Q.1 (a): Explain the types of research.

Ans: Research may be very broadly defined as systematic gathering of data and information and its analysis for advancement of knowledge in any subject. research attempts to find answer intellectual and practical questions through application of systematic methods. Types of research can be classified in many different ways. some major ways of classifying research include the following.

Descriptive versus Analytical Research Applied versus Fundamental Research Qualitative versus Quantitative Research Conceptual versus Empirical Research Descriptive research concentrates on finding facts to ascertain the nature of something as it exists. In contrast analytical research is concerned with determining validity of hypothesis based on analysis of facts collected. Applied research is carried out to find answers to practical problems to be solved and as an aid in decision making in different areas including product design, process design and policy making. Fundamental research is carried out as more to satisfy intellectual curiosity, than with the intention of using the research findings for any immediate practical application. Quantitative research studies such aspects of the research subject which are not quantifiable, and hence not subject to measurement and quantitative analysis. In contrast quantitative research make substantial use of measurements and quantitative analysis techniques. Conceptual research is involves investigation of thoughts and ideas and developing new ideas or interpreting the old ones based on logical reasoning. In contrast empirical research is based on firm verifiable data collected by either observation of facts under natural condition or obtained through experimentation.

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Q1 (b): What is the significance of research in social and business sciences? Ans: Significance of Research in Social and Business Sciences According to a famous Hudson Maxim, All progress is born of inquiry. Doubt is often better than overconfidence, for it leads to inquiry, and inquiry leads to invention. It brings out the significance of research, increased amounts of which makes progress possible. Research encourages scientific and inductive thinking, besides promoting the development of logical habits of thinking and organization. The role of research in applied economics in the context of an economy or business is greatly increasing in modern times. The increasingly complex nature of government and business has raised the use of research in solving operational problems. Research assumes significant role in formulation of economic policy, for both the government and business. It provides the basis for almost all government policies of an economic system. Government budget formulation, for example, depends particularly on the analysis of needs and desires of the people, and the availability of revenues, which requires research. Research helps to formulate alternative policies, in addition to examining the consequences of these alternatives. Thus, research also facilitates the decision making of policy-makers, although in itself it is not a part of research. In the process, research also helps in the proper allocation of a countrys scare resources. Research is also necessary for collecting information on the social and economic structure of an economy to understand the process of change occurring in the country. Collection of statistical information though not a routine task, involves various research problems. Therefore, large staff of research technicians or experts is engaged by the government these days to undertake this work. Thus, research as a tool of government economic policy formulation involves three distinct stages of operation which are as follows: Investigation of economic structure through continual compilation of facts Diagnoses of events that are taking place and the analysis of the forces underlying them; and The prognosis, i.e., the prediction of future developments Research also assumes a significant role in solving various operational and planning problems associated with business and industry. In several ways, operations research, market research, and motivational research are vital and their results assist in taking business decisions. Market research is refers to the investigation of the structure and development of a market for the formulation of efficient policies relating to purchases, production and sales. Operational research relates to the application of logical, mathematical, and analytical techniques to find solution to business problems such as cost minimization or profit maximization, or the -2-

optimization problems. Motivational research helps to determine why people behave in the manner they do with respect to market characteristics. More specifically, it is concerned with the analyzing the motivations underlying consumer behaviour. All these researches are very useful for business and industry, which are responsible for business decision making. Research is equally important to social scientist for analyzing social relationships and seeking explanations to various social problems. It gives intellectual satisfaction of knowing things for the sake of knowledge. It also possesses practical utility for the social scientist to gain knowledge so as to be able to do something better or in a more efficient manner. This, research in social sciences is concerned with both knowledge for its own sake, and knowledge for what it can contribute to solve practical problems.

