Understanding Business Research.
Title:
Understanding Business Research.
Author:
Weathington, Bart L.
ISBN:
9781118342947
Personal Author:
Edition:
1st ed.
Physical Description:
1 online resource (508 pages)
Contents:
UNDERSTANDINGBUSINESS RESEARCH -- CONTENTS -- Preface -- PART I: OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS -- 1 RESEARCH AND BUSINESS -- Introduction -- Why Is Understanding Research Methods so Important? -- The Role of Science in Business and Everyday Life -- The Scientific Method -- Brief History of the Science of Behavior in the Workplace -- Bacon's Legacy -- Other Important Historical Figures -- Assumptions of Science -- Requirements for Scientific Research -- Chapter Summary -- Chapter Glossary for Review -- References -- 2 ETHICS AND RESEARCH -- Introduction -- What Is Ethics? -- Approaches to Ethical Analysis -- Making Ethical Decisions -- Ethical Business Research -- Components of an Ethical Research Plan -- Research in Action: Ethical Dilemmas -- Chapter Glossary for Review -- References -- 3 THE FOUNDATIONS OF RESEARCH -- Introduction -- The Hypothesis in Research -- Types of Hypotheses -- Measurement -- Reliability of Measurement -- Validity of Measurement -- Populations and Samples -- Research in Action: Credit or Cash? -- Chapter Summary -- Chapter Glossary for Review -- References -- 4 AN OVERVIEW OF EMPIRICAL METHODS -- Introduction -- Internal, Statistical, and External Validity -- Survey of Empirical Methods -- Intact Groups Designs and Quasi-Experimental Studies -- Surveys -- Correlational Studies -- Interviews and Case Studies -- Meta-Analysis -- Computers and Statistics -- Research in Action: Price Matters -- Chapter Summary -- Chapter Glossary for Review -- References -- PART II: NUTS AND BOLTS OF RESEARCH -- 5 WRITING THE RESEARCH REPORT -- Introduction -- What Do Readers Appreciate in Good Writing? -- Elements of Style -- Special Grammatical Issues -- Academic Integrity -- Parts of the Research Report -- Chapter Summary -- References -- 6 REVIEWING THE LITERATURE AND FORMING HYPOTHESES -- Introduction -- Bibliographic Research.
The Internet as a Source -- Developing a Search Strategy -- Searching the Literature: The Library -- Research in Action: Does Listening to Mozart Make You Smarter? -- Statistical Inference and Testing Hypotheses -- Chapter Summary -- Chapter Glossary for Review -- References -- 7 SAMPLING: THE FIRST STEPS IN RESEARCH -- Introduction -- The Nature of Samples -- Probability Sampling -- Sampling Methods -- Nonprobability Sampling -- Central Limit Theorem -- Applications of the Central Limit Theorem -- Sources of Bias and Error: A Reprise -- Research in Action: Sampling Matters -- Chapter Summary -- Chapter Glossary for Review -- References -- 8 CREATING AND USING ASSESSMENTS, SURVEYS, AND OBJECTIVE MEASURES -- Introduction -- Purpose of Measurement -- Caveat Assessor -- Creating a Measurement Scale and Developing a Data-Collection Strategy -- Interviews, Questionnaires, and Attitude Surveys -- Question Response Formats -- Writing Good Survey Items -- Determining the Sample Size for a Survey -- Naturalistic Observation -- Research in Action: Analysis of Assaults -- Chapter Summary -- Chapter Glossary for Review -- References -- 9 A MODEL FOR RESEARCH DESIGN -- Introduction -- A Model for Research Design -- What Is the Independent Variable? -- What Is the Dependent Variable? -- Are There Confounding Variables? -- What Are the Research Hypotheses? -- Mathematical Hypotheses -- Evaluating Hypotheses -- Evaluating Hypotheses: Practical Matters -- Research in Action: Sex Differences and Shopping Behavior -- Research in Action: Changing Attitudes by Writing Essays -- Chapter Summary -- Chapter Glossary for Review -- References -- PART III: COMMON RESEARCH DESIGNS -- 10 CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH -- Introduction -- Conceptual Review of Correlation -- Pearson's r -- Interpreting the Correlation Coefficient -- Factors that Corrupt a Correlation Coefficient.
