BUSN 6951 - Research Methods, Preparation, and Presentation

Course Description

Students receive an overview of the scientific method, research preparation, and the styles of communication used to disseminate research at the graduate level. Topics include the role of business research, theory and the business research process, organization structure and ethical issues, defining a research problem, qualitative research tools, survey research, observation methods and experimental research, measurement and scaling concepts, sampling and sample size, working with data, quantitative statistical analysis, and writing a research report.

Learning outcomes

1. Explain how research contributes to business decisions and practices.
2. Describe the role of theory in the business research process.
3. Critically think about business research problems and various methods of approaching the problems.
4. Discuss the ethical issues applicable to business research.
5. Develop research questions and hypotheses, and incorporate them into a methodologically sound research proposal for the graduate thesis/project.
6. Compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative research methods and the suitability of different methods of gathering data.
7. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of survey research.
8. Assess measurement and scaling options to determine appropriate measures required to address specific research questions.
9. Apply proper sampling designs and procedures to business research.
10. Transform data into information, and calculate and interpret basic descriptive statistics.
11. Apply and interpret the different types of quantitative methods of analysis.
12. Effectively communicate research in a written report and presentation.

Course topics

• Module 1: The Role of Business Research
  • Lesson 1: Introduction to Research for Business
  • Lesson 2: The Role of Theory and Research Approaches in Business
  • Lesson 3: The Research Problem
  • Lesson 4: Ethical Business Research
• Module 2: Theory and the Business Research Process
  • Lesson 5: Research Question, Hypotheses, and the Research Proposal
  • Lesson 6: Qualitative Research vs. Quantitative Research
  • Lesson 7: Survey Research and Experimental Research
  • Lesson 8: Measurement and Scaling Concepts
• Module 3: Organizational Structure and Ethical Issues
  • Lesson 9: Sampling Designs and Methods
  • Lesson 10: Data Analysis and Interpretation Part 1
  • Lesson 11: Data Analysis and Interpretation Part 2
  • Lesson 12: Writing and Presenting a Research Report

Required text and materials

Online students are responsible for sourcing and ordering their own textbooks. Please see the list of required textbooks here: https://www.tru.ca/distance/courses/MBA_Textbook_List.pdf.

Please note that publishers may offer several package options that include additional resource material not required in your course. You may purchase a package of your choice as long as it includes the correct author, title and edition listed for your course.

If you have any questions about obtaining the correct textbook, please contact OLMaterials@tru.ca. They will be happy to assist you.

Assessments

To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 70% or higher on the overall course and 50% or higher on the mandatory Final Project.

Prerequisites

BUSN 5011

Exclusions

GBUS 5210

BUSN 6950