An introduction to Business Research Methods
Publisher: Bookboon.com
Published: 2015
ISBN-13: 9788740308204
Table of contents: title: Content; title: 1. Research problems and questions and how they relate to debates in Research Methods; title: 1.1. Chapter Overview; title: 1.2. Introduction; title: 1.3. The nature of business research; title: 1.4. What kind of business problems might need a research study?; title: 1.5. What are the key issues in research methods we need to understand?; title: 1.6. Questions for self review; title: 1.7. References; title: 2. Putting the problem into context: identifying and critically reviewing relevant literature; title: 2.1. Chapter Overview; title: 2.2. How does literature relate to research?; title: 2.3. What kinds of literature should we search for?; title: 2.4. Effective literature searching; title: 2.5. Critical analysis of literature; title: 2.6. Using Harvard referencing style; title: 2.7. Questions for self review; title: 2.8. References; title: 3. Choosing research approaches and strategies; title: 3.1. Topic Overview; title: 3.2. Different perspectives of knowledge and research which underpin research design; title: 3.3. Identify differing research paradigms for business; title: 3.4. Key differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods and how and why they may be mixed; title: 3.5. Criteria of validity and reliability in the context of business research; title: 3.6. Your choice of research strategy or design; title: 3.7. Questions for self review; title: 3.8. References; title: 4. Ethics in business research; title: 4.1. Chapter Overview; title: 4.2. How ethical issues arise in business research at every stage; title: 4.3. Ethical criteria used in Higher Education business research studies; title: 4.4. Strategies to ensure ethical issues in business research are addressed appropriately; title: 4.5. Questions for self review; title: 4.6. References; title: 5. Choosing samples from populations; title: 5.1. Chapter Overview; title: 5.2. How and why sampling relates to business research; title: 5.3. A range of probability and non-probability sampling techniques; title: 5.4. Selecting appropriate techniques for different research studies; title: 5.5. Assessing representativeness of samples and generalisability from samples; title: 5.6. Questions for self review; title: 5.7. References; title: 6. Quantitative research methods: collecting and analysing quantitative data; title: 6.1. Chapter Overview; title: 6.2. Anticipating how the research design is affected by data collection and analysis tools; title: 6.3. Recognising different types of data for analysis; title: 6.4. Coding and Entering data for computer analysis; title: 6.5. Choosing appropriate ways to present data through charts, tables and descriptive statistics; title: 6.6. Selecting appropriate statistical tools for the research variables; title: 6.7. Questions for self review; title: 6.8. References; title: 7. Questionnaire design and testing; title: 7.1. Chapter Overview; title: 7.2. Difficulties associated with questionnaire design; title: 7.3. Choosing from a range of question formats; title: 7.4. How to design, pilot and administer questionnaires; title: 7.5. Questions for self review; title: 7.6. References; title: 8. Using secondary data; title: 8.1. Chapter Overview; title: 8.2. What to look for as secondary data and where to find it; title: 8.3. The contribution of secondary data to business research; title: 8.4. The disadvantages of using secondary data in business research and how to overcome them; title: 8.5. Questions for self review; title: 8.6. References; title: 9. Qualitative research methods: collecting and analysing qualitative data; title: 9.1. Chapter Overview; title: 9.2. Key issues in qualitative data analysis; title: 9.3. The range of qualitative research methods applicable to different research topics; title: 9.4. How qualitative data can be prepared for analysis; title: 9.5. Computer based methods for qualitative data analysis; title: 9.6. Questions for self review; title: 9.7. References; title: 10. Practical issues in conducting interviews, focus groups, participant observation; title: 10.1. Chapter Overview; title: 10.2. Practical considerations relating to participant observation; title: 10.3. Practical issues relating to interviews; title: 10.4. Practical issues relating to focus groups; title: 10.5. Questions for self review; title: 10.6. References; title: 11. Forecasting trends; title: 11.1. Chapter Overview; title: 11.2. Why forecasting is not widely covered in the business research methods literature; title: 11.3. Existing methodologies for forecasting; title: 11.4. Basic forecasting tools; title: 11.5. Measures commonly used to evaluate forecasts; title: 11.6. Exploring the value of forecasting methods in business practice; title: 11.7. Questions for self review; title: 11.8. References; title: 12. Presenting research reports; title: 12.1. Chapter Overview; title: 12.2. Your personal approach to writing a report; title: 12.3. The differences between writing a report for a business audience and for academic purposes; title: 12.4. Producing an oral presentation of key findings; title: 12.5. Questions for self review; title: 12.6. References