MFA-110 Business Research Notes for GGSIPU MBA (FA) Semester 2 run to 62 pages across 4 units, with 11 worked numericals, 4 case studies and 74 unit-wise practice questions. They follow the MBA (FA) scheme and syllabus that applies from the 2021-22 academic session onwards, and are sold as a printed book.
Written by Prateek Talwar, Founder, Unnati Educations (ACS, B.Com) · Reviewed by Sheetal Kirola, M.Ed., Academic Head (academic review) · Checked against the MBA (FA) Scheme and Syllabus, 2021-22 onwards · Updated 14 October 2026 · Editorial policy
Scheme: MBA (FA) 2021-22 onwards | Applies to: batches from the 2021-22 session | Verified against: nt0722536 (9).pdf on ipu.ac.in
MFA-110 Business Research at a glance: GGSIPU MBA (FA) Sem 2 credits, units and exam pattern
MFA-110 is a 3-credit core paper in Semester 2 of the MBA (Financial Analysis). It sits with ten other GGSIPU MBA (FA) Semester 2 papers and teaches the method behind the Sem 2 Minor Project.
| Code and title | MFA-110 Business Research |
|---|---|
| Course and semester | MBA (Financial Analysis), Semester 2 |
| Category and credits | Core · L 3 (three lecture hours a week), no T/P · 3 credits |
| Teaching hours | Unit I 12 · II 8 · III 10 · IV 12 (42 in all) |
| Marks | 100: 50 internal + 50 end-term |
| Internal 50, split | Class Test I 15 · Class Test II 15 · assignments, viva, GD and participation 20 |
| End-term pattern | 50-mark University written exam; question-wise pattern not printed in the official PDF |
| Pass rules | Not printed in the MBA (FA) PDF; see GGSIPU Ordinance 11 (examinations and results) |
| Units | 4 (the official PDF numbers units only; titles here are the notes' own) |
| Paired lab | None (MFA-120 is the lab of MFA-106) |
MFA-110 Business Research Notes unit-wise: 11 worked numericals and 74 practice questions across 4 units
These MFA-110 Business Research IPU notes keep the official unit order. Notes for every other paper sit on the GGSIPU MBA (FA) notes page.
MFA-110 Unit 1: Introduction to Business Research
Pages 4-20, 11 sections: purposes and types of research, problem formulation, SMART objectives, the 11-step research process, hypotheses, constructs, variables and the literature review. Counts: 8 figures, 1 case study, 15 short and 8 long practice questions.
| Basis | Mediating | Moderating |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Explains how or why IV affects DV | Explains when or for whom the effect is stronger |
| Test | Mediation analysis (Baron and Kenny) | Interaction term IV × moderator |
| Example | Literacy → confidence → equity investment | Literacy → equity, stronger for high earners |
Quick look: mediating vs moderating variable (from page 16)
- Basis
- Role
- Mediating
- Explains how or why IV affects DV
- Moderating
- Explains when or for whom the effect is stronger
- Basis
- Test
- Mediating
- Mediation analysis (Baron and Kenny)
- Moderating
- Interaction term IV × moderator
- Basis
- Example
- Mediating
- Literacy → confidence → equity investment
- Moderating
- Literacy → equity, stronger for high earners
MFA-110 Unit 2: Research Design and Sampling
Pages 21-35, 9 sections, the most numerical unit: research designs with R-O-X notation, CRD, RBD and Latin square, frames, sampling methods, Cochran and Yamane sample sizes, and sampling errors. Counts: 6 figures, 5 worked numericals, 1 case study, 12 short and 6 long questions.
| Stratum (σ) | Nh | Proportionate | Neyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail (10) | 1,000 | 100 | 59 |
| SME (20) | 600 | 60 | 71 |
| Corporate (30) | 400 | 40 | 70 |
Quick look: proportionate vs Neyman allocation (from page 28)
- Stratum (σ)
- Retail (10)
- Nh
- 1,000
- Proportionate
- 100
- Neyman
- 59
- Stratum (σ)
- SME (20)
- Nh
- 600
- Proportionate
- 60
- Neyman
- 71
- Stratum (σ)
- Corporate (30)
- Nh
- 400
- Proportionate
- 40
- Neyman
- 70
MFA-110 Unit 3: Questionnaire and Measurement Scales
Pages 36-47, 9 sections: questionnaire vs schedule, structured and disguised forms, 10 design steps, NOIR levels, Likert, semantic differential and Stapel scales, Churchill's scale development, and reliability and validity (AVE, CR). Counts: 6 figures, 2 worked numericals, 1 case study, 11 short and 5 long questions.
