UNIVERSITY OF GUJRAT

Course Code: Course Title

Course Code: MGT-309 Course Title: Research Methods in Business

Year: 2011 Semester: MBA 2nd
Instructor’s Name: Muhammad Farooq Office (Room No):
E-mail: muhammad.farooq@uog.edu.pk Office Hours:

Course Description Definition of Research, Nature of Business and Management

Research. Types of Research, Research Process.

Formulating and Clarifying the research topic. Criteria for topic

Selection, Turning research ideas into a research projects

Critically reviewing the literature. Sources of literature review,

Planning and conducting the literature search, Obtaining,
evaluating and recording the literature.

Identifying Variables. Types of variables from the view point of

causation and study design.

Selecting a Study Design, Types of study design regarding the

number of contact with population, reference period and nature of
investigation.

Selecting a sample size form the population, sampling methods;

probability and non-probability, determination of sample size.

Types of data, Instrument of data collection regarding qualitative

and quantitative data, Questionnaire, interviews, observation, focus
group discussion, participant observations, Primary and secondary
sources of data collection.

Importance of Pilot Study,

Ethical issues in research, Writing and presenting a project report.
Writing a research proposal, Writing a thesis.
Course Type: Compulsory
(Compulsory/Core/Elective)

Pre-requisites 1. Understanding of basic statistical techniques

2. Ability to use Internet.
Goals Student will be able
1. To explore the research problem
 2. To define the research design and estimation of sample size
3. To prepare the synopsis and research proposal
4. To write a thesis and project.

Text Books 1. Kumar, R. (2010). Research Methodology :A Step by Step

Guide for Beginners 3rd Edition, SAGE Publications.
2. Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thronhill, A. (2009). Research
Methods for Business Students, 3rd edition, Pearson
Education Limited, South Asia
3. Greener, S. (2008). Business Research Methods, Sue
Greener and Ventus Publishing ApS. [Online] Available:
http://bookboon.com

Additional Readings
1. Gimbaled, J. and W.S. Acuter (1988) “MLA handbook for
Writers of Research Papers”, McGraw The Modern
Language Association of America.
2. Lavrakas, P., J. (2008) “Encyclopedia of Survey Research
Methods”, SAGE Publications, Inc.
3. Murray, R (2002) “How to Write a Thesis”, 2nd Edition,
McGraw-Hill Education
4. Research Papers and Handouts

Lectures 32 sessions of 90 minutes each

Attendance Policy A minimum of 70% attendance is required for a student to be

eligible to take the final examination.
The students with less than 70% of the attendance in a course shall
be given the grade SA (Short Attendance) in such a course and
shall not be allowed to take its End Term Exams and will have to
reappear in the course to get the required attendance to be eligible
to sit in the exam when the course is offered the next time.
Grading The course will be evaluated on the basis of the following
percentage:
 Mid Term 25%
 Sessional work 25%
 Presentation/Practical 10%
 Assignment/Practical 10%
 Quizzes 05%
 Final term 50%
Quizzes, Assignments and  A mini thesis will be required against quizzes and
Presentation Schedule assignments.
(tentative)  Presentation of mini thesis will be taken according to
given schedule
 Session Schedule

Week Topic Readings

1 Definition of Research, Nature of Business and Recommended books
Management Research. Types of Research, Research
Process. Handouts

2 Formulating and Clarifying the research topic. Criteria Recommended books

for topic Selection, Turning research ideas into a Handouts
research projects

3 Critically reviewing the literature. Sources of literature Recommended books

review, Planning and conducting the literature search,
Obtaining, evaluating and recording the literature. Handouts

4 Identifying Variables. Types of variables from the viewRecommended books

point of causation and study design.
Handouts
Research papers

5 Selecting a Study Design, Types of study design Recommended books

regarding the number of contact Handouts
Research papers

6 Study Design regarding reference period Recommended books

Handouts
Research papers

7 Study design regarding nature of investigation. Recommended books

Handouts
Research papers

8 Mid Term, Recommended books

Finalization of research topic and relevant literature Handouts
review Research papers

9 Selecting a sample size form the population, Probability Recommended books

sampling methods Handouts
Research papers
10 Non-probability methods of sampling, Determination of Recommended books
sample size. Handouts
Research papers

11 Types of data, Data collection instrument. Primary data Recommended books

collection methods. Handouts

12 Construction of questionnaire Recommended books

Handouts

13 Secondary data collection sources. Recommended books

Handouts
Research papers

14 Importance of Pilot Study, Ethical issues in research, Recommended books

Handouts
Research papers

15 Writing a research project, proposal and thesis.

16 Submission of mini-thesis