The course is an introduction to the principles and methods of business research. Hence it will mostly focus on: securing respondents, making a test investigation, sampling, collecting data, identifying types and errors of collected data, tabulating and analyzing data, interpreting the findings and stating the conclusion. Through class projects and exercises, a more practical experience is offered to the students on how research techniques are applied to the solution of business problems. This book reflects a thoughtful revision of a market standard. Students and professors will find thorough, current coverage of all business research topics presented with a balance of theory and practical application. The authors use managerial decision-making as the theme of Business Research Methods and they provide the content and structure to ensure students’ grasp of the business research function. This textbook also encourages and supports the completion of an in-depth business research project, if desired, by the professor.
The students should at least be in their senior year and by now would have completed 85 credits or more. Students who have not completed their Business Mathematics (BUS 202) and Probability and Statistics (MAT 211) will have a lot of difficulty coping with some of the materials covered in class.
- It is the student’s responsibility to gather information about the assignments and covered topics during the lectures missed. Regular class attendance is mandatory. Points will be taken off for missing classes. Without 70% of attendance, sitting for final exam is NOT allowed. According to IUB system students must enter the classroom within the first 20 minutes to get the attendance submitted.
- The date and syllabus of quiz, midterm and final exam is already given here, however, announcements will be given ahead of time. There is NO provision for make-up quizzes.
- The reading materials for each class will be given prior to that class so that student may have a cursory look into the materials.
- Class participation is vital for better understanding of sociological issues. Students are invited to raise questions.
- Students should take tutorials with the instructor during the office hours. Prior appointment is required.
- Students must maintain the IUB code of conduct and ethical guidelines offered by the School of Business.
- Students must refrain from any type of cheating and/or plagiarism in a course. Any student acting otherwise will receive an “F” grade in the course. School of Business, IUB, maintains a zero tolerance policy regarding violation of academic integrity.
- Students are not allowed to keep bags, handouts, books, mobile phones, smart watches or any other smart electronic devices with them during any exam. Students are advised to keep everything in the front of the class room before the exam starts. Please note that, just carrying any smart electronic devises (even if the devise is turned off or put it in silent mode) during the exam will be considered as “cheating”. Moreover, during the exam, anything written on hand palms (or anywhere else) and carrying paper materials (whatever is written) will be considered as “cheating”. Any sorts of “cheating” will result in an “F” grade with no exception. During the exam, students are only allowed to carry pen, pencil, eraser, sharpener, ruler, highlighter and calculator in a clear plastic bag.
| Type of Evaluation | Nos. | Weight |
| Class Attendance and Participation | 100% | 5 |
| Quiz (Best two will be counted) | 4 | 1o |
| Project and Presentation | 01 | 35 |
| Midterm Exam | 01 | 20 |
| Final Exam | 01 | 30 |
| Total | 100% |
[Class attendance is mandatory; failure to do so may deduct the final marks]
The following chart will be followed for grading. This has customized form the guideline provided by the school of Business.
| A | A- | B+ | B | B- | C+ | C | C- | D+ | D | F |
| 90-100 | 85-89 | 80-84 | 75-79 | 70-74 | 65-69 | 60-64 | 55-59 | 50-54 | 45-49 | 0-44 |
* Numbers are inclusive
The course will be based mostly on the following books [some other books and journals may be referred time to time]:
- Text 1: Cooper, D. R. and Schindler, S. S. (2014). Business Research Methods (11th Ed) McGraw-Hill: New York.
- Text 2: Sen, D.K (2015). An Introduction To Research Methodology & Dissertation Writing (1st Ed) Dikdarshan Prokashoni Ltd: Dhaka
MORE READINGS:
- Coakes, S. J. And Steed, L. G. (2005) SPSS v.12: Analysis without Anguish John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd. Brisbane.
- Field, A. (2009) Discovering Statistics Using SPSS (3rd) SAGE Publications Ltd. London
- Jahangir, N. (2003) Perceptions of Power: A Cognitive Perspective of Nationalized Commercial Banks of Bangladesh Center for Social Studies, Dhaka.
- Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J. and Anderson, R. E. (2010) Multivariate Data Analysis (7th). Prentice-Hall, New Delhi
- Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th Ed.). American Psychological Association, Washington DC, 2001 (http://www.apastyle.org/manual/)
- Additional reading materials, cases and case study questions will be provided before the related sessions.
