Business Research Methods

Description

The Eleventh Edition of Business Research Methods continues to provide the most timely, richest, and most comprehensive coverage of the research experience in Business Research Methods. Students and instructors will find thorough coverage of all business research topics –backed by solid theory. The expertise and practical experience of Cooper and Schindler is evident in the realistic Snapshots, Close-Ups, PicProfiles, and case studies found throughout the text. Managerial decision making is the underlying theme, and topics and applications are presented and organized in a manner that allows students to thoroughly understand the business research function. Consequently, the structure of the text encourages and supports completion of an in-depth business research project during your course. Title Contents >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 Appendix 1a How the Research Industry Works 2 Ethics in Business Research What Are Research Ethics? Ethical Treatment of Participants Benefi ts Deception Informed Consent Debriefi ng Participants Rights to Privacy Data Collection in Cyberspace Ethics and the Sponsor Confi dentiality 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 Defi nitions Variables Propositions and Hypotheses Theory Models Research and the Scientifi c 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-Defi ned 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 Appendix 5a Bibliographic Database Searches Appendix 5b Advanced Searches >part II The Design of Business Research 6 Research Design: An Overview What Is Research Design? Classifi cation 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 Specifi cation 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 Appendix 9a Complex Experimental Designs Appendix 9b Test Markets 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 Refi ning the Measurement Questions Question Categories and Structure Question Content Question Wording Response Strategy Sources of Existing Questions Phase 3: Drafting and Refi ning 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 Appendix 13b Pretesting Options and Discoveries 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 Signifi cance The Logic of Hypothesis Testing Tests of Signifi cance 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 Coeffi cient 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 Multivariate Analysis: An Overview Introduction Selecting a Multivariate Technique Dependency Techniques Multiple Regression Discriminant Analysis MANOVA Structural Equation Modeling Conjoint Analysis Interdependency Techniques Factor Analysis Cluster Analysis Multidimensional Scaling >summary >key terms >discussion questions >cases 20 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 21 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 Benefi ts Types of Research Proposals Internal Proposals External Proposals Structuring the Research Proposal Executive Summary Problem Statement Research Objectives Literature Review Importance/Benefi ts of the Study Research Design Data Analysis Nature and Form of Results Qualifi cations 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 Signifi cance 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 and Readings Glossary Photo Credits Indexes Name Company Subject