Guidelines for Writing Research Synopsis/Proposals:

Students are expected to ensure the following before finalizing the research
synopsis/ proposal.
(i) Title: Should be self-explanatory and should reflect what the student is
going to study/probe.
(ii) Contents: To be given at the beginning with project headings and sub-
headings along with page numbers.
(iii) Introduction: The Scholar may introduce the subject with the main issues
involved. It may contain why the subject has been chosen and the
motivation for it, etc.
(iv) Objectives and scope: The main objectives and the scope of the study
should be clearly mentioned. The report will be finally evaluated keeping
these objectives in view.
(v) Methodology: The synopsis should clearly spell out the methodology (in
phases starting from desk research) that is followed for preparation of
the report including any questionnaire prepared.
(vi) Chapters: The synopsis may indicate the tentative chapter plan of the
whole report. Chapter headings should be clearly specified.
(vii) Findings/Conclusions/Recommendations: The expected outcome of the
work may be summarized.
(viii) Sources/References: Proper Sources should be mentioned at every
appropriate place whenever information is taken from other sources. This
should be particularly mentioned whenever figures are taken for
preparing tables, annexures, etc.
(ix) Bibliography: Bibliography should be given at the end of the synopsis/
proposal. Bibliography should be written in the standard style acceptable.
Bibliography in text books may be referred to for information on acceptable
style.

Evaluation of Synopsis:
Research guides may keep in view the following points on which a research
proposal/synopsis may be judged:
(i) Does the proposal address a well-formulated research problem?
(ii) Are the Objectives well stated?
(iii) Is the research methodology clearly stated?
(iv) Is it an important problem in the context of International Business, whose
findings will be useful?
(v) Does the proposal explain clearly what work will be done and are there
evidences in the proposal about the work others have done on the
problem? Page 14 of 21
(vi) Ideally, an abstract of approximately 300 words should also be included
in the proposal giving the research question, the rationale for the study,
the hypothesis (if any), the method and the key assumptions and
limitations. Description of the method may include the design,
procedures, the sample and any instruments that will be used.
Guidelines for Structuring the Report:
The participants should ensure that the following points are kept in mind
before finalizing the main Research Project Reports:
(i) Title: Should be self-explanatory and should reflect what the researcher is
going to study/probe.
(ii) Certificate from Guide: To be given at the beginning and should contain
that it is the original work of the researcher and has been done under
supervision of the Guide.
(iii) Contents: To be given at the beginning with project headings and sub-
headings along with page numbers.
(iv) Introduction: The researcher may introduce the subject with the main
issues involved. It may contain why the subject has been chosen and the
motivation for it, etc.
(v) Objectives and Scope: The main objectives and the scope of the study
should be clearly mentioned. The report will be finally evaluated keeping
these objectives in view.
(vi) Methodology: The report should clearly spell out the methodology (in
phases starting from desk research) that is followed for preparation of
the report including any questionnaire prepared. The questionnaire
should be given as an annexure at the end.
(vii) Executive Summary: The report should contain executive summary
giving the objectives, methodology adopted and the main conclusions &
recommendations. Normally, it should not be more than 10% of the
whole report and should be given at the beginning of the report after the
contents page.
(viii)Chapters: The whole report should be divided into convenient chapters
and the chapter headings should be clearly specified.
(ix) Findings/Conclusions/Recommendations: These should be stated in a
separate chapter in the Report and should be based on an analysis of the
primary and secondary data used in the Study.
(x) Bibliography: Bibliography should be given at the end of the Report. One
should not get confused with the sources that are given under the table
and the bibliography. Bibliography should be written in such a way that is
normally mentioned in any text book.
(xi) Sources: Proper sources should be mentioned at every appropriate place
whenever information is taken from other Page 15 of 21
sources. This should be particularly mentioned whenever figures are taken for
preparing tables, annexures, etc.
(xii) Submission of Report: To be submitted in duplicate (neatly typed and
bound) by the dates indicated.

Parameters for Evaluation of Research Report:

The following parameters may be considered while evaluating the research
report:
(i) Does the Report addresses a well-formulated problem and is in line with
the synopsis?
(ii) Does the Report show evidences of any systematic literature review on
the basis of which scope of the paper is defined?
(iii) Does the Report clearly demonstrate that the researcher has done some
systematic Primary Research for the work?
(iv) Are the findings based on the work and clearly recorded in the Report?
(v) Quality of overall structure and presentation of the Report, including
proper references, etc.