Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad (Department of Business Administration)

ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD
(Department of Business Administration)
BUSINESS RESEARCH (8431)
LEVEL: BBA
SEMESTER: AUTUMN, 2020
CHECKLIST
This packet comprises the following material:
1. Textbook (one)
2. Course Outlines
3. Assignment No. 1 & 2
4. Assignment Forms (2 sets)
In this packet, if you find anything missing out of the above-mentioned material, please contact
at the address given below:
The Deputy Registrar

Mailing Section, Services Block
Allama Iqbal Open University
H-8, Islamabad
Phone: 051-9057611-12
Prof.Dr.Syed Hassan Raza

Course Coordinator
ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD
(Department of Business Administration)
WARNING
1. PLAGIARISM OR HIRING OF GHOST WRITER(S) FOR SOLVING THE
ASSIGNMENT(S) WILL DEBAR THE STUDENT FROM AWARD OF
DEGREE/CERTIFICATE, IF FOUND AT ANY STAGE.
2. SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENT(S) BORROWED OR STOLEN FROM OTHER(S) AS
ONE’S OWN WILL BE PENALIZED AS DEFINED IN “AIOU PLAGIARISM POLICY”.
Research Methods (8431) Semester: Autumn, 2020

Level: BBA Total Marks: 100
Pass Marks: 50
GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNMENT # 1
You should look upon the assignments as a test of knowledge, management skills, and communication
skills. When you write an assignment answer, you are indicating your knowledge to the teacher:
 Your level of understanding of the subject;
 How clearly you think;
 How well you can reflect on your knowledge & experience;
 How well you can use your knowledge in solving problems, explaining situations, and describing
organizations and management;
 How professional you are, and how much care and attention you give to what you do.
To answer a question effectively, address the question directly, bring important related issues
into the discussion, refer to sources, and indicate how principles from the course materials apply.
You must also be able to identify important problems and implications arising from the answer.
For citing references, writing bibliographies, and formatting the assignment, APA format should
be followed.
ASSIGNMENT No. 1
(Units: 1–5)
Note: Attempt all questions.
Q. 1 Explain succinctly the role of research in managerial planning and decisions. (20)
Q2 A plastic furniture company wishes to test two types of chairs in order to determine which
one is best. (20)
a. Propose and define a precise defition of best.
b. What is the set of hypotheses that should be tested?
c. What action would be associated with each hypothesis?
Q3 A researcher has carried out the following Latin square design: (20)
The data above refer to unit sales.
Ai = Shelf height i,j,k = 1,2,3,
Bj = Number of racings
Ck = Shelf fullness
a) Test the hypothesis that no significant differences exist among sales responses due to
shelf height, number of facings, and shelf fullness.
b) Write the complete Latin square model for this problem.
Q4 Describe the various methods of collecting primary data and comment on their relative
advantages and disadvantages.
Q.5 "Sampling is a necessity under certain conditions." Explain with illustrative examples.
ASSIGNMENT No. 2
Total Marks: 100
Pass Marks:50
This assignment is a research-oriented activity and encompasses the Literature Review Report of the
proposed research topic and the research proposal. You are required to develop a Literature Review report
and research proposal and submit to the tutor for evaluation as per the last date of submission of 2nd
assignment. You will have to participate in the activity fully, actively, and practically to be eligible to
pass this assignment.
The objective of Assignment No. 2 is to prepare:

1. Written Literature Review report and of the proposed research topic
2. Develop research proposal,
You are required to select one of the following topics according to the last digit of your roll
number. For example, if your roll number is P-3427180 then you will select topic # 0 (the last
digit): -
Topics
0. Importance of business research in manufacturing organization.
1. Business application of simulation.
2. Use of secondary data for business research.
3. Significance of statistical tools in business report
4. Use of business research report.
5. Survey instruments in business research.
6. The data processing and analysis methods in business research
7. Use of primary data for business research.
8. Descriptive research
9. The development of measurement tools in business report
This will provide students with experience in preparing a research proposal for thesis.
TIPS FOR WRITING LITERATURE REVIEW
In this assignment students are required to prepare a Literature Review Report between ten (10)
to fifteen (15) pages and at least 8 – 15 research articles from published source may be consulted. With
minimum of 8 research papers should be from the past 05 years. Students must follow the proper
referencing and citation style to be mentioned at the end of the Literature Review Report under the
References heading. Students are advised to consult the tips of writing literature review as mentioned
below.
The Literature Review Defined

