Business Research Methods Dr.

Nguyen Quynh Mai

THE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

VNU-HCM

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

BUSINESS RESEARCH METHOD

Business Research Methods Dr. Nguyen Quynh Mai

COURSE GUIDELINE June 2012

Business Research Methods Dr. Nguyen Quynh Mai

CONTENT
COURSE STAFF..............................................................................................................................4 INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURSE......................................................................................4 Teaching times and Locations...........................................................................................................4 Perquisite and Parallel courses..........................................................................................................4 Relationship of this course to other course offerings.......................................................................4 Approach to learning and teaching...................................................................................................5 COURSE OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES..................................................................................5 Course objectives...............................................................................................................................5 Student learning and outcomes ........................................................................................................5 Teaching Strategies............................................................................................................................5 STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT......................................................................6 Workload ...........................................................................................................................................6 Attendance ........................................................................................................................................6 General Conduct and Behavior.........................................................................................................6 Keeping informed..............................................................................................................................6 LEARNING ASSESSMENT............................................................................................................6 Assessment details ............................................................................................................................6 Assignment Submission Procedure ................................................................................................10 Late submission ..............................................................................................................................10 Assignment Format.........................................................................................................................11 ACADEMIC HONESTY AND PLAGIARISM ...........................................................................11 STUDENT RESOURCES...............................................................................................................11 Course Resources............................................................................................................................11 COURSE SCHEDULE ..................................................................................................................12

Business Research Methods Dr. Nguyen Quynh Mai

COURSE STAFF
Teaching Staff: Room: Phone: Email: Consultant times: Tutor: Room: Phone: Email: Consultant times: Dr. Nguyen Quynh Mai O 207 (84-8) 37 244 270 ext. 3230 nqmai@hcmiu.edu.vn To be advised/ also by appointment TBA

INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURSE

Teaching times and Locations Week 16 Activity Lecture Lecture 7 Final Exam Day Tue Fri Time 1 4 pm 1 4 pm Room A 201 A 201 Note

1.2. Units of Credit UOC value for the course: 3 Perquisite and Parallel courses Pre-requisite: Statistics for Business This course is offered for senior students only (final year) who are ready for doing thesis Relationship of this course to other course offerings This course combines the knowledge of all courses (especially the courses of your specialization) and research methodology theories (that will be provided in this course) to solve a real project/ problem

Business Research Methods Dr. Nguyen Quynh Mai

Approach to learning and teaching The teaching and learning adopted in this course is learner-center, and consequently, requires active student participation and contribution. Through a range of interactive activities and teaching strategies, it seeks to engage students in the learning. It also seeks to facilitate independent learning through individual tasks and research, and fosters collaborative learning through a range of group activities. It considers prior learning through a range of group activities.

COURSE OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES

Course objectives This course seeks to: - provide student with a good understanding of business research, and - equip student with the practical tools and skills to conduct business research Student learning and outcomes By the end of the course, students are expected to have attained proficiency in the following areas: - distinguish between good research and research that falls short of professional quality - appreciate the value of learning research process skills - identify and formulate research questions and hypotheses - write and critically evaluate research proposals - identify ethical issues and research and understand the need to adhere to ethical guidelines when conducting research - understand and apply the major types of research designs - understand relationships that exist between variables in research design and steps for evaluating those relationships - plan and collect sample data for a research project - understand and evaluate content, criterion-related and construct validity and reliability - understand the various scale formats for measurement and how to construct each - develop survey instruments and conduct survey research - design and conduct qualitative studies - collect, code and analyze various types of data - explore, display and examine data - present research results via both written and oral reports Teaching Strategies The teaching and learning approach in this course is highly inter-active, requiring student participation and contribution. To this end, and prior to each class, students must: - Download the weekly lecture and tutorial outline from the course website through Blackboard http://bb.hcmiu.edu.vn:8080 and/ or class email. Pls. note that the Lecture Notes will be posted before each class. - Prepare your weekly readings (from the textbook and other distributed course materials) - Prepare your responses to set discussion questions and cases - Be prepared to participate in the class discussions, group work The general format of classes in this course will be as follows (with some variations) 5

Business Research Methods Dr. Nguyen Quynh Mai

Lecturing Student presentation & discussion Group Project

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT

Workload It is expected that you will spend at least 8 hours per week studying this course. This time should be made up of reading, working on individual assignment, group assignment and attending class lectures. In periods where you need to complete assignment or prepare for examinations, the workload may be greater. Attendance Your regular and punctual attendance at lectures and related seminar (if any) is expected in this course. University regulations indicate that if students attend less than 80% of scheduled classes they may be refused final assessment. Regular attendance is essential for successful performance and learning in this course, particular in view of the interactive teaching and learning approach adopted. Please inform your lecture if you are unable to attend the class, and arrange for a classmate to collect any handouts. General Conduct and Behavior You are expected to conduct yourself with considerable and respect for the needs of your fellow students and teaching staff. Conduct that unduly disrupts or interferes with a class, such as ringing, or talking on mobile phones, or chatting on internet, is nor acceptable and students may be asked to leave the class. Keeping informed You should take note of all announcements made in lectures, tutorials or on the course website. From time to time, the University will send important announcements to your through website, course website and/ or Announcement Board (of School of Business and/ or Academic Affair) without providing you with a paper copy. You will be deemed to have received this information.

