JIGJIGA UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS

MBA PROGRAM
BRM INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNGMENT
1. What is a research report and discuss its components?
A research report is a well-crafted document that outlines the processes, data, and
findings of a systematic investigation. It is an important document that serves as a
first-hand account of the research process, and it is typically considered an objective
and accurate source of information.

In many ways, a research report can be considered as a summary of the research

process that clearly highlights findings, recommendations, and other important
details. Reading a well-written research report should provide you with all the
information you need about the core areas of the research process.

The details of a research report may change with the purpose of research but the
main components of a report will remain constant. The research approach of the
market researcher also influences the style of writing reports. Here are the main
components of a productive research report:

1) Research Report Summary: The entire objectives along with the overview of

research are to be included in a summary which is a couple of paragraphs in
length. All the multiple components of the research are explained in brief under
the report summary. It should be interesting enough to capture all the key
elements of the report.
2) Research Introduction: There always is a primary goal that the researcher is
trying to achieve through a report. In the introduction section, he/she can cover
answers related to this goal and establish a thesis which will be included to strive
and answer it in detail
3) Research Methodology: This is the most important section of the report where
all the important information lies. The readers can gain data for the topic along
 with analyzing the quality of provided content and the research can also be
approved by other market researchers
4) Research Results: A short description of the results along with calculations
conducted to achieve the goal will form this section of results. Usually, the
exposition after data analysis is carried out in the discussion part of the
report.
5) Research Discussion: The results are discussed in extreme detail in this section
along with a comparative analysis of reports that could probably exist in the
same domain.
6) Research References and Conclusion: Conclude all the research findings along
with mentioning each and every author, article or any content piece from where
references were taken.

2. Differentiate data analysis from data interpretation.

 Data Analysis

It is based on computation of various percentages, coefficients, etc., by applying

various well defined statistical formulae.

Data analysis is described “as the process of bringing order, structure, and meaning”
to the collected data. The data analysis aims to unearth patterns or regularities by
observing, exploring, organizing, transforming, and modeling the collected data.

It is a methodical approach to apply statistical techniques for describing, exhibiting,

and evaluating the data. It helps in driving meaningful insights, form conclusions, and
support the decisions making process. This process of ordering, summarizing data is
also to get answers to questions to test if the hypothesis holds. Exploratory data
analysis is a huge part of data analysis. It is to understand and discover the
relationships between the variables present within the data.

There are five types of data analysis:

Descriptive Analysis
Diagnostic Analysis
Predictive Analysis
Prescriptive Analysis
Cognitive Analysis

1. Descriptive Analysis: What has happened?

Descriptive Analysis, as the name says, describes the data. The foundation
step simply looks at the past data and tells what has happened in the past. It captures
and summarizes the past using measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion,
visualizing using dashboards. This analysis helps understand how the data is present
and does not make any predictions or answers why something has happened. It is
useful for generating reports, tracking Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), sales leads,
and revenue reports.

2. Diagnostic Analysis: Why has it happened?

After identifying what has happened, the next logical step in the process is to find the
answer to why something has happened. Diagnostic analysis helps dig further by
creating detailed, informative, dynamic, and interactive dashboards to answer that. It
separates the root cause of the problem and identifies the source of the patterns. It is
also useful in anomaly detection. And the factors that affect the business. It can be
applied to determine which factors led to improvement in sales.

3. Predictive Analysis: What is likely to happen?

After detecting the root cause of the problem and understanding the causal
relationship between the variables, one would want to know if the event is likely to
happen again? Predictive analysis is all about that. It predicts the likelihood of an
event, forecasting any measurable amount, risk assessment, and segmenting
customers into groups. Since it forecasts the occurrence of an event, it employs
probability. Along with the previous summarized and root cause analysis, the models
use statistics and machine learning algorithms for predicting future outcomes.

4.Prescriptive Analysis: How to make it happen?

