Lincoln University
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Title: Business Research Methodology
Course Number: BA 306
Credit: 3 Units
Prerequisite(s): None
Co-requisites: None
Instructor: Dr. Sylvia Y. Schoemaker Rippel
Blog and online content to be announced in class.
Instructional Materials and References
REQUIRED TEXT:
Sekaran, Uma. (2003). Research methods for business: A skill-building approach. (4th Ed.) Hoboken, N. J.: Wiley.
RECOMMENDED TEXT:
Business Communication Handbook
COURSE DESCRIPTION
BA 306 - BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The course objective is to prepare the student for the later BA 399, MBA Research Project. Emphasis is on practical work and not on memorizing or deriving formulas. Ethical aspects of research are featured. Each student is expected to develop understanding and practice in research techniques, writing of short reports, use of statistical tools and presentation techniques, preparation of effective tables and diagrams, as well as footnotes and bibliographical references. (3 units)
OBJECTIVES
Primary BA 306 objectives are for students to
1. Acquire skills to locate problem areas in organizational settings, and plan, organize, design, and conduct research to help solve the identified problems;
2. Get conversant with the use of statistical analysis and computer programs;
3. Be able to write and present research reports; and
4. Develop skills and knowledge to discriminate "good" from "bad" research reported in academic, business, and trade journals.
FORMAT
The course sessions will include presentation, discussion, and application modes.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Students are expected to attend class, to participate in individual and group work in a productive manner, to complete assignments according to schedule and at a level appropriate to university rubrics, and to take personal responsibility for meeting the objectives of the course.
For each of the units on schedule below (as well as additional assignments given in class), students will do the following:
· Read assigned materials with care and understanding,
· Complete and present selected exercises relevant to the class and text materials
· Reflect on the assignments in writing, addressing primary content and points of personal interest,
· Create a personalized, three-level map for each week’s assignment using the open source program Freemind (downloadable from http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
· Blog your work for sharing and presentations.
Note: The maps for your blog need to be in graphic (.png or .jpg) format and you will need to save the native Freemind (.mm) format for submitting your work to me by email.
Assignments are due on the dates indicated in the schedule below. Additions/revisions to the schedule will be announced in class as needed. Class attendance is mandatory for content, interactions, and presentations. Researched materials must be documented using a consistent style for both in-text and end-text citations of sources using the published standards of the most recent subject-appropriate style guide, such as APA (social sciences) or MLA (humanities), for example.
SCHEDULE
| Day | Session | Date | Time | Unit | Chapter |
| Saturday | 1 | 5/22/2010 | 3pm-4:50pm | Introduction | Chapter 1: Introduction to Research |
| " | 2 | " | 5pm-7pm | Scientific Investigation | Chapter 2: Scientific Investigation |
| Sunday | 3 | 5/23/2010 | 11am-2:00pm | Technology and Research | Chapter 3: Computer Technology and Business Research |
| " | 4 | " | 3pm-7pm | Research Process I | Chapter 4: The Research Process : Steps 1 -3 |
| Monday | 5 | 5/24/2010 | 6pm-7:15pm | Research Process II | Chapter 5: The Research Process : Steps 4 & 5 |
| " | 6 | " | 7:30pm-9pm | Research Process III Experimental Design | Chapter 6: The Research Process : Step 6 Chapter 7: Experimental Designs |
| Tuesday | 7 | 5/25/2010 | 6pm -7:15pm | Review Presentations | Group and Individual Assignments |
| " | 8 | " | 7:30pm-9:30pm | Midterm Presentations | Group and Individual Assignments |
| Wednesday | 5/26/2010 | NO CLASS | |||
| Thursday | 9 | 5/27/2010 | 6pm-7:15 | Measurement | Chapter 8: Measurement of Variables Chapter 9: Measurement: Scaling, Reliability, Validity |
| " | 10 | " | 7:30pm-9pm | Data Collection | Chapter 10: Data Collection Methods |
| Friday | 11 | 5/28/2010 | 6pm-7:15pm | Sampling Data Analysis | Chapter 11: Sampling Chapter 12: Data Analysis and Interpretation |
| " | 12 | " | 7:30pm-9:30pm | Research Report Decision-Making | Chapter 13: The Research Report Chapter 14: Managerial Decision -Making and Research |
| Saturday | 13 | 5/29/2010 | 9am-1pm | Review Presentations | Group and Individual Assignments |
| " | 14 | " | 2pm -7pm | Review Presentations | Group and Individual Assignments |
| Sunday | 15 | 5/30/2010 | 11am-1pm | Final Presentations | Group and Individual Assignments |
| 16 | " | 2pm-4pm | Final Presentations | Group and Individual Assignments |
Students will demonstrate their level of achievement through appropriate and accurate application of critical thinking theory, including problem-solving, analysis, and decision-making criteria in approaching and solving text, classroom, and real-world exercises, individually and as group participants.
100-95 | A |
94-90 | A- |
89-87 | B+ |
86-84 | B |
83-80 | B- |
79-77 | C+ |
76-74 | C |
73-70 | C- |
69-67 | D+ |
66-64 | D |
63-60 | D- |
59 or < | F |
| Class Participation | 15% | |
| Quizzes | 10% | |
| Projects | 15% | |
| Term Paper | 30% | |
| Presentation | 10% | |
| Final Exam | 20% | |
| Total | 100% | |
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