Term 1

Term 1: Module 1: Research foundations & Fundamentals

1. Introduction to business
2. Research Process
3. Types of Variables

Term 2

Term 2: Module 2: Literature review

1. What is literature review (LR), & how it is done?
2. Citation and referencing (APA style)

Term 3

Term 3: Module 3: Research Design: An Overview

1. What is a research design?
2. Classification of research designs?
3. Research questions and hypotheses
4. Sampling Design

Term 4

Term 4: Module 4: Data Collection and Data Analysis methods

Term 5

Term 5: Module 5: Report writing and Communication through presentation / publication

Course Description

The ‘Business Research Project’ (BRP) is an opportunity for students to conduct academic research designed to support students’ academic and professional qualifications for the degree by presenting research findings. BRP aims to impart critical thinking, analytical and problem- solving skills required for conducting full-fledged academic research on a smaller scale. While helping the students gain a deeper understanding of their domain knowledge, the course also provides an opportunity to integrate the knowledge critically and methodically by identifying, formulating, and analyzing complex issues in their domain.

Students work with a faculty mentor in the research project leading to a publication in a journal or a presentation at a conference. As a part of the course, instruction in research methods is offered in the first two terms of the program to prepare the students to undertake the research. It reinforces critical thinking through the coursework, and the learning outcomes are aligned with the deliverables from the research work. This course thus has two parts: 1st part would involve instructions in research methods through term 1 to term 3. 2nd part is the research project that students do with individual faculty members. The outcomes of each module are delivered from their research work.

Course Outcomes & Learning Levels

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Identify a set of original research questions which they will systematically & scientifically attempt to find (L6 Create)
2. Write a literature review for the chosen research topic to identify research gap and possible research questions for their projects to take forward (L4 Analyze)
3. Write a research proposal including appropriate research methodology appropriate for the research questions identified (L6 Create)
4. Collect relevant data and analyze using appropriate (L5 Evaluate)
5. Writing research paper and communicating through presentation / publication (L6 Create)

Evaluation Pattern 

*Based on assignments / Tests / Quizzes / Case Studies / Project / Term paper / Field visit report. 

Course Text

1. Schindler, Business Research Methods, McGraw Hill Education (Book only)

Other References

1. Zikmund, W. G., Carr, J. C., & Griffin, M. (2013). Business Research Methods. Cengage Learning.
2. Bryman, Alan & Bell, Emma (2015). Business Research Methods (Fourth Edition), Oxford University Press
3. Haney, C., Banks, W. C., & Zimbardo, P. G. (1973). A study of prisoners and guards in a simulated Naval Research Review, 30, 4-17.
4. McLeod, A. (2017). Zimbardo – Stanford Prison Experiment. Retrieved from here