Questions and Answers of Business Research Methods

You wish to analyse the pedestrian traffic that passes a given store in a major shopping centre. You are interested in determining how many shoppers pass by this store, and you would like to classify
Develop a checklist to be used by observers in the previous study.a Determine how many observers you need and assign two or three to a specific observation task.b Compare the results of your group
Assume you are a manufacturer of modular office systems and furniture, as well as office-organization elements (desktop and wall organizers, filing systems, etc.). Your company has been asked to
A major corporation agrees to sponsor an internal study on sexual harassment in the workplace. This is in response to concerns expressed by its female employees.How would you handle the following
You decide to take a telephone survey of 100 families with children in Manchester to learn how community services facilitate the combination of work and childcare. You want a good representation of
In the following situations, decide whether you would use a personal interview, telephone survey or self-administered questionnaire. Give your reasons.a A survey of the residents of a new suburb on
In recent years, in-home personal interviews have grown more costly and more difficult to complete. Suppose, however, you have a project in which you need to talk with people in their homes. What
Assume you are planning to interview shoppers in a shopping centre about their views on increased food prices and what the government should do about them.In what different ways might you try to
Based on your present or past work experience, suggest problems that could be resolved by using observation-based data.
Distinguish between the following:a the relative value of communication and observation b non-verbal, linguistic and extra–linguistic analysis c factual and inferential observation.
Discuss how the problem of non-response can affect the results of analyses based on randomly selected samples, and how these problems can eventually be eased.
Using Exhibit 6.7 as your guide, for each sampling technique describe the sampling frame for a study of employers’ skill requirements of new employees using the industry in which you are currently
How would you draw a cluster sample among students at your university?
Design a non-probability sample of students at your university that is representative.
Your large firm is facing its first union negotiation. Your superior wants an accurate evaluation of the morale of its large number of computer technicians. What size sample would you draw if it was
You wish to adjust your sample calculations to reflect the fact that there are only 2,500 students in your population. How does this additional information affect your estimated sample size in
You wish to take an unrestricted random sample of undergraduate students at Lake University to ascertain their levels of spending per month on food purchased off–campus and eaten on the premises
A Vietnamese sports shoemaker produces shoes in two grades for the European and Russian markets. European retailers require the size labelling to be precise, while for the Russian market it does not
Your task is to interview a representative sample of attendees for the large concert venue where you work. The new-season schedule includes 200 live concerts featuring all types of musicians and
You draw a random sample of 300 employee records from the personnel file and find that the average length of service per employee is 6.3.a Can you derive from this information how reliable the mean
Under what kind of conditions would you recommend the following:a A probability sample? A non-probability sample?b A simple random sample? A cluster sample? A stratified sample?c Using the finite
Distinguish between:a statistic and parameter b sample frame and population c restricted and unrestricted sampling d simple random and complex random sampling e convenience and purposive sampling f
Indicate the unit of analysis (individual, group, organization, etc.)suggested by the following statements:a Over the last 30 years, the average size of companies in the UK has declined.b Company
Explain the concept of unit of analysis. What is it? What problems do you encounter when you have to define it?
Discuss the following provocative statements:a Qualitative research is very much like telling stories in the local pub.b Quantitative research is a sub-branch of higher mathematics – nice for some
Use the eight design descriptors in Exhibit 5.2 to profile the research described in the Research Methods in Real Life in this chapter.
Is it wise to combine qualitative and quantitative research within a student’s research project?
Propose one or more hypotheses for each of the following variable pairs, specifying which is the IV and which is the DV. Then develop the basic hypothesis to include at least one moderating variable
You are the administrative assistant for a division chief in a large holding company that owns several hotels and theme parks. You and the division chief have just come from the chief executive’s
Discuss the caveats of matching.
Discuss why the random assignment to an experimental and control group excludes alternative explanations.
Researchers seek causal relationships by either experimental or ex-post facto research designs.a In what ways are these two methods similar?b In what ways are they different?
Using yourself as the subject, give an example of each of the following asymmetrical relationships:a stimulus-response b property–disposition c disposition–behaviour d property–behaviour.