The prescriptive analysis is result-oriented. It collaborates the learnings from the

what, why has happened with what is likely to happen to help with what measures to
maximize the primary business metrics. It prescribes the best course of action,
strategies. The prescriptive analysis is not predicting one individual standalone event
but a collection of future events using simulation and optimization. It is heavily
applied in the financial, social media, marketing, and transportation domains. Its uses
are varied from recommending products or movies to suggesting which strategies to
use to reap maximum returns and minimize risk.

5. Cognitive Analysis: Mimicking the human brain to carry out tasks

This advanced type of analysis aims to mimic a human brain to perform tasks like a
human does. It combines technologies such as artificial intelligence, semantics,
machine learning, and deep learning algorithms. It learns and even generates data
using the already available data and retrieves features and hidden patterns. Real-time
data cognitive analysis is heavily employed in image classification and segmentation,
detection of objects, machine translations, virtual assistants, and chatbots.

 Data Interpretation
Once the data has been analyzed, the next progressive step is to interpret the data.

Data interpretation is the process of assigning meaning to the processed and

analyzed data. It enables us to make informed and meaningful conclusions,
implications, infer the significance between the relationships of variables and explain
the patterns in the data.

Explaining numerical data points and categorical data points would require different
methods; hence, the different nature of data demands different data interpretation
techniques.

There are two primary techniques available to understand and interpret the data.
1. Quantitative, and
2. Qualitative
Quantitative Methods
The quantitative data interpretation technique is applicable for the measurable or
numerical type of data. The numerical data is of two types:

 Discrete: countable, finite quantities. Eg: the number of ice-creams

 Continuous: not countable.  Eg: height, weight, time, speed, humidity,
temperature
The numerical data is relatively easier to analyze using the statistical modeling
methods, including central tendency and dispersion measures. These can be visually
depicted via charts such as bar graphs, pie-chart, line graphs, line charts. Tables are
also used in representing complex information dissecting into categories.

There are two most commonly used quantitative data analysis methods are:

 Descriptive Statistics: this field of statistics focuses on describing the data, its

features. It comprises of two categories: measures of central tendency
(mean, median, mode, and measures of dispersion or variability, which tell
how much spread is there in the data or the data varies.
  Inferential Statistics: this branch of statistics generalizes or infers how the
larger data is, its features based on the sample taken from this larger data.
Qualitative Methods
Qualitative methods are implemented to analyze the textual and the descriptive data
called the categorical data. Text data is usually unstructured. The qualitative data is
subdivided further based on their characteristics:

 Nominal: The attributes have no ranking or order. Eg: Region, Gender,

Classes in school
 Ordinal: The attributes are ranked or ordered in a sequence. Eg: Grades
 Binary: It has only two categories. Either yes or no, Class 1 or 0.
Unlike numerical data, categorical data cannot be directly analyzed as the data here is
non-statistical, and also, the machines understand only the language of the numbers.

So, the text data is first coded and converted into numerical data. There are different
coding approaches available based on the requirement. The text data is categorized
into labels to be used for modeling and interpretation.
For a detailed comparison between the two methods of data interpretation, refer to
this blog on How to Understand the Quantitative and Qualitative Data in Your
Business.

3. Compare and contrast descriptive, correlation and

regressions statistical application in research.
Descriptive

Descriptive statistics describe characteristics of a population or sample. Thus,

calculating a mean and a standard deviation to “describe” or profile a sample is a
commonly applied descriptive statistical approach. Inferential statistics investigate
samples to draw conclusions about entire populations. If a mean is computed and
then compared to some preconceived standard, then inferential statistics are being
implemented.
descriptive statistics, which describe basic characteristics and summarize the data in a
straightforward and understandable manner. Another type of statistics, inferential
statistics, is used to make inferences or to project from a sample to an entire
population. For example, when a firm test-markets a new product in Peoria and Fort
Worth, it is not only concerned about how customers in these two cities feel, but
they want to make an inference from these sample markets to predict what will
happen throughout the United States.
Correlation