LEARNING ASSESSMENT
Assessment details To pass this course, student must: - attempt ALL THREE assessment tasks - submit/ complete all assessment tasks on time - attain an overall pass mark of 50% in the course

Business Research Methods Dr. Nguyen Quynh Mai

Assessment Tasks:
Tasks 1. Individual Assignment - Individual Assignment 1 - Individual Assignment 2 1. Group Assignment Midterm: Project Proposal Final: Project Results 3. Final Test Note: Students have to fulfill all individual assignments, if you lack of any of them, you are not allowed to attend the final exam Assignment: 30% Midterm: 20% Final: 50% Marks 15% 15% 20% 20% 30% Due dates Week 2 Week 5 Week 4 (Group presentation) Week 7 (Paper submit) Week 7

DETAIL INSTRUCTIONS FOR ASSIGNMENTS: 1. INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENTS ASSIGNMENT 1: RESEARCH IDEAS (1 2 pages A4) You are supposed to write your own research topic. In your paper, you should have: (a) Research title (b) A brief description of the research topic: What you want to do? Why you need to conduct this research? How you plan to do it? (c) Backgrounds and rationale: Why do you want to do your study? Why it is necessary? Due date: Students are required to submit this assignment on week 2 (Fri, Jun 15). ASSIGNMENT 2: METHODOLOGY AND PROPOSAL (3 4 pages A4) Basing on your research topic, you are required to design the research approach and Data collection Method to conduct the research. What you will do to address your research questions? Which study design you will use? How do you choose the target sample and how large is that sample? What are the inclusive and exclusive criteria? You also need to suggest how you will go and collect the data. Then make the full proposal for the research topic you chose. The proposal should include: a. Research project title b. c. d. e.
f.

Introduction Aims and purposes Backgrounds and rationales Significance and Implications Research approach and Data collection methods Expected outcomes

g.

Business Research Methods Dr. Nguyen Quynh Mai

Due date: Students are required to submit this assignment on week 5 (Friday, July 6).

Business Research Methods Dr. Nguyen Quynh Mai

2. GROUP ASSIGNMENT The project is designed for a group of up to five students. Your syndicate group is asked to propose and conduct a full research. The proposal will be presented within 10 minutes plus 10 minutes for questions and should describe what, when, where and how you will conduct your research. In addition, your proposal should have some general modules: Research project title Introduction, problem statement Aims and Purposes (Research Objectives) Specific aims Hypothesis Background and rationales Significances and Implications Literature review Methodology Research process Study design Target sample Sample size Data collecting

Due date: you are required to make the fist presentation in week 4 and submit report one week later. You could modify your proposal based on your colleges opinions and suggestions during your presentation. This presentation will be considered as midterm test. Based on the research proposal conducted before, your group is expected to develop a complete research. Your complete research should be outlined into sections below: INTRODUCTION Research title Backgrounds and Rationales Problem Statement Aims and Purposes (Research Objectives) 9

Business Research Methods Dr. Nguyen Quynh Mai

Research scopes and Limitations Significances and Implications of the study LITERATURE REVIEW METHODOLOGY Research Process Research Approach Sampling selection Data collection method FINDINGS ANALYSIS & DISCUSSION CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS REFERENCES APPENDIX

Due date: July 27 3. FINAL TEST The final test will be 90 minutes in length during Final Exam Period and account for 30% of total grade. It will be in the form of essay (problems/ criticized). This is OPEN book test

Grading
The letter grade will be followed by the University suggested rule: 90-100: A+, 80-90: A, 70 80: B+, 65 70: B, 55 65: C+, 50 55: C, 30 - <50: D+, 10 - <30: D Assignment Submission Procedure It is essential that you submit all your assignment tasks on time via the appropriate procedures. You should submit your written assignment to the tutor or lecturer in the beginning of class that your group will present. Procedure i) Attach a copy of the Assignment Cover Sheet to be found at the end of this document ii) Make the copy of the assignment for safe keeping iii) Hand in your assignment to the tutor or lecturer iv) You may not submit assignment via email or by fax Late submission Request for late submission of assignments or absent in the session that your group will present must be made in writing to the course lecturer. Extensions will be granted on medical grounds 10

Business Research Methods Dr. Nguyen Quynh Mai

only, or on compassionate grounds under special circumstances. Medical certificates or other supporting documents may be required. Late submissions may incur a penalty of 5% of the assignment mark per day. Assignment Format See page 10