‘With statistics you can prove everything’ and ‘I only trust statistics that I faked myself ’ are well-known sayings. The rules of good research are often bent to produce evidence in support
Several websites on the Internet provide broad catalogues of Master’s research projects at reasonable prices and others even offer Master’s research projects on demand. Is there something wrong
SupplyCo is a supplier to a number of firms in an industry. This industry has a structure that includes suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and consumers. Several companies are involved in the
It was John’s first year of college teaching, and there were no summer teaching assignments available to new employees. However, the university was kind enough to steer him towards an aviation
The city commissioners of Miro Beach proposed limits on boaters who anchor offshore in waterfront areas of the St. Lucinda River adjoining the city. Residents had complained of pollution from
When the manager for market intelligence of AutoCorp, a major automotive manufacturer, boarded a plane in Stuttgart, her mind was on shrinking market share and late product announcements. As she
Name the basic ethical considerations when conducting research and whom (you as researcher, research community, research sponsors or research participants) they affect.
A common problem for students starting off on a Master’s research project is that they cannot track down the relevant literature. Given the thousands of studies published every year in the field of
Brainstorm within your class or sub-groups useful search terms that could be employed to start a literature search for the following problem statements:a Who becomes an entrepreneur and what does it
Write a critical review:a on a published book ar article b on a paper of a fellow student c on an unpublished manuscript (ask your lecturer or look for working paper series at your university).
Choose a field that you would like to review and:a draft the outline of the review b select the literature that, according to you, must be included.
Using Exhibits 3.8, 3.9 and 3.10, state a research question and then plan a bibliographic and web search.
If you have written your own literature review for a research problem in which you have an interest, do you think conducting a meta analysis on the literature covered in your narrative review would
How do you decide which literature should be included in a review?
What are promising search strategies?
How can you structure your critique in a critical review?
What is meant by ‘critical’ in a critical review?
Describe the objective, advantages and disadvantages of meta analysis.
Describe, briefly, the different steps in the literature review process.
Define the distinctions between primary and secondary literature.
The educational board of your faculty is considering changing the rules for writing a research project. One suggestion is that students have to write a research proposal (about five pages), which is
Using Exhibit 2.3 as your guide, what modules would you suggest be included in a proposal for each of the following cases?a A bank interested in evaluating the effectiveness of its community
Compare the example of a good proposal with a bad proposal, which is available at the Online Resource Centre (ORC).
Select an article from a scientific management journal. Outline a proposal for the research as if it had not yet been performed. Make estimates of time and costs. Generate a CPM schedule for the
Develop a memo proposal for a research study in which 300 interviews are conducted to address the management question you defined in question 9.
Develop the management research question hierarchy (see Exhibits 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4), citing management dilemma, management question and research question(s) for each of the following:a the production
You are manager of research in a large department store chain.Develop a list of criteria for evaluating the types of research activities listed below. Include a point scale and weighting algorithm.a
Consider the new trends in desktop publishing, multimedia computer authoring and display capabilities, and inexpensive videotaping and playback possibilities. How might these be used to enhance
You are the new manager of market intelligence in a rapidly expanding software firm. Many product managers and corporate officers have requested market surveys from you on various products.Design a
Based on an analysis of the last six months’ sales, your boss notices that sales of beef products are declining in your chain’s restaurants.As beef entrée sales decline, so do profits. Fearing
You have been approached by the editor of Gentlemen’s Magazine to carry out a research study. The magazine has been unsuccessful in attracting shoe manufacturers as advertisers. When members of the
Confronted by low productivity, the president of Oaks Ltd asks a research company to study job satisfaction in the corporation. What are some of the important reasons for which this research project
A company is experiencing a poor inventory management situation and receives alternative research proposals. Proposal 1 is to use an audit of last year’s transactions as a basis for
Business decisions are often taken under immense time pressure. Often, there is just not enough time to collect information based on good research. Discuss which criteria of good research you would
Suppose you are part of an international team of social experts asked to assess the organizational culture within a large life insurance company.All class members born in the months January–June
Using Exhibits 1.5 and 1.6 as a guide, draw up graphs to illustrate the inductions and deductions in the following statements. (If there are gaps, supply what is needed to make them complete
Apply the principles in Exhibit 1.1 to the research scenario in question 8.
