Teaching hours: Saturdays: 3.00pm-4.30pm
and Sundays: 3.30pm-4.30pm
Room: 4-15
Office hours: 10:00 – 12:00 Saturday and Sundays
Room: 11H-14
1–3
Textbook:
Business Research Methods, 8th Edition, William
G. Zikmund, Barry J. Babin,, Jon C. Carr, Mitch
Griffin, ISBN-13: 9781439080672
© 2010
4
Content Outline
Introduction
Scientific Method and Applications in Business
Problem Identification
Theoretical Framework and Hypothesis Development
Research Design
Measurement of Variables
Data Collection and Sampling
Data Analysis
Writing a Research Report
Conclusion And Review-Exams
5
Expectations
• Prepare readings in advance
• Start writing ASAP and continue working on
your research project throughout the
semester
• Ask questions!
• Attend all lectures
6
Additional Learning Resources
• Research Methods for Business by Uma Sekaran
• Research Methods for Business Students (Paperback) by Mark
Saunders (Author), Adrian Thornhill (Author), Philip Lewis (Author) 2006
Publisher: Financial Times/ Prentice Hall; 4 edition ISBN-13: 978-
0273701484 ISBN-10: 0273701487
• Statistical Methods for Organizational Research: Theory and Practice
By Chris Dewberry published 2004 Routledge ISBN 0415334241
• Research Methods for organizational studies by Donald P.Schwab
(1999) published by Lawrence Eerlbaum associates. ISBN 0805829725
7
Assessment:
8
Type of Assessment Percentage
Research project 50%
Mid-Term 20%
Final Exam 30%
Total 100%
Research project
• idea and theory development
• problem definition
• searching for and collecting information
• analyzing data
• communicating the findings and their
implications
9
Research project format
• A written report between 5,000 to 8,000 words
• Title page,
• Abstract (½ page maximum)
• Table of contents,
• Tables, figures,
• Introduction (1-2 pages)
• Literature review (4-10 pages)
• Research methodology (1-3 pages)
• Results/expected results (2-5 pages)
• References (1-4 pages)
• Appendices (0-6 pages)
10
Research project format
• Font: 12 point Times New Roman
• Spacing: 1.5 or double spacing
• Page margins: minimum of 2cm
11
Research project evaluation
• 1. Was the research problem accurately
diagnosed and described?
• 2. How well was the research problem analysed
and put into context?
• 3. How well was the research problem linked to
the literature?
• 5. Were strong conclusions drawn from the
literature?
• 6. How well was the adopted research method
and how well was it exercised?
• 7. How well was the conclusion/s reached?
12
Report Evaluation
• 1. Was the report typed and attractively laid
out and presented?
• 2. Was the report well written, properly edited
and easy to read?
• 3. Did the report make appropriate use of
headings, subheadings and lists?
• 4. Was referencing adequate?
• 5. Was the length of the report kept within the
maximum page limitation?
13
Presentation Evaluation
• a. capture audience interest?
• b. present enthusiastically and creatively?
• c. present at a good pace?
• d. address issue directly ?
• e. prepare overhead slides carefully?
• f. make good use of their slides?
14
Presentation Evaluation (cont)
• g. finish within the allotted time?
• h. prepare in depth?
• i. answer questions well?
15
Research philosophies and research
approaches
Saunders et al, (2008)
Figure 4.1 The research ‘onion’ 1–17
Research Approaches
Deduction
5 sequential stages of testing theory
• Deducing a hypothesis
• Expressing the hypothesis operationally
• Testing the operational hypothesis
• Examining the specific outcome of the enquiry
• Modifying the theory (if necessary)
Adapted from Robson (2002)
1–18
Research Approaches
Characteristics of Deduction
• Explaining causal relationships between variables
• Establishing controls for testing hypotheses
• Independence of the researcher
• Concepts operationalized for quantitative measurement
• Generalisation
1–19
Research Approaches
Induction
Building theory by –
• Understanding the way human build their world
• Permitting alternative explanations of what’s going
on
• Being concerned with the context of events
• Using more qualitative data
• Using a variety of data collection methods
1–20
Choosing your research approach
The right choice of approach helps you to
• Make a more informed decision about the research design
• Think about which strategies will work for your research topic
• Adapt your design to cater for any constraints
Adapted from Easterby-Smith et al. (2008)
1–21
Deductive and Inductive research
Major differences between these approaches
Saunders et al, (2009)
Table 4.2 Major differences between deductive and inductive approaches to
research 1–22