Research methodology basics

 Here’s a structured research plan focusing on ESG Scores and their impact on financial performance. 1️⃣ Research Title Suggestions 1️⃣ The Impact of ESG Scores on Stock Performance: A Study of Indian Companies 2️⃣ Do ESG Ratings Affect Firm Valuation? Evidence from the Indian Stock Market 3️⃣ The Relationship Between ESG Scores and Financial Risk: An Analysis of Indian Banks 4️⃣ ESG Investing in India: A Comparative Study of High and Low ESG-Rated Firms 5️⃣ The Effect of ESG Disclosures on Investor Sentiment in Emerging Markets 2️⃣ Research Objectives ✅ Analyze the relationship between ESG scores and financial performance . ✅ Examine whether ESG improves stock returns and reduces financial risk. ✅ Study investor sentiment towards high and low ESG-rated firms. ✅ Evaluate how regulations (SEBI’s ESG framework) impact financial decisions. 3️⃣ Literature Review Areas 📌 Theoretical Frameworks: ✔ Stakeholder Theory – Firms should consider environmental & social...

  ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Scores measure a company’s sustainability and ethical impact in three key areas: What are ESG Scores? ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Scores measure a company’s sustainability and ethical impact in three key areas: Component Key Focus Examples 🌿 Environmental (E) Impact on nature Carbon emissions, waste management, energy efficiency 🤝 Social (S) Impact on people Employee well-being, diversity, community relations 🏛️ Governance (G) Ethical business practices Board diversity, transparency, executive compensation 📌 How Are ESG Scores Calculated? Different rating agencies (like MSCI, Sustainalytics, Bloomberg, and Refinitiv) assign ESG scores based on: ✔ Public disclosures (company reports, news) ✔ Third-party sources (NGOs, regulatory bodies) ✔ Self-reported data from companies 📌 Exam...

 A Conceptual Model is a theoretical framework that explains relationships between different variables in a study. It is used to develop hypotheses and guide research without necessarily relying on direct empirical testing. 🔹 Purpose: ✅ Defines key variables and their relationships ✅ Helps in hypothesis development ✅ Provides a foundation for empirical research ✅ Used in conceptual research articles and literature reviews 📌 Steps to Develop a Conceptual Model 1️⃣ Identify the Research Problem Define the main issue your research is addressing. 📌 Example: "How does financial literacy impact FinTech adoption in rural India?" 2️⃣ Define Key Variables Independent Variable (IV) – The factor that influences outcomes Dependent Variable (DV) – The outcome being studied Mediators & Moderators – Factors that explain or change the relationship 📌 Example: IV: Financial Literacy DV: FinTech Adoption Moderator: Trust in Technology Mediator: Perce...

 These theories help understand human behavior related to technology adoption and decision-making. Let’s break them down one by one. 1️⃣ Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1975) 🔹 Key Idea: A person's behavior is determined by their intention , which is influenced by their attitude and subjective norms . 🔹 Main Components: ✔ Attitude – Personal positive or negative feelings toward technology. ✔ Subjective Norms – Social influence or pressure from others. ✔ Behavioral Intention (BI) – The motivation to perform a behavior. 📌 Example: A finance professor adopts FinTech tools because students & peers expect it (subjective norm), and they believe it improves efficiency (attitude). 2️⃣ Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) (Davis, 1989) 🔹 Key Idea: People accept new technology based on perceived usefulness and ease of use . 🔹 Main Components: ✔ Perceived Usefulness (PU) – "Will this technology help me?" ✔ Perceived Ease of Use ...

