Department of Business Administration

Course Title:Research Techniques in Analysis

Course Code: MGT692
Pre-requisite Courses: Statistical Inference for Manager
Credit Hours: Three (3)
Semester: Fourth (4)
Degree: MBA Program

Course Description:

This course is designed to help you to undertake your industry project, whether you are a student
of business and management or a manger. It provides a clear guide on how to apply qualitative
and quantitative techniques in your research project. The course will include review of statistical
interference, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, factor analysis, correlation and regression,
case study method, content analysis, phenomenology, data analysis and interpretation. After
completing the course you will have been introduced to and explored a range of approaches,
strategies and techniques with which you could tackle your industry project. This mean you will
be able to make an informed choice about the approaches, strategies and techniques that are most
suitable to your own research project and be able to justify this choice.

Course Objectives:
This course enables the student:

1. to understand the practice and principles of qualitative and quantitative business research
2. to discuss appropriate statistical tests for the research variables
3. to understand the philosophy and scientific principles underlying hypothesis testing
4. to prepare students to understand relationship between one dependent variable and several
independent variables
5. to describe the sources of qualitative data such as individual interviews, group interviews
and contextual data
6. to prepare students to understand individual and organizations case studies
7. to illustrate the issues in qualitative research design with special reference to
phenomenology
8. to use of computer software in solving complex business models

Learning Outcomes:

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LO Categories After completing this course a student will be able: IU Graduate Qualities
Knowledge LOs LO1: to identify appropriate qualitative and quantitative ♦ Critical thinking
techniquesfor different research studies

Comprehension LOs LO2: to understand the principles underlying correlation ♦ Critical thinking
and regression ♦ Research skills
LO3: to explain the differences between qualitative and
quantitative data collection techniques

Application LOs LO4: to apply various types of computer software (SPSS, ♦ Technical skills
ATLAS.ti.) for data analysis in business research ♦ Research skills

Analysis LOs LO5: to estimate the line of best fit (regression line) and ♦ Technical skills
interpret the result ♦ Decision making skills
♦ Analytical Skills
Synthesis LOs LO6: to develop appropriate business models and research ♦ Creative Thinking
hypotheses ♦ Writing skills
LO7: to design and conduct an exploratory case study, a
content analysis study and a phenomenological study

Evaluation LOs LO8: to develop an understanding of interpreting the results ♦ Managerial skills
of qualitative and quantitative analysisfor managerial
practice

Teaching Methodology:
Teaching at Iqra University is learner oriented. Students are involved in lectures, assigned
readings, reference readings, exercises, case studies, presentations, and class discussions. In the
same way, grading tends to focus on the students’ overall performance and participation in the
classroom activities.

Code of Conduct:
Students have to follow the rules stated below to avoid a failing grade in the course:

 Understand and follow the University policy regarding attendance.

 Arrive in and leave the classroom strictly on time. Late arrival will be marked as absence.
If you leave the classroom in the middle of a session even for a short while, you will be
marked absent.
 Keep your cell phone off during the class.
 Do the assigned readings for a class before coming to the class.
 Maintain a disciplined, cordial, and respectful attitude towards the teacher and your fellow
students.

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  Submit your homework on the due date before the class begins.
 Do not plagiarize from books, journals, or the internet.
 Do not cheat (make someone else do your work or present work for some other course as
work for this course).
 The teacher’s decisions about marks and grade will be final.

