MBA(A) 104 Business Research Notes from Unnati Educations cover all 4 units of the GGSIPU MBA (Analytics) Semester 2 paper in 53 pages: research problems and hypotheses, research design and sampling, questionnaires and scales, and data analysis with report writing. They include 18 worked calculations, 4 case studies and 60 exam questions, mapped to the Scheme and Syllabus 2022-24 onwards.
Written by Prateek Talwar, Founder, Unnati Educations (ACS, B.Com) · Reviewed by Sheetal Kirola, Academic Head, M.Ed., 7 years · Checked against GGSIPU MBA (Analytics) Scheme and Syllabus 2022-24 onwards · Updated 14 October 2026 · Editorial policy
Scheme: MBA (Analytics) Scheme and Syllabus 2022-24 onwards | Applies to: batches from 2022-24 onwards | Verified against: syllMBAAnalytics180225.pdf (Semesters 1 and 2 approved by the Academic Council on 22.03.2023)
MBA(A) 104 Business Research at a glance: GGSIPU MBA (Analytics) Sem 2 credits, units and exam pattern
Business Research is a 3-credit core paper in the second semester of the MBA (Analytics). It is one of eleven entries in GGSIPU MBA (Analytics) Semester 2 papers.
| Item | Official detail |
|---|---|
| Course and semester | MBA (Analytics), Second Semester |
| Type and credits | Core · 3 credits · L 3, T/P nil |
| Teaching hours | 42: Unit I 12, Unit II 8, Unit III 10, Unit IV 12 |
| Internal assessment | 25 marks: Class Test-I 15 + presentation, viva-voce or group discussion 10 |
| End-term marks and pattern | Not printed in the official PDF |
| Paired lab | None; the Semester 2 labs are MBA(A) 152 and MBA(A) 154 |
MBA(A) 104 Business Research: official facts from the scheme PDF
- Item
- Course and semester
- Official detail
- MBA (Analytics), Second Semester
- Item
- Type and credits
- Official detail
- Core · 3 credits · L 3, T/P nil
- Item
- Teaching hours
- Official detail
- 42: Unit I 12, Unit II 8, Unit III 10, Unit IV 12
- Item
- Internal assessment
- Official detail
- 25 marks: Class Test-I 15 + presentation, viva-voce or group discussion 10
- Item
- End-term marks and pattern
- Official detail
- Not printed in the official PDF
- Item
- Paired lab
- Official detail
- None; the Semester 2 labs are MBA(A) 152 and MBA(A) 154
The scheme states that it follows GGSIPU Ordinance 11 on examinations and results.
MBA(A) 104 Business Research Notes unit-wise: 18 worked calculations and 60 exam questions across 4 units
These GGSIPU MBA (Analytics) Sem 2 Business Research notes run from page 4 to 52 with 39 sections and 17 figures. The official PDF opens each unit with a lead topic only, so the headings use the notes' unit titles. Notes for every other paper: GGSIPU MBA (Analytics) notes.
MBA(A) 104 Unit 1: Introduction to Business Research
Pages 4 to 17 (12 sections). From the meaning and nature of research to types of research, problem formulation, objectives, research questions, the 11-step research process and hypotheses. Then constructs, variables, literature review and a research proposal template. One case study, 5 figures, 10 short and 7 long questions.
| Basis | Objective | Question |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Declarative statement | Question form |
| Begins with | To examine, to identify | What, how, why, does |
| Focus | What the study will achieve | What the study will find out |
| Link | Leads to research questions | Leads to hypotheses |
Quick look: research objective vs research question (from page 10)
- Basis
- Form
- Objective
- Declarative statement
- Question
- Question form
- Basis
- Begins with
- Objective
- To examine, to identify
- Question
- What, how, why, does
- Basis
- Focus
- Objective
- What the study will achieve
- Question
- What the study will find out
- Basis
- Link
- Objective
- Leads to research questions
- Question
- Leads to hypotheses
MBA(A) 104 Unit 2: Research Design and Sampling
Pages 18 to 30 (9 sections). Exploratory, descriptive and causal designs, experimental notation, and CRD, RBD, Latin square and factorial designs. Then target population, frame, units, sampling methods, sample size and both kinds of error. With 10 worked calculations it is the most numerical unit; 8 short and 6 long questions.
