Business Administration 574b
Advanced Research Methods II
Fall 2007
Mon 2:00-4:45, Rehn 13
course web page: http://users.cba.siu.edu/karau/ba574b/
Dr. Steven J. Karau
Rehn Hall, Room 211A
(618) 453-7890
fax (618) 453-7835
skarau@cba.siu.edu
Office hours: Tue & Thu
12:20-3:20
This
course is designed to provide a functional understanding of a range of
methodologies used to conduct research on various processes and phenomena
within the business disciplines. We will seek to master core concepts such as
hypothesis generation and testing, literature searches, the scientific method,
sampling, research ethics, and the logic of hypothesis testing. We will also
consider specific methodological approaches such as survey research, experimentation,
quasi-experimentation, observation, and questionnaire studies. I am viewing
this course as a practicum in which I try to provide useful information at a
hands-on level about opportunities, challenges, limitations, and realities of
some of the more prominent methodological approaches, as well as strategies for
designing, refining, and publishing research. Although this is not a statistics
course, we will also be considering strategies for analyzing data relative to
different methodological approaches and research designs. Major course
activities will include lecture, discussion, readings, assignments, and
presentations.
1.
To develop and
demonstrate a basic mastery of selected major methodological concepts and
practices in the business disciplines.
2.
To enhance your
understanding of the logic and practical application of selected common
statistical techniques used in concert with differing methodologies.
3.
To enhance your
ability to evaluate and understand other peoples’ research.
4.
To enhance professional
skills important to the research enterprise such as project planning, paper
writing, and research presentation.
5.
To encourage you
to develop and refine your own research program over the course of the
semester.
6.
To enhance your
collegial ability to work with others on developing and refining their own
research programs or in collaborating with others on research projects.
Text
William G. Zikmund (2003). Business Research
Methods (7th ed.). Thomson Publishing.
1.
Ten
Assignments (3 points each, 30 total).
These will be scored as good to excellent (3), marginal (0, but with one chance
to revise), or unacceptable (0). Marginal assignments may be revised and
resubmitted within one week.
2.
Initial Research
Proposal (20 points) The major
assignment for the course is a comprehensive research proposal. This may or may
not include actual data, as you prefer. It will consist of a complete
manuscript with introduction, method section, results or analysis strategy
section, discussion section, and a complete list of references. If you do an
excellent job on the proposal you will have a highly viable research project
that you can run right after the course ends (or if you collect the data during
the semester you will have a paper suitable for eventual conference or journal
submission). I will ask you to submit as polished of a paper as possible for
your initial proposal. Then I will provide detailed feedback (see attached) and
give you the chance to revise and resubmit it. Important: The initial proposal is graded and evaluated as a complete paper – it should have all
major paper sections and include references.
3.
Final Research
Proposal (100 points) Your final proposal,
complete with revisions and a memo highlighting the changes you made (or a
separate document with track changes activated, if you prefer).
4.
Research
Presentation (50 points) At the end
of the semester, you will make a 15-25 minute professional quality presentation
of your research project to the class. The exact time limit will depend on the
number of students enrolled.
Total: 200 points
Scale: A 180-200 points 90.00-100.00%
B 160-179 points 80.00-89.99%
C 140-159 points 70.00-79.99%
D 120-139 points 60.00-69.99%
F 0-119 points 0.00-59.99%
Course Policies
1. Preparation,
attendance, and in-class participation. Regular attendance is vital to your
learning and performance in this course. Prior preparation is expected and is
essential to good performance and stimulating class sessions.
2. Late
assignments. Late research proposals (both initial and final) will be
subject to a 20% penalty per weekday. Late weekly assignments will be subject
to a 1-point penalty per day. All assignments and proposals should be submitted
electronically as Word files attached to an email message. I will reply to
acknowledge receipt. Do not assume I have received your paper unless you
receive an email acknowledgement.
3. Professionalism.
Class members are expected to conduct themselves with courtesy and
professionalism at all times. In our discussions, I hope you will feel free to
debate and criticize ideas very actively (especially those expressed by me),
but please avoid personalizing your comments and focus instead on the ideas.
