COURSE PLAN(C)

FACULTY & PROGRAM

From : February 2018 – June 2018

Course Title : Business Research Methods

Course Code : BADB3023
Credits : 3 credits
Contact Hours Per Week : 3.5 hours
Delivery Methods : Lectures, Tutorial and online facilitation
Pre-requisite : Statistical Methods
Course Leader : Abdul Aziz bin Mohamed
Faculty/ School : FBTA
Course Location : UNITAR International University
Venue : See Class Schedule
Day : See Class Schedule
Time : See Class Schedule
Telephone : 03-7627 7927
E-mail : aziz@unitar.my

This document comprises the following:

 Introduction of the modules

 Learning objective & learning outcome
 Course requirement and policies
 Module Rules & Regulations
 Course Assessment
 Calendar Schedule

Other documents as follows will be issued to you on an ongoing basis throughout the semester via
UNIEC:
 Syllabus + Lecture Outline
 Handouts for Assignments
 Submission Requirements + Guidelines

INTRODUCTION:
The student will learn the ontological and epistemological arguments for research methods. This
course will provide students with the understanding of each step of a research project from
identifying and framing a research question, developing a theoretical framework, designing a
measurement instrument to collect data and analyzing and drawing conclusions from the data
collected.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
The objective of this course is to enable students to develop analytical skills as well as translate a
management problem into a feasible research question and formulate hypothesis based on a
strong foundation of the particular theoretical/conceptual framework. Subsequently, the student
will learn about data gathering process and data analysis techniques to test their hypothesis.
Finally, the students will learn about how best to present their findings, both orally as well as in
writing.

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 COURSE PLAN(C)
FACULTY & PROGRAM
From : February 2018 – June 2018

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this semester, students should be able to perform the following:
 explain the characteristics of scientific research.
 formulate a research problem and theoretical framework.
 write hypothesis statements.
 develop measurement instruments.
 test the validity and reliability of measurement instruments.
 choose appropriate tests to analyse the data collected.

COURSE STRUCTURE:

Contact hours : 42
No. of weeks : 12 weeks
Lectures/Tutorials/Online Facilitation : 12 lectures / 6 Hours - Online Facilitations
No. of assignments : 3 Assignment
No. of test / exam : 2 tests and 1 final exam

COURSE POLICY/ATTENDANCE POLICY

Students are required to abide by the university’s Academic Regulation pertaining to all matters
during their course of study. Learners are advised to take note that class attendance is very
important. Learners who do not meet the attendance requirement will be barred from sitting for
the final examination.

COURSE ASSESMENT:
( will be based on TOC )

Assessment Description Issue Date Due Date %

Assignment 1 (Chapter 1 and 2) W1 W5 10%
Assignment 2 (Chapter 3 and 4)) W1 W9 10%
Assignment 3 (Chapter 5) W1 W11 10%
Test 1 W6 10%
Test 2 W10 10%
Final Exam W13 & W 14 50%
TOTAL 100%

You are expected to fulfill the following requirements of the course to obtain a grade:
 Assignment 1, 2 and 3 (Report) (30%); Chapter I (Introduction); Chapter 2 (Literature
Review); Chapter 3 (Theoretical Framework); Chapter 4 (Research Design); Chapter 5
(Data analysis, Conclusion and Discussion).

There will be 3 assignments in this semester. Please refer to UNIEC for details of project/assignment.

 There will be TWO (2) tests in this semester. Each test is worth 10%. Please refer to UNIEC for
details.

 Final Examination (50%)

Final examination coverage will be announced by course leader. Students may refer to the
test plan posted UNIEC for coverage. Students who are unable to sit for the exam on the
stipulated date must produce necessary document(s) to enable themselves to sit for special
exam. All arrangements must be made through the Exam Unit.