Link to virtual learning system: http://103.254.86.4/sb/ (School of Business – Faculty name- Login as a guest- password is 1234).
| Sessions | Topic | Learning Outcomes | Readings |
| Session -1 | Introduction to Business Research | Understand what business research is and how it differs from decision support systems and business intelligence systems.
Understand the trends affecting business research and the emerging hierarchy of research-based decision makers. Explain the different types of research studies used in business. Explain the nature of the research process. |
Cooper, Chapter 1
Pages 2-23 Sen, Chapter 1
Pages 4-7 |
| Session -2 | Thinking Like a Researcher | Understand the terminology used by professional researchers employing scientific thinking.
Describe what you need to formulate a solid research hypothesis. Explain the need for sound reasoning to enhance business research results.
Relevant Problem Solving from Text |
Cooper, Chapter3
Pages 50-70
Handout available on virtual learning system |
| Session -3 | Literature Review
|
Understand the concept of literature review.
Describe why the researchers use literature review. Understand referencing and plagiarism. |
Sen,
Chapter 6
Pages 145-153
Handout available on virtual learning system |
| Session -4 | The Business Research Process: An Overview
|
Understand how research is decision- and dilemma-centered.
Understand how the clarified research question is the result of careful exploration and analysis and sets the direction for the research project. Describe how value assessments and budgeting influence the process for proposing research and, ultimately, research design.
Relevant Problem Solving from Text |
Cooper, Chapter 4
Pages 74-89
Handout available on virtual learning system |
| Session -5 | The Business Research Process: An Overview
|
Explain what is included in research design, data collection, data analysis, and reporting.
Describe research process problems to avoid.
Relevant Problem Solving from Text |
Cooper, Chapter 4
Pages 74-89
Handout available on virtual learning system |
| Session -6 | Research Design: An Overview
Quiz 1 |
Understand the basic stages of research design.
Explain the major descriptors of research design. Describe the major types of research designs. Understand he relationships that exist between variables in research design and the steps for evaluating those relationships. Relevant Problem Solving from Text
Knowledge of basic concepts of research, research process, and literature review. |
Cooper, Chapter 6
Pages 124-139
Handout available on virtual learning system |
| Session-7 | Research Design: An Overview
|
Understand the basic stages of research design.
Explain the major descriptors of research design. Describe the major types of research designs. Understand he relationships that exist between variables in research design and the steps for evaluating those relationships.
Relevant Problem Solving from Text |
Cooper, Chapter 6
Pages 124-139
Handout available on virtual learning system |
| Session -8 | Qualitative Research
|
Describe how qualitative methods differ from quantitative methods.
Explain the controversy surrounding qualitative research. Explain the types of decisions that use qualitative methods. Describe the variety of qualitative research methods.
Relevant Problem Solving from Text |
Cooper, Chapter 7
Pages 144-167
Handout available on virtual learning system |
| Session -9 | Qualitative Research
|
Describe how qualitative methods differ from quantitative methods.
Explain the controversy surrounding qualitative research. Explain the types of decisions that use qualitative methods. Describe the variety of qualitative research methods.
Relevant Problem Solving from Text
|
Cooper, Chapter 7
Pages 144-167
Handout available on virtual learning system
|
| Session -10 | Observation Studies
Quiz 2 |
Explain when observation studies are most useful.
Describe the distinctions between monitoring nonbehavioral and behavioral activities. Explain the strengths and weaknesses of the observation approach in research design.
Relevant Problem Solving from Text
Knowledge of Research design and Qualitative Research |
Cooper, Chapter 8
Pages 172-187
Handout available on virtual learning system
|
| Session -11 | Observation Studies | Understand the three perspectives from which the observer–participant relationship may be viewed in observation studies.
Explain the various designs of observation studies.
Relevant Problem Solving from Text
|
Cooper, Chapter 8
Pages 172-187
Handout available on virtual learning system
|
| Session -12 | Project Work | Assign research topic for the project
Explain the process of making the report |
Project Work |
| Session -13 | Midterm | CHAPTERS 1, 1(Text 2), 3, 6(Text 2), 4, 6, 7, and 8 | Cooper, Chapter 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8
Sen, Chapter 1 and 6 |
| Session -14 | Surveys | Describe the process for selecting the appropriate and optimal communication approach.