The correlation (r) tells you the strength of the relationship between two variables. 
The value of r has a range of -1 to 1 (0 indicates no relationship).  Values of r closer to
-1 or 1 indicate a stronger relationship and values closer to 0 indicate a weaker
relationship.  The coefficient is affected by a variety of factors, so it's always best to
also plot your two variables as a scatterplot.
The most popular technique for indicating the relationship of one variable to another
is correlation. A correlation coefficient is a statistical measure of covariation, or
association between two
variables. Covariance is the extent to which a change in one variable corresponds
systematically to
a change in another. Correlation can be thought of as a standardized covariance.
When correlations estimate relationships between continuous variables, the Pearson
product moment correlation is appropriate. The correlation coefficient, r, ranges from
–1.0 to 1.0.
If the value of r equals 1.0, a perfect positive relationship exists. Perhaps the two
variables
are one and the same! If the value of r equals –1.0, a perfect negative relationship
exists. The
implication is that one variable is a mirror image of the other. As one goes up, the
other goes
down in proportion and vice versa. No correlation is indicated if r equals 0. A
correlation
coefficient indicates both the magnitude of the linear relationship and the direction of
that
relationship. For example, if we find that r –0.92, we know we have a very strong
inverse
relationship—that is, the greater the value measured by variable X, the lower the
value measured by variable Y.
Regression

Regression is a statistical method that tries to uncover the association between

variables.  There are assumptions that must be met before running a regression and
it's very important to understand how to properly interpret a regression equation. 
There are methods for how to find which predictors are best such as the bootstrap
method, and there are others who will choose predictors based on theory.  
Regression analysis is a powerful statistical method that allows you to examine the
relationship between two or more variables of interest. 
While there are many types of regression analysis, at their core they all examine the
influence of one or more independent variables on a dependent variable
Regression analysis is another technique for measuring the linear association between
a dependent and an independent variable. Although simple regression and correlation
are mathematically equivalent in most respects, regression is a dependence technique
where correlation is an
interdependence technique. A dependence technique makes a distinction between
dependent and
independent variables. An interdependence technique does not make this distinction
and simply is
concerned with how variables relate to one another.
Thus, with simple regression, a dependent (or criterion) variable, Y, is linked to an
independent (or predictor) variable, X. Regression analysis attempts to predict the
values of a continuous,
interval-scaled dependent variable from specific values of the independent variable.
4. What are the formats/contents of research report? Briefly
discuss each of them?
Contents of Research Report

The researcher must keep in mind that his research report must contain following
aspects:

1. Purpose of study
2. Significance of his study or statement of the problem
3. Review of literature
4. Methodology
5. Interpretation of data
6. Conclusions and suggestions
7. Bibliography
8. Appendices

These can be discussed in detail as under:

(1) Purpose of study:

Research is one direction-oriented study. He should discuss the problem of his study.
He must give background of the problem. He must lay down his hypothesis of the
study. Hypothesis is the statement indicating the nature of the problem. He should be
able to collect data, analyze it and prove the hypothesis. The importance of the
problem for the advancement of knowledge or removed of some evil may also be
explained. He must use review of literature or the data from secondary source for
explaining the statement of the problems.
(2) Significance of study:

Research is re-search and hence the researcher may highlight the earlier research in
new manner or establish new theory. He must refer earlier research work and
distinguish his own research from earlier work. He must explain how his research is
different and how his research topic is different and how his research topic is
important. In a statement of his problem, he must be able to explain in brief the
historical account of the topic and way in which he can make and attempt. In his
study to conduct the research on his topic.
(3) Review of Literature:

Research is a continuous process. He cannot avoid earlier research work. He must

start with earlier work. He should note down all such research work, published in
books, journals or unpublished thesis. He will get guidelines for his research from
taking a review of literature. He should collect information in respect of earlier
research work. He should enlist them in the given below:

