Business Research Methods

Cover Page
Half Title Page
Other Books By
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
walkthrough
preface
detailedchangestothisedition
briefcontents
Table of Content
part I Introduction to Business Research
	1 Research in Business
		Why Study Business Research?
		Information and Competitive Advantage
			Goals
			Decision Support
			Business Intelligence
			Strategy
			Tactics
		Hierarchy of Information-Based Decision Makers
		The Research Process: A Preview
			Is Research Always Problem-Solving Based?
		What Is Good Research?
		A Glimpse at Four Research Studies
			ClassicToys
			MedImage
			MoreCoatings
			York College
			What Dilemma Does the Manager Face?
			The Types of Research Studies Represented by the Four Examples
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
	2 Ethics in Business Research
		What Are Research Ethics?
		Ethical Treatment of Participants
			Benefits
			Deception
			Informed Consent
			Debriefing Participants
			Rights to Privacy
			Data Collection in Cyberspace
		Ethics and the Sponsor
			Confidentiality
			The Sponsor–Researcher Relationship
			Sponsor’s Ethics
		Researchers and Team Members
			Safety
			Ethical Behavior of Assistants
			Protection of Anonymity
		Professional Standards
		Resources for Ethical Awareness
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
	3 Thinking Like a Researcher
		The Language of Research
			Concepts
			Constructs
			Definitions
			Variables
			Propositions and Hypotheses
			Theory
			Models
		Research and the Scientific Method
			Sound Reasoning for Useful Answers
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
	4 The Research Process: An Overview
		The Research Process
		Stage 1: Clarifying the Research Question
		Stage 2: Proposing Research
			Resource Allocation and Budgets
			Valuing Research Information
			The Research Proposal
		Stage 3: Designing the Research Project
			Research Design
			Sampling Design
			Pilot Testing
		Stage 4: Data Collection and Preparation
		Stage 5: Data Analysis and Interpretation
		Stage 6: Reporting the Results
		Research Process Issues
			The Favored-Technique Syndrome
			Company Database Strip-Mining
			Unresearchable Questions
			Ill-Defined Management Problems
			Politically Motivated Research
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
	5 Clarifying the Research Question through Secondary Data and Exploration
		A Search Strategy for Exploration
			Levels of Information
			Types of Information Sources
			Evaluating Information Sources
		Mining Internal Sources
			Evolution of Data Mining
			Data-Mining Process
		The Question Hierarchy: How Ambiguous Questions Become Actionable Research
			The Management Question
			The Research Question
			Investigative Questions
			Measurement Questions
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
part II The Design of Business Research
	6 Research Design: An Overview
		What Is Research Design?
			Classification of Designs
		Exploratory Studies
			Qualitative Techniques
			Secondary Data Analysis
			Experience Survey
			Focus Groups
			Two-Stage Design
		Descriptive Studies
		Causal Studies
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
	7 Qualitative Research
		What Is Qualitative Research?
		Qualitative versus Quantitative Research
			The Controversy
			The Distinction
		The Process of Qualitative Research
		Qualitative Research Methodologies
			Sampling
			Interviews
			Individual Depth Interviews
			Group Interviews
		Combining Qualitative Methodologies
			Case Study
			Action Research
		Merging Qualitative and Quantitative Methodologies
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
	8 Observation Studies
		The Uses of Observation
			Nonbehavioral Observation
			Behavioral Observation
		Evaluation of the Observation Method
		The Observer–Participant Relationship
			Directness of Observation
			Concealment
			Participation
		Conducting an Observation Study
			The Type of Study
			Content Specification
			Observer Training
			Data Collection
		Unobtrusive Measures
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
	9 Experiments
		What Is Experimentation?
		An Evaluation of Experiments
			Advantages
			Disadvantages
		Conducting an Experiment
			Selecting Relevant Variables
			Specifying Treatment Levels
			Controlling the Experimental Environment
			Choosing the Experimental Design
			Selecting and Assigning Participants
			Pilot Testing, Revising, and Testing
			Analyzing the Data
		Validity in Experimentation
			Internal Validity
			External Validity
		Experimental Research Designs
			Preexperimental Designs
			True Experimental Designs
			Field Experiments: Quasi- or Semi-Experiments
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
	10 Surveys
		Characteristics of the Communication Approach
			Error in Communication Research
			Choosing a Communication Method
		Self-Administered Surveys
			Evaluation of the Self-Administered Survey
			Maximizing Participation in the Self-Administered Survey
			Self-Administered Survey Trends
		Survey via Telephone Interview
			Evaluation of the Telephone Interview
			Telephone Survey Trends
		Survey via Personal Interview
			Evaluation of the Personal Interview Survey
		Selecting an Optimal Survey Method
			Outsourcing Survey Services
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
part III The Sources and Collection of Data
	11 Measurement
		The Nature of Measurement
			What Is Measured?
		Measurement Scales
			Nominal Scales
			Ordinal Scales
			Interval Scales
			Ratio Scales
		Sources of Measurement Differences
			Error Sources
		The Characteristics of Good Measurement
			Validity
			Content Validity
			Criterion-Related Validity
			Construct Validity
			Reliability
			Practicality
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
	12 Measurement Scales
		The Nature of Attitudes
			The Relationship between Attitudes and Behavior
			Attitude Scaling
		Selecting a Measurement Scale
			Research Objectives
			Response Types
			Data Properties
			Number of Dimensions
			Balanced or Unbalanced
			Forced or Unforced Choices
			Number of Scale Points
			Rater Errors
		Rating Scales
			Simple Attitude Scales
			Likert Scales
			Semantic Differential Scales
			Numerical/Multiple Rating List Scales
			Stapel Scales
			Constant-Sum Scales
			Graphic Rating Scales
		Ranking Scales
		Sorting
		Cumulative Scales
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
	13 Questionnaires and Instruments
		Phase 1: Revisiting the Research Question Hierarchy
			Type of Scale for Desired Analysis
			Communication Approach
			Disguising Objectives and Sponsors
			Preliminary Analysis Plan
		Phase 2: Constructing and Refining the Measurement Questions
			Question Categories and Structure
			Question Content
			Question Wording
			Response Strategy
			Sources of Existing Questions
		Phase 3: Drafting and Refining the Instrument
			Participant Screening and Introduction
			Measurement Question Sequencing
			Instructions
			Conclusion
			Overcoming Instrument Problems
			The Value of Pretesting
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
		Appendix 13a: Crafting Effective Measurement Questions
	14 Sampling
		The Nature of Sampling
			Why Sample?