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Q2: What is meant by validity? How does it differ from reliability and what are its types? Ans: Validity - This means that a measurement scale should measure what it is supposed to measure. Validity may be classified into different types, as described below. The degree of validity of each type is determined by applying logic, statistical procedures or both. 1. Content validity: This type of validity may be of two types - a) Face validity and b) Sampling validity. Face validity is determined through a subjective evaluation of a measuring scale. For example, a researcher may develop a scale to measure consumer attitudes towards a brand and pre-test the scale among a few experts. If the experts are satisfied with the scale, the researcher may conclude that the scale has face validity. However, the limitation of this type of validity is that it is determined by opinions, rather than through a statistical method. Sampling validity refers to how representative the content of the measuring instrument is. In other words, the measuring instrument's content must be representative of the content universe of the characteristic being measured. For example, if attitude is the characteristic being measured, its content universe may comprise statements and questions indicating which aspects of attitude need to be measured. In this case, sampling validity will be determined by comparing the items in the measuring instrument with the items in the content universe. Sampling validity, like face validity, is also based on the judgment and subjective evaluation of both the researcher and outside experts. The determination of the content universe and the selection of the relevant items that are to be included in the measuring scale are both done based on the knowledge and skill of the investigator and other judges.2. Predictive validity: This type of validity refers to the extent to which one behavior can be predicted based on another, based on the association between the results yielded by the measuring instrument and the eventual outcome.3. Construct validity: A construct is a conceptual equation that is developed by the researcher based on theoretical reasoning. Various kinds of relationships may be perceived by the researcher between a variable under study and other variables2.4.2 Reliability This refers to the ability of a measuring scale to provide consistent and accurate results. To give a simple example, a weighing machine may be said to be reliable if the same reading is given every time the same object is weighed.

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Q3: (a): Why literature survey is important in research? Ans:

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Q3 (b): What are the criteria of good research problem? Ans: A good research problem must support multiple perspectives. The problem most be phrased in a way that avoids dichotomies and instead supports the generation and exploration of multiple perspectives. A general rule of thumb is that a good problem is one that would generate a variety of viewpoints from a composite audience made up of reasonable people. A good research problem must be researchable. It seems a bit obvious, but more than one instructor has found herself or himself in the midst of a complex collaborative research project and realized that students don't have much to draw on for research, nor opportunities to conduct sufficient primary research. Choose research problems that can be supported by the resources available to your students.

Umbrella topics must be sufficiently complex. If you are using an umbrella topic for a large class of students who will be working on related, more manageable problems in their learning teams, make sure that there is sufficient complexity in the research problems that the umbrella topic includes. These research topics must relate strongly to one another in such a way that there will be a strong sense of coherence in the overall class effort.

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Q.4: Explain the procedure for Testing Hypothesis Ans: 1) Observe, gather information about your topic completely objectively without trying to explain anything, THEN formulate a hypothesis which seems to explain everything you have observed. Then you can test your hypothesis. A good hypothesis will not only explain things, but will also have predictive value. By using these predictions, formulate experiments designed to test how accurate these predictions are. For example, after observing sunspots for a few decades you might notice they seem to occur in 11 year cycles. You could turn this into a hypothesis describing the nature of these cycles, then use it to predict these apparent cycles would continue with future observation: a very simple example. You need to then perform your experiment in as objective a manner as you possibly can: control as many variables as you can, so you are only testing the relationship you are actually trying to, and be very rigorous and honest with all measurements and observations.

If enough experiments or further observation supports your hypothesis, and if others can easily replicate your results (if only you get supportive results, it looks VERY suspicious and people tend not to believe you....), then it comes to be called a "theory", which is a well-supported hypothesis. It never gets promoted to the level of "fact"..... gravity is still referred to as a "theory".

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Q.5 (a): Explain the components of a research design. Ans: Generalization Control Manipulation Comparison The Research Question B) The Theory C) The Model D) The Data E) The Use of the Data The key components of research design apply to all types of qualitative, deductive research, whether in the physical or social sciences. These components include theory, hypothesis, choosing an experimental design and collecting data, analyzing data, reporting the results and refining the theory. Different types of research call for different experimental designs, such as laboratory tests for a biochemical research project, or a questionnaire or survey for marketing research. Theory and Hypothesis

A theory is the over-reaching concept behind the research. In this first step, the researcher looks at previous research and literature about the problem at hand. An example of a theory would be a statement, such as "living with a partner is healthier than living alone." An hypothesis is a testable statement based upon the theory. For example, an hypothesis could be "people living with partners have lower blood pressure than those living alone." Data Collection and Research Design

After the hypothesis is defined, the researcher then decides how to collect data. Each type of experimental design has advantages and disadvantages. Questionnaires are cheap to distribute, but the sample returned will not be random. RD Info stresses the importance of a random sample. Random samples ensure that the results of the study are not skewed due to the makeup of the test group. Experimental designs suffer when conducted in an artificial environment. Drug tests involve many ethical issues, such as withholding a promising drug from a control -8-

group with a disease. The number of participants needed depends on the number of variables tested. Using the hypothesis above regarding couples and blood pressure, the variables tested would include blood pressure, the presence of a partner, age, marital status, general health, length of relationship, sex and income. Statistical Analysis and Reporting

