BSA515 BUSINESS RESEARCH METHOD AND APPLICATIONS - January 2000 - Education - http://maxpages.com/drsatterlee/BSA515_Research

AVERETT COLLEGE GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Addendum to the Published Student Module (January 2000)

Course Number and Title
BSA 515 -- Applications of Business Research

Course Description
This course examines research processes and methodologies used in organizations. The focus of the course is twofold: how managers can apply the scientific method to business decision-making and how managers utilize the findings of research performed by others. In addition, special attention is given to explanations of how managers can use one or more of various techniques in the research process.

Professor and Contact Numbers
Dr. Brian Satterlee
(804) 791-5837
satterle@averett.edu

Texts/Materials
· Zikmund, W. (2000). Business Research Methods (6th ed.). Orlando: The Dryden Press.
· www.maxpages.com/drsatterlee

Course Objectives
· Explain the nature of scientific thinking as it applies to managers.
· Match the appropriate research design to business research questions and assess the appropriateness of research designs used by others.
· Identify and explain various research methods used to collect primary data.
· Describe common measurement techniques used in business research.
· Describe sampling and fieldwork procedures used in business research.
· Evaluate the appropriateness of various research designs and analysis techniques presentation formats used in business research.
· Critique research studies and report formats in their field of interest.

Grading Policy
Performance in this course will be assessed as follows, on a 100-points scale:

· Individual Written Assignments -- 25 pts. (1 pt. each question)
· Written Group Assignments -- 20 pts. (5 pts. each)
· Research Proposal -- 25 pts.
· Proposal Presentation -- 10 pts.
· Class participation -- 20 pts.

Assignments
Averett College Graduate and Professional Studies employs a modular approach to instructional delivery. Each course is developed and published as a series of modules. The modules are distributed to students upon registration. The purpose of this addendum is to provide additional information to students enrolled in this course.

Please bring your Student Module (as well as your textbook) to each class session.

WEEK ONE
· Read Chapter One; answer Questions 1 and 8 (individual).
· Read Chapter Three; answer Questions 1 and 5 (individual).
· Read Chapter Four; answer Questions 1 and 7 (individual).
· Read Chapter Five; answer Question 5 (individual).
· Each study group will find a poll on the Internet (Gallup, Zogby, Fox, Washington Post, NBC, ABC, CBS, NT Times, etc.). Bring to class as much data as you can obtain, in order to critique the analysis provided by the sponsor. Be prepared, as a group, to lead the class in the critique of your poll.

WEEK TWO
· Read Chapter Six; answer Question 6 (individual).
· Read Chapter Seven; answer Question 1 (individual).
· Read Chapter Eight; answer Questions 1, 2, & 4 (individual).
· Be prepared to discuss the Problem Statement and the Research Question(s) for your written Research Proposal. Submit both in written form. There will be no study group assignment for this session.

WEEK THREE
· Read Chapter Nine; perform Exploring the Internet Exercises 1, 2, & 3. Be aware that Internet sites do change, so you may not be able to find all the assigned sites. If this happens, write a statement to that effect as your answer, or find a similar site (individual).
· Read Chapter Ten; answer Question 7 (individual).
· Read Chapter Eleven; answer Question 10 (individual).
· Read Chapter Twelve; answer Question 1 (individual).
· Study groups will find and analyze research found outside of the class text, such as polls, a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation, business research found in periodicals or the Wall Street Journal. Submit a 2 - 3 page critique of the research.

WEEK FOUR
· Read Chapter Thirteen; answer Question 8 (individual).
· Read Chapter Fourteen; perform the Exploring the Internet Exercise (individual).
· Read Chapter Fifteen; answer Questions 7 and 8 (individual).
· Study groups will find and analyze research found outside of the class text, such as polls, a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation, business research found in periodicals or the Wall Street Journal, or research performed at your place of employment. Be sure to get permission if you use research from your place of employment. Submit a 2 - 3 page critique of the research.

WEEK FIVE
· Read Chapter Sixteen; answer Question 10 (individual).
· Read Chapter Eighteen; answer Question 10 (individual).
· Read Chapter Twenty-Five; answer Question 6 (individual).
· Study groups will find and analyze research found outside of the class text, such as polls, a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation, business research found in periodicals or the Wall Street Journal, or research performed at your place of employment. Be sure to get permission if you use research from your place of employment. Submit a 2 - 3 page critique of the research.

WEEK SIX
· No individual group nor group assignments due this session. This session will deal entirely with the application of business research and statistics to the topic of managerial decision-making. Your professor will provide supplemental materials the night of class in support of this activity.

WEEK SEVEN
· Submit the written Research Proposal (individual).
· A 10-minute oral presentation of the Proposal is due (individual). Plan for a 5-minute question and answer period, for a maximum of 15 minutes.

Grading Criteria
· A = 94 to 100
· B = 86 to 93
· C = 85 to 78
· D = 77 to 70
· F = below 70

Expectations
Attendance and participation is mandatory. Make wise use of the resources provided, including text and class materials, your professor, other course participants, leaders and peers at work, observations of organizational activities around you (work, civic, church, etc.), and current publications read in the normal activity of your personal and professional life.

Written assignments should be clear, concise, relevant, and machine-printed. All written work will be of graduate-level quality, including spelling, appropriate grammar, and format. Strike-overs and white-outs are not permitted. A portion (25%) of the grade for each written assignment will be determined by this criterion. Proof your work carefully, then have someone else proof it for you to certain it is correct.

Note: In one of the several Research courses I have had the pleasure to take, the professor said, “Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it – the same for Research!” Obviously, his intent was to intimidate. That is not my intent. My intent is for you to be involved in an educational experience you will never forget, and hopefully for you to develop a systematic approach to managerial decision-making.

Academic Integrity: Refer to Averett College Honor Code

THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL

The Research Proposal and presentation is an individual assignment. Pick a researchable topic germane to any type of organization, industry, or community. Your topic will be discussed and approved or modified during the second session of class.

Use the following Research Proposal outline. Remember, a proposal is just that -- a proposal. It is not a complete piece of research. You will explain why the research will be done, why it is important or what problem it will solve. The literature review will be brief, and demonstrate how others have approached the same, or a similar, problem. You will only describe how you will gather and analyze the data, and you will not be able to make a recommendation.

RESEARCH PROPOSAL OUTLINE
note: the proposal will conform to current APA format

Introduction
· Brief history of the organization, industry, etc. (if applicable).
· Brief history of the problem.
· Problem statement.
· Research question (s).
· Hypothesis (if applicable).
· Summary statement providing a link to the next section.

Review of the related literature
· Introduction.
· Brief presentation of the related literature.
· Summary statement linking both this and the previous section to the next section.

Research methodology
· Introduction.
· Rationale for methodology.
· Description of methodology.
· Description of administration of data collection.
· Estimate of cost and time to perform the research.
· Description of data to be collected.
· Summary statement providing a link to the next section.

Method of Analysis
· Rationale for quantitative/qualitative methodology.
· Description of proposed quantitative/qualitative analysis.

References Cited

Brian Satterlee, Ed.D., D.B.A.
Danville	Virginia
(804) 791-5837
satterle@averett.edu

Visitors: 01046

Page Updated Tue Oct 3, 2000 1:07pm EDT