1. Author/researcher
2. Title of research /Name of book
3. Publisher
4. Year of publication
5. Objectives of his study
6. Conclusion/suggestions

Then he can compare this information with his study to show separate identity of his
study. He must be honest to point out similarities and differences of his study from
earlier research work.
(4) Methodology:

It is related to collection of data. There are two sources for collecting data; primary
and secondary. Primary data is original and collected in field work, either through
questionnaire interviews. The secondary data relied on library work. Such primary
data are collected by sampling method. The procedure for selecting the sample must
be mentioned. The methodology must give various aspects of the problem that are
studied for valid generalization about the phenomena. The scales of
measurement must be explained along with different concepts used in the study.
While conducting a research based on field work, the procedural things like definition
of universe, preparation of source list must be given. We use case study method,
historical research etc. He must make it clear as to which method is used in his
research work. When questionnaire is prepared, a copy of it must be given in
appendix.
(5) Interpretation of data:

Mainly the data collected from primary source need to be interpreted in systematic
manner. The tabulation must be completed to draw conclusions. All the questions are
not useful for report writing. One has to select them or club them according
to hypothesis or objectives of study.

(6) Conclusions/suggestions:

Data analysis forms the crux of the research problem. The information collected in
field work is useful to draw conclusions of study. In relation with the objectives of
study the analysis of data may lead the researcher to pin point his suggestions. This is
the most important part of study. The conclusions must be based on logical and
statistical reasoning. The report should contain not only the generalization of
inference but also the basis on which the inferences are drawn. All sorts of proofs,
numerical and logical, must be given in support of any theory that has been advanced.
He should point out the limitations of his study.

(7) Bibliography:

The list of references must be arranged in alphabetical order and be presented in

appendix. The books should be given in first section and articles are in second section
and research projects in the third. The pattern of bibliography is considered
convenient and satisfactory from the point of view of reader.

(8) Appendices:

The general information in tabular form which is not directly used in the analysis of
data, but which is useful to understand the background of study can be given in
appendix.

5. What are the significance of report writing?

Significance Of Report Writing: Research report is considered a major component of
the research study for the research task remains incomplete till the report has been
presented and/or written. As a matter of fact, even the most brilliant hypothesis,
highly well designed and conducted research study, and the most striking
generalizations and findings are of little value unless they are effectively
communicated to others. The purpose of research is not well served unless the
findings are made known to others. Research results must invariably enter the general
store of knowledge. All this explains the significance of.

Report writing is an important communication medium in organizations. The most

crucial findings might have come out through a research report. Report is common to
academics and managers also. Reports are used for comprehensive and application-
oriented learning in academics. In organizations, reports are used for the basis of
decision making. The importance of report writing can be discussed as under.

Through research reports, a manager or an executive can quickly get an idea of a

current scenario which improves his information base for making sound decisions
affecting future operations of the company or enterprise. The research report acts as
a means of communication of various research findings to the interested parties,
organizations, and general public.

Good report writing play, a significant role of conveying unknown facts about the
phenomenon to the concerned parties. This may provide new insights and new
opportunities to the people. Research report plays a key role in making effective
decisions in marketing, production, banking, materials, human resource development
and government also. Good report writing is used for economic planning and
optimum utilization of resources for the development of a nation.

Report writing facilitates the validation of generalization. A research report is a

product of research. As earlier said that report writing provides useful information in
arriving at rational decisions that may reform the business and society. The findings,
conclusions, suggestions, and recommendations are useful to academicians, scholars,
and policymakers. Report writing provides reference material for further research in
the same or similar areas of research to the concerned parties.

While preparing a research report, a researcher should take some proper precautions.
Report writing should be simple, lucid, and systematic. Report writing should be
written speedily without interrupting the continuity of thought. The report writing
should sustain the interest of readers.