What is it and why are students required to do one? The literature is exactly what one would expect from
its title – it is a review of a collection of previously published literature on a specific topic or topics. The
literature review is often required of students as they undertake research into a particular topic in order to
determine whether or not their specific research topic has already been undertaken. Generally speaking,
the literature review summarizes and condenses an extensive amount of material. In addition, the review
allows the student to organize a vast amount of information into a pattern that is meaningful to his or her
research purposes, and will allow the student to draw his or her own conclusions about the nature of that
information.
Objectives of the Literature Review
What should students strive for? When a student is performing his or her literature review, perusing all
that information, having a specific objective(s) in mind is very important. Without a specific objective(s)
in mind, students can end up spinning their wheels, not accomplishing much. The following are common
objectives for a literature review; students should choose the objective(s) that best correspond with their
particular research goals.
i. Summarize Information – As stated above, the main objective of the literature review is to
summarize previously released research information. While not all the objectives on this list apply
to every literature review, this is one objective that every student should strive for when reviewing
literature.
ii. Compare Findings and Results – The literature review allows students to compare the results from
a wide variety of published research. The rates of similarity or discrepancy in research findings can
go a long way in helping the student to understand how his or her research may unfold in the future.
iii. Compare Research Methods – The literature review also allows students to evaluate the different
research methods used among those that have previously studied their topic of interest. Weighing
the pros and cons of those research methods enables students to choose the method that best suits
them.
iv. Identify Untapped Areas of Research – By thoroughly organizing and reviewing an extensive
collection of research material, a student performing a literature review will be able to identify
areas that have not been addressed, or addressed poorly, by the literature that is currently available.
In addition, if a student does happen to discover that his or her research topic has been previously
undertaken, this will allow the student to more easily choose a secondary topic.
v. Identify Major Research Studies – Not all research studies are created equal. The literature review
allows students to recognize which particular studies have been the most important to the furthering
of knowledge in their particular research area.
vi. To Better Understand the Relevance of Your Upcoming Research – If the student's upcoming
research has proven to be untapped, the literature review will allow the student to better understand
where his or her findings will fit into the system of knowledge on that particular subject.
This list is by no means exhaustive, and there are a multitude of other reasons and objectives for
completing a literature review. However, these are the most common objectives for university students,
and they can provide students with the basis for the effecting of a thorough literature review.
It is not necessary to attach the articles reviewed with your assignment; however, you should
include a detailed reference list. The APA format (one of the most commonly used author-date styles) is
the preferred referencing and citation style used by the AIOU.
WORKSHOPS
The workshop presentations provide you opportunity to express your communication skills, knowledge &
understanding of concepts learned during practical study assigned in assignment # 2.
You should use any interactive material for effective presentation. The transparencies/Power point slides
are not the presentation, but only a tool; the presentation is the combination of the interactive material and
your speech.
GUIDELINES FOR WORKSHOP PRESENTATION:

 Make eye contact and react to the audience. Don't read from the slides or from report, and don't
look too much at the slides (occasional glances are acceptable to help in recalling the topic to
cover).
 A 15-minute presentation can be practiced several times in advance, so do that until you are
confident enough. Some people also use a mirror when rehearsing as a substitute for an audience.
Note: Prepare assignments as per these guidelines and it may be re-evaluated by the quality assurance
cell, department of business administration, AIOU, Islamabad at any time.

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Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad (Department of Business Administration)

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ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD

(Department of Business Administration)

BUSINESS RESEARCH (8431)

SEMESTER: AUTUMN, 2020

This packet comprises the following material:

The Deputy Registrar

Prof.Dr.Syed Hassan Raza

Research Methods (8431) Semester: Autumn, 2020

The objective of Assignment No. 2 is to prepare:

TIPS FOR WRITING LITERATURE REVIEW

The Literature Review Defined

GUIDELINES FOR WORKSHOP PRESENTATION:

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