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Administrative Information

Course Name: Advance Research Methods

Course Code: MS695

Credit Hours: 3 Credit hours

Course Prerequisites: MAT202, MKT401

1. Course Description:

Course will review the major considerations and tasks involved in conductingscientific research in Business Management, Marketing and Finance area. It willintroduce the fundamental aspects of designing, supporting and conducting aresearch project. Moreover, it will give an insight that how research helps indecision-making.

2. Course Objectives:

The core objective of the course is to enable the individual to understand theimportance of research and its practical implications. Along with the practical handson the market live research projects.

3. Learning Outcomes:.

LO1. Explain the fundamentals of research and its basic tools

LO2. Select an appropriate research methodology, with which to conduct theresearch. Student will be able to produce a research proposal.

LO3. Understanding the various requirements of research, and find the appropriateresources needed for a comprehensive research process and defend themethodology selected

LO4 To be able to collect data secondary and primary , data mining, data analysis,presenting data by using basic statistics, referencing style, writing long and shortreport and presentation skills of research.

4. Textbook:Business Research Methods: New edition , Donald .R. Cooper, Pamela S. Schindler

5. Reference Book(s):

Research methods for Business Organizations and Social Institutions byProf.Dr.Matin.A.Khan

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Introduction to Research Methods :Ronald .B. Burns

Essentials of Research Design and Methodology, by Geoferry Marczyk,et al, John Wiley & Sons

6. Topics/Chapters:

Introduction to Business Researcho What is research?o Importance of researcho The scientific attitude in Researcho Empirical Researcho Variables

Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods

o Types of Researcho Defining Qualitative and Quantitativeo Differences between Qualitative and quantitative researcho

Framework and design selectiono Types of qualitative researcho Types of quantitative research

Research process : Literature Review and Exploring secondary Data

o Management of research Questiono Research process problemso Unsearchable questionso The exploratory phase strategyo Levels of information and their evaluationo Searching a Bibliographic databaseo Searching international journals via webo Data mining techniqueso Writing a literature review

The Research Proposal

o Designing the studyo Sampling Designo What is a Hypothesis? Its salient features of Hypothesis

Developmento Evaluation Methodso How to write Research Proposalo Proposal Contento Pilot testing

Ethics in Business Researcho What are research ethics?o Ethical treatments of participantso Ethics and sponsoro Researcher and team memberso Professional standardso Resources of Ethical Awarenesso Case study

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Design of Research : Design Strategieso What is Research Design?o Classifications of Designso Exploratory Studies

o Qualitative techniqueso Experience Surveyo Focus groupso Descriptive Studieso Causal studieso Causal relationships

Samplingo Importance of samplingo What is a good sample?o Types of sample designo

Probability Samplingo Steps in Sampling Designo Complex Probability Samplingo Non-probability sampling

Questionnaire designing

o Developing the Instrument Design strategyo Management of Research Question Hierarchyo Types of Questionnaireo Construction of Questionnaireo Question Contento Question Wording

o Response Strategyo Measurement of Question Sequencing

Survey methodso Characteristics of the communication Approacho Choosing a communication methodo Personal Interviewing (In-depth interviews)o Telephone interviewingo Maximizing the Mail surveyso Reducing Non response surveyo Self Administered Surveyso Observational Studieso

Evaluation of the Observational Methodo Focus groups

Data Preparation , Description and Analysiso Editingo Codingo Coding Closed and open Ended Questionso Using Content analysis

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o Data Entry Formatso Descriptive Statistics summaries

SPSS Labo Basic application of SPSS in research

Exploring, Displaying and Examining Datao Exploratory data analysiso Frequency tables bar charts, Pie chartso Histogramso Stem leaf displayso Cross tabulationo Usage of percentileso Hypothesis testingo Statistical significanceo Types of testso How to select a testo

Citation & Presenting Written and Oral reportso Importance of citationo Referenceso Styles of referenceso Bibliographyo Writing research reporto Research report contentso Writing a drafto Long reporto Short reporto Presentation making

7. Teaching and Learning Methodology:

The teaching methodology will comprise of presentations via multi-media, lab work,case studies guest speaker sessions, practical demonstration of literature reviewand referencing style. In order to facilitate the students in writing a well drafted report,15 minutes will be allocated in every class for the project discussion.

8. Materials and Supplies:

Students should have note books and calculators. Case Studies and handout will beprovided.

9. Grading Policy/Student Assessment:

Assessment Instruments Percentage LO Covered

Quiz (3 of 5 mark each) n-1 10 % LO 1,2, 3

Assignment/Presentation/Project 15 % LO1 2,3, 4,

Attendance/Participation 05 %(Awarded by theExamination dept.)

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Midterm Exam 20 % LO 1, 2, 3

Final Exam 50 % LO 1, 2, 3, 4

10. Attendance Policy:

Prompt arrival and regular attendance are extremely important. Refer to studenthandbook for policies on late entry, maximum absences allowed, leave applicationetc..

11. Expected Class Conduct:

Students are expected to be interactive and class participation is essential forlearning . Class code of ethics should be followed like no eating, usage of mobilephones are not acceptable, late arrivals should not be made a habit unless agenuine problem..Class disturbance will not be tolerated. Since the assignments areproject based so they should be submitted on time, in order to complete the term

project diligently.

12. Weekly Course Outline:

Session

Session Topic Assessments* Percentage**

1 Introduction to Business Research

2 Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods

3 The Research processSelection of

project topic4 The Research proposal Quiz

5 Ethics in Business ResearchInstructorEvaluation

6 Design of Research : Design Strategies

Submission ofLiterature

review(Assignment #1)

7 Sampling

8 Midterm Mid-Term

9 Questionnaire Design

10 Survey Methods

Assignment #2Submission of

ResearchProposal

11 Data Preparation , Description and Analysis

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12 Data Preparation Quiz

13 Citation & Presenting Written and Oral reportsInstructorEvaluation

14Reports Presentation: Long and Short Report

and ppt presentations15 Revision

16 Final Exam Final Exam

Additional assignments, tests and quiz can be conducted.** Appropriate allocation of marks can be introduced here depending on thenumber of assessments.

13. Students with Physical or Educational Challenges:

Students with educational and/or physical challenges are entitled to extra attentionand time from the instructor. Therefore students are advised to notify the courseinstructor at the beginning of the course. Special arrangement may also be made onprior request based on specific challenges.

14. Academic IntegrityThis course seeks to empower students for independent learning, resourcefulness,clear thinking, and perception. All submitted work and activities should be genuinereflections of individual achievement from which the student should derive personalsatisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. Plagiarism and cheating subvert thesegoals and will be treated according to the policy stated in the Student Handbook.The instructor reserves the right to utilize electronic means to help prevent

plagiarism.