6. Discus the Steps in Writing Report.

 STEPS IN WRITING REPORT

Research reports are the product of slow, painstaking, accurate inductive work. The
usual steps involved in writing report are:

(a) logical analysis of the subject-matter;

(b) preparation of the final outline;

(c) preparation of the rough draft;

(d) rewriting and polishing;

(c) preparation of the final bibliography; and

(f) writing the final draft.

Though all these steps are self explanatory, yet a brief mention of each one of these
will be appropriate for better understanding

Logical analysis of the subject matter: It is the first step which is primarily
concerned with the development of a subject. There are two ways in which to
develop a subject (a) logically and (b) chronologically. The logical development is
made on the basis of mental connections and associations between the one
thing and another by means of analysis. Logical treatment often consists in
developing the material from the simple possible to the most complex
structures. Chronological development is based on a connection or sequence in
time or occurrence. The directions for doing or making something usually
follow the chronological order

Preparation of the final outline: It is the next step in writing the research report
“Outlines are the framework upon which long written works are constructed.
They are an aid to the logical organisation of the material and a reminder of the
points to be stressed in the report.”3

Preparation of the rough draft: This follows the logical analysis of the subject
and the preparation of the final outline. Such a step is of utmost importance for
the researcher now sits to write down what he has done in the context of his
research study. He will write down the procedure adopted by him in collecting
the material for his study along with various limitations faced by him, the
technique of analysis adopted by him, the broad findings and generalizations
and the various suggestions he wants to offer regarding the problem
concerned.

Rewriting and polishing of the rough draft: This step happens to be most difficult
part of all formal writing. Usually this step requires more time than the writing
of the rough draft. The careful revision makes the difference between a
mediocre and a good piece of writing. While rewriting and polishing, one should
check the report for weaknesses in logical development or presentation. The
researcher should also “see whether or not the material, as it is presented, has
unity and cohesion; does the report stand upright and firm and exhibit a
definite pattern, like a marble arch? Or does it resemble an old wall of
moldering cement and loose brick.”4 In addition the researcher should give due
attention to the fact that in his rough draft he has

Preparation of the final bibliography: Next in order comes the task of the
preparation of the final bibliography. The bibliography, which is generally
appended to the research report, is a list of books

in some way pertinent to the research which has been done. It should contain
all those works which the researcher has consulted. The bibliography should be
arranged alphabetically and may be divided into two parts; the first part may
contain the names of books and pamphlets, and the second part may contain
the names of magazine and newspaper articles. Generally, this pattern of
bibliography is considered convenient and satisfactory from the point of view
of reader, though it is not the only way of presenting bibliography. The entries
in bibliography should be made adopting the following order:

For books and pamphlets the order may be as under:

1. Name of author, last name first.

2. Title, underlined to indicate italics.

3. Place, publisher, and date of publication.

4. Number of volumes.

Example
Kothari, C.R., Quantitative Techniques, New Delhi, Vikas Publishing House Pvt.
Ltd., 1978.

For magazines and newspapers the order may be as under:

1. Name of the author, last name first.

2. Title of article, in quotation marks.

3. Name of periodical, underlined to indicate italics.

4. The volume or volume and number.

5. The date of the issue.

6. The pagination.

Example

Robert V. Roosa, “Coping with Short-term International Money Flows”, The

Banker, London, September, 1971, p. 995.

The above examples are just the samples for bibliography entries and may be
used, but one should also remember that they are not the only acceptable
forms. The only thing important is that, whatever method one selects, it must
remain consistent.

Writing the final draft: This constitutes the last step. The final draft should be
written in a concise and objective style and in simple language, avoiding vague
expressions such as “it seems”, “there may be”, and the like ones. While writing
the final draft, the researcher must avoid abstract terminology and technical
jargon. Illustrations and examples based on common experiences must be
incorporated in the final draft as they happen to be most effective in
communicating the research findings to others. A research report should not be
dull, but must enthuse people and maintain interest and must show originality.
It must be remembered that every report should be an attempt to solve some
intellectual problem and must contribute to the solution of a problem and must
add to the knowledge of both the researcher and the reader.