Course Contents:

Week Topics to be covered Learning IU Graduate Methods of

Qualities
Outcomes Assessment
1. Quantitative Techniques-Introduction ♦ Critical thinking
♦ Creative
 Introduction LO1 Thinking
 Historical Development
 The role of Quantitative techniques in Business
 Methodology of Quantitative Techniques

2. The Concepts of Hypothesis Testing ♦ Analytical Skills

♦ Research skills
 The Null and Alternative Hypothesis
 One-versus Two-Tailed Tests LO6 Quiz
 Type I and Type II Errors
 Statistical Decision Rules

3. Hypothesis Testing for Means ♦ Decision

making skills
 Inferences based on a Single Sample LO1
 Inferences based on Two Samples

4. Analysis of Variance ♦ Decision

making skills
 One-Way ANOVA LO4
 Homogeneity of Variance in ANOVA
 Multiple Comparisons

5. Factor analysis ♦ Technical skills

 Introduction LO4
Assignment
 Common Factor Analysis
 Principal Component Analysis
 Business Applications
6. Correlation and Regression Analysis ♦ Technical skills
Quiz
♦ Analytical Skills

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  Introduction LO2
 Correlation And Causation LO5
 Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient
 Simple Linear Regression

7. Multiple Linear Regression ♦ Analytical Skills

♦ Critical thinking
 Introduction LO4
 The Model and Its Assumptions LO5
 Estimating Multiple Regression Estimators
 Business and Economic Applications

MID-TERM EXAMINATION
8. Qualitative Research Techniques-Introduction ♦ Critical thinking
♦ Creative
 Introduction LO3 Thinking
 Quantitative vs. Qualitative Schools of Thought
 Research Paradigms in Business
 Ethical Issues

9. Types of Qualitative Research Designs ♦ Critical thinking

 Case Study LO1

 Content Analysis
 Phenomenology

10. Case Studies ♦ Research skills

♦ Critical thinking
 The Nature of Case Studies LO4
 Exploratory Case Studies LO7
 The Individual Case Study Project
 Case Studies of Organizations
►SWOT Analysis
►PEST Analysis

11. Content Analysis ♦ Critical thinking

♦ Analytical Skills
 Introduction LO4
 Content Analysis as Technique
 Discourse Analysis and Content Analysis
 Stages in the Content Analysis Process

12. Phenomenological Studies ♦ Critical thinking

Group
Discussion
 Introduction LO4

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  Epoche LO7
 Phenomenological Reduction
 Bracketing
 Organizing, Analyzing and Synthesizing Data

13. Data Collection Methods ♦ Research skills

♦ Critical thinking
 Individual Interviews
 Group Interviews LO3
 Contextual Data Assignment
 Observations
 Reports and other written data
 Oral data

14. Data Management-Practical Issues ♦ Critical thinking

♦ Research skills
 Introduction LO3 ♦ Creative
 Confidentiality and Security Issues LO8 Thinking
 Translation
 Recording/Transcribing Interviews
 Issues of Validity and Reliability

15. Data Analysis ♦ Technical skills

♦ Analytical Skills
 Thematic Analysis LO4 ♦ Critical thinking
Project
 Narrative Analysis LO6
 The use of Computer software LO8

FINAL EXAMINATION

Rescheduling of Class:
The teachers at Iqra University are very particular about taking their classes, but in case of an
emergency, an alternate teacher may conduct the class. Students are informed through SMS in case
of rescheduling of a class.

Grading Policy:

‘A’ Grade: 88 and above

‘B+’ Grade: 81-87
‘B’ Grade: 74-80
‘C+’ Grade: 67-73
‘C’ Grade: 60-66
‘F’ Grade: Below 60

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Marks Distribution of 100%:

Module 1
Quizzes/ Assignments /Project _____20_____
Final Exam ______30_____
Total 50____

Module 2
Quizzes/ Assignments /Project _____ 20_____
Final Exam ______30_____
Total 50____

Recommended Readings:

1. Multivariate Data Analysis, by Joseph F. Hair, (Latest Edition)

2. Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, by W. Lawrence

Neuman, (Latest Edition)

3. Research Methods and Organization Studies, by Alan Bryman, (Latest Edition)

4. An Introduction to Statistical Methods and Data Analysis, by R. Lyman Ott, (Latest

Edition)

5. Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods, by Michael Quinn Patton, (Latest Edition)

6. In addition the teacher may prescribe any additional reading material.

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