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Business Research Methods: Chapter Nineteen

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38 views29 pages

Business Research Methods: Chapter Nineteen

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Uploaded by

mohammad hossain
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CHAPTER NINETEEN

Business Research
Methods

McGraw-Hill/Irwin © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


OVERVIEW
Primary and secondary research differences
Direct and indirect library research
Online searches
Evaluating websites
Methods for gathering primary data
Analyzing and interpreting data for your reader
Two Basic Forms of Research
Secondary
Secondary research is research with data compiled and
interpreted by someone else. It is usually library and
online research.

Primary
Primary research uses data compiled and interpreted
firsthand by the writer.
Finding Publication Collections

Types of Libraries
General Libraries
Special Libraries
 Private business libraries
 Association libraries
 Public and private research organization libraries
Finding Publication Collections

Directories
 The American Library Directory -- a geographic listing of libraries in the
US and Canada
 The Research Centers Directory -- a listing of research activities,
publications, and services. Supplemented between editions by New
Research Centers
 The Directory of Special Libraries and Information Centers a
comprehensive three-volume guide to special library collections. Volumes
cover contents, services, and addresses of 23,000 special libraries and
centers.
Sources for Direct Access
 Encyclopedias
 Biographical Directories
 Almanacs
 Trade Directories
 Government Publications
 Dictionaries
 Statistical Sources
 Business Information Services
 International Sources
Sources for Indirect Access
The Online Catalog
Online Databases
The Internet
Search Engines—single, meta, and specialized
Personal Agents
Boolean Search Problem Example

To find sources on advertising other than television


by attorneys or lawyers.
Step Operator Sample Result

1 OR
Lawyer Attorney Set 1

2 NOT Advertising Television Set 2

3 AND
Set 1 Set 2 Set 3=Solution
Expanding and Limiting Searches
 If you have too few citations
 Add a synonym for your major terms
 Check for incorrect spelling
 Truncate major terms to pick up variations

 If you have too many citations


 Combine using AND with another term or concept
 Check descriptors of good hits and drop terms not used in them
 Specify dates or other limitations
 Consider narrowing with NOT
Evaluating Websites
No widely adopted standards are currently followed.
Search engine biases are not widely understood and change
with policy and algorithm updates.
One solution is to link only through trustworthy collection sites.
A better solution is to hone evaluation skills by habitually
looking at each site’s
 purpose,
 provider’s qualifications,
 content validity, and
 structure.
Primary Sources
Company Records
Experiment
Observation
Survey Research
Before-After Design
Experiments

Select experimental group

Measure variable
Difference in
measurements could
Inject experimental factor be caused by the
experimental factor

Measure variable
Controlled Before-After Design
Experiments

Select experimental group


Select control group

Measure variable Measure variable


Attribute difference Attribute
in measurement to difference in
Inject experimental experimental factor measurement
factor
plus other to other
influences. influences only.
Measure variable Measure variable
Good Plan Brings Good Results
Survey

Use a good sample -- one that controls for


sampling error and bias
Use good survey design -- one that is valid
and reliable
Types of Samples
Probability Random
Samples based on chance selection. Stratified
Random
Every element in the population has a
Systematic
known nonzero probability of selection.
Area or Cluster

Nonprobability
Samples based on an unknown Convenience
probability of any one of the population Quota
being chosen. Referral
Survey Design Phases
Constructing the Questionnaire
Selecting theManner of Questioning
Developing a Working Plan
Conducting a Pilot Study
Evaluating and Reporting Data
Basic Rules for Constructing
Questionnaires
Avoid leading questions.
Make the questions easy to understand.
Avoid questions that touch on personal prejudices and pride.
Seek facts as much as possible.
Ask only for information that can be remembered.
Plan the physical layout with foresight.
Use scaling when appropriate.
Manners of Questioning
Personal
Telephone
Mail/Email/Web
Planning and Testing
Develop a working plan that anticipates possible
problems.
Conduct a pilot test for your questionnaire and
working plan.
Modify the plan and questionnaire for use in the
full-scale survey
Evaluating/Reporting Results
Have the methods of collecting facts been presented clearly?
Are the sources reliable?
Are the conclusions drawn supported by the data presented
and without bias?
Are there any gaps or holes in the research?
Are the results presented accurately and clearly for the
reader?
Is the report complete and honest?
“Nothing in the world can take the place
of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is
more common than unsuccessful men
with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded
genius is almost a proverb. Education
will not; the world is full of educated
derelicts. Persistence and determination
alone are omnipotent.”
--Calvin Coolidge

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