DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS

COURSE CODE MG 572
FALL SEMESTER 2016

INSTRUCTOR: WAQAR ALAM. Assistant Professor, MS (Management Sciences)

Email: waqar.alam@abasyn.edu.pk
Office Hours: 09:00 am to 4:00 pm
Office: Faculty Room, Department of Management Sciences [Evening], 7th Floor, Main Campus,
Peshawar.
Class Meeting Time and Place: Tuesday 09:30 & Wednesday 02:23 at Main Campus.
PHILOSOPHY OF GRADUATE EDUCATION
To enrich and transform the society in terms of student success that should be reflected in an
array of innovative academic, career, workforce development, and community programs.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to give an overview of the principles and methods of business research:
identification of research question, development of theoretical framework and model, securing
the respondents, making a test investigation, sampling, collecting data, types and errors of
collected data, tabulating and analyzing the information, interpreting the findings and stating the
conclusion through a series of class projects. Practical experience is offered to the students on
how research techniques and procedures are applied to solve the business problems. This course
is also designed to encourage the students to explore the application of theories that have been
predominantly developed in Western cultures by using different research method techniques.
An understanding of the relevance of Western research for local practice would help students to
explore various business related problems and their plausible solutions from indigenous
perspective. The course will also help the students in understanding the importance of the
business research as a management decision tool and in dealing with various business-related
theoretical and applied problems.
INDENTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this course, the students should be able to:
1. Recognize the importance of research as a first step in Business Studies.
2. Translate basic/applied business issues into appropriate academic research questions.
3. Understand the links between the issues being investigated and the method of investigation.
4. Understand the relevance of Western research in providing solutions to the local managers by
investigating the dominant theories business education.
5. Understand the governing principles in the qualitative and the survey research traditions, the
merits and limitations of each, and of their independent and supporting roles in business
contexts.
6. Use different software for statistical analysis and interpretation including SPSS, Amos, and E-
Views etc.
7. Understand and apply the skills required to design and conduct research studies using
qualitative and/or survey methods.
8. Acquire the ability to interpret research results and establish the substantive meaning and
implications of the findings for managerial practice.
CLASS ROOM POLICY/ETIQUETTE
1. All students must reach the classroom in time.
2. Students failing to secure 75% attendance shall not be allowed to sit in the Final Examination.
3. Students, who are absent on the announcement date of assignment/ test or any other activity,
must get the topic/ chapter of the test/ assignment/ or any other activity confirmed through their
peers.
4. Assignment submission deadline must be observed. In case of late submission, the assignment
will be marked 10% less out of total marks.
5. Mobile phones should be switched-off or maybe put on silent mode in the classroom.
6. Course-books and relevant course-material is available in the Library for reference and
photocopying.
7. Above all please be cognizant of the learning process and purpose of you being in the class
room and extend same respect to other students.
8. The course enrolment is charged by the faculty office. Please approach the staff in the faculty
office for any queries about course enrolment, class quota, etc. In no circumstances should you
approach the lecturers who have no control on this.
9. There is no make-up session for the oral presentations and quizzes. If you are absent from the
oral presentation without eligible reasons/documents, you will not earn any marks on the oral
presentation. If you are absent from the oral presentation with eligible reasons/documents, your
score on the final exam will be applied higher weight (including weight on final exam and mid-
term test).
TEACHING METHODS:
1. Lecture 2. Class Discussion 3. Presentations 4. Group Exercises
DATES OF ASSIGNMENTS, EXAMS, QUIZZES, OR OTHER MEANS OF ASSESSMENT
1. Assignment No. 01: 09 December, 2016
2. Quiz No. 01: 23 November, 2016
3. Assignment No. 02: 23 January, 2017
4. Quiz No. 02: 30 January, 2017
GUIDELINES FOR FORMAT OF ASSIGNMENTS: (GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS)
1. Papers should always be typed and stapled and properly assembled. 2. Papers should always
have title pages listing assignment, date, course and Professor. 3. All pages should be numbered
correctly. 4. Spell words correctly (use spell check, proofread papers) 5. Assignments should be
TURNED IN ON TIME. Papers may not be accepted late, and in case when they are accepted, one
letter grade per day late will be deducted. 6. Double space when appropriate. 7. As necessary
include the Table of Contents. These guidelines will help your work become more professional.
These skills are expected in the work environment for reports, projects, etc. Unprofessional
appearance of work will be graded accordingly.
GRADING PROCEDURE
Quiz: 05%
Assignments: 05%
Presentation: 05%
Sessional Exam: 10%
Mid Term: 25%
Final Term: 50%
TOTAL: 100%
GRADING SCALE
Following is the standard Grading scale applicable to all Abasyn University, Faculty of Business
Administration courses:

A A- B B- B+ C C- C+ D+ D F
Below
85-100 80-84 75-79 70-74 65-69 61-64 58-60 55-57 53-54 50-52
50
COURSE CONTENT

Week Description
1 The Role of Business Research
2 The Research Process: Problem Area, Problem Definition and Literature Review
3 The Research Process: Theoretical Framework & Hypothesis Development
4 Elements of Research Design
5 Measurement of Variables and Scaling Concepts
6 Methods of Scaling; Reliability and Validity
7 Data Collection Sources and Methods
8 Mid Term
9 Population and Sampling Design
10 Sampling Techniques and Sample Size
11 Questionnaire Design
12 Basic Data Analysis: Descriptive Analysis (SPSS)
13 Data Analysis and Interpretation
14 The Research Proposal
15 The Research Report
16 Terminal Exam

RECOMMENDED READING/TEXT BOOK

1. Uma Sekaran, Research Methods for Business, Latest Edition.
2. William G. Zikmund, Business Research Methods, Latest Edition.

REFERENCE BOOKS/MAGAZINES/JOURNALS
1. Directory of Open Access Journals.
2. Abasyn Journal of Social Sciences.

Submitted by: Waqar Alam HOD/Coordinator: ____________________

Dated: 04th November, 2016