MBA I Semester I

Research Methodology - Sample Paper

Time: Total Marks: 70
[Note: The Question Paper has five Questions of 14 marks each. It is compulsory to attempt all
the questions.]

Q.1. Answer all the following multiple choice questions: (14 marks)

1. A good qualitative problem statement:
a. Defines the independent and dependent variables
b. Conveys a sense of emerging design
c. Specifies a research hypothesis to be tested
d. Specifies the relationship between variables that the researcher expects to find.

2. The statement of purpose in a research study should:
a. Identify the design of the study
b. Identify the intent or objective of the study
c. Specify the type of people to be used in the study
d. Describe the study

3. Why is the statement What are the effects of extracurricular activities on cognitive
development of school age children not a good statement of a quantitative research
question?
a. Because there is no connection between extracurricular activities and cognitive
development
b. Because there is not enough school age children engaged in extracurricular activities to
conduct the study
c. Because the study would be too difficult to do given all the different extracurricular
activities
d. Because the statement was not specific enough to provide an understanding of the
variables being investigated

4. According to the text, which of the following orders is the recommended in the flowchart
of the development of a research idea?
a. Research topic, research problem, research purpose, research question, and hypothesis
b. Research topic, research purpose, research problem, research question, and hypothesis
c. Research topic, research problem, research purpose, research question, and hypothesis
d. Research topic, hypothesis, research problem, research question, research purpose

5. One step that is not included in planning a research study is:
a. Identifying a researchable problem
b. A review of current research
c. Statement of the research question
d. Conducting a meta-analysis of the research
e. Developing a research plan

6. A review of the literature prior to formulating research questions allows the researcher to
do which of the following?
a. To become familiar with prior research on the phenomenon of interest
b. To identify potential methodological problems in the research area
c. To develop a list of pertinent problems relative to the phenomenon of interest
d. All of the above

7. What kind of ideas cant be empirically researched?
a. Effectiveness of different methods of instruction
b. Description of educational practices
c. Issues of values and morality such as the correctness of having prayer in schools
d. Factors helpful in predicting future drug use

8. The feasibility of a research study should be considered in light of:
a. Cost and time required to conduct the study
b. Skills required of the researcher
c. Potential ethical concerns
d. All of the above

9. A formal statement of the research question or purpose of research study generally
______.
a. Is made prior to the literature review
b. Is made after the literature review
c. Will help guide the research process
d. All of the above
e. b and c

10. Is the following qualitative research purpose statement well stated or poorly stated?
The focus of the present study was to explore distressing and nurturing encounters of
patients with caregivers and to ascertain the meanings that are engendered by such
encounters. The study was conducted on one of the surgical units and the
obstetrical/gynecological unit of a 374-bed community hospital.
a. It is a well stated
b. It is poorly stated

11. A statement of the quantitative research question should:
a. Extend the statement of purpose by specifying exactly the question(s) the researcher
will address
b. Help the research in selecting appropriate participants, research methods, measures,
and materials
c. Specify the variables of interest
d. All of the above

12. Research hypotheses are ______.
a. Formulated prior to a review of the literature
b. Statements of predicted relationships between variables
c. Stated such that they can be confirmed or refuted
d. b and c

13. A research plan _____.
a. Should be detailed
b. Should be given to others for review and comments
c. Sets out the rationale for a research study
d. All of the above

14. Hypotheses in qualitative research studies usually _____.
a. Are very specific and stated prior to beginning the study
b. Are often generated as the data are collected, interpreted, and analyzed
c. Are never used
d. Are always stated after the research study has been completed

































Q-2
A) Explain the following terms: 7 marks

1) Testing Effect
2) Sampling Frame
3) Type-I & Type-II Errors
4) Histogram
5) Thematic Apprehension Test
6) Significance Level
7) Stratified random sampling