A statistical analysis will determine if the findings of the study support the hypothesis. A variety of statistical tests, such as T-tests (which measure if two groups are statistically different from each other), Chi-square tests (where data are compared to an expected outcome) and one-way analysis of variance (allows for the comparison of multiple groups), are conducted depending on the type of data, number and types of variables and data categories. Reporting of findings in scientific journals and other venues enables others to learn from and critique the research. Revision of the Theory

If the hypothesis about living with a partner can lead to lower blood pressure was found to be statistically significant for older adults but not for younger ones, the theory that led to the hypothesis would need to be revised to take the new finding into account. The original theory would be revised to state: "for older adults, living with a partner is healthier than living alone." In this way, science builds upon and refines knowledge.

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Q.5 (b). Briefly explain the different types of research designs. Ans: Primary research This collects data that does not already exist. Survey, questionnaire, interview, observation. Secondary research This looks at existing data. It may be a summary, collation or synthesis of information. Qualitative research Looks at what humans behaviour and the reasons behind it. What people do and why. Quantitative Quantitative research systematic empirical investigation quantitative properties. How many people do these things and how often.

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Q6 (a): What are the assumptions of Case Study Method? Ans:

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Q6 (b): Explain the Sampling Process. Ans: The sampling techniques may be broadly classified into: 1. Probability sampling Non-probability sampling Probability Sampling: Probability sampling provides a scientific technique of drawing samples from the population. The technique of drawing samples is according to the law in which each unit has a probability of being included in the sample. 1.1. Simple random sampling 1.1.1. Under this technique, sample units are drawn in such a way each and every unit in the population has an equal and independent chance of being included in the sample. 1.1.2. If a sample unit is replaced before drawing the next unit, then it is known as simple Random Sampling with Replacement. 1.1.3. If the sample unit is not replaced before drawing the next unit, then it is case, probability of drawing a unit is 1/N, where N is the population size. In the case probability of drawing a unit is 1/Nn. 1.2. Stratified random sampling 1.2.1. This sampling design is most appropriate if the population is heterogeneous with respect to characteristic under study or the population distribution is highly skewed. Table: Merits and demerits of stratified random sampling Merits Sample is more representative Provides more efficient estimate Administratively more convenient Can be applied in situation where different degrees of accuracy is desired for different segments of population - 12 De-Merits Many times the stratification is not effective Appropriate sample sizes are not drawn from each of the stratum

1.3. Systematic sampling 1.3.1. This design is recommended if we have a complete list of sampling units arranged in some systematic order such as geographical, chronological or alphabetical order. Table: Merits and demerits of systematic sampling Merits Very easy to operate and easy to check It saves time and labour More efficient than simple random sampling if we have up-to-date frame. 1.4. Cluster sampling 1.4.1. The total population is divided into recognizable sub-divisions, known as clusters such that within each cluster they are homogenous. The units are selected from each cluster by suitable sampling techniques. De-Merits Many case we do not get up-to-date list It gives biased results if periodic feature exist in the data

1.5. Multi-stage sampling 1.5.1. 2. The total population is divided into several stages. The sampling process is carried out through several stages. Non-probability sampling: Depending upon the object of inquiry and other considerations a predetermined number of sampling units is selected purposely so that they represent the true characteristics of the population. 2.1. Judgment sampling The choice of sampling items depends exclusively on the judgment of the investigator. The investigators experience and knowledge about the population will help to select the sample units. It is the most suitable method if the population size is less. Table: Merits and demerits of judgment sampling Merits Most useful for small population Most useful to study some unknown traits of a population some of whose characteristics are known. Helpful in solving day-to-day problems. De-Merits It is not a scientific method. It has a risk of investigators bias being introduced.

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2.2. Convenience sampling The sampling units are selected according to convenience of the investigator. It is also called chunk which refer to the fraction of the population being investigated which is selected neither by probability nor by judgment. 2.3. Quota sampling It is a type of judgment sampling. Under this design, quotas are set up according to some specified characteristic such as age groups or income groups. From each group a specified number of units are sampled according to the quota allotted to the group. Within the group the selection of sampling units depends on personal judgment. It has a risk of personal prejudice and bias entering the process. This method is often used in public opinion studies.

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