Business Research Methodology and Consulting Set 1

 POKHARA UNIVERSITY

Faculty of Management Studies
Business Research Methodology and Consulting (RES 611)
Model Question Paper
Time: 3 Hours | Full Marks: 100 | Pass Marks: 60

 

Section A: Conceptual Questions (5 × 8 = 40)

Attempt any five questions.

1. "Business research is a systematic inquiry that provides information to guide managerial decisions." Explain this statement with examples.
2. Differentiate between exploratory, descriptive, and causal research designs. Provide examples of business problems where each design would be most appropriate.
3. Define hypothesis testing in research. Explain the steps involved in hypothesis testing with an example.
4. What is sampling? Compare probability and non-probability sampling techniques. Which method is more suitable for a market research study on consumer preferences for a new product? Justify your answer.
5. Discuss the importance of questionnaire design in research. What are the key principles to consider while designing a structured questionnaire?
6. Write short notes on any two of the following: (2 × 4 = 8)
   a) Primary vs. Secondary Data
   b) Ethical Issues in Business Research
   c) Significance of Literature Review in Research

Section B: Analytical/Application-Based Questions (2 × 15 = 30)

Attempt any two questions.

7. A retail company wants to assess customer satisfaction regarding its online shopping platform.
   a) Develop a research problem and research objectives for this study.
   b) Design a research framework, including the type of research (exploratory/descriptive/causal), data collection method, and sampling technique.
   c) Construct a Likert-scale questionnaire (5 questions) to measure customer satisfaction.
8. A consulting firm is hired to evaluate the impact of employee training programs on productivity in a manufacturing company.
   a) Formulate a null and alternative hypothesis for this study.
   b) Which statistical test (t-test, ANOVA, regression) would you use to analyze the data? Justify your choice.

c) Interpret the following regression result:

• Regression Equation: Productivity = 2.5 + 0.8(Training Hours)
• R-squared = 0.65
• P-value of Training Hours = 0.01
8. "Qualitative research provides deeper insights than quantitative research in understanding consumer behavior." Do you agree? Compare the strengths and weaknesses of both approaches. Provide examples where qualitative research would be more beneficial.

Section C: Case Analysis (1 × 30 = 30)

10. Read the case below and answer the questions that follow.

Case: Market Research for a New Health Drink NutriLife, a health and wellness company, plans to launch a new protein-based health drink targeting fitness enthusiasts. Before the launch, the company wants to conduct market research to assess demand, pricing sensitivity, and consumer preferences.

Research Challenges:

• The product is new, so limited secondary data is available.
• Competitors already have established brands in the market.
• The target audience includes gym-goers, athletes, and health-conscious individuals.

Questions:

1. What type of research design (exploratory/descriptive/causal) should NutriLife adopt? Justify your answer.
2. Develop a sampling plan, including the sampling technique and sample size determination.
3. Design a focus group discussion guide (5 key questions) to understand consumer preferences.
4. How can NutriLife use conjoint analysis to determine the optimal product features (flavor, price, packaging)?
5. Discuss ethical considerations NutriLife should keep in mind while conducting this research.

 'Thirty-Eight Who Saw Murder Didn't Call the Police'

- Martin Gansberg

Summary

[Martin Gansberg's article "Thirty-Eight Who Saw Murder Didn't Call the Police" recounts the tragic murder of Kitty Genovese in New York City. The story describes how 38 neighbors witnessed parts of the attack but failed to intervene or call for help. Kitty was stabbed multiple times over the course of 30 minutes, and despite her screams for assistance, no one acted to stop the assailant or contact the police until it was too late. Gansberg highlights the excuses of the witnesses, many of whom avoided involvement out of fear or apathy. He quotes detectives who emphasized that a single phone call could have saved her life. The story serves as a critique of societal indifference and a call for people to take action during emergencies to prevent similar tragedies.]

1. Introduction

Martin Gansberg, a New York Times author, wrote the article "Thirty-Eight Who Saw Murder Didn't Call the Police" to address society's inaction in the face of violence. He highlights a real-life murder case to emphasize the need for people to intervene during life-threatening events. His goal is to persuade readers to change their mindset about public safety and take responsibility.

2. Purpose

Gansberg’s main purpose is to encourage society to protect others when they witness violence. He tells the story of a homicide, describing how witnesses failed to act. Through this, he urges readers to take immediate action in similar situations to prevent tragedies.

3. Supporting Evidence

The author strengthens his argument by including details from the murder case. He quotes detectives who said a simple phone call could have saved the victim. He also shares excuses from witnesses, who avoided helping because they didn’t want to "get involved."

4. Writing Style

Gansberg uses a clear and effective format. He begins with a narrative about the crime, then discusses the larger societal issue. His descriptions of the event and the witnesses’ reactions effectively highlight how inaction led to the victim’s death.

5. Conclusion

The article serves as a call to action for readers to take responsibility for others' safety. By presenting this real-life tragedy, Gansberg persuades society to step up and prevent such incidents in the future.