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An Introduction to Business Research Methods

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Language:  English
This edition of the textbook not only provides an in-depth introduction to the field of business research for students, it also aims to prepare readers for practical careers as research consultants.
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This revised edition of the textbook not only provides a comprehensive and thorough introduction to the field of business research for students, it also aims to prepare readers for practical careers as research consultants. Written by Dr. Susan Greener, a Principal Lecturer at the University of Brighton’s Business School, UK and Dr. Joe Martelli, professor at The University of Findlay, Ohio “Introduction to Business Research Methods” explains theoretical concepts in straightforward language and offers practical strategies for dealing with the challenges of conducting business research.

Business research topics include: an overview of research problems and questions, strategies for writing literature reviews, qualitative and quantitative research methods and data analysis, business research ethics, selecting population samples, designing questionnaires, conducting interviews and focus groups, participant observation, and forecasting methods in business practice.

About the authors

Dr Sue Greener BA, MBA, EdD, FHEA, Chartered Fellow CIPD

Sue Greener is a Principal Lecturer at Brighton Business School, University of Brighton, UK. She conducts research in the fields of technology enhanced learning, blended learning and reflective learning and is particularly interested in developing teachers’ and trainers’ interest and competencies in these areas. She is editor of the research journal Interactive Learning Environments.

Sue leads university Business and Management programmes, teaches blended and fully online courses in Research Methods and is Subject Examiner for a Business distance learning programme.

Her publications can be found at http://sueg1.wordpress.com/sueg-publications-and-presentations/

Dr. Joe Martelli

Joseph Martelli is an Associate Professor of Business at The University of Findlay, in Findlay, Ohio. Prior to Findlay he was a Research Scientist at the Industrial Technology Institute at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He has held managerial and professional positions at the corporate and plant level in Fortune 500 companies, including Kellogg's, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, and Timken Steel. He has consulted in other large and smaller organizations throughout the United States. He has presented his research at professional organizations throughout the US and in Europe. Martelli has published numerous articles which have appeared professional business and academic journals. Martelli earned his doctorate in Industrial Technology from the University of Northern Iowa.

http://www.findlay.edu/search/Faculty-Staff?fsid=martelli

  • Preface
  1. Research problems and questions and how they relate to debates in research methods
    1. Chapter overview
    2. Introduction
    3. The nature of business research
    4. What kind of business problems might need a research study?
    5. What are the key issues in research methods we need to understand?
    6. Questions for self review
    7. References
  2. Putting the problem into context: identifying and critically reviewing relevant literature
    1. Chapter overview
    2. How does literature relate to research?
    3. What kind of literature should we search for?
    4. Effective literature searching
    5. Critical analysis of literature
    6. Using harvard referencing style
    7. Questions for self review
    8. References
  3. Choosing research approaches and strategies
    1. Chapter overview
    2. Different perspectives of knowledge and research which underpin research design
    3. Identify differing research paradigms for business
    4. Key differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods and how and why they may be mixed
    5. Criteria of validity and reliability in the context of business research
    6. Your choice of research strategy or design
    7. Classification of research
    8. The business research process
    9. The academic business research process
    10. Questions for self review
    11. References
  4. Ethics in business research
    1. Chapter overview
    2. Understand how ethical issues arise in business research at every stage
    3. Ethical criteria and approval
    4. Strategies to ensure ethical issues in business research are addressed appropriately
    5. Plagiarism
    6. Questions for self review
    7. References
  5. Choosing samples from populations
    1. Chapter overview
    2. Understand how and why sampling relates to business research
    3. Identify and use a range of probability and non-probability. Sampling techniques
    4. Selecting the size of your sample
    5. Understand and assess representativeness of samples and generalisability from samples
    6. Sampling simulation exercise
    7. References
  6. Collecting and analysing quantitative data
    1. Chapter overview
    2. Anticipating how the research design is affected by data collection and analysis tools
    3. Recognising different levels of data for analysis
    4. Coding and entering data for computerized statistical analysis
    5. Choosing appropriate ways to present data through charts, tables and descriptive statistics
    6. Selecting appropriate statistical tools for the research variables
    7. Families of statistics
    8. Measures of correlation – the correlation coefficient
    9. Regression analysis
    10. Statistical significance
    11. Questions for self review
    12. References
  7. Questionnaire design and testing
    1. Chapter overview
    2. Appreciate and overcome the difficulties associated with questionnaire design
    3. Choosing from a range of question formats
    4. How to design, pilot and administer questionnaires
    5. Questions for self review
    6. References
  8. Using secondary data
    1. Chapter overview
    2. The value of secondary data to business research
    3. What to look for as secondary data and where to find it
    4. The disadvantages of using secondary data in business research
    5. Big data
    6. Questions for self review
    7. References
  9. Collecting and analysing qualitative data
    1. Chapter overview
    2. Key issues in qualitative data analysis
    3. The range of qualitative research methods applicable to research topics
    4. How qualitative data can be prepared for analysis
    5. Computer based methods for qualitative data analysis
    6. Questions for self review
    7. References
  10. Practical issues in conducting interviews, focus groups, participant observation
    1. Chapter overview
    2. Practical considerations relating to participant observation
    3. Practical issues relating to interviews
    4. Practical issues relating to focus groups
    5. Questions for self review
    6. References
  11. Forecasting trends
    1. Chapter overview
    2. Why forecasting is not widely covered in the business research methods literature
    3. Existing methodologies for forecasting
    4. Basic forecasting tools
    5. Regression and discriminant analysis
    6. Measures commonly used to evaluate forecasts & predictions
    7. Exploring the value of forecasting methods in business practice
    8. Questions for self review
    9. References
  12. Reporting research results
    1. Chapter overview
    2. Your personal approach to writing a research report
    3. The differences between writing a report for a business audience and for academic purposes
    4. Producing an oral presentation of key findings
    5. Questions for self review
    6. Reference
  • Guideline answers to self-review questions at the end of each chapter
    • Chapter 1 Questions For Self Review
    • Chapter 2 Questions For Self Review
    • Chapter 3 Questions For Self Review
    • Chapter 4 Questions For Self Review
    • Chapter 5 Questions For Self Review
    • Chapter 6 Questions For Self Review
    • Chapter 7 Questions For Self Review
    • Chapter 8 Questions For Self Review
    • Chapter 9 Questions For Self Review
    • Chapter 10 Questions For Self Review
    • Chapter 11 Questions For Self Review
    • Chapter 12 Questions For Self Review
very useful and ideal for students like me out to gain more knowledge on Research business.
Organized, accurate and written in a direct manner. Students who will utilize this reference will surely come up with an excellent research material.
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About the Authors
Dr.

Dr. Sue Greener

Dr.

Dr. Joe Martelli