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Tribhuvan university BBS 2013 Syllabus Business Research Methods

Business Research Methods - Syllabus

Course Overview and Structure
Syllabus Notes Old Questions Unit Wise Questions Question Bank

Embark on a profound academic exploration as you delve into the Business Research Methods course (Business Research Methods) within the distinguished Tribhuvan university's BBS department. Aligned with the 2013 Syllabus, this course (MGT 221) seamlessly merges theoretical frameworks with practical sessions, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the subject. Rigorous assessment based on a 50 marks system, coupled with a challenging passing threshold of 35, propels students to strive for excellence, fostering a deeper grasp of the course content.

This 3 credit-hour journey unfolds as a holistic learning experience, bridging theory and application. Beyond theoretical comprehension, students actively engage in practical sessions, acquiring valuable skills for real-world scenarios. Immerse yourself in this well-structured course, where each element, from the course description to interactive sessions, is meticulously crafted to shape a well-rounded and insightful academic experience.


Course Objectives

The primary aim of this course is to introduce students to the principle of research methods used most frequently by business students. Basic knowledge of these methodological approaches is absolutely critical to the comprehension of academic understanding and comprehensive and critical writing which is an essence of business students. Therefore, the basic objective of this course is to provide knowledge and understanding of basic principles of business research methods.

Course Description

The course has a preliminary focus on problem identification, theoretical framework development and hypothesis formulation. The course will then deal with research design issues, measurement, sampling, data collection and analysis. This encompasses the overall understanding and application of appropriate research techniques and research statistics, and report writing and presentation skills.

Units

Meaning of research; Scientific research – features,; Types of research: applied and basic; The scientific research process; Approaches to research; Paradigm shifts – positivist Vs interpretivist philosophies; Management research – concept, nature, and value in business decision making; Applying scientific thinking to management problems; Ethical concerns in research.


Qualitative research: Concept, Features, assumptions, Common practices in qualitative research, Methods of qualitative research: Case study, Ethnography, Grounded theory and phenomenological study Curriculum: Bachelor of Business Studies Program (BBS) (A short introduction only), Building trustworthiness and credibility in qualitative research, Strength of qualitative research.

Concept, purposes, Kinds and writing a literature survey; Literature search through the Internet; Relation of literature to research.

Theoretical framework; Theory and research; Research approaches – deduction and induction; Research problem; Identification of research problem in business. Research questions, hypothesis formulation and role of hypothesis in research.

Key Topics

  • Relational Database Design Using ER-to-Relational Mapping
    RE-1

    Learn how to design relational databases using ER-to-relational mapping, including mapping of regular entities, weak entities, relationship types, multivalued attributes, and N-ary relationships.

  • Informal Design Guidelines for Relational Schemas
    RE-2

    Understand informal design guidelines for relational schemas, including semantics of attributes in relations, redundant information in tuples and update anomalies, NULL values in tuples, and generation of spurious tuples.

  • Functional Dependencies
    RE-3

    Study functional dependencies, including definition, inference rules, Armstrong's axioms, attribute closure, equivalence of functional dependencies, and minimal sets of functional dependencies.

  • Normal Forms Based on Primary Keys
    RE-4

    Explore normal forms based on primary keys, including First Normal Form, Second Normal Form, Third Normal Form, and their general definitions.

  • Boyce-Codd Normal Form
    RE-5

    Learn about Boyce-Codd Normal Form, a higher normal form that ensures a relational schema is in a good structure.

Key Topics

  • Memory Hierarchy
    ME-1

    The organization of memory in a computer system, including main memory, RAM, ROM, and auxiliary memory. This topic covers the memory address map and connection to the CPU.

  • Main Memory
    ME-2

    The primary storage for data and program instructions in a computer system, including RAM and ROM chips.

  • Associative Memory
    ME-3

    A type of memory that uses hardware organization and match logic to perform read and write operations.

  • Cache Memory
    ME-4

    A small, fast memory that stores frequently accessed data, using locality of reference and mapping to improve performance.

  • Auxiliary Memory
    ME-5

    Secondary storage devices, including magnetic disks and magnetic tapes, used to store data and programs when not in use by the CPU.

  • Sources of Measurement Problems
    ME-6

    Identifying and addressing common sources of measurement problems in business research, including errors and biases.

  • Concept of Population, Sample, and Sampling
    ME-7

    Understanding the concepts of population, sample, and sampling in business research, including the importance of sampling and its applications.

  • Factors Affecting the Size of the Sample
    ME-8

    Exploring the factors that influence the size of the sample in business research, including population size, variability, and desired level of precision.

  • The Sampling Process
    ME-9

    Learning about the steps involved in the sampling process, including problem definition, population definition, and sample selection.

  • Types of Samples - Probability and Non-Probability Sampling
    ME-10

    Understanding the different types of samples, including probability sampling (random, stratified, and systematic) and non-probability sampling (convenience, judgment, and snowball).

  • Sampling and Non-Sampling Errors
    ME-11

    Distinguishing between sampling errors and non-sampling errors in business research, including their causes and consequences.

Key Topics

  • Introduction to Databases
    DA-1

    Introduction to databases, including examples and basic concepts.

  • Database Management System
    DA-2

    Introduction to Database Management Systems (DBMS), including advantages and examples.

  • Database Users
    DA-3

    Types of database users, including actors on the scene and workers behind the scene.

  • Benefits of Databases
    DA-4

    Advantages and benefits of using databases.

  • Data Models
    DA-5

    Types of data models, including hierarchical, network, ER, relational, and object models.

  • Three-Schema Architecture
    DA-6

    Three-schema architecture, including internal, conceptual, and external views.

  • Data Independence
    DA-7

    Data independence, including logical and physical independence.

  • Database Languages
    DA-8

    Types of database languages, including DDL, DML, SDL, and VDL.

  • Database Interfaces
    DA-9

    Types of database interfaces, including menu-based, mobile apps, form-based, and GUI.

  • Database System Environment
    DA-10

    The database system environment, including DBMS component modules, utilities, tools, and communications facilities.

  • Database Architectures
    DA-11

    Types of database architectures, including centralized, client/server, one-tier, two-tier, three-tier, and N-tier.

Topic selection; Research proposal – purpose, types and structure; Writing research reports – the reporting process, Contents of the

research report, and style of writing; Typing and layout of the research report; Citations and references by using APA format; Essentials of a good research report.