Business and Management Research WELCOME

Business and Management Research Instructor:XXXXXX Office Number:XXX Term/yearsemester two /2014 Office hours:

Course description & Objectives This course provides an overview of the nature of business and management research. Upon completion of this course, students are expected to: 1.Describe the nature of business and management research. 2.Define the research process. 3.Recognize the different business research designs. 4.Develop a business research proposal. 5.Discuss major techniques of data collection. 6.Explain major sampling designs and strategies. 7.Implement a research project.

Why, What, Where, How & When Questions Why am I doing this research project, and what do I want to get out of it? What do I want to find out? Where is the information that I want to find out? How will I be assessed? When can I start and when must I finish my work?

Why am I doing a research project? Immediate and long-term benefits of research Key players include: –You –Your research team –Your supervisor –Other project stakeholders

Semester Plan WeeksCourse Topics 1&2  Orientation( Discuss course outline and weekly breakdown)  Formulating groups  What is critical thinking?  Getting critical in research and reading  Reading it: Tips for reading and taking notes 3  Introduction to research  The nature of business and management research.  Activity: Brainstorming research areas 4  Identifying useful resources (visiting the library, using the Internet, evaluating web sources)  Selecting a topic and guidelines for formulating the research topic  Narrowing down topic. 5  Critically reviewing the literature  Referencing  Write up- Draft Introduction  Write up- Submit proposal and introduction Submit the introduction and literature review Section (3 points)

WeeksCourse Topics 6  Oral Presentation Skills: Tips and guidelines Oral presentation: Introduction and literature review(2.5 points) 7  Research Methodology  Selecting samples  Data collection tools: Surveys& Questionnaires, Interviews, observation, etc.  Questionnaire structure, tips and introductory note 8  Peer critiquing, reviewing and piloting questionnaire  Negotiating access and research ethics  Finalizing and approving data collection tool Submitting the final data collection tool section (3points) 9  Data collection  Online survey tools (survey monkey, googledocs,etc) 10  Data Analysis (Excel,SPSS,megastat) – Creating graphs  Describing data and using graphs Semester Plan

WeeksCourse Topics 11  Drafting and editing the methodology and results sections Submitting methodology and result sections (3points) 12  Drafting discussion and conclusion  Writing the Abstract  Choosing keywords Submitting the discussion and conclusion section (3points) 13  Presenting the methodology, result and discussion  What is research poster? Oral presentation: methodology, result and discussion (2.5 points) 14 & 15  Edit, proofread and submit final report (hard copy & softcopy)  Final presentation and evaluation  Final report submission (3points) Semester Plan

Lecture 1

Test your understanding Your responsibilities Proposal Timetable Outline Drafts Progress Your supervisor’s responsibilities Feedback on work Guidance Discussion Advice Marking

Critical Thinking

By the end of this presentation, the student will: Better understand what critical thinking is Benefits associated with critical thinking How to become a critical thinkers

Critical Thinking The process of thinking clearly, carefully, with logic and depth and acknowledging assumptions and viewpoint.

Critical Thinking as a student Source: (Cottrell, 2005)

Benefits of critical thinking Skills Source: (Cottrell, 2005)

Raise vital questions Formulate questions and problems clearly, precisely How to become a critical thinkers

Gather information Analyze and assess it Evaluate it How to become a critical thinkers

Draw conclusions Find solutions Use relevant criteria Draw conclusions Find solutions Use relevant criteria to test them How to become a critical thinkers

Keep an open mind How to become a critical thinkers

Think outside the box! Develop a sense of observation and curiosity Develop a sense of observation and curiosity Become interested in finding new solutions Become interested in finding new solutions Share ideas Share ideas Ask questions Ask questions Assess statements and arguments Assess statements and arguments Seek understanding and information Seek understanding and information How to become a critical thinkers

Also... Listen to others, think about what they say, Give feedback Become an open-minded listener and reader How to become a critical thinkers

Who SHOULD think critically?

Handouts for students

Have a clear purpose Take responsibility for your own learning from the very start. Always ask your self ‘Why am I going to read this?’ You should know why you are reading a particular chapter or article and what you hope to get from it. Active Reading Reading for study should not be a passive activity that you do only with your eyes- it requires active effort that engage your brain.

Class Exercise

Exercise 1

Sequence This activity assess your ability to recognize how a sequence is structured. Each set of boxes forms a sequence. Below each sequence is a set of options. Choose one option to replace the question mark and complete the sequence

Father and his Son was travelling in a car. They had an accident. The father died and the boy lost his consciousness and was taken to the hospital. A doctor said I can not operate this boy because he is my son. Who is the Doctor?