Sample Size and the Correlation Coefficient -- Applications of the Correlation Coefficient -- Regression Analysis -- Introduction to Mediation and Moderation -- Regression to the Mean -- Research in Action: Education and Income -- Chapter Summary -- Chapter Glossary for Review -- References -- 11 BETWEEN-SUBJECTS DESIGNS -- Introduction -- Student's t-Ratio for Independent Groups -- Review of Hypothesis Testing -- Testing Statistical Hypotheses -- Common Errors in the Interpretation of p -- The Power of a Test -- Estimating the Sample Size -- Statistics Behind The Research -- Chapter Summary -- Chapter Glossary for Review -- References -- 12 SINGLE-VARIABLE BETWEEN-SUBJECTS RESEARCH -- Introduction -- Independent Variable -- Cause and Effect -- Gaining Control Over the Variables -- The General Linear Model -- Components of Variance -- The F-Ratio -- H0 and H1 -- F-Ratio Sampling Distribution -- Summarizing and Interpreting ANOVA Results -- Effect Size and Power -- Multiple Comparisons of the Means -- Research in Action -- Chapter Summary -- Chapter Glossary for Review -- References -- 13 BETWEEN-SUBJECTS FACTORIAL DESIGNS -- Introduction -- The Logic of the Two-Variable Design -- Advantages of the Two-Variable Design -- Factorial Designs: Variables, Levels, and Cells -- Examples of Factorial Designs -- Main Effects and Interaction -- Designing a Factorial Study -- Identifying Samples and Estimating Sample Size -- Interpreting the Interaction: Advanced Considerations -- Chapter Summary -- Chapter Glossary for Review -- References -- 14 CORRELATED-GROUPS DESIGNS -- Introduction -- Logic of the Correlated-Groups Research Design -- Repeated-Measures Design -- Longitudinal Designs -- Matched-Groups Design -- Mixed-Model Design -- Research in Action -- Chapter Summary -- Chapter Glossary for Review -- References -- PART IV: SPECIAL RESEARCH DESIGNS.
15 RESEARCH WITH CATEGORICAL DATA -- Introduction -- Goodness-of-Fit Test -- x2 Test of Independence -- x2 Test of Homogeneity -- Further Analysis of the x2 -- McNemar Test -- Research in Action: Gambling and Productivity -- Chapter Summary -- Chapter Glossary for Review -- References -- 16 QUALITATIVE AND MIXED-METHODS RESEARCH -- Introduction -- Qualitative Versus Quantitative Research -- Theory and Perspectives Guiding Qualitative Research -- Mixing Methods: Quantitative and Qualitative Combined -- Qualitative and Mixed-Methods Data Collection and Analysis -- Benefits and Challenges of Mixed-Methods Research -- Sources of Published Qualitative and Mixed-Methods Research -- Research in Action: Gender- and Job-Based Differences in Work Stress -- Chapter Summary -- Chapter Glossary for Review -- References -- Appendix A: Statistics Behind the Research, or, ''What Was I Supposed to Remember from My Statistics Class Anyway?'' -- Appendix B: Statistical Tables -- Index.
Abstract:
Explore the essential steps for data collection, reporting, and analysis in business research Understanding Business Research offers a comprehensive introduction to the entire process of designing, conducting, interpreting, and reporting findings in the business environment. With an emphasis on the human factor, the book presents a complete set of tools for tackling complex behavioral and social processes that are a part of data collection in industry settings. Utilizing numerous real-world examples throughout, the authors begin by presenting an overview of the research process, outlining key ideas relating to the business environment, ethics, and empirical methods. Quantitative techniques and considerations that are specific to business research, including sampling and the use of assessments, surveys, and objective measures are also introduced. Subsequent chapters outline both common and specialized research designs for business data, including: Correlational Research Single Variable Between-Subjects Research Correlated Groups Designs Qualitative and Mixed-Method Research Between-Subjects Designs Between-Subjects Factorial Designs Research with Categorical Data Each chapter is organized using an accessible, comprehensive pedagogy that ensures a fluid presentation. Case studies showcase the real-world applications of the discussed topics while critical thinking exercises and Knowledge Checks supply questions that allow readers to test their comprehension of the presented material. Numerous graphics illustrate the visual nature of the research, and chapter-end glossaries outline definitions of key terms. In addition, detailed appendices provide a review of basic concepts and the most commonly used statistical tables. Requiring only a basic understanding of statistics, Understanding Business Research is an excellent book for courses on
business statistics as well as business and management science research methods at the graduate level. The book is also a valuable resource for practitioners in business, finance, and management science who utilize qualitative and quantitative research methods in their everyday work.
Local Note:
Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2017. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.
Genre:
Electronic Access:
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