Cover -- Research Methods for Business Students -- Brief Contents -- Contents -- How to use this book -- Guided tour -- Preface -- Contributors -- Publisher's acknowledgements -- The nature of business and management research and structure of this book -- Learning outcomes -- Introduction -- The nature of research -- The nature of business and management research -- The research process -- The purpose and structure of this book -- Summary -- Review and discussion questions -- References -- Further reading -- Case 1: Isabelle's research dilemma -- Self-check answers -- Formulating and clarifying the research topic -- Learning outcomes -- Introduction -- Attributes of a good research topic -- Generating and refining research ideas -- Turning research ideas into research projects -- Writing your research proposal -- Summary -- Self-check questions -- Review and discussion questions -- Progressing your research project: From research ideas to a research proposal -- References -- Further reading -- Case 2: Media climate change reporting and environmental disclosure patterns in the low-cost airline industry in the twenty-first century -- Self-check answers -- Critically reviewing the literature -- Learning outcomes -- Introduction -- The critical review -- Literature sources available -- Planning your literature search strategy -- Conducting your literature search -- Obtaining and evaluating the literature -- Recording the literature -- Plagiarism -- Summary -- Self-check questions -- Review and discussion questions -- Progressing your research project: Critically reviewing the literature -- References -- Further reading -- Case 3: Complexity theory and emergent change -- Self-check answers -- Understanding research philosophies and approaches -- Learning outcomes -- Introduction.

Understanding your research philosophy: why research philosophy is important -- Research approaches -- Summary -- Self-check questions -- Review and discussion questions -- Progressing your research project: Diagnosing your research philosophy -- References -- Further reading -- Case 4: Consultancy research for a not-for-profit organisation -- Self-check answers -- Formulating the research design -- Learning outcomes -- Introduction -- The purpose of your research -- The need for a clear research strategy -- Multiple methods choices - combining data collection techniques and analysis procedures -- Time horizons -- The credibility of research findings -- The ethics of research design -- Summary -- Self-check questions -- Review and discussion questions -- Progressing your research project: deciding on your research design -- References -- Further reading -- Case 5: Managing the acquisition from the middle -- Self-check answers -- Negotiating access and research ethics -- Introduction -- Issues associated with gaining access -- Strategies to gain access -- Research ethics and why you should act ethically -- Ethical issues at specific stages of the research process -- Summary -- Self-check questions -- Review and discussion questions -- Progressing your research project: Negotiating access and addressing ethical issues -- References -- Further reading -- Case 6: Gaining access to business angels networks -- Self-check answers -- Selecting samples -- Learning outcomes -- Introduction -- Probability sampling -- Non-probability sampling -- Summary -- Self-check questions -- Review and discussion questions -- Progressing your research project: using sampling as part of your research -- References -- Further reading -- Case 7: Implementing strategic change initiatives -- Self-check answers -- Using secondary data -- Introduction.

Types of secondary data and uses in research -- Locating secondary data -- Advantages and disadvantages of secondary data -- Evaluating secondary data sources -- Summary -- Self-check questions -- Review and discussion questions -- Progressing your research project: assessing the suitability of secondary data for your research -- References -- Further reading -- Case 8: Patent grants and the implications for business -- Self-check answers -- Collecting primary data through observation -- Learning outcomes -- Introduction -- Participant observation: an introduction -- Participant observation: researcher roles -- Participant observation: data collection and analysis -- Structured observation: an introduction -- Structured observation: data collection and analysis -- Summary -- Self-check questions -- Review and discussion questions -- Progressing your research project: deciding on the appropriateness of observation -- References -- Further reading -- Case 9: Online images of tourist destinations -- Self-check answers -- Collecting primary data using semi-structured, in-depth and group interviews -- Learning outcomes -- Introduction -- Types of interview and their link to the purposes of research and research strategy -- When to use non-standardised (qualitative) interviews -- Data quality issues and preparing for the interview -- Interviewing competence -- Managing logistical and resource issues -- Group interviews and focus groups -- Telephone, Internet- and intranet-mediated interviews -- Summary -- Self-check questions -- Review and discussion questions -- Progressing your research project: using semi-structured or in-depth interviews in your research -- References -- Further reading -- Case 10: Students' and former students' debt problems -- Self-check answers -- Collecting primary data using questionnaires -- Learning outcomes -- Introduction.

An overview of questionnaire techniques -- Deciding what data need to be collected -- Designing the questionnaire -- Administering the questionnaire -- Summary -- Self-check questions -- Review and discussion questions -- Progressing your research project: using questionnaires in your research -- References -- Further reading -- Case 11: Downsizing in the Middle East -- Self-check answers -- Analysing quantitative data -- Learning outcomes -- Introduction -- Preparing, inputting and checking data -- Exploring and presenting data -- Describing data using statistics -- Examining relationships, differences and trends using statistics -- Summary -- Self-check questions -- Review and discussion questions -- Progressing your research project: analysing your data quantitatively -- References -- Further Reading -- Case 12: Small business owner managers' skill sets -- Self-check answers -- Analysing qualitative data -- Learning outcomes -- Introduction -- Differences between qualitative and quantitative data -- Preparing your data for analysis -- Approaches to qualitative analysis -- Types of qualitative analysis processes -- Analytical aids -- Deductively based analytical procedures -- Inductively based analytical procedures -- Using CAQDAS for qualitative analysis -- Summary -- Self-check questions -- Review and discussion questions -- Progressing your research project: analysing your data qualitatively -- References -- Further reading -- Case 13: The influence of film on tourist decision making -- Self-check answers -- Writing and presenting your project report -- Learning outcomes -- Introduction -- Getting started with writing -- Structuring your project report -- Organising the project report's content -- Developing an appropriate writing style -- Meeting the assessment criteria -- Oral presentation of the report -- Summary -- Self-check questions.

Review and discussion questions -- Progressing your research project: writing your project report -- References -- Further reading -- Case 14: James' consultancy report on managers' financial information needs -- Self-check answers -- Bibliography -- Appendix -- Styles of referencing -- Calculating the minimum sample size -- Random sampling numbers -- Guidelines for non-discriminatory language -- Glossary -- Index.

A comprehensive introduction to research methods in business for students planning or undertaking a dissertation or extensive research project in business and management. The fifth edition of Research Methods for Business Students brings the theory, philosophy and techniques of research to life and enables students to understand the practical relevance of the research methods. A highly accessible style and logical structure have made this the ‘student choice’ and run-away market leader.The book is written for students on undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in business, or business-related disciplines.The following online resources support the text:For Students: self-assessment questions, glossary, revision “flashcards”, tutorials for SPSS and NVivo, plus Smarter Online Searching Guide For Instructors: teaching manual, powerpoint slides, testbank .

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2019. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.