Learning Objective: In this course the participants will be taken through the process of developing their own understanding of research methods and techniques by theory and practice, both. On the completion of the course the participants should be able to: Sharpen their analytical skills based on objective and pragmatic investigation of business situations. Develop their own understanding of the management problems being faced by their client, be it an organization. Develop an ability to convert their managerial concern into a business research problem in a clear and pragmatic manner. Prepare a road map or a blue print of the research making a proper mix of the various research methodologies and tools leant in the course. Develop questionnaire relevant to the research problem and appropriate for the target respondents. Design field controls to ensure the validity and reliability of the data collection. Conduct interviews for data collection at different stages of the research. Select and apply the basic statistical tools appropriate for analyses. Plan a business research applying various tools. Prepare themselves for more advanced and application courses.
Learning Methodology: Class preparation and participation: Students are required to read assigned material before coming to class. The instructor will assess students level of preparation by raising questions on the assigned topics.
Examinations: As per the University policy.
Assignments and Presentations: All assignments for formal evaluation must be typed and submitted by the specified due dates. Topics of assignments would be assigned by the course instructor from the given topics. Each student will be required to make fifteen minutes class presentation on the topic assigned.
Class Attendance: Attendance policy of the university would be strictly followed.
Course Outline Page 3
Grade Evaluation Criteria Following is the criteria for the distribution of marks to evaluate final grade in a semester.
Marks Evaluation Marks in percentage
Quizzes 05 Assignments 20 Mid Term 25 Attendance & Class Participation 10 Term Project 30 Presentations 20 Final exam 00 Total 100
Recommended Text Books: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS (2011) RANJIT KUMAR PUBLISHED BY PEARSON EDUCATION (2 ND EDITION)
Reference Books: Research Methods for Business A Skill Building Approach (2005) by Uma Sekran, Published by John Wiley and Sons, Inc. (4 th Edition) Research Methods and Statistics A Critical Thinking Approach (2003) by Sherri L. Jackson, published by Thomson Wadsworth Social Research Methods Qualitative and Quantitative Approach (2005) by W. Lawrence Neuman, published by McGraw-Hill Publishing (4 th edition)
Course Outline Page 4
Calendar of Course contents to be covered during semester Course Code: IB - 625 Course Title: Research Methodology Week Course Contents
Reference Chapter(s) MODULE I
1 Research Mathodology An Islamic Perspective
Islam stands for promotion of research Teaching of Quran and Sunnah
2 Muslim tradition in Research (1)
Hadith Studies: o Riwaya and draya o Asma ur rijal o Aljirah wa alttadil
3 Muslim tradition in Research (2)
Social Sciences: Tafseer, Adab, Scocialogy, Phelosophy, Economics etc
Ibn Khaldon, Shah Wali Ullah, Allama Iqbal, Dr. rafi Uddin, Syyed Madudi
5 Research Tools in Islamic research
Encyclopaedias, biographics, biblographics etc
Digital sources
6 Research Ethics
Thesis Writing
Course Outline Page 5
MODULE - II
7 Research a way of thinking Research: a way of examining your practice Application, definition, characteristics, types, and paradigms of research The research process: a quick glance Steps in planning a research study Steps in conducting a study
8 Reviewing the literature Place of literature review in research Procure for reviewing literature Formulating a research problem Research problem: importance, sources, considerations, steps, formulations of objectives, establishing operational definition
9 Identifying variable Definition, Difference between a concept and a variable, Types of variables and measurement scale Constructing hypothesis Definition, functions, characteristics, types, Errors in testing a hypothesis
10 The Research Design Definition, function, Study design based on the number of contacts, the reference period, the nature of the investigation, other some commonly used study design
11 Selecting a Method of Data Collection Methods of collecting data, collecting data using primary sources, Observations, Interview, Questionnaire, forms of questionnaire, collecting data using secondary source Collecting Data using Attitudinal Scale Difficulties, types and relationship b/w attitudinal; and measurement scale
12 Establishing the validity and reliability of a research instrument The concept and types of validity The concept, factors affecting, and methods determining the reliability of an instrument Sampling The concept, principles, factors affecting, objectives, types and sample calculation
13 Writing a Research Proposal Contents of research proposal
14 Considering ethical issues in data collection Ethics, stakeholders in research, ethical issues concerning participants, researcher and the sponsoring organization Processing Data How to put data into process, editing data collected trough structured inquiries, unstructured interviewing,
Course Outline Page 6
Coding data: Introduction, coding quantitative/qualitative data Developing a frame of analysis for quantitative/qualitative studies Data Analyzing, the role of computers in research, the role of statistics in research 15 Research Report Writing in general, referencing, bibliography, developing an outline, writing about a variable Research methodology and practice evaluation Definition, importance, types, understanding and ethics in evaluation
University of The West of Scotland School of Business and Enterprise Research Methodology and Proposal Module Code: BUSN 11094 Session 2017-18 Cohort 13