| Situation | Working | n |
|---|---|---|
| Mean, σ = ₹20, E = ₹2 | (1.96 × 20 ÷ 2)² = 384.16 | 385 |
| Proportion, p = 0.30, E = 4% | 3.8416 × 0.21 ÷ 0.0016 | 505 |
| Finite, N = 2,000 | 384.16 ÷ 1.1916 | 323 |
| Yamane, N = 5,000 | 5,000 ÷ 13.5 | 371 |
Quick look: sample size by formula (from page 27)
- Situation
- Mean, σ = ₹20, E = ₹2
- Working
- (1.96 × 20 ÷ 2)² = 384.16
- n
- 385
- Situation
- Proportion, p = 0.30, E = 4%
- Working
- 3.8416 × 0.21 ÷ 0.0016
- n
- 505
- Situation
- Finite, N = 2,000
- Working
- 384.16 ÷ 1.1916
- n
- 323
- Situation
- Yamane, N = 5,000
- Working
- 5,000 ÷ 13.5
- n
- 371
MBA(A) 104 Unit 3: Questionnaire and Measurement Scales
Pages 31 to 40 (9 sections). Questionnaire vs schedule, its types, 10 design steps and pilot testing. Then NOIR levels, comparative and non-comparative scales, Churchill's scale-development steps, reliability and validity. 4 worked calculations (alpha, split-half, test-retest, AVE and CR), a sample grocery questionnaire, 8 short and 5 long questions.
| Method | Rule used |
|---|---|
| Test-retest | Correlation of two scores taken 2 to 4 weeks apart |
| Split-half | Spearman-Brown: 2r ÷ (1 + r) |
| Cronbach's alpha | 0.70 acceptable, 0.80 good, 0.90 excellent |
| Composite reliability | CR of 0.70 or more from CFA loadings |
Quick look: methods of assessing reliability (from page 38)
- Method
- Test-retest
- Rule used
- Correlation of two scores taken 2 to 4 weeks apart
- Method
- Split-half
- Rule used
- Spearman-Brown: 2r ÷ (1 + r)
- Method
- Cronbach's alpha
- Rule used
- 0.70 acceptable, 0.80 good, 0.90 excellent
- Method
- Composite reliability
- Rule used
- CR of 0.70 or more from CFA loadings
MBA(A) 104 Unit 4: Data Analysis and Report Writing
Pages 41 to 52 (9 sections). Data preparation, descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing and parametric vs non-parametric tests. Then multiple and logistic regression, EFA, CFA fit indices, discriminant analysis, report components and the writing process. 4 worked calculations (descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, chi-square), a regression output case, 9 short and 7 long questions.
| Dependent variable | Independent variables | Technique |
|---|---|---|
| One metric | Two or more metric | Multiple regression |
| One binary | Metric or categorical | Logistic regression |
| Groups | Metric | Discriminant analysis |
| None | Many correlated metric | Factor analysis |
Quick look: choosing a multivariate technique (from page 50)
- Dependent variable
- One metric
- Independent variables
- Two or more metric
- Technique
- Multiple regression
- Dependent variable
- One binary
- Independent variables
- Metric or categorical
- Technique
- Logistic regression
- Dependent variable
- Groups
- Independent variables
- Metric
- Technique
- Discriminant analysis
- Dependent variable
- None
- Independent variables
- Many correlated metric
- Technique
- Factor analysis
MBA(A) 104 exam corner: 35 two-to-five-mark and 25 ten-to-fifteen-mark questions by unit
Each unit ends with an "Important Exam Questions" list: short answer (2–5 marks) and long answer (10–15 marks). These are practice questions; three also print the final numerical answer.
| Unit | Short (2–5 marks) | Long (10–15 marks) | Worked calculations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 7 | 0 |
| 2 | 8 | 6 | 10 |
| 3 | 8 | 5 | 4 |
| 4 | 9 | 7 | 4 |
MBA(A) 104 exam questions and worked calculations per unit
- Unit
- 1
- Short (2–5 marks)
- 10
- Long (10–15 marks)
- 7
- Worked calculations
- 0
- Unit
- 2
- Short (2–5 marks)
- 8
- Long (10–15 marks)
- 6
- Worked calculations
- 10
- Unit
- 3
- Short (2–5 marks)
- 8
- Long (10–15 marks)
- 5
- Worked calculations
- 4
- Unit
- 4
- Short (2–5 marks)
- 9
- Long (10–15 marks)
- 7
- Worked calculations
- 4
The MBA(A) 104 notes list 35 short-answer and 25 long-answer exam questions across 4 units, plus 18 worked calculations.
