should be sweet-tempered, good-natured, trained and well-behaved.

5. From Local Agents:Sometimes primary data are collected from local agents or correspondents. These agents are appointed by the sponsoring authorities. They are well conversant with the local conditions like language, communication, food habits, traditions etc. Being on the spot and well acquainted with the nature of the enquiry they are capable of furnishing reliable information.

Q.2. a. Explain the different types of research designs. b. Differentiate between

Probability and Non-probability sampling methods. (Meaning of research design,

Types of research designs, Differentiate between Probability and Non-probability

sampling methods)

Answer:

Meaning of Research Design

It is a systematic plan of what is to be done, how it will be done and how the data will be

analysed. Research design basically shows what the major topics in the research are and

their details. It provides an outline of how the research will be carried out and the methods

that will be used. It includes an abstract of the research study, descriptors of the research

design, dependent and independent variables, the assumptions and limitations of the

research, research question hierarchy, sampling design and a format for the dummy data,

showing how data will be presented.

Types of Research Design

The process of Research design can be divided into fixed and flexible research designs.

Others have referred to this distinction as ‘quantitative research designs’ and ‘qualitative

research designs’. However, fixed designs need not be quantitative, and flexible design need

not be qualitative. In fixed designs the design of the study is fixed before the main stage of

data collection takes place. Fixed designs are normally theory-driven; otherwise it’s

impossible to know in advance which variables need to be controlled and measured. Often

these variables are quantitative. Flexible designs allow for more freedom during the data

collection. One reason for using a flexible research design can be that the variable of

interest is not quantitatively measurable, such as culture. In other cases, theory might not

be available before one starts the research.

1. Philosophical/discursive: This may cover a variety of approaches, but will draw primarily

on existing literature, rather than new empirical data. A discursive study could examine a

particular issue, perhaps from an alternative perspective (e.g. feminist). Alternatively, it

might put forward a particular argument or examine a methodological issue.

2. Literature review: This may be an attempt to summarise or comment on what is already

known about a particular topic. By collecting different sources together, synthesising and

analysing critically, it essentially creates new knowledge or perspectives. There are a

number of different forms a literature review might take. A ‘systematic’ review will generally

go to great lengths to ensure that all relevant sources (whether published or not) have been

included. Details of the search strategies used and the criteria for inclusion must be made

clear. A systematic review will often make a quantitative synthesis of the results of all the

studies, for example by meta-analysis.

3. Case study: This will involve collecting empirical data, generally from only one or a small

number of cases. It usually provides rich detail about those cases, of a predominantly

qualitative nature. There are a number of different approaches to case study work (e.g.

ethnographic, hermeneutic, estrogenic, etc.) and the principles and methods followed

should be made clear.

4. Survey: Where an empirical study involves collecting information from a larger number of

cases, perhaps using questionnaires, it is usually described as a survey. Alternatively, a

survey might make use of already available data, collected for another purpose. A survey

may be cross-sectional (data collected at one time) or longitudinal (collected over a period).

Because of the larger number of cases, a survey will generally involve some quantitative

analysis.

5. Evaluation: This might be an evaluation of a curriculum innovation or organisational

change. An evaluation can be formative (designed to inform the process of development) or

summative (to judge the effects). Often an evaluation will have elements of both. If an

evaluation relates to a situation in which the researcher is also a participant, it may be

described as ‘action research’. Evaluations will often make use of case study and survey

methods and a summative evaluation will ideally also be used as experiments.

Differentiate between Probability and Non-probability sampling methods

Probability: Here, each member of the universe has a known prospect of being selected and

included in the sample. Any personal bias is avoided. The associate cannot use his concern

in selection of sample items.

Example: Random sample and cluster sampling.

Non-probability: In non-probability sampling, the probability of selecting population

elements is unknown. But in a situation when a sampling frame is absent, one can easily go

for non-probability sampling methods to serve the objectives of the study. However, a

question may arise as to how closely these approximate for representativeness. Additional

reasons for choosing non-probability over probability sampling are cost and time factors.

Example: quota sampling, judgement sampling.

Q.3. The important task ahead of the researcher is to document the entire work

done in the form of a well-structured research report. Explain the report writing

steps. What are the guidelines for writing the research report? (Meaning of a

Research Report, Components of a Research Report, Guidelines for writing the

Research Report).

Answer:

Meaning of a Research Report

The written research report and the oral presentation typically provided for those who

occupy executive positions. The report is confusing or poorly written, the time and the effort

spent on gathering and analysing data would not carry any result. Research report is the

most important part of the research process.

Components of Research Reports

All as a student you must understand that that there is no single format which is appropriate

for all situations. The following outline is generally accepted as the basic format for most

research projects:

1. Title page: The title page should contain a title which conveys the essence of the study,

the data, name of the organisation submitting the report and the name of the recipient

organisation. If the report is confidential, the individuals to receive the report should be

named on the title page. While some of this may seem to duplicate the function of the

transmittal, consider that the transmittal letter or memo will probably not accompany the

report throughout its readership route, or make it to the company library or files where the

report may be stored for future reference. Try to make the title brief but descriptive of the

study’s intent. If you did a good job of thinking out the purposes of the study in the first

place, you should have no trouble in arriving at a suitable title. For example: “profile of car

owners in Delhi city” Hard contact lenses: is the market softening?” The title should be

descriptive, but catchy.

2. Table of contents: The table of contents sequentially lists the topics covered in the report

along with their page references. Its purpose is to help readers find the particular sections of

the report that are of most concern to them. The table of contents used in reports written

by the marketing research department can be referred to as an example.

3. List of tables: The table lists the titles and page numbers of all visual aids. It can be placed

either on the same page with the table of contents or on a separate page.

4. Executive summary: If your report is long, you should be realistic and assume that some

key person may not have time to read it in its totality. In addition, providing a summary of

the report will help ensure that readers get the major points you are trying to make. The

management summary is a condensed accurate statement of what is important in the

report. This one to two page synopsis is a must for most research reports.

5. Body of report: The details of the research project are found in the body of the report.

This section includes (1) Introduction (2) Methodology (3) Results (4) Limitations.

6. Conclusions and recommendations: In the concluding section, briefly summarize your

major findings and describe the implications of these findings for marketing decision

making. The conclusions and recommendations must flow logically from the presentation of

the results.

7. Appendix: The principle of the appendix is to provide a place for material which is not

very essential to the body of the report. This material is usually more specialized and

complex than the material presented in the main report and it is intended to serve the

needs of the technically oriented reader. The appendix will often contain copies of data

collection forms, particulars of the sampling plan, estimates of statistical errors,

interviewer’s information and detailed statistical tables related with the data analysis

process.

Guidelines for Writing Research Reports

Researchers who are effective in report writing agree that there are a series of guidelines

which should be followed. Such guidelines can be listed as:

Consider the Audience: make the report clear; use only words familiar to the readers and

define all technical terms. To make the comparison of figures easier, use percentages,

rounded off figures, ranks of ratios; put the exact data within the text or in the appendix.

Use graphic aids (charts, graphs, pictures, etc.) wherever they help clarify the presentation

of data.

Address the Information Needs: remember the research report is designed to communicate

information to decision makers. Make sure that it clearly relates the research findings to the

objectives of the management.

Be concise, Yet complete: most managers will not want to read about the details of a

research report. Knowing what to include and what to leave out is a difficult task. It is up to

you, the researcher, to take into account the information needs of the decision maker when

writing your report.

Be objective: You will probably face at least one situation in which you know that the client

will not easily accept the results. The findings may conflict with the decision maker’s

experience and judgement or they may reflect unfavourably on the wisdom of previous

decisions.