ACADEMIC HONESTY AND PLAGIARISM *

The University regards plagiarism as a form of academic misconduct, and has very strict rules regarding plagiarism. Plagiarism is the presentation of the thoughts or work of another as ones own. Examples include: - direct duplication of the thoughts or work of another, including by copying work, or knowingly permitting it to be copied. This includes copying material. Ideas or concepts from a book, article, report or other written document (whether published or unpublished), composition, artwork, design, drawing, circuitry, computer program or software, web site, Internet, other electronic resource, or another persons assignment without appropriate acknowledgement; - paraphrasing another persons work with very minor changes keeping the meaning, form and/ or progression of ideas of the original; - piecing together sections of the work of others into a new whole; - presenting an assessment item as independent work when it has been produced in whole or part in collusion with other people, for example, another student or a tutor; The inclusion of the thoughts or work of another with attribution appropriate to the academic discipline does not amount to plagiarism. Students are also reminded that careful time management is an important part of study and one of the identified causes of plagiarism is poor time management. Students should allow sufficient time for research, drafting and the proper referencing of sources in preparing all assessment items.

STUDENT RESOURCES
Course Resources The following text and references are essential for the course. Textbook: 1. John W. Creswell (2009). Research Design. 3rd Ed. Sage Publication 2. Cooper, R.D. & Schindler, S.P. (2006). Business Research Methods. 9th Ed. McGrawHill Irwin. NY. 3. Mack, Woodsong, Mac Qeen, Guest, Namely (2005); Qualitative Research Method 4. Hyndman, Quantitative Business Research Method References:
*

Used with kind permission from the University of New South Wales

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Business Research Methods Dr. Nguyen Quynh Mai

5. Trochim, William (2006) Research Methods Knowledge Base (online). Available at http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/contents.htm Lecture Notes: Will be distributed by Dr. Nguyen Quynh Mai via email or Blackboard

COURSE SCHEDULE
1 Topic Course Introduction Introduction to Business Research Method Research Question Formulation Research Process & Proposal Review of the Literature & Use of Theory Variables & Hypotheses Research Design Qualitative Method 5 Quantitative Method for Management & Marketing: Surveying Quantitative Method for Management & Marketing: Measurement Issues Sampling methods Questionnaire Design Group Presentation Quantitative Method for Management & Marketing: Data Screening and Preparation Descriptive statistics Hypothesis testing Measures of association Multivariable analysis Quantitative Analysis for Economics & Finance - Lecturing - Group discussion Date Class Activities - Lecturing - Case discussion - Form groups - Lecturing - Case discussion - Lecturing - Case discussion - Lecturing - Group discussion Readings: Cooper, R.D. & Schindler, S.P. (2006). Chapter 1, Cooper, R.D. & Schindler, S.P. (2006). Chapter 3 & Chapter 4 Cooper, R.D. & Schindler, S.P. (2006). Chapter 2 Cooper, R.D. & Schindler, S.P. (2006). Chapter 6, 7, 8 Qualitative Research Method Cooper, R.D. & Schindler, S.P. (2006). Chapter 9 Quantitative Research Method Cooper, R.D. & Schindler, S.P. (2006). Chapter 15 & 12 & 14 Quantitative Research Method Cooper, R.D. & Schindler, S.P. (2006). Chapter 17 Reading materials for Week 10 Cooper, R.D. & Schindler, S.P. (2006). Chapter 18, 19, 20

2 3 4

- Lecturing - Case discussion

7 8

- Group Presentation - Lecturing - Case discussion

- Lecturing - Case discussion 23/11 - Lecturing - Case discussion

10

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Business Research Methods Dr. Nguyen Quynh Mai

11 12

Data Time series & Regression Model Using SPSS for data analysis Ethical consideration in business research Writing a report Final exam

- Lecturing - Case discussion

Cooper, R.D. & Schindler, S.P. (2006). Chapter 5& 21

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Business Research Methods Dr. Nguyen Quynh Mai

THE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY VNU-HCM

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
BUSINESS RESEARCH METHOD

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET

Student Number: _______________ Course: ______________________ Day: ________________________ Date Due:___________________ Name:______________________ Tutor: _____________________ Time: ______________________ Date Submitted:______________

Assignment Item/ Title/ Question: _____________________________________

I declare that this assessment item is my own work, except where acknowledgement, and has not been submitted for academic credit elsewhere.

Signed: Date:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RECEIPT NAME:__________________________ STUDENT NUMBER___________

DATE SUBMITTED: _______________________________________________ ASSIGNMENT RECEIVED BY:______________________________________

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Business Research Methods Dr. Nguyen Quynh Mai

THE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY VNU-HCM

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS

GROUP REPORT
Group members: Student Number 1. 2. 3. Surname Given Name

Student Name 1. 2. 3.

Responsibility in Assignment

Participation % *

* Please ensure that you discuss this % as a group and that the mark is fairly allocated. If your group has any problem, please discuss with the course lecturer

Signatures: a. ____________________________________ b. ____________________________________ c. ____________________________________ Date Submitted: _________________________

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