INSTITUTE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES

UNIVERSITY OF THE PUNJAB LAHORE

Research Methods and Techniques

BS (Hons) Semester VI

Instructor: Zia Ullah

Contacts: qziaullah@hotmail.com
0345-4163899

Course objectives:
This course is designed to:
• Familiarize students with the fundamental concepts and jargons used
in research.
• Highlight the research process with special emphasis on the methods
of research, data collection, and data analysis.
• Equip students with the skills of critical and analytical thinking by
challenging them to identify and investigate business problems
scientifically.
Strategy:
To accomplish the above objectives, an interactive teaching methodology
will be used. Each student will have to contribute meaningfully to the
learning processes by raising pertinent questions in the class and completing
assignments.

Evaluation criteria:
• Class participation & presentation 15 marks
• Mid-term exam. 25 marks
• Final-term exam. 50 marks
• Proposal development 10 marks
Guidelines:
1. Each student has to demonstrate a responsible behavior in the
class by being productive, cooperative, and disciplined.
2. Irrelevant discussion in the class and using rubbish material in
presentations should be avoided as they will mark down the overall
performance of the students.
3. The students must develop analytical skills and demonstrate the
same in exam. Papers.
4. Each student will be required to develop a research proposal on
any area of his/her interest preferably Human Resource Management.

COURSE OUTLINE
S. Topics
Hours
No.
1 Introduction:
o Research Defined
o Scientific Method of Research
3
o Hallmarks of Science
o Research Process
2 Language/Issues in Research:
o Concepts
o Variables
o Types of Variables
o Operationalization
6
o Hypothesis: Characteristics and Types
o Null Hypothesis: Type I and Type II errors
3 Theory:
o Meaning
o Theory and Research
3
o Theoretical Framework
4 Research Process:
o Problem identification
o Literature review
o Developing hypotheses
o Data collection 6
o Data analysis
o Reporting results

5 Measurement: 6
o Validity
o Reliability
 o Factors affecting validity and reliability
6 Research Designs:
o Survey
o Field 6
o Experimental
7 Sampling:
o Basic concepts
o Procedure 6
o Methods
8 Data Collection Methods:
o Observation
o Questionnaire 3
o Interview
9 Data Analysis:
o Coding
o Tabulation 3
o Interpretation
10 Report writing:
o Qualities
o Integral parts 3
o Research proposal

Readings:
 Sekaran, Uma. (2000) Research Methods for Business: A Skill Building
Approach Fourth Edition
 Cooper, Donald R., Emory C. William (1995) Business Research
Methods. National Books Foundations Islamabad.

Good Luck