B)
1) What is the difference between qualitative & quantitative research? Discuss the major
methods for conducting qualitative research.( 7 marks)
OR
1) Discuss sampling and its various types ( 7 marks)

Q-3

1) What are parametric and non-parametric tests? Elaborately explain the steps involved
in hypothesis testing. ( 7 marks)
2) Prepare a brief research proposal, where you want to conduct your study on the
Consumption of tobacco products and awareness level of Tobacco Abuse in North
Gujarat ( 7 marks)

OR

1. Explain the classification of Research Design with suitable examples. ( 7 marks)
2. A company wanting to launch fairness cream for men wants to conduct focus group
discussion (FGD) among its target market. Discuss the key issues that need to be
covered in the FGD and also discuss the how the FGD should be conducted. ( 7
marks)


Q-4

1) Elaborate the benefits of experimental research and discuss valid examples for the
same. (7 marks)
2) Prepare a structured questionnaire for conducting a research on the topic
Understanding the factor influencing the students in selecting science stream Vs.
commerce stream after 10
th
standard ( 7 marks)

OR



1) Briefly Discuss nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio scale. Prepare an sample of each of
the scale. ( 7 marks)


2) A large retail store wants to conduct observational studies amongst its customers in
order to understand their buying behavior, their movement inside the store and time spent
in the store. Please discuss how observation studies can be conducted at the retail store.
( 7 marks)




Q-5: 14 marks


Case 1: 14 marks
Stiff competition:
Vijay Auto one of the leading automobile companies in India, lost market shares to
its competitor Hero Honda in the late 1990s. In order to regain its market share, the
company plans to find out the reason for its failure in the market. You are appointed
as a research analyst to M/s Vijay Auto.
Questions:
a) What type of research design would you prefer? Support your answer with
reasons. ( 7 marks)
b) State the sources through which Vijay Auto can obtain primary data and how
would you prepare a research support? ( 7 marks)

OR

Case 2: 14 marks

Social Responsibility:
Transitional Residence, Inc (TRI) is a local nonprofit organization located in Madison,
wisconsin. TRI provides assistance to homeless and very low income individuals and
families in finding emergency shelter, food, employment, transitional residence and
affordable apartment housing. These services are provided through 4 basic TRI programs.
a) The Drop-in shelter: An emergency drop-in shelter for men located at Grace
Church.
b) The Hospitality House: A day shelter for homeless and very low income men and
women.
c) The Transitional Residence Programs: Provides transitional living arrangements
for families and single men for 6 months or more depending on the needs of the
individuals/family and the unit.
d) The Residence opportunity Program: Helps families in obtaining a lease. As part of
its planning, the board of directors of TRI was interested in was to conduct a survey of
organizations paid staf, volunteers, and guests (the homeless staying at TRI they found
particularly useful, which should be revised, and what other programs or services might
be of more assistance ot guests.
However the analysis of TRIs internal statistics and other published data indicated the
need for TRI to narrow its focus. Specifically, internal information indicated the number
of agencies serving the male homeless population was decreasing. Moreover, TRI was
currently the only Madison shelter that served the male homeless population, and this
community appeared to be undeserved. In fact, the number of homeless men staying at
TRIs Drop-in shelter had increased 89 percent, from 60% 3 years ago to 1,146 the past
year. This was partly die to the closing of other Madosin male shelters in the last 3 years.
Finally, the TRI shelter was filled beyond its capcacity of 66 men per night. During the
winter, there were frequently more than 90 men staying at the Drop-in shelter on any
given night, with many of them sleeping on the hallway floor.
Given this information, the board of directors decided to use the organizations limited
resources to focus first on the Drop-in shelter. More specifically, the board asked for an
evaluation of TRIs current facilities and the services for the homeless as well as a
determination of what future services and facilities it should try to provide.
Questions:
a) What is the research problem? ( 7 marks)
b) What kind of research design would be appropriate for this purpose and what
information would you collect for this research problem? ( 7 marks)