- Unit 1: Explain the research process in detail with a diagram. Pointer: the 11-step flow on page 10, plus why it is iterative.
- Unit 2: Find the sample size for a proportion with p = 0.4, E = 5% at 95% confidence. Pointer: Z²pq ÷ E² = 3.8416 × 0.24 ÷ 0.0025 = 368.8, so 369.
- Unit 3: What is Cronbach's alpha? Interpret α = 0.82. Pointer: 0.82 is in the "good" band on page 38.
- Unit 4: Do three training methods (A: 8, 9, 7, 8; B: 6, 5, 7, 6; C: 9, 10, 9, 8) differ at 5%? Pointer: ANOVA gives F = 14.0 > 4.26; reject H0.
More practice sits in the MBA(A) 104 important questions.
Who writes and checks the MBA(A) 104 research notes?
- Prateek Talwar, author: Founder, Unnati Educations; Associate Company Secretary (ACS), ICSI, membership no. 58704, since 15 May 2019; B.Com, University of Delhi (School of Open Learning), 2012. Author profile
- Sheetal Kirola, reviewer: Academic Head, M.Ed., 7 years of experience. Reviewer profile
The MBA(A) 104 Business Research IPU notes follow the four units of the 2022-24 onwards scheme. The 2026-27 edition has 53 pages, 17 figures and a software-tools table in each unit Last updated 14 October 2026; see our editorial policy.
The same team prepares GGSIPU important questions for every course.
How to write MBA(A) 104 answers: hypothesis-test numericals, difference tables and design notation
The exam tips in the notes give one pattern for each answer type in this paper.
Theory with a diagram. For "types of research", draw the classification chart (Fig. 1.2) first, then explain each pair with a difference table and one Indian business example.
Hypotheses in pairs. Write H0 and H1 for each objective, name the variables and state the matching test. In design answers, add the R, O and X notation and the treatment effect (O2 − O1) − (O4 − O3).
Scale development. Define the construct, generate items, expert check, pilot test, purify with alpha and EFA, then reliability, validity through CFA, and norms.
Worked example (page 46). Of 200 respondents, 60 men and 30 women prefer Brand A; 40 men and 70 women do not. Expected values are 45 per "prefer" cell and 55 per "not prefer" cell, so χ² = 5 + 4.09 + 5 + 4.09 = 18.18 with df = 1, against a table value of 3.84.
End in two lines, as page 43 advises. Statistical decision: 18.18 > 3.84, so H0 is rejected. Business meaning: brand preference is associated with gender. Stopping at the number, without the second line, is the common slip.
Practise this format on GGSIPU MBA (Analytics) important questions.
MBA(A) 104 and the GGSIPU MBA (Analytics) Sem 2 papers it connects to
No lab is paired with MBA(A) 104; the full paper list is on the GGSIPU MBA (Analytics) syllabus page.
| MBA(A) 104 unit | Paper | Where they meet |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 4: multiple regression, R² | MBA(A) 108 Econometrics | Its Unit I: OLS regression |
| Unit 4: tests, logistic regression | MBA(A) 114 Data Modelling with Python | Its Unit III, in Python |
| Units 1 to 4 | MBA(A) 118 Minor Project | Project report on real data |
| Unit 4: report writing | MBA(A) 106 Data Visualization | Its Unit II: reporting results |
How MBA(A) 104 units feed other Semester 2 papers
- MBA(A) 104 unit
- Unit 4: multiple regression, R²
- Paper
- MBA(A) 108 Econometrics
- Where they meet
- Its Unit I: OLS regression
- MBA(A) 104 unit
- Unit 4: tests, logistic regression
- Paper
- MBA(A) 114 Data Modelling with Python
- Where they meet
- Its Unit III, in Python
- MBA(A) 104 unit
- Units 1 to 4
- Paper
- MBA(A) 118 Minor Project
- Where they meet
- Project report on real data
- MBA(A) 104 unit
- Unit 4: report writing
- Paper
- MBA(A) 106 Data Visualization
- Where they meet
- Its Unit II: reporting results
Other Semester 2 entries: MBA(A) 102 Corporate Finance, 110 Business Performance Modelling, 112 Risk Assessment and Mitigation, 116 MOOCs/Open elective and the 152 and 154 labs.
