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Informationen zum Autor BART L. WEATHINGTON, PHD, is UC Foundation Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he is also Coordinator of the Industrial-Organizational Psychology graduate program. Dr. Weathington is coauthor of Research Methods for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (Wiley). CHRISTOPHER J. L. CUNNINGHAM, PHD, is UC Foundation Associate Professor of Industrial- Organizational and Occupational Health Psychology at the University of Tennessee of Chattanooga, where he is also Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine in the College of Medicine. Dr. Cunningham is coauthor of Research Methods for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (Wiley). DAVID J. PITTENGER, PHD, is Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Marshall University. Dr. Pittenger is coauthor of Research Methods for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (Wiley). Klappentext Explore the essential steps for data collection, reporting, and analysis in business research Understanding Business Research offers a comprehensive introduction to the entire process of designing, conducting, interpreting, and reporting findings in the business environment. With an emphasis on the human factor, the book presents a complete set of tools for tackling complex behavioral and social processes that are a part of data collection in industry settings. Utilizing numerous real-world examples throughout, the authors begin by presenting an overview of the research process, outlining key ideas relating to the business environment, ethics, and empirical methods. Quantitative techniques and considerations that are specific to business research, including sampling and the use of assessments, surveys, and objective measures are also introduced. Subsequent chapters outline both common and specialized research designs for business data, including: Correlational Research Single Variable Between-Subjects Research Correlated Groups Designs Qualitative and Mixed-Method Research Between-Subjects Designs Between-Subjects Factorial Designs Research with Categorical Data Each chapter is organized using an accessible, comprehensive pedagogy that ensures a fluid presentation. Case studies showcase the real-world applications of the discussed topics while critical thinking exercises and Knowledge Checks supply questions that allow readers to test their comprehension of the presented material. Numerous graphics illustrate the visual nature of the research, and chapter-end glossaries outline definitions of key terms. In addition, detailed appendices provide a review of basic concepts and the most commonly used statistical tables. Requiring only a basic understanding of statistics, Understanding Business Research is an excellent book for courses on business statistics as well as business and management science research methods at the graduate level. The book is also a valuable resource for practitioners in business, finance, and management science who utilize qualitative and quantitative research methods in their everyday work. Zusammenfassung Explore the essential steps for data collection, reporting, and analysis in business researchUnderstanding Business Research offers a comprehensive introduction to the entire process of designing, conducting, interpreting, and reporting findings in the business environment. With an emphasis on the human factor, the book presents a complete set of tools for tackling complex behavioral and social processes that are a part of data collection in industry settings.Utilizing numerous real-world examples throughout, the authors begin by presenting an overview of the research process, outlining key ideas relating to the business environment, ethics, and empirical methods. Quantitative techniques and considerations that are specific to business rese...
List of contents
Preface xiii
PART I: OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS 1
1 RESEARCH AND BUSINESS 3
Introduction 4
Why Is Understanding Research Methods so Important? 4
The Role of Science in Business and Everyday Life 4
The Scientific Method 5
Brief History of the Science of Behavior in the Workplace 6
Bacon's Legacy 10
Other Important Historical Figures 10
Assumptions of Science 12
Requirements for Scientific Research 13
Chapter Summary 18
Chapter Glossary for Review 20
References 21
2 ETHICS AND RESEARCH 23
Introduction 23
What Is Ethics? 24
Approaches to Ethical Analysis 26
Making Ethical Decisions 29
Ethical Business Research 30
Components of an Ethical Research Plan 32
Research in Action: Ethical Dilemmas 37
Chapter Glossary for Review 40
References 40
3 THE FOUNDATIONS OF RESEARCH 41
Introduction 41
The Hypothesis in Research 42
Types of Hypotheses 46
Measurement 52
Reliability of Measurement 57
Validity of Measurement 59
Populations and Samples 61
Research in Action: Credit or Cash? 65
Chapter Summary 68
Chapter Glossary for Review 69
References 71
4 AN OVERVIEW OF EMPIRICAL METHODS 73
Introduction 74
Internal, Statistical, and External Validity 74
Survey of Empirical Methods 83
Intact Groups Designs and Quasi-Experimental Studies 87
Surveys 90
Correlational Studies 90
Interviews and Case Studies 92
Meta-Analysis 93
Computers and Statistics 94
Research in Action: Price Matters 95
Chapter Summary 99
Chapter Glossary for Review 101
References 103
PART II: NUTS AND BOLTS OF RESEARCH 105
5 WRITING THE RESEARCH REPORT 107
Introduction 107
What Do Readers Appreciate in Good Writing? 109
Elements of Style 109
Special Grammatical Issues 113
Academic Integrity 117
Parts of the Research Report 122
Chapter Summary 135
References 136
6 REVIEWING THE LITERATURE AND FORMING HYPOTHESES 137
Introduction 138
Bibliographic Research 138
The Internet as a Source 141
Developing a Search Strategy 143
Searching the Literature: The Library 144
Research in Action: Does Listening to Mozart Make You Smarter? 148
Statistical Inference and Testing Hypotheses 150
Chapter Summary 154
Chapter Glossary for Review 155
References 156
7 SAMPLING: THE FIRST STEPS IN RESEARCH 157
Introduction 158
The Nature of Samples 159
Probability Sampling 160
Sampling Methods 162
Nonprobability Sampling 165
Central Limit Theorem 167
Applications of the Central Limit Theorem 170
Sources of Bias and Error: A Reprise 176
Research in Action: Sampling Matters 178
Chapter Summary 180
Chapter Glossary for Review 181
References 182
8 CREATING AND USING ASSESSMENTS, SURVEYS, AND OBJECTIVE MEASURES 183
Introduction 184
Purpose of Measurement 184
Caveat Assessor 184
Creating a Measurement Scale and Developing a Data-Collection Strategy 186
Interviews, Questionnaires, and Attitude Surveys 187
Question Response Formats 190
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