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 COURSE PLAN(C)
FACULTY & PROGRAM
From : February 2018 – June 2018

GENERAL GRADING

RANGE MARK GRADE QUALITY POINT LEVEL OF

EQUIVALENT ACHIEVEMENT
90 – 100 A+ 4.00 Distinction
80 – 89 A 4.00 Distinction
75 – 79 A- 3.75 Distinction
70 – 74 B+ 3.50 Merit
65 – 69 B 3.00 Merit
60 – 64 B- 2.75 Merit
55 – 59 C+ 2.50 Satisfactory
50-54 C 2.25 Satisfactory
45-49 C- 2.00 Pass
40-44 D 1.50 Redeemable Pass
35 - 39 E 1.00 Fail
0 - 34 F 0.00 Fail

COURSE CONTENTS/ SLT (CONVENTIONAL)

Course Contents

Assignment
Facilitation

Self-study

Total SLT
Lecture

(Hours)
Tutorial

Search
Library
Online

Exam
Topic 1: Introduction to business research and
philosophy of science; Skepticism—
Rationalism—Empiricism; Deductive vs
2 1 2 2
Inductive rational approach; Types of research;
Qualitative vs Quantitative research

Topic 2: Research process of the Hypothetico-

Deductive approach: Background—Literature
Review—Theoretical Framework and
Hypothesis—Research Design—Data 3 1 2 2
Collection, Analysis and Conclusion
Constructing problem statement
3 25 120
Topic 3: Literature review—Related research
and Related literature; Research question and
research objectives; theoretical framework and 3 1 2 2
hypothesis development

Topic 4: Research design: Purpose, Settings

(contrived vs non contrived), data collection
3 1 3 3
method (cross sectional verses longitudinal)

Topic 5: Measurement of variables and scaling

Reliability tests and validity tests; 3 1 3 3
operationalization of variables; levels of

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 COURSE PLAN(C)
FACULTY & PROGRAM
From : February 2018 – June 2018

measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval and

ratio); dimensions of variables; dependent—
independent—moderating—mediating
variables

Topic 6: Sampling Techniques: Random verses

Non-random; sampling size 2 1 3 3

Topic 7: Measurement Instrument

development: Rating verses Ranking;
Dichotomous scale, Categorical scale, Likert
type scale, Semantic Differential;
3 1 3 3
Data analysis: Types of analysis depends on
level of measurement

Topic 8: Data analysis and interpretation

3 1 3 3
Topic 9: Qualitative research: grounded theory
and case study 2 2 2 2

Topic 10: Qualitative research: phenomenology

and ethnography 2 1 2 2

TOTAL HOURS 26 10 6 25 25 3 25 120

MAIN REFERENCE
Sekaran, . & Bougie.R.. Research Methods for Business: A Skill Building Approach. latest ed., New
York : John Wiley & Sons.

Sheridan J.Coakes, Lyndall G.Steed. SPSS Analysis Without Anguish: Version latest For Windows,
John Wiley & Sons.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES/COMPULSORY READING

Graziano, A. M. and Raulin, M. L. Research Methods: A Process of Inquiry, latest ed. Pearson
International Ed. (Boston).

Zikmund, W. G., Babin, B. J., Carr, J. C. and Griffin, M. Business Research Methods, latest ed. South-
Western Cengage Learning (Canada).

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 COURSE PLAN(C)
FACULTY & PROGRAM
From : February 2018 – June 2018

COURSE CONTENTS (CONVENTIONAL)

TOPICS WEEK FACE ONLINE HANDOUT/ DEADLINES/

TO FACILITITATION ASSESSMENTS/
FACE INDUSTRY TALK/ REMARKS

Topic 1: Introduction to business Week 1 Lecture,

research and philosophy of Discussion,
science activity

Topic 2: Research process Week 2 Lecture,

Discussion

Topic 3: Literature review and Week 3 Lecture,

Theoretical framework and Discussion,
Hypothesis development activity Online forum 1

Topic 4: Research design Week 4-5 Lecture,

Discussion

Topic 5: Measurement of Week 6 Lecture,

variables and scaling Discussion, Assignment 1 due
activity

Topic 6: Sampling Techniques Week 7 Lecture,

Discussion,
Test 1
activity

Topic 7: Measurement Instrument Week 8 Lecture,

development Discussion,
Online forum 2
activity

Topic 8: Data analysis and Week 9 Lecture,

interpretation Discussion,
Assignment 2 due
activity

Topic 9: Quantitative research: Week 10 Lab exercise

Introduction, grounded theory
Test 2
and case study

Topic 10: Quantitative research: Lecture,

Phenomenology and Discussion, Assignment 3 due
Week 11 activity
Ethnography

Final Examination Week 13 & week 14

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

None

Prepared by : Verified by (Deputy Dean) :

Signature : Date: Signature : Date:

Review by (HOD): Approved by (Dean):

Signature : Date: Signature : Date:

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