Quick look: Cronbach's alpha for a 4-item scale (from page 44)
- k = 4 items, sum of item variances 3.2, total-score variance 9.6.
- α = [k ÷ (k − 1)] × [1 − (Σσi2 ÷ σT2)].
- (4 ÷ 3) × (1 − 3.2 ÷ 9.6) = 0.889, above 0.80, so reliability is good.
MFA-110 Unit 4: Data Analysis and Report Writing
Pages 48-61, 9 sections: data preparation, descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, a test chooser, ANOVA, multiple and logistic regression, EFA and CFA, discriminant analysis (Altman's Z-score) and report writing. Counts: 7 figures, 4 worked numericals, 1 case study (P/E regression), 10 short and 7 long questions.
| Group | Observed prefer / not | Expected | (O − E)² ÷ E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 60 / 40 | 45 / 55 | 5.00 / 4.09 |
| Female | 30 / 70 | 45 / 55 | 5.00 / 4.09 |
| χ², df 1 | Table value 3.84 | 18.18: reject H0 | |
Poor vs better questionnaire wording in business research: excerpt from page 39 of the MFA-110 notes
Excerpt from page 39
4.2 Rules for wording questions
A badly worded question gives wrong data however good the sample is. Each common fault below is shown with the poor version and a corrected one.
| Avoid | Poor question | Better question |
|---|---|---|
| Ambiguous words | Do you invest regularly? | How many times did you invest in the last 12 months? |
| Double-barrelled | Is your bank safe and customer-friendly? | Ask two questions, one on safety and one on service |
| Leading | Don't you agree equity gives the best returns? | How do you rate equity as an investment option? |
| Loaded words | Do you support the unfair new tax on gains? | What is your opinion on the new tax on gains? |
| Technical jargon | How do you rate the fund's Sharpe ratio? | How satisfied are you with the fund's returns compared with its risk? |
| Negative wording | Do you not dislike hidden charges? | How do you feel about hidden charges? |
| Assumptions | Which broker do you trade with? | First ask: do you trade in shares? |
| Memory burden | How much did you spend on groceries last year? | How much did you spend on groceries last week? |
| Overlapping options | Age: 20-30 / 30-40 | Age: 20-29 / 30-39 |
Wording faults with poor and better versions (page 39)
- Avoid
- Ambiguous words
- Poor question
- Do you invest regularly?
- Better question
- How many times did you invest in the last 12 months?
- Avoid
- Double-barrelled
- Poor question
- Is your bank safe and customer-friendly?
- Better question
- Ask two questions, one on safety and one on service
- Avoid
- Leading
- Poor question
- Don't you agree equity gives the best returns?
- Better question
- How do you rate equity as an investment option?
- Avoid
- Loaded words
- Poor question
- Do you support the unfair new tax on gains?
- Better question
- What is your opinion on the new tax on gains?
- Avoid
- Technical jargon
- Poor question
- How do you rate the fund's Sharpe ratio?
- Better question
- How satisfied are you with the fund's returns compared with its risk?
- Avoid
- Negative wording
- Poor question
- Do you not dislike hidden charges?
- Better question
- How do you feel about hidden charges?
- Avoid
- Assumptions
- Poor question
- Which broker do you trade with?
- Better question
- First ask: do you trade in shares?
- Avoid
- Memory burden
- Poor question
- How much did you spend on groceries last year?
- Better question
- How much did you spend on groceries last week?
- Avoid
- Overlapping options
- Poor question
- Age: 20-30 / 30-40
- Better question
- Age: 20-29 / 30-39
4.3 Sequence and layout
- Open with simple, interesting, non-threatening questions to build rapport.