Describe what factors affect participation in communication studies. Understand the major sources of error in communication studies and how to minimize them. Explain the major advantages and disadvantages of the three communication approaches |
Cooper, Chapter 10
Pages 216-240
Handout available on virtual learning system |
| Session -15 | Surveys | Describe the process for selecting the appropriate and optimal communication approach.
Describe what factors affect participation in communication studies. Understand the major sources of error in communication studies and how to minimize them. Explain the major advantages and disadvantages of the three communication approaches |
Cooper, Chapter 10
Pages 216-240
Handout available on virtual learning system |
| Session -16 | Measurement | Explain the distinction between measuring objects, properties, and indicants of properties.
Understand the similarities and differences between the four scale types used in measurement and when each is used. Describe the four major sources of measurement error. Describe the criteria for evaluating good measurement.
Relevant Problem Solving from Text
|
Cooper, Chapter 11
Pages 246-264
Handout available on virtual learning system |
| Session -17 | Measurement | Explain the distinction between measuring objects, properties, and indicants of properties.
Understand the similarities and differences between the four scale types used in measurement and when each is used. Describe the four major sources of measurement error. Describe the criteria for evaluating good measurement.
Relevant Problem Solving from Text
|
Cooper, Chapter 11
Pages 246-264
Handout available on virtual learning system |
| Session -18 | Measurement Scales
Quiz 3 |
Understand the nature of attitudes and their relationship to behavior.
Explain the critical decisions involved in selecting an appropriate measurement scale. Describe the characteristics and use of rating, ranking, sorting, and other preference scales.
Relevant Problem Solving from Text Knowledge of Measurement and survey |
Cooper, Chapter 12
Pages 268-291
Handout available on virtual learning system
|
| Session -19 | Questionnaires and instruments
|
Understand the link forged between the management dilemma and the communication instrument by the management-research
question hierarchy. Describe the three general classes of information and what each contributes to the instrument.
Relevant Problem Solving from Text |
Cooper, Chapter 13
Pages 296-325
Handout available on virtual learning system |
| Session -20 | Questionnaires and instruments
|
Understand the influence of question content, question wording, response strategy, and preliminary analysis planning on question construction.
Explain each of the numerous question design issues influencing instrument quality, reliability, and validity. Explain the importance of pretesting questions and instruments.
Relevant Problem Solving from Text
|
Cooper, Chapter 13
Pages 296-325
Handout available on virtual learning system |
| Session -21 | Sampling
|
Understand the two premises on which sampling theory is based.
Explain the characteristics of accuracy and precision for measuring sample validity. Describe the two categories of sampling techniques and the variety of sampling techniques within each category. Understand the various sampling techniques and when each is used.
Relevant Problem Solving from Text |
Cooper, Chapter 14
Pages 338-363
Handout available on virtual learning system |
| Session -22 | Hypothesis, its Formulation and Testing
Quiz 4
|
Understand the nature and logic of hypothesis testing.
Describe the six-step hypothesis testing procedure. Understand the differences between parametric and nonparametric tests and when to use each. Understand how to interpret the various test statistics. Relevant Problem Solving from Text
Knowledge of Measurement scales, questionnaire and instruments and Sampling
|
Sen, Chapter 4
Pages 41-129
Handout available on virtual learning system |
| Session -23 | Hypothesis, its Formulation and Testing
|
Understand the nature and logic of hypothesis testing.
Describe the six-step hypothesis testing procedure. Understand the differences between parametric and nonparametric tests and when to use each. Understand how to interpret the various test statistics. Relevant Problem Solving from Text
|
Sen,
Chapter 4
Pages 41-129
Handout available on virtual learning system |
| Session -24 | Project Presentation | Case Presentation | Project Presentation |
| Session -25 | Project Presentation | Case Presentation | Project Presentation |
| Session -26 | Final Exam | Chapter 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 4 (Text 2) | Cooper, Chapter 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 Sen,
Chapter 4 |
Students who are willing to audit the course are welcome during the first two classes and are advised to contact the instructor after that.
Plagiarism- that is the presentation of another person’s thoughts or words as though they were the students’ own – must be strictly avoided. Cheating and plagiarism on exam and assignment are unacceptable.
Please see the green book for further information about academic regulation and policies, including withdrawal and grading, apples and penalties for pilgrims and academic misconduct.
Students with disabilities are required to inform the School of Business/ Department of Economics of any specific requirement for classes or examination as soon as possible.