Likert, semantic differential and Stapel scales in business research: excerpt from page 36 of the MBA(A) 104 notes
Excerpt from page 36
Comparative scales
In a paired comparison, the respondent picks one object from every pair. The number of pairs is n(n − 1) ÷ 2, so 5 cola brands give 5 × 4 ÷ 2 = 10 pairs. In a rank order scale, objects are ranked from most to least preferred, for example 4 banks ranked 1 to 4 on service quality.
A constant sum scale asks the respondent to divide a fixed total, such as 100 points, among attributes like price, quality, design and service. A Q-sort uses a large set of 60 to 140 statements, sorted into piles from "most agree" to "least agree" in a near-normal spread; it is used in personality and value research.
Non-comparative scales
Here each object is rated on its own, without comparing it with others. These scales are either continuous or itemised.
(a) Continuous (graphic) rating scale. The respondent marks a point on a line between two extremes, say 0 to 100, from "not at all" to "fully satisfied". Online sliders are a common form.
(b) Likert (summated rating) scale. Developed by Rensis Likert in 1932, it asks how far the respondent agrees or disagrees with a set of statements, usually on 5 or 7 points. Item scores are summed or averaged into a total for the construct, and negatively worded items are reverse-coded first. Typical items: "The app is easy to use", "Delivery is always on time", "I would recommend this app to friends".
(c) Semantic differential scale. Developed by Osgood in 1957, it uses 7 points between two opposite adjectives, such as modern and old-fashioned, reliable and unreliable, expensive and cheap. It suits brand and corporate image studies, and results are drawn as a profile (snake) chart.
(d) Stapel scale. A unipolar 10-point scale from −5 to +5 with no neutral zero and a single adjective in the middle. The respondent shows how well the word describes the object. It helps when opposite adjectives are hard to find and works well in telephone surveys.
| Basis | Likert | Semantic differential | Stapel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 5 or 7 | 7 | 10 (−5 to +5) |
| Anchors | Agree to disagree | Two opposite adjectives | One adjective |
| Neutral point | Yes | Yes | No |
| Typical use | Attitudes, opinions | Brand or store image | Image studies, phone surveys |
Likert vs semantic differential vs Stapel (page 36)
- Basis
- Points
- Likert
- 5 or 7
- Semantic differential
- 7
- Stapel
- 10 (−5 to +5)
- Basis
- Anchors
- Likert
- Agree to disagree
- Semantic differential
- Two opposite adjectives
- Stapel
- One adjective
- Basis
- Neutral point
- Likert
- Yes
- Semantic differential
- Yes
- Stapel
- No
- Basis
- Typical use
- Likert
- Attitudes, opinions
- Semantic differential
- Brand or store image
- Stapel
- Image studies, phone surveys
Do the MBA(A) 104 notes cover the full GGSIPU syllabus?
Yes. Every topic in the four official units of MBA(A) 104 has its own section in the notes.
| Official unit | Official topics | Where in the notes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit I | Meaning, purpose and nature of research; research problem formulation; research objectives and research questions; research process; hypothesis formulation; constructs; variables; review of literature: purpose, types and techniques | Sections 1 to 11, pages 4 to 16 | Covered |
| Unit II | Research design: meaning, importance and types; target population, sampling frame, sampling units; sampling methods; sample size; considerations in sample design; sampling and non-sampling errors | Sections 1 to 8, pages 18 to 29 | Covered |
| Unit III | Questionnaire: meaning, purpose, structured vs unstructured, designing; measurement scale: meaning, types, steps in scale formulation, reliability and validity | Sections 1 to 9, pages 31 to 40 | Covered |
| Unit IV | Descriptive statistics; hypothesis testing; parametric and non-parametric tests; analysis of variance; multiple and logistic regression; exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis; discriminant analysis; research report components; process of report writing | Sections 1 to 9, pages 41 to 52 | Covered |
MBA(A) 104 official syllabus mapped to the notes
- Official unit
- Unit I
- Official topics
- Meaning, purpose and nature of research; research problem formulation; research objectives and research questions; research process; hypothesis formulation; constructs; variables; review of literature: purpose, types and techniques
- Where in the notes
- Sections 1 to 11, pages 4 to 16
- Status
- Covered
- Official unit
- Unit II
- Official topics
- Research design: meaning, importance and types; target population, sampling frame, sampling units; sampling methods; sample size; considerations in sample design; sampling and non-sampling errors
- Where in the notes
- Sections 1 to 8, pages 18 to 29
- Status
- Covered
- Official unit
- Unit III
- Official topics
- Questionnaire: meaning, purpose, structured vs unstructured, designing; measurement scale: meaning, types, steps in scale formulation, reliability and validity
- Where in the notes
- Sections 1 to 9, pages 31 to 40
- Status
- Covered
- Official unit
- Unit IV
- Official topics
- Descriptive statistics; hypothesis testing; parametric and non-parametric tests; analysis of variance; multiple and logistic regression; exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis; discriminant analysis; research report components; process of report writing
- Where in the notes
- Sections 1 to 9, pages 41 to 52
- Status
- Covered
Official source: MBA (Analytics) Scheme and Syllabus 2022-24 onwards.
