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(Download PDF) Research Methods For Business A Skill Building Approach 7Th Edition Uma Sekaran Online Ebook All Chapter PDF
(Download PDF) Research Methods For Business A Skill Building Approach 7Th Edition Uma Sekaran Online Ebook All Chapter PDF
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Research Methods
for Business
Seventh Edition
Research Methods
for Business
A Skill-Building Approach
Seventh Edition
Uma Sekaran
and
Roger Bougie
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1 Introduction to research 1
Introduction 1
Business research 2
The role of theory and information in research 3
Research and the manager 3
Types of business research: applied and basic 5
Applied research 6
Basic or fundamental research 7
Managers and research 8
Why managers need to know about research 8
The manager and the consultant–researcher 9
Internal versus external consultants/researchers 10
Internal consultants/researchers 10
Advantages of internal consultants/researchers 10
Disadvantages of internal consultants/researchers 11
External consultants/researchers 11
Advantages of external consultants/researchers 11
Disadvantages of external consultants/researchers 12
Knowledge about research and managerial effectiveness 12
Ethics and business research 13
Summary 13
Discussion questions 14
Case: The Laroche Candy Company 15
vii
viii contents
Objectivity 21
Generalizability 22
Parsimony 22
The hypothetico-deductive method 23
The seven-step process in the hypothetico-deductive method 23
Identify a broad problem area 23
Define the problem statement 23
Develop hypotheses 23
Determine measures 24
Data collection 24
Data analysis 24
Interpretation of data 24
Review of the hypothetico-deductive method 26
Some obstacles to conducting scientific research in the management area 27
Alternative approaches to research 28
Positivism 28
Constructionism 28
Critical realism 29
Pragmatism 29
Conclusion 29
Summary 30
Discussion questions 31
7 Interviews 111
Introduction 111
Primary data collection methods 111
Interviews 113
Unstructured and structured interviews 113
Unstructured interviews 113
Structured interviews 115
Review of unstructured and structured interviews 116
Training interviewers 116
Some tips to follow when interviewing 117
Establishing credibility and rapport, and motivating individuals to respond 117
The questioning technique 118
Review of tips to follow when interviewing 119
contents xi
13 Sampling 235
Introduction 235
Population, element, sample, sampling unit, and subject 236
Population 236
contents xv
Element 237
Sample 237
Sampling unit 237
Subject 237
Sample data and population values 237
Parameters 238
Representativeness of Samples 238
Normality of Distributions 238
The sampling process 239
Defining the population 240
Determining the sample frame 240
Determining the sampling design 240
Determining the sample size 241
Executing the sampling process 241
Probability sampling 242
Unrestricted or simple random sampling 242
Restricted or complex probability sampling 243
Systematic sampling 243
Stratified random sampling 244
Cluster sampling 246
Double sampling 247
Review of probability sampling designs 247
Nonprobability sampling 247
Convenience sampling 247
Purposive sampling 248
Judgment sampling 248
Quota sampling 248
Review of nonprobability sampling designs 249
Intermezzo: examples of when certain sampling designs would be appropriate 252
Simple random sampling 252
Stratified random sampling 252
Systematic sampling 253
Cluster sampling 254
Area sampling 254
Double sampling 255
Convenience sampling 255
Judgment sampling: one type of purposive sampling 255
Quota sampling: a second type of purposive sampling 256
Issues of precision and confidence in determining sample size 257
Precision 257
Confidence 258
Sample data, precision, and confidence in estimation 258
Trade-off between confidence and precision 259
Sample data and hypothesis testing 260
chapter introduction to research 3
An experience common to all organizations is that the managers thereof encounter problems, big and small, on
a daily basis, which they have to solve by making the right decisions. In business, research is usually primarily
conducted to resolve problematic issues in, or interrelated among, the areas of accounting, finance, management,
and marketing. In accounting, budget control systems, practices, and procedures are frequently examined.
Inventory costing methods, accelerated depreciation, time‐series behavior of quarterly earnings, transfer pricing,
cash recovery rates, and taxation methods are some of the other areas that are researched. In finance, the opera-
tions of financial institutions, optimum financial ratios, mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, intercorpo-
rate financing, yields on mortgages, the behavior of the stock exchange, the influence of psychology on the
behavior of financial practitioners and the subsequent effect on markets, and the like, become the focus of inves-
tigation. Management research could encompass the study of employee attitudes and behaviors, human resources
management, the impact of changing demographics on management practices, production operations manage-
ment, strategy formulation, information systems, and the like. Marketing research could address issues pertain-
ing to consumer decision making, customer satisfaction and loyalty, market segmentation, creating a competitive
advantage, product image, advertising, sales promotion, marketing channel management, pricing, new product
development, and other marketing aspects.
Exhibit 1 gives an idea of some commonly researched topical areas in business.
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