- Put qualifying or screening questions first so only the right respondents continue.
- Use the funnel technique: general questions first, specific ones later.
- Group questions on one topic together.
- Place difficult, sensitive and classification questions (income, age, contact details) at the end.
- Show branching (skip) instructions clearly, number every question, pre-code responses and leave space for open answers, with a short introduction and a thank-you note.
4.4 Pre-testing (pilot testing)
A pre-test tries the questionnaire on a small sample, usually 20 to 30 respondents similar to the target population, to find and remove problems before the main survey. It checks clarity, wording, sequence, length and time taken; spots difficult, sensitive or useless questions and missing options; gives an early estimate of scale reliability (Cronbach's alpha); and tests the online form's logic and coding scheme.
How to write MFA-110 answers: H0/H1 pairs, test-choice logic and diagram-led long answers
MFA-110 mixes definition-heavy theory with short statistics, and the notes' exam tips give one habit for each. For theory long answers, open with a named author's definition (Kerlinger, Kothari, Cooper and Schindler), draw the chart, add a difference table and end with one Indian finance example, such as SIP investors in Delhi NCR.
- Hypotheses: write H0 and H1 as a pair, name the variables and state the test (page 14).
- Designs: show the R, O, X notation and the treatment-effect formula (page 25).
- Scale development: construct, items, expert check, pilot, purification, reliability, validity, norms (page 43).
- Test results: close in two lines, the statistical decision and then its meaning for a manager (page 50).
Worked example: treatment effect (page 24)
A bank trains Branch A (experimental group) but not Branch B (control). Monthly cross-sales per employee: A goes from 62 to 78, B from 60 to 64. Effect = (O2 − O1) − (O4 − O3) = (78 − 62) − (64 − 60) = 12 units.
The 4-unit rise at Branch B would have happened anyway (festive demand), so it is removed. Two-line close: "Training adds 12 units per employee. The season does not explain Branch A's gain."
Mistakes the notes flag: treating a symptom (falling sales) as the research problem (page 10) and using a t-test on small, non-normal ordinal data (page 33). Practise this format on GGSIPU MBA (FA) important questions.
MFA-110 exam corner: 48 short-answer and 26 long-answer practice questions by unit
Each unit of the GGSIPU MBA (FA) Sem 2 Business Research notes ends with a question bank (no model answers; three numericals give the final answer).
| Unit | Short answer (2.5 Marks) | Long answer (12.5 Marks) | Worked numericals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | 15 | 8 | 0 |
| Unit 2 | 12 | 6 | 5 |
| Unit 3 | 11 | 5 | 2 |
| Unit 4 | 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Total | 48 | 26 | 11 |
MFA-110 practice questions by unit
- Unit
- Unit 1
- Short answer (2.5 Marks)
- 15
- Long answer (12.5 Marks)
- 8
- Worked numericals
- 0
- Unit
- Unit 2
- Short answer (2.5 Marks)
- 12
- Long answer (12.5 Marks)
- 6
- Worked numericals
- 5
- Unit
- Unit 3
- Short answer (2.5 Marks)
- 11
- Long answer (12.5 Marks)
- 5
- Worked numericals
- 2
- Unit
- Unit 4
- Short answer (2.5 Marks)
- 10
- Long answer (12.5 Marks)
- 7
- Worked numericals
- 4
- Unit
- Total
- Short answer (2.5 Marks)
- 48
- Long answer (12.5 Marks)
- 26
- Worked numericals
- 11
The marks labels are the notes' own; the official scheme sets a 50-mark end-term with no question-wise split, so treat them as practice weightings.
- Unit 1 (short): Distinguish between a management problem and a research problem. Pointer: action vs information; use the student credit card example (page 8).
- Unit 2 (short): Find the sample size for a proportion with p = 0.4, E = 5%, 95% confidence. Pointer: n0 = 1.96² × 0.4 × 0.6 ÷ 0.05² = 368.8, rounded up to 369.
- Unit 4 (long): Training methods scored A: 8, 9, 7, 8; B: 6, 5, 7, 6; C: 9, 10, 9, 8. Do they differ at 5%? Pointer: means 8, 6, 9; SS between 18.67, within 6; F = 9.33 ÷ 0.667 = 14.0 > 4.26, reject H0.
