1.0 Syllabus Content

1.1   Introduction to Research (Chap 1) (week 1) (4 hours)

1.1.1          Definition of Research

1.1.2          Type of Business Research; Applied, Basic

1.2   Research Process (Chap 4) (week 2) (4 hours)

1.2.1          A Overview of Basic Steps in Research Process

1.2.2          Stages in Research Process

1.3   Define Problem and Determining Research Objectives (Chap 4 & 6) (week 3)    (4 hours)

1.3.1          Define Management and Research Problems

1.3.2          Formulate Research Problem

1.3.3          Research Proposal

1.4   Research Design (Chap 3) (week 4) ( 2 hours)

1.4.1          Types of Research Design

·         Exploratory

·         Descriptive

·         Causal

1.5   Secondary Data and Literature Review (Chap 8) (week4 & 5) (6 hours)

1.5.1          Sources of secondary Data and Primary Data

1.5.2          Advantages and Disadvantages of Secondary Data & Primary Data

1.5.3          Literature Review

·         Reasons for Literature Review

·         Conducting Literature Review

·         Sources of Literature Review

·         Writing up of literature Review

1.5.4          Independent and Dependent Variables

1.5.5          Theoretical Framework and Hypothesis Development

1.6   Data Collection Methods and Fieldwork (Chap 9,10 & 18) (week 6) (4 hours)

1.6.1          Types of Data Collection Method, Observation and Survey Bias

1.6.2          Basic Methods of Survey Research

1.6.3          Factors Determining Choice of Survey Method

1.6.4          Errors in Survey Research

1.6.5          Fieldwork

1.7   Scales and Measurement (Chap 14 & 14) (week 8) (4 hours)

1.7.1          What is to be Measured?

1.7.2          Types of Scales

1.7.3          Criteria for Good Measurement

1.7.4          Attitude Rating Scales

1.8   Questionnaire Design (Chap 15) (week 9) (4 hours)

1.8.1          Functions of a Questionnaire

1.8.2          Steps in Questionnaire Design

1.8.3          The Art of Asking Questions

1.8.4          Questionnaire Organisation

1.8.5          Pre Testing

1.9   Sampling (Chap 16-17) (week 10) (4 hours)

1.9.1          Basic Concept of Sampling

1.9.2          Steps in Sampling

1.9.3          Reasons for Sampling

1.9.4          Types of sampling

1.9.5          Sample Size

1.10  Data Processing, Analyses and Interpretation (Chap 19, 20, 21 & 22)       (week 11 &12) (6 hours)

1.10.1      Data Processing

·         Editing and Coding

·         Key-in and SPSS

·         Handling Blank Responses

1.10.2      Basic Data Analysis

·         Tabulation and Descriptive Statistics

·         Measurement of Central Tendency – mean, median, mode, range & standard deviation)

1.11     Presenting Research Report (Chap 25) (week 12 & 13) (4 hours)

1.11.1      Organisation of Research Report

1.11.2      Guidelines and Principles of Report Writing

1.11.3      Effective Use of Graphic Aids (Tables and Charts)

1.11.4      Oral Presentation