Course Schedule (may be revised if necessary)
Ways
of Knowing
Assumptions
About Business Research
Basic
Versus Applied Research
Action
Research
Assignment
1 due
Topics
Causality
The
Logic of Hypothesis Testing
Independent,
Dependent, and Control Variables
Types
of Studies
Validity
Pros
and Cons of Different Types of Studies
(September
3 – Labor Day Holiday, no classes)
Assignment
2 due
Topics
Hypothesis
Generation
The
Role of Theory in Research
The
Literature Review
Data
Sources
Exploratory
Research and Pilot Studies
Assignment 3 due
Topics
Goals
Theory
Testing
Selecting
Cases
Limitations
5. Secondary
Data and Meta-Analysis (Sep 24)
Assignment 4
due
Topics
Secondary
Data
Strengths
and Weaknesses
Finding
Secondary Data
Using
Secondary Data
Meta-Analysis
Uses
Overview
of Procedures
Strengths
and Weaknesses
6. Survey
Research (Oct 1)
Assignment
5 due
Topics
Survey
Design
Survey
Implementation
Scoring
and Data Coding
Data
Analysis: Descriptive Statistics, Bivariate Analysis
Communicating
Survey Results
Assignment
6 due
Topics
Observational
Measures
Attitude
Measurement
Individual
Difference Questionnaires
Reliability,
Validity, and Sensitivity
Data
Analysis: Item Analysis, Factor Analysis
Communicating
Questionnaire Results
Assignment
7 due
Topics
Designing
Manipulations
Dependent
and Control Variables
Threats
to Internal Validity
Artifacts
Assignment
8 due
Topics
External
Validity Concerns
Experimental
Research on Groups and Teams
Field
Experimentation
Experimental
Designs
Data
Analysis: ANOVA, ANCOVA, contrast analysis
Interpreting
Interactions
Communicating
Experimental Results
Assignment
9 due
Topics
Writing
a method section
Writing
a results section
Describing
interactions
Presenting
complex findings clearly
Writing
an introduction
The
opening statement
The
“funnel” metaphor
Writing
a discussion/conclusion section
Discussing
results accurately
Acknowledging
limitations
Highlighting
future directions
Submitting
articles
Working
with editors and reviewers
Keys
to effective research presentations
Assignment 10 due
Topics
Strategies
for conducting research via the internet
Technical
issues
Advantages
of internet research
Pitfalls
of internet research
Topics
Sampling
Foundations
Sampling
Strategies
Sample
Size and Power
(Nov 19 – Thanksgiving Vacation, no classes)
13. Research Ethics (Nov 26)
Initial Research Proposal due
Topics
Philosophy
and research ethics
Risks
of research
Rights
of participants
Cost/benefit
analysis
Professional
codes of ethics
Working
with Internal Review Boards (IRBs)
15. Research Presentations (Dec 10)
Final Research Proposal due
BA 574B
Rosnow, R. L., & Rosenthal, R. (1984). Understanding
behavioral science: Research methods for research consumers.
Eisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building theories from case
study research.
Rosenthal, R., & DiMatteo, M. R. (2001).
Meta-analysis: Recent developments in quantitative methods for literature
reviews. Annual Review of Psychology, 52,
59-110.
Cook, T. D., & Campbell, D. T. (1979). Quasi-experimentation:
Design and analysis issues for field settings.
Mook, D. G. (1983). In defense of external invalidity.
American Psychologist, 38, 379-387.
Bem, D. J. (2003). Writing the empirical journal
article. In J. M. Darley, M. P. Zanna, & H. L. Roediger III (Eds.) The
compleat academic: A practical guide for the beginning social scientist (2nd
ed.).
Birnbaum, M. H. (2004). Human research and data collection via the internet. Annual Review of Psychology, 55, 803-832.
SIUC HSC Guidelines: Review SIUC’s Guidelines and
Application forms for research involving human subjects at: http://www.siu.edu/orda/human/ (Review
the materials of most interest. Pay special attention to the Human Subjects
Guide.)
BA 574B -
Feedback and Evaluation Form for Research Proposal
Name:
Items below use the
following scale:
1 2 3 4 5
not at all somewhat very
descriptive descriptive descriptive
1. ____ Abstract
includes the key details of the study, methodology, results, and implications.
2. ____ Abstract
is well written.
3. ____ Start
of the Introduction highlights the importance of the issue and clarifies the
major goals of the current research.
4. ____ Introduction
provides a strong theoretical base for the research.
5. ____ Introduction
reviews prior research clearly and concisely.
6. ____ Conclusions
drawn about prior research and theory in the Introduction appear justified and
reasonably accurate.
7. ____ Introduction
is well organized.
8. ____ Introduction
is generally well written.
9. ____ Hypotheses
are clearly stated and precise (i.e., the direction of predicted differences
and the exact nature of predicted patterns are specified).
10. ____ Rationale
for each hypothesis is clear.
11. ____ Method
section is well organized and uses appropriate headings.
12. ____ Details
about the sample and selection strategy are clear.
13. ____ Procedures
for the proposed research are clear.
14. ____ Variables,
measures, and manipulations (if any) are clearly stated and given clear
operational definitions.
15. ____ Information
regarding reliability and validity of measures is provided (if applicable).
16. ____ Method
section is generally written in a concise, accurate fashion.
17. ____ Analysis
strategy is clearly stated.
18. ____ Results
(or predicted results) are clearly and accurately stated.
19. ____ Results
section is free from unnecessary information.
20. ____ Results
section is generally clear and precise.
21. ____ Discussion
highlights the unique (or potentially unique) contribution of the research.
22. ____ Discussion
provides accurate interpretations of the results (or expected results).
23. ____ Discussion
acknowledges all major limitations of the research and the methodology used.
24. ____ Discussion
highlights potential implications for research, theory, and practice.
25. ____ Conclusions
drawn are reasonable and do not reach beyond what can logically be concluded
from the research.
26. ____ A
complete list of references is included in either APA or
27. ____ Tables
(if any) are necessary, useful, clear, properly labeled, and include relevant
information.
28. ____ Figures
(if any) are necessary, useful, and clear.
29. ____ Appendices
(if any) are necessary and clear.
30.
____ Paper follows a consistent,
standardized format.
Additional comments: