As you want to download important notes for ‘Business Research Methods (BRM)’ subject of MBA Program of FRANCIS XAVIER Engineering College, so here I am giving important notes:

Important Notes for Business Research Methods (BRM)

Unit 1
Introduction:
WHAT IS RESEARCH?
Research in common words refers to a search for knowledge
It can be called as ―a scientific and systematic search pertinent information on a specific
topic‖. It is, in fact, an art of scientific investigation.
According to Lundberg(1942), Scientific methods consist of systematic observation,
classification, and interpretation of data.
Fred Kerlinger(1986), Scientific research is a systematic, controlled and critical
investigation of propositions about various phenomena‖
Management research is unbiased, structured and sequential method enquiry, directed
towards a clear implicit of explicit business objective. This enquiry might lead to
validating the existing postulates or arriving at new theories and models.

Objectives of Business Research:
To gain familiarity with a business or economic phenomenon or to achieve new
insights into it. (exploratory or formulative)
To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a
group. (descriptive).
To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is
associated with something else. (diagnostic)
To test a hypothesis of causal relationship between variables(hypothesis-testing)

Types of Research:
Based on the objectives of research, it is classified as follows:
Research can either be applied(action oriented research) or fundamental (basic or pure research).
Applied Research aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem facing society or
an industrial/business organization.
Example: Accidents increases in southern part of india-Why? And solution.
Attrition rate is very high in software industries
Fundamental Research is mainly concerned with generalizations and with the formulation
of a theory Example: Why the East Asia is vulnerable to earthquake?

Exploratory Research
Conducted to resolve ambiguity
Used to gain a deeper understanding of something.
Provides direction in order to initiate a more structured research.
Examples:Availability of market opportunities to a prospective entrepreneur
Identifying problem in supply chain of a product
Different ways that women professionals adapt to manage work-family conflict .

Descriptive Research:
Aims at elucidating the data and primary characteristics about the
object/situation/concept under study.
Contemporary, topical and time bound
Example: Census carried out by the Govt. of India
Study to distinguish between characteristics of the consumers who buy normal petrol and those who buy premium petrol.
What is the level of involvement of middle level vs senior level managers in a company‘s stock related decisions?
Descriptive research is otherwise called as ―Ex post facto research‖.

Causal Research:
Concerned with exploring the effect of one variable on another.
Requires a rigid sequential approach to sampling, data collection and data analysis.
Example: to study the impact of flexi-time polices turnover intentions.

Other types of research: Quantitative Vs Qualitative (Based on the nature of data):
This distinction may be described as approaches to research: Quantitative Research
Quantitative research is based on the measurement of quantity or amount.
It is applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity.
Example: Research on Economic Growth
Qualitative Research
Quantitative research is concerned with qualitative phenomena.
Example: Research on human behaviour
Statement to remember: many research studies are quantitative and qualitative in nature.

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