Business Research Methods – A Hands-on Approach with SPSS

In today's data-intensive business environment, research methodology is at the heart of informed decision-making. Business Research Methods – A Hands-on Approach with SPSS simplifies the entire research process—starting from conceptual foundations and proceeding through practical data analysis—by blending step-by-step instructions with examples. Authored in clear, accessible language, the book is primarily structured to help learners gain confidence in designing, conducting, and interpreting business research projects using SPSS, one of the most widely adopted statistical packages in academia and industry.

This book is intended for the following audience:

• MBA Students and Business School Learners – Offers a systematic approach to developing solid research proposals, dissertations, and projects
• Undergraduate Students in Commerce, Management, and Social Sciences – Provides foundational research knowledge, bridging theory and real-world applications.
• Research Scholars & Early-career Professionals – Acts as a dependable handbook for developing and refining research methodology skills with a focus on statistical tools
• Instructors & Faculty – A resourceful text for classroom teaching, enabling interactive sessions through SPSS-based hands-on exercises

The Present Publication is the Latest Edition, authored by Prof. Pushpender Kumar, Dr Anupreet Kaur Mokha, and Dr Sumit Kumar Sharma. The noteworthy features of the book are as follows:

• [Step-by-step SPSS Tutorials] Clear instructions on how to perform statistical analyses—t-tests, ANOVA, regression, factor analysis, and more—with snapshots illustrating each procedure
• [Student-centric Language] Complex research ideas simplified into accessible concepts, minimising jargon while maintaining rigour
• [Practical Focus] Case studies, practical business scenarios, and datasets that highlight how research is applied in corporate and academic settings
• [Full Research Cycle Coverage] From identifying a research problem and framing hypotheses to collecting data, analysing it, and presenting findings
• [Systematic Learning Tools] Each chapter ends with review questions, MCQs, exercises, and a case study to reinforce comprehension and self-assessment
• [Visual Roadmaps] Graphical representations of research processes and SPSS outputs help readers follow along intuitively
• [Bridging Theory and Practice] By using SPSS, a robust and widely accepted statistical tool, the book transforms theoretical understanding into hands-on proficiency—pivotal for modern business environments
• [Instructor-friendly] The structured flow, MCQs, and case studies make it easy to design and evaluate coursework

The coverage of the book is as follows:

• Foundations of Business Research
• Definitions, scope, and quality parameters of effective research
• Research Process & Strategies
• Exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory research designs; quantitative vs. qualitative strategies
• Conceptual Framework
• Propositions, hypothesis development, operationalising constructs, and variable classifications (independent, dependent, moderating)
• Measurement & Scaling
• Detailed discussion on nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales, along with reliability and validity checks
• Data Collection & Sampling
• Best practices for designing questionnaires, sampling methods (probability and non-probability), and survey/census distinctions
• Data Presentation & Descriptive Analysis
• Tabular and graphical methods (line graphs, pie charts, bar charts, histograms, boxplots) along with central tendency, variability, skewness, and kurtosis
• Hypothesis Testing
• Parametric (t-tests, ANOVA) and non-parametric procedures (Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis)
• Advanced Statistical Techniques
• Correlation, linear and multiple regression, factor analysis, discriminant analysis, cluster analysis, and structural equation modelling
• Report Writing & Ethical Considerations
• Detailed guidelines on effectively presenting findings, maintaining ethical standards at all research stages, and shaping your results into an accessible and ethically sound report

The structure of the book is as follows:

• Chapter-wise Progression – Each chapter builds upon the previous one, beginning with the basics of research theory and gradually advancing to SPSS-based statistical applications
• Practical Orientation – Every theoretical concept is accompanied by examples and SPSS screenshots, enabling step-by-step replication of analyses
• Assessments & Review – Chapters conclude with multiple types of questions—MCQs, short answers, and case-based discussions—to test understanding and application
• Practical Integration – The continuous use of real datasets and business contexts ensures learners can connect theories to tangible scenarios