The MFA-110 notes list 48 short-answer and 26 long-answer practice questions across 4 units, plus 11 worked numericals inside the chapters.
More practice sits in the MFA-110 important questions.
MFA-110 and the GGSIPU MBA (FA) Sem 2 papers it connects to
MFA-110 has no lab; official topics for every paper are on the GGSIPU MBA (FA) syllabus page.
| MFA-110 unit | Connected paper | What carries over |
|---|---|---|
| Units 1, 2 and 4 | MFA-116 Minor Project | Problem statement, sampling plan, report structure |
| Unit 4 | MFA-106 Business Analytics and MFA-120 Business Analytics - Lab | Regression, ANOVA and factor analysis in software |
| Units 1 and 4 | MFA-104 Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management | CAPM beta testing; the P/E regression case |
| Unit 3 | MFA-112 Marketing Management and MFA-114 Human Resource Management | Scales for customer and employee surveys |
Where MFA-110 units feed other MBA (FA) papers
- MFA-110 unit
- Units 1, 2 and 4
- Connected paper
- MFA-116 Minor Project
- What carries over
- Problem statement, sampling plan, report structure
- MFA-110 unit
- Unit 4
- Connected paper
- MFA-106 Business Analytics and MFA-120 Business Analytics - Lab
- What carries over
- Regression, ANOVA and factor analysis in software
- MFA-110 unit
- Units 1 and 4
- Connected paper
- MFA-104 Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management
- What carries over
- CAPM beta testing; the P/E regression case
- MFA-110 unit
- Unit 3
- Connected paper
- MFA-112 Marketing Management and MFA-114 Human Resource Management
- What carries over
- Scales for customer and employee surveys
Other Sem 2 papers: MFA-102 Financial Management, MFA-108 Macro and Mathematical Economics, MFA-118 Professional Skill Development (NUES) and MFA-122 MOOC/Open Elective. Unit 4 builds on MFA-103 Quantitative Techniques.
Who writes and checks the MFA-110 Business 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 (academic review): Academic Head, Unnati Educations. M.Ed., 7 years of experience. She checks unit order against the official PDF, language and question-bank structure. Reviewer profile
The notes are mapped to the MBA (FA) scheme in force from the 2021-22 session. The 2026-27 edition has 62 pages and a revision table in every unit. Last updated 14 October 2026, under our editorial policy.
The same team prepares GGSIPU important questions for every course.
Do the MFA-110 notes cover the full GGSIPU syllabus?
Yes. Every topic in all four official units of MFA-110 has a matching section in the notes; no gap was found.
| Official unit | Official topics | Where in the notes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit I | Meaning, purpose, nature of research; research problem formulation; objectives and research questions; research process; hypothesis formulation; constructs; variables; review of literature | Sections 1-11, pages 4-19 | Covered |
| Unit II | Research design: meaning, importance, types; target population, sampling frame, sampling units; sampling methods; sample size; considerations in sample design; sampling and non-sampling errors | Sections 1-9, pages 21-33 | Covered |
| Unit III | Questionnaire: meaning, purpose, structured vs unstructured, design; measurement scale: meaning, types, steps in scale formulation, reliability and validity | Sections 1-9, pages 36-46 | Covered |
| Unit IV | Descriptive statistics; hypothesis testing; parametric and non-parametric tests; ANOVA; multiple and logistic regression; exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis; discriminant analysis; report components and process of report writing | Sections 1-9, pages 48-60 | Covered |
MFA-110 official topics mapped to the notes
- Official unit
- Unit I
- Official topics
- Meaning, purpose, nature of research; research problem formulation; objectives and research questions; research process; hypothesis formulation; constructs; variables; review of literature
- Where in the notes
- Sections 1-11, pages 4-19
- Status
- Covered
- Official unit
- Unit II
- Official topics
- Research design: meaning, importance, 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 1-9, pages 21-33
- Status
- Covered
- Official unit
- Unit III
- Official topics
- Questionnaire: meaning, purpose, structured vs unstructured, design; measurement scale: meaning, types, steps in scale formulation, reliability and validity
- Where in the notes
- Sections 1-9, pages 36-46
- Status
- Covered
- Official unit
- Unit IV
- Official topics
- Descriptive statistics; hypothesis testing; parametric and non-parametric tests; ANOVA; multiple and logistic regression; exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis; discriminant analysis; report components and process of report writing
- Where in the notes
- Sections 1-9, pages 48-60
- Status
- Covered
Official source: MBA (Financial Analysis) Scheme and Syllabus, 2021-22 onwards (MFA-110 on page 28).