			What Is a Good Sample?
			Types of Sample Design
		Steps in Sampling Design
			What Is the Target Population?
			What Are the Parameters of Interest?
			What Is the Sampling Frame?
			What Is the Appropriate Sampling Method?
			What Size Sample Is Needed?
		Probability Sampling
			Simple Random Sampling
			Complex Probability Sampling
		Nonprobability Sampling
			Practical Considerations
			Methods
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
		Appendix 14a: Determining Sample Size
part IV Analysis and Presentation of Data
	15 Data Preparation and Description
		Introduction
		Editing
			Field Editing
			Central Editing
		Coding
			Codebook Construction
			Coding Closed Questions
			Coding Open-Ended Questions
			Coding Rules
			Using Content Analysis for Open Questions
			“Don’t Know” Responses
			Missing Data
		Data Entry
			Alternative Data Entry Formats
			On the Horizon
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
		Appendix 15a: Describing Data Statistically
	16 Exploring, Displaying, and Examining Data
		Exploratory Data Analysis
			Frequency Tables, Bar Charts, and Pie Charts
			Histograms
			Stem-and-Leaf Displays
			Pareto Diagrams
			Boxplots
			Mapping
		Cross-Tabulation
			The Use of Percentages
			Other Table-Based Analysis
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
	17 Hypothesis Testing
		Introduction
			Statistical Significance
			The Logic of Hypothesis Testing
		Tests of Significance
			Types of Tests
			How to Select a Test
			Selecting Tests Using the Choice Criteria
			One-Sample Tests
			Two-Independent-Samples Tests
			Two-Related-Samples Tests
			k-Independent-Samples Tests
			k-Related-Samples Tests
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
	18 Measures of Association
		Introduction
		Bivariate Correlation Analysis
			Pearson’s Product Moment Coefficient r
			Scatterplots for Exploring Relationships
			The Assumptions of r
			Computation and Testing of r
		Simple Linear Regression
			The Basic Model
			Concept Application
			Method of Least Squares
			Predictions
			Testing the Goodness of Fit
		Nonparametric Measures of Association
			Measures for Nominal Data
			Measures for Ordinal Data
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
	19 Presenting Insights and Findings: Written Reports
		Introduction
		The Written Research Report
			Short Reports
			Long Reports
		Research Report Components
			Prefatory Items
			Introduction
			Methodology
			Findings
			Conclusions
			Appendices
			Bibliography
		Writing the Report
			Prewriting Concerns
			Writing the Draft
			Presentation Considerations
		Presentation of Statistics
			Text Presentation
			Semitabular Presentation
			Tabular Presentation
			Graphics
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
	20 Presenting Insights and Findings: Oral Presentations
		Introduction
		Aristotle’s Three Principles of Persuasive Communication
			Ethos
			Pathos
			Logos
		Plan
			Audience Analysis
			Types of Learners
			Keep Your Audience from Checking Out
			Planning and the Web-Delivered Presentation
		Organize
			Traditional Patterns of Organization
			The Motivated Sequence Organization
			The Narrative Organization
			The Rule of Three and the Three-Point Speech
		Support
			Conveying Personal Experience through Stories
			Demonstrations
		Visualize
			Psychological and Physical Foundations
			Design Principles
			Prescriptions for Better Slides
		Deliver
			Modes of Delivery
			Scripts and Notes
			Details Make a Difference
		Practice and Arrange
			Rehearsal Is Essential
			Controlling Performance Anxiety
			Arrangements for Facilities and Equipment
		summary
		key terms
		discussion questions
		cases
case index
appendices
	a Business Research Requests and Proposals (with Sample RFP)
		Proposing Research
		The Request for Proposal (RFP)
			Creating the RFP
		The Research Proposal
		Sponsor Uses
		Researcher Benefits
		Types of Research Proposals
			Internal Proposals
			External Proposals
		Structuring the Research Proposal
			Executive Summary
			Problem Statement
			Research Objectives
			Literature Review
			Importance/Benefits of the Study
			Research Design
			Data Analysis
			Nature and Form of Results
			Qualifications of Researchers
			Budget
			Schedule
			Facilities and Special Resources
			Project Management
			Bibliography
			Appendices
		Evaluating the Research Proposal
		Covering Kids RFP
			Background
			Contractual Needs
			Evaluation Task
			Anticipated Time Schedule
			Proposal Instructions
			Review Criteria
	b Focus Group Discussion Guide
		Background
	c Nonparametric Significance Tests
		One-Sample Test
			Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test
		Two-Samples Tests
			Sign Test
			Wilcoxon Matched-Pairs Test
			Kolmogorov-Smirnov Two-Samples Test
			Mann-Whitney U Test
			Other Nonparametric Tests
		k-Samples Tests
			Kruskal-Wallis Test
	d Selected Statistical Tables
References
Glossary
Photo Credits
Name Index
Company Index
Subject Index