Project Work, Field Survey and Practical Entrepreneurship Activity
What this domain tests
Whether you can plan a small survey or enterprise activity, collect honest data, and present findings in the prescribed report format with a viva.
Core concepts
- Project report structure: title page, objectives, introduction/background, methodology, data collection and analysis, findings, conclusion, recommendations, bibliography, annexure (questionnaire, photographs, permission letters).
- Primary data is collected by you; secondary data already exists in reports, websites and newspapers.
- Questionnaire design: short, simple, one idea per question, closed questions for tabulation, open questions for depth, no leading questions, pilot-test with five people first.
- Sampling: define the population (all hostel students) and the sample (the 50 you ask); random sampling reduces bias, convenience sampling is quicker but weaker. Report the sample size honestly.
- Analysis: tally responses, convert to percentages, present as a table or bar chart, then state what the data shows.
- Practical activity: cost sheet (material + labour + overhead), pricing, sample sale, record of money received and spent, and a short note on what went wrong.
- Take permission before visiting a shop, bank or District Industries Centre, and thank the respondent.
Worked example
A student surveys 50 households in her mohalla about detergent purchase. Findings: 68% buy sachets weekly, 22% buy 1 kg packs monthly, 10% buy online; 74% choose on price, 18% on fragrance, 8% on brand. Conclusion: the gap is a small, low-priced sachet pack with strong local availability. Recommendation: stock sachets first, keep one premium pack, price at the local average. Reasoning: the conclusion follows only from the percentages shown, not from a guess.
Traps that cost marks
- Asking "Don't you think our product is better?" - a leading question that ruins the data.
- Confusing sample size with population.
- Reporting findings with no numbers, or recommendations that the findings do not support.