Business Research Methods

793 Pages·2016·17.42 MB·English

by  Naval Bajpai

Project Name: Business Research Methods ACE Pro India Pvt. Ltd.
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Business Research
Methods
NAVAL BAJPAI
Indian Institute of Management, Raipur
Delhi • Chennai • Chandigarh
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SPSS product screenshots reprinted by courtesy of International Business Machines Corporation, ©
2011 International Business Machines Corporation.
Copyright © 2011 Dorling Kindersley (India) Pvt. Ltd
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ISBN 9788131754481
eISBN 9789332511750
Head Office: A-8(A), Sector 62, Knowledge Boulevard, 7th Floor, NOIDA 201 309, India
Registered Office: 11 Local Shopping Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi 110 017, India
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In loving memory of my late grandfather,
Professor Ramesh Chandra Agnihotri
To my mother, Mrs Chitra Bajpai; my father, Mr P. S. Bajpai; my wife,
Mrs Archana Bajpai; and my daughters, Aditi and Swasti
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Brief Contents
About the Author xxii
Preface xxiii
Part I Introduction to Business Research 1
1 Business Research Methods: An Introduction 3
2 Business Research Process Design 19
Part II Research Design Formulation 41
3 Measurement and Scaling 43
4 Questionnaire Design 69
5 Sampling and Sampling Distributions 93
Part III Sources and Collection of Data 123
6 Secondary Data Sources 125
7 Data Collection: Survey and Observation 139
8 Experimentation 161
9 Fieldwork and Data Preparation 185
Part IV Data Analysis and Presentation 207
10 Statistical Inference: Hypothesis Testing for
Single Populations 209
11 Statistical Inference: Hypothesis Testing for Two Populations 251
12 Analysis of Variance and Experimental Designs 307
13 Hypothesis Testing for Categorical Data (Chi-Square Test) 363
14 Non-Parametric Statistics 393
15 Correlation and Simple Linear Regression Analysis 457
16 Multivariate Analysis—I: Multiple Regression Analysis 515
17 M ultivariate Analysis—II: Discriminant Analysis and
Conjoint Analysis 597
18 M ultivariate Analysis—III: Factor Analysis, Cluster Analysis,
Multidimensional Scaling, and Correspondence Analysis 637
Part V Result Presentation 697
19 Presentation of Result: Report Writing 699
Appendices 717
Glossary 739
Name Index 753
Subject Index 757
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Contents
About the Author xxii
Preface xxiii
I Introduction to Business Research 1
1 Business Research Methods: An Introduction 3
1.1 Introduction 4
1.2 Difference Between Basic and Applied Research 5
1.3 Defining Business Research 6
1.4 Roadmap to Learn Business Research Methods 7
1.5 Business Research Methods: A Decision Making
Tool in the Hands of Management 9
1.5.1 Problem or Opportunity Identification 9
1.5.2 Diagnosing the Problem or Opportunity 10
1.5.3 Executing Business Research to Explore the Solution 10
1.5.4 Implement Presented Solution 10
1.5.5 Evaluate the Effectiveness of Decision Making 10
1.6 Use of Software in Data Preparation and Analysis 11
1.6.1 Introduction to MS Excel 2007 11
1.6.2 Introduction to Minitab® 13
1.6.3 Introduction to SPSS 13
Summary 16 • Key Terms 16
Discussion Questions 17 • Case 1 17
2 Business Research Process Design 19
2.1 Introduction 20
2.2 Business Research Process Design 20
2.2.1 Step 1: Problem or Opportunity Identification 21
2.2.2 Step 2: Decision Maker and Business Researcher Meeting
to Discuss the Problem or Opportunity Dimensions 22
2.2.3 Step 3: Defining the Management Problem and
Subsequently the Research Problem 22
2.2.4 Step 4: Formal Research Proposal and Introducing the
Dimensions to the Problem 23
2.2.5 Step 5: Approaches to Research 24
2.2.6 Step 6: Fieldwork and Data Collection 35
2.2.7 Step 7: Data Preparation and Data Entry 36
2.2.8 Step 8: Data Analysis 36
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2.2.9 Step 9: Interpretation of Result and Presentation
of Findings 36
2.2.10 Step 10: Management Decision and Its
Implementation 36
Summary 37 • Key Terms 38
Discussion Questions 38 • Case 2 39
II Research Design Formulation 41
3 Measurement and Scaling 43
3.1 Introduction 44
3.2 What Should be Measured? 44
3.3 Scales of Measurement 45
3.3.1 Nominal Scale 45
3.3.2 Ordinal Scale 46
3.3.3 Interval Scale 46
3.3.4 Ratio Scale 46
3.4 Four Levels of Data Measurement 47
3.5 The Criteria for Good Measurement 48
3.5.1 Validity 48
3.5.2 Reliability 50
3.5.3 Sensitivity 51
3.6 Measurement Scales 52
3.6.1 Single-Item Scales 52
3.6.2 Multi-Item Scales 56
3.6.3 Continuous Rating Scales 60
3.7 Factors in Selecting an Appropriate Measurement Scale 61
3.7.1 Decision on the Basis of Objective of Conducting
a Research 61
3.7.2 Decision Based on the Response Data Type Generated
by Using a Scale 62
3.7.3 Decision Based on Using Single- or Multi-Item Scale 62
3.7.4 Decision Based on Forced or Non-Forced Choice 62
3.7.5 Decision Based on Using Balanced or Unbalanced
Scale 62
3.7.6 Decision Based on the Number of Scale Points and Its
Verbal Description 63
Summary 64 • Key Terms 65
Discussion Questions 65 • Case 3 66
4 Questionnaire Design 69
4.1 Introduction 70
4.2 What is a Questionnaire? 71
viii Contents
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4.3 Questionnaire Design Process 71
4.3.1 Phase I: Pre-Construction Phase 71
4.3.2 Phase II: Construction Phase 73
4.3.3 Phase III: Post-Construction Phase 86
Summary 89 • Key Terms 89
Discussion Questions 90 • Case 4 90
5 Sampling and Sampling Distributions 93
5.1 Introduction 94
5.2 Sampling 94
5.3 Why Is Sampling Essential? 95
5.4 The Sampling Design Process 95
5.5 Random versus Non-Random Sampling 97
5.6 Random Sampling Methods 97
5.6.1 Simple Random Sampling 97
5.6.2 Using MS Excel for Random Number Generation 100
5.6.3 Using Minitab for Random Number Generation 100
5.6.4 Stratified Random Sampling 100
5.6.5 Cluster (or Area) Sampling 102
5.6.6 Systematic (or Quasi-Random) Sampling 103
5.6.7 Multi-Stage Sampling 104
5.7 Non-random Sampling 105
5.7.1 Quota Sampling 105
5.7.2 Convenience Sampling 105
5.7.3 Judgement Sampling 105
5.7.4 Snowball Sampling 106
5.8 Sampling and Non-Sampling Errors 106
5.8.1 Sampling Errors 106
5.8.2 Non-Sampling Errors 106
5.9 Sampling Distribution 108
5.10 Central Limit Theorem 110
5.10.1 Case of Sampling from a Finite Population 112
5.11 Sample Distribution of Sample Proportion p 113
Summary 118 • Key Terms 119
Discussion Questions 119 • Numerical Problems 119
Case 5 120
III Sources and Collection of Data 123
6 Secondary Data Sources 125
6.1 Introduction 126
6.2 Meaning of Primary and Secondary Data 126
Contents ix
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