Every course in GGSIPU notes is mapped to its official PDF the same way.
MBA(A) 104 research notes FAQs
How do I get the full MBA(A) 104 Business Research notes?
Send a WhatsApp message to 9899436384 using the "Get Full Notes" button on this page. The full MBA(A) 104 notes come as a printed book covering all 4 units in 53 pages; they are not available as a PDF. Delivery takes a maximum of 5 to 7 days, depending on your location.
What is the passing mark in MBA(A) 104 Business Research?
The official MBA (Analytics) PDF prints only the internal assessment for MBA(A) 104: 25 marks, made of a 15-mark class test and 10 marks for a presentation, viva-voce or group discussion. It does not print the end-term marks, total or pass percentage. The scheme follows GGSIPU Ordinance 11, so check Ordinance 11 on ipu.ac.in for minimum marks and re-appear rules.
Which MBA(A) 104 unit has the most numericals?
Unit 2, Research Design and Sampling, carries 10 of the 18 worked calculations in the MBA(A) 104 notes: the experimental treatment effect, systematic sampling, proportionate and Neyman allocation, standard error and six sample-size workings, including Cochran, finite population correction and Yamane. Units 3 and 4 have 4 each, on reliability, validity, t-test, ANOVA and chi-square.
Is MBA(A) 104 a theory paper, and does it need software?
MBA(A) 104 is a 3-credit core theory paper with 3 lecture hours a week and no paired lab. The syllabus adds the note "Software Tools to be used for enhanced learning", so each unit of the notes carries a software-tools table, from Zotero and VOSviewer for literature review to SPSS, R, Jamovi and AMOS for analysis.
Which scheme and batch do the MBA(A) 104 notes follow?
The MBA(A) 104 notes follow the GGSIPU MBA (Analytics) Scheme and Syllabus 2022-24 onwards, in which the first and second semesters were approved by the Academic Council on 22.03.2023. The unit topics on this page are copied from that PDF on ipu.ac.in. If your institute gives you a newer syllabus, compare its four units with the syllabus map above.
Are MBA(A) 104 and MBA (A) - 104L the same Business Research paper?
Yes. The Semester 2 scheme table lists the paper as MBA(A) 104 Business Research, while the detailed syllabus page prints the course code as "MBA (A) - 104L - 3, Credits – 3", and the notes cover uses "MBA (A)-104L". All three labels point to the same 3-credit core paper with the same four units and 42 teaching hours.
Get the full MBA(A) 104 Business Research Notes on WhatsApp
These Business Research notes in English come as a printed book only, not as a PDF.
| Unit | Pages | Exam questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Introduction to Business Research | 4 to 17 (14) | 17 |
| 2. Research Design and Sampling | 18 to 30 (13) | 14 |
| 3. Questionnaire and Measurement Scales | 31 to 40 (10) | 13 |
| 4. Data Analysis and Report Writing | 41 to 52 (12) | 16 |
What the full MBA(A) 104 notes book contains
- Unit
- 1. Introduction to Business Research
- Pages
- 4 to 17 (14)
- Exam questions
- 17
- Unit
- 2. Research Design and Sampling
- Pages
- 18 to 30 (13)
- Exam questions
- 14
- Unit
- 3. Questionnaire and Measurement Scales
- Pages
- 31 to 40 (10)
- Exam questions
- 13
- Unit
- 4. Data Analysis and Report Writing
- Pages
- 41 to 52 (12)
- Exam questions
- 16
53 pages with 18 worked calculations. Delivery: maximum 5 to 7 days; the rest depends on your location.
Get the full MBA(A) 104 notes book on WhatsApp (4 units, 53 pages)
Unnati Educations is an independent education provider based in Vikaspuri, Delhi. We are not affiliated with, authorised by, or endorsed by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU). 'GGSIPU' and 'IPU' are used only to describe the syllabus our notes follow. For official information, visit ipu.ac.in.
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