  1️⃣ Read in Layers (Don’t Start Line-by-Line!) 📌 Step 1: Skim First – Just read the Abstract, Introduction, and Conclusion. (5 minutes) 📌 Step 2: Check Figures & Tables – They summarize key findings. 📌 Step 3: Read Discussion & Key Arguments – Focus on practical takeaways. 📌 Step 4: Go Deep on Methods (Only if Needed) – If you want to use similar methods, read this part later. 2️⃣ Use the "FAST" Formula for Quick Understanding ✔ F – Focus on Abstract & Conclusion first ✔ A – Analyze Key Arguments (Discussion Section) ✔ S – Scan Figures & Tables for Quick Insights ✔ T – Take Notes in Bullet Points (Don’t highlight everything!) 3️⃣ Set a Timer (Pomodoro Technique ⏳) 📌 Read for 25 minutes , then take a 5-minute break (walk/stretch). 📌 Repeat 2 cycles and you’ll finish the paper without burnout! 4️⃣ Use AI Tools & Summarizers 🔹 Scite, Elicit, or TLDR papers – AI tools that summarize research papers in seconds. 🔹 ChatGPT (Li...

 Identifying leading researchers in the field of finance involves examining various metrics such as publication records, citation counts, and contributions to influential institutions. Here's a curated list of prominent finance scholars, both globally and in India: 🌐 Global Leaders in Finance Research Andrei Shleifer Affiliation: Department of Economics, Harvard University, USA Notable Contributions: Ranked as the top economist globally, Shleifer's research spans corporate finance, behavioral finance, and institutional economics. IDEAS/RePEc Robert J. Barro Affiliation: Department of Economics, Harvard University, USA Notable Contributions: Recognized for his work in macroeconomics and economic growth, Barro holds a prominent position among global economists. IDEAS/RePEc Eugene F. Fama Affiliation: Booth School of Business, University of Chicago, USA Notable Contributions: Known as the "father of the Efficient Market Hypothesis," Fama'...

  1️⃣ Use Academic Databases & Citation Metrics 🔹 Google Scholar ( scholar.google.com ) Search for terms like "Corporate Finance," "Investment Analysis," "Behavioral Finance," "FinTech," etc. Sort results by citation count to find the most cited researchers. Example: Eugene Fama (Efficient Market Hypothesis), Richard Thaler (Behavioral Finance). 🔹 Scopus & Web of Science Check "Highly Cited Researchers" in Finance. Use h-index & citation count to filter the top researchers. 🔹 SSRN (Social Science Research Network) Find trending research & top authors in finance. Check the "Top Downloaded Papers" section. 2️⃣ Explore University & Institutional Rankings 🔹 Top Finance Research Universities (Global & India) MIT Sloan, Harvard Business School, London Business School IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta), ISB Hyderabad, XLRI, IITs 🔹 Look at Finance Department Faculty Pages ...

  🔹 What is Snowball Sampling? Snowball sampling is a non-probability sampling technique where existing study participants help recruit further participants from their network. This method is particularly useful when the population is hard to reach or lacks a clear sampling frame (e.g., fintech users in remote villages, cryptocurrency traders, or high-net-worth investors). 🔹 When to Use Snowball Sampling? ✅ When studying niche populations (e.g., angel investors, startup founders, financial fraud victims). ✅ When respondents are difficult to identify (e.g., informal money lenders, tax evaders). ✅ When there is limited access to potential participants (e.g., high-frequency traders in India). 🔹 Steps in Snowball Sampling 1️⃣ Identify Initial Participants ("Seeds") – Select a small number of individuals relevant to your study. 2️⃣ Request Referrals – Ask participants to recommend others who fit the criteria. 3️⃣ Expand the Network – Continue recruiting new p...

  1️⃣ Title of the Study (Example Topics) 📌 For TPB: "Behavioral Intentions Toward Stock Market Investment Among Young Investors: A TPB Approach." 📌 For DOI: "Diffusion of Digital Payments in Rural Jharkhand: A DOI-Based Study." 2️⃣ Research Objectives ✅ For TPB: To analyze the role of attitude, social norms, and perceived behavioral control in influencing stock market investments . To examine how demographics (age, income, education) moderate investment behavior . ✅ For DOI: To identify the stages of digital payment adoption among users in rural India. To assess how factors like awareness, trust, and government initiatives impact fintech adoption. 3️⃣ Literature Review Review studies using TPB for investment behavior, mutual funds, stock markets, and insurance. Discuss research on DOI in financial inclusion, digital banking, and fintech adoption in India. 📌 Use sources from Scopus, SSRN, Emerald, Google Scholar, and RBI reports. 4️⃣ C...