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.

Managers increasingly must make decisions based on almost unlimited information. How can they navigate and organize this vast amount of data? Essentials of Business Research Methods provides research techniques for people who aren't data analysts. The authors offer a straightforward, hands-on approach to the vital managerial process of gathering and using data to make clear business decisions. They include such critical topics as the increasing role of online research, ethical issues, data mining, customer relationship management, and how to conduct information-gathering activities more effectively in a rapidly changing business environment. This is the only such book that includes a chapter on qualitative data analysis, and the coverage of quantitative data analysis is more extensive and much easier to understand than in other works. The book features a realistic continuing case throughout the text that enables students to see how business research information is used in the real world. It includes applied research examples in all chapters, as well as Ethical Dilemma mini - cases, and interactive Internet applications and exercises.

The Industrial Revolution favored the growth of supply, until its surplus with regards to demand led to the paradigm shift from focusing on the product (“a good product sells itself”), or production (“a cheap product sells itself”), to the emphasis on customer relationships (“understanding consumer needs through market research”). Therefore, economic and technological development facilitated the incorporation of the business research discipline into the process of decision making —in the beginning— and business intelligence processes —these days— in order to make well informed decisions at lower economic risks (Méndez del Río, 2006). Thus, this book provides managers and students alike, with a clear analysis of business research methods, combining the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to complete a successful research project. Readers will learn from proven examples and case studies based on real life situations, which complement theoretical concepts and clearly illustrate how to do an appropriate market research. With each chapter, the reader is guided through all the stages of a market research process -from problem recognition to final report writing. This book offers both a deep understanding and at the same time permits judgment and analysis from a financial-audit perspective. It reviews and develops easy-to-follow theoretical and practical concepts in a simple, concise and clear structure that facilitate the application of business research methods to a wide variety of business sectors. Contents Introduction.- PART I: GATHERING THE DATA. Nature and Characteristics of Marketing Research.- Marketing Research Organization and Planning.- Sources and Tools of Market Research Data.- Measurement Scales and Questionnaire.- Surveys.- Panels.- Marketing Experimental Research.- Observation.- Qualitative Tools.- Theory and Practice of Sampling.- Fieldwork.- PART II: ANALYSING THE DATA. Survey Code and Tabulation.- Hypothesis Testing.- PART III: THE REPORT. The Report.- Figure Index.- Table Index .

part I Introduction to Business Research 1 Research in Business 2 Thinking Like a Researcher 3 The Research Process 4 Business Research Requests and Proposals Appendix 4a: Covering Kids RFP 5 Ethics in Business Research part II The Design of Research 6 Research Design: An Overview 7 Secondary.

Taking the fear out of writing your business project, this book helps you understand and carry out each step of the research process. With detailed, friendly and engaging support it takes you from the very beginning to the very end. Key features: Chapters are structured around FAQs such as ‘How to choose a research question?’, ‘How do I go about a literature review?’ guiding you towards a full understanding of the research process Workbook tasks help you shape your thoughts on each topic, enabling you to decide your own research question and how you will research it The importance of various ideas is clearly signposted, helping you prioritise your time according to your needs and goals. Templates and checklists from the book are also available for download at the Doing Your Business Research Project companion website at study.sagepub.com/beech This interactive guide is ideal for all Business and Management students about to complete a research project or dissertation.