BUSINESS RESEARCH

METHODS
Prof.Radhika Kiran Kumar
Indira Institute of Business Management
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Research Report Writing

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Research Report
• Meaning: A research report is the formal statement
of the research process and its results. It is the end
product of a research activity, it narrates the
problems studied, methods used for studying and
the findings and conclusions of the study.
• The purpose of research report is to inform the
world what you have done, what you have
discovered and what conclusions you have drawn
from your findings.
• The report should be written in an academic style.
Language should be formal and not journalistic.
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Types of Reports
» a) Technical Report- is used in industry to communicate
technical information. These reports help businesses make
decisions, for example, in selecting and purchasing
equipment, or finding solutions to technical problems.
Engineering and applied sciences subjects often set
assignment tasks that require technical report writing.
» E.g. solve a design problem; investigate and evaluate the
solutions to an environmental problem; develop a
program or an information management plan for a specific
issue or company
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Types of Reports…
» b) Business reports- are practical learning tasks where you
apply the theories you have been studying to real world (or
realistic) situations. Reporting financial information, marketing
and management strategies and issues to others is an important
component of business studies
» c) Abstract or Executive Summary - An abstract is a brief
summary of a research article, thesis review, conference
proceeding. The whole traditional report divisions: objective,
method, discussion, conclusions in a concise paragraph of
about 200-300 words. It emphasizes the objective and the
analysis of the results in a precise and specific summary. It is
submitted before submitting full article or thesis.
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Types of Reports…
» d) Interim report- In research, the research timing is long; an
interim report is often compiled to analyze how the research
work is proceeding, before its final completion.
» e) Research article- this is designed for publication in a
professional journal. A research article must be clearly written
in concise and lucid language. It must be logically organized
progressing from statement of problem and the purpose of the
study, through analysis and evidence, to the conclusions and
implications.
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Steps in Report Writing

• 1. Plan the project in advance; fix the target and final date of completing the report

• 2. The time of report writing should be planned in advance.

• 3. Arrange the data, documents, bibliography etc. in conformity with the structure of the report.

• 4. The outline should be based on all main points and sub points.

• 5. Prepare a rough report of what one has done in his studies. He has to write down the procedure adopted by him in collecting the material, the technique
or analysis adopted by him, the broad findings and generalizations and his suggestions.

• 6. Revising the rough report-Keep the rough report for few days for careful reading and then revising it on the basis of thinking and discussing with
others. It is an appropriate to get help of some experienced and knowledgeable person at this stage.

• 7. Rewrite the report on the basis of the revision made and corrections effected on the report.

• 8. Prepare final bibliography. Bibliography may contain two parts, first containing name of the books, second containing the names of magazines/ journals
and newspaper articles and web link

• 9. Last step is writing of a final draft of the report. The final draft should be written in a concise and objective style and in simple language
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Academic Thesis
» Title or Cover Page
- Title: suitably framed in 12 to16 words
avoiding a word repetition [include technique or concept or any significant feature to
highlight specific contribution]
- Author, Month & Year, Dept. & University
» Preliminary Pages
- Certificates as per the Rules
[follow the prescribed format]
- Acknowledgements: be selective, do not
talk about errors
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Preliminary Pages

» Table of Contents
- Chapter Number and Title… Page No.
- Section Headings -“-
- Sub-Section Headings -“-
- References -“-
- Appendices -“-
» List of Tables (with No.& Caption) -“-

» List of Figures/Charts/Maps -“-

(with No. & Caption)
 Preliminary Pages 10

» Glossary of Terms
- Definitions
- Acronyms
» Summary of Thesis
- Contents of each Chapter in brief
[Write it precisely as that is read first by
the examiner to form the basic impression]
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Thesis Structure
» Chapter 1: Introduction
- Subject background
- Thesis topic background
- Motivation for selecting the topic/problem
- Broad definition of the problem
» Chapter 2: Literature Review
- Organised according to either authors or geography or chronology or
variables
[Give your critical evaluation to show the state of the knowledge, the gaps and direction you would take]
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Thesis Structure
» Chapter 3: Scope of Work
- Problem statement (precise definition)
- Sub-Divisions of the problem
- Corresponding hypothesis formulation
(if applicable)
» Chapter 4: Methodology
- Possible approaches
- Justification for the selected approach
- Operational aspects of the approach
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Thesis Structure
» Chapter 5: Data Collection
- Sampling frame (relevant universe)
- Sampling procedure (sample selection)
- Outline of instruments used
(questionnaire, interview schedule)
» Chapter 6: Analysis
- Salient features of analytical tools used
- Main Tables & Figures [exhaust all the data]
- Results validation
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Thesis Structure
» Chapter 7: Discussion of Results
- Critical interpretation of the results
- Linking the results to the sub-problems
- Implications for the main problem
» Chapter 8: Conclusions
- How the purpose of the study is addressed
- Limitations
- Areas for further research
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Thesis Structure
» References
- All the quoted works to be listed
- Use standard style (like Chicago or APA)
- General works be given separately as
Bibliography, if large in number
- Follow prescribed style for citing the
web-based works
[Use original works, latest works and do not miss
any important work – Examiners are particular
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Bibliographic Style
Several style manuals are available and they
generally group the sources in the below given
categories:
1) books
2) periodicals (e.g. journals, magazines)
3) miscellaneous (e.g. reports, brochures)
4) electronic resources (e.g. web sites, blogs)
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Major Bibliographical Styles

» American Psychology Association (APA) [visit
www.apastyle.org]
» Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago Style) [visit
www.chicagomanualofstyle.org]
» Modern Language Association of America
(MLA) [visit www.mla.org/style]
» Some disciplines have brought out their own
style manuals like law, computer science and
environment & earth sciences
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Books
» Berg, B. (2001). Qualitative research for the social
sciences. London: Allyn & Bacon.
» Berg, B., Qualitative Research for the Social
Sciences, London, Allyn & Bacon, 2001. [include
subtitle, if it is present]
» Berg, Benjamin. Qualitative Research for the
Social Sciences. London: Allyn & Bacon, 2001.
[only for university press use: Mumbai UP]

APA Chicago MLA

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Journals
» Patkar, V.N. & Sampathkumar, D. (1993). A GIS support to water
distribution, planning and management. Journal of Indian Water
Works Association, 25(1), 141‑147.
» Patkar, V.N. & Sampathkumar, D., A GIS Support to Water
Distribution, Planning and Management, Journal of Indian Water
Works Association, 25(1), 1993, pp. 141‑147.
» Patkar, Vivek N. & D. Sampathkumar, “A GIS Support to Water
Distribution, Planning and Management.” Journal of Indian
Water Works Association, Vol. 25, No.1,(January 1993): 141‑147.

APA Chicago MLA

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Electronic Resources
» The British Library. (2005). Measuring our value. London: The
British Library. Accessed on July 30, 2008 from
http://www.bl.uk/pdf/measuring.pdf
» The British Library. Measuring Our Value, 2005. London: The
British Library. http://www.bl.uk/pdf/measuring.pdf. accessed
on 30th July 2008.
» The British Library. Measuring Our Value. 2005.
http://www.bl.uk/pdf/measuring.pdf. 30 July 2008.
» .
APA Chicago MLA
 Writing is a skill,
Master it with practice,
Unlimited joy is yours.

Wish You a Prosperous Writing Future

Than
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THANKS!
Any questions?