For the software-tools note, each unit adds a tools table, from Zotero to SmartPLS. Every course in GGSIPU notes is mapped to its official PDF the same way.
MFA-110 Business Research notes FAQs
How do I get the full MFA-110 notes?
Tap "Get Full Notes" or the end button to message us on WhatsApp with the reference code filled in. The full MFA-110 notes come only as a printed book; there is no PDF edition. Delivery takes up to 5 to 7 days, depending on your location. Price and payment details are shared on WhatsApp before you confirm.
Do the MFA-110 notes match the current MBA (FA) syllabus?
They follow the MBA (Financial Analysis) scheme and syllabus in force from the 2021-22 academic session, the version on ipu.ac.in that lists MFA-110 on page 28. All four official units are covered topic by topic, including the software-tools note printed under Unit IV. If your institute issues a revised syllabus, compare it with the syllabus map above first.
What is the passing mark for MFA-110 Business Research?
MFA-110 is marked out of 100: 50 internal (two class tests of 15 each plus 20 for assignments, presentations and participation) and a 50-mark end-term written exam. The MBA (FA) scheme PDF does not print a pass percentage. For end-term minimums and re-appear rules, read Ordinance 11 on ipu.ac.in or ask your examination cell, which applies them.
Which MFA-110 unit has the most numericals?
Unit 2, Research Design and Sampling, has 5 of the 11 worked numericals: the treatment effect, a systematic sample interval, Neyman allocation, a six-part sample-size set (mean, proportion, finite correction, Yamane, response rate) and the standard-error rule. Unit 4 follows with 4 (descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, chi-square) and Unit 3 has 2 on reliability and validity.
Do the MFA-110 notes show SPSS, R or Excel steps?
Yes, at a revision level. Every unit has a software tools table, and the worked examples give menu paths such as SPSS Analyze, Scale, Reliability Analysis for Cronbach's alpha, and Excel functions like RANDBETWEEN, STDEV.S and SKEW. They show which tool runs which test and how to read the output, not step-by-step screenshots of every screen.
Are the MFA-110 practice questions solved?
No, not as model answers. The 74 questions at the end of the units are a practice bank: 48 short-answer and 26 long-answer. Three numericals give the final answer for checking (369, 15 and F = 14.0). The method for each numerical type appears in the 11 worked illustrations, so you can solve the bank yourself.
Get the full MFA-110 Business Research Notes on WhatsApp
The full MFA-110 notes come as a printed book only, not as a PDF: 62 pages of Business Research notes in English, unit-wise, with all 27 figures printed.
| Unit | Pages | Page range |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | 17 | 4-20 |
| Unit 2 | 15 | 21-35 |
| Unit 3 | 12 | 36-47 |
| Unit 4 | 14 | 48-61 |
| Cover, index and back cover | 4 | 1-3, 62 |
Pages per unit in the MFA-110 notes book
- Unit
- Unit 1
- Pages
- 17
- Page range
- 4-20
- Unit
- Unit 2
- Pages
- 15
- Page range
- 21-35
- Unit
- Unit 3
- Pages
- 12
- Page range
- 36-47
- Unit
- Unit 4
- Pages
- 14
- Page range
- 48-61
- Unit
- Cover, index and back cover
- Pages
- 4
- Page range
- 1-3, 62
Delivery takes up to 5 to 7 days, depending on your location.
Order the full MFA-110 Business Research Notes book on WhatsApp (4 units, 62 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.
Ready for the full notes?
Discuss coverage and delivery with our team.