You are the office manager of a large firm that prides itself on its highquality customer service. Lately, complaints have surfaced which reveal that an increasing number of incoming calls are being
As area sales manager for a company that manufactures and markets outboard engines, you have been assigned the responsibility of conducting a research study to estimate the sales potential of your
You have received the results of a research report carried out by a consultant on behalf of your firm, a life insurance company. The study is a survey of morale in the home office and covers the
The new president of an old, established company is facing a problem.The company is currently unprofitable and is, in the president’s opinion, operating inefficiently. The company sells a wide
Advise each of the following people on a specific research study that he or she might find useful. Classify each proposed study as reporting, descriptive, explanatory or predictive.a When the
You are manager of the European division of a major corporation, supervising five animal feed plants scattered over four counties.Corporate headquarters asks you to conduct an investigation to
A human resources manager needs information in order to help him or her decide whether to create a ‘custom-built’ motivation programme or purchase one offered by a human resources consulting
An automobile manufacturer observes demand for its brand increasing as per capita income increases. Sales increases also follow low interest rates, which ease credit conditions. Buyer purchase
In your company’s management development programme there was a heated discussion between some people who claimed that ‘Theory is impractical and thus no good’ and others who claimed that
Listed below are some terms commonly found in a management setting.Are they concepts or constructs? Give two different operational definitions for each.a First-line supervisor b employee morale c
Describe the basic principles and assumptions of positivism and interpretivism.
Distinguish among the following sets of items, and suggest the significance of each in a research context.a concept and construct b deduction and induction c operational definition and dictionary
What is the difference between applied and basic or pure research? Use a decision about how a salesperson is to be paid, by commission or salary, and describe the question that would guide applied
What is research? Why should there be any question about the definition of research?
13 At an Apple press event, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announces the iPad, a new mobile device that is a half-inch thin and weighs 1.5 pounds; plays movies, music, and TV shows; and acts as an e-reader. It
12 You are preparing to give a research presentation about the effectiveness of Toyota’s advertising to restore public confi dence in the wake of their delays in solving the accelerator pedal
11 You are creating slides for a presentation that is being given to seek a research contract with a leading toy manufacturer. Considering the following aspects of your presentation (introduction,
10 Using Exhibit 21-9 , choose an appropriate graphing technique to show the difference between men’s and women’s attitudes on the top fi ve Super Bowl ads. (You can fi nd this listing on
9 In your presentation to a venture capital company, you are pitching your research plan for a smartphone application that does short-term cash fl ow forecasts. Describe how you would use each type
8 How did the Henry & Associates presentation:a Perform an audience analysis?b Engage the audience?
7 Every presentation has its purpose. What was the purpose of Henry & Associates presentation to MindWriter?
6 Your class team in research methods has completed a fi eld project for a fi nancial institution on branch location effectiveness. What questions about audience analysis should you answer as you
5 Outline a set of visual aids that you might use in an oral presentation on these topics:a How to write a research report.b The outlook for the economy over the next year.c A major analytical
4 The day before your presentation, you are suffering from pounding heart, a slight tremor in your hands, and stomach problems. What specifi c measures can you take to build your confi dence and
3 What are the three types of learners, and how is the presentation different for each of these groups in your audience?
2 Describe the differences among logos, ethos, and pathos and their uses for the research presentation.
1 Distinguish between the following:a Impromptu speaking and an extemporaneous presentation.b The motivated sequence and the cause/effect/solution pattern of organization.c The rule of three in
8 Why practice is an essential ingredient to success and how to do it; and, what needs to be assembled and checked to be certain that arrangements for the occasion and venue are ready.
7 Discuss The importance of delivery to getting and holding the audience’s attention.
6 How profi ciency in research presentations requires designing good visuals and knowing how use them effectively.

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