Chapter 1: Introduction, First principles

Business Research Methods

THE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

VNU-HCM

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODCOURSE GUIDELINE

Sep 2012CONTENT

31.COURSE STAFF

31.2.Communication with Staff

32.INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURSE

32.2.Teaching times and Locations

32.3.Units of Credit

32.4.Perquisite and Parallel courses

32.5.Relationship of this course to other course offerings

42.6.Approach to learning and teaching

43.COURSE OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES

43.2.Course objectives

43.3.Student learning and outcomes

43.4.Teaching Strategies

54.STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT

54.1.Workload

54.2.Attendance

54.3.General Conduct and Behavior

54.4.Keeping informed

55.LEARNING ASSESSMENT

55.1.Assessment details

85.2.Assignment Submission Procedure

85.3.Late submission

85.4.Assignment Format

96.ACADEMIC HONESTY AND PLAGIARISM

97.STUDENT RESOURCES

97.1.Course Resources

108.COURSE SCHEDULE

1. COURSE STAFF

Teaching Staff:

Room:

Phone:

Email:

nmtuan@hcmiu.edu.vnConsultant times:Monday morning + Thursday morning Tutor:

Room:

Phone:

Email:

Consultant times:

1.2. Communication with Staff

Student are advised to contact staff during consultant times, or by arranging an appointment

2. INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURSE

2.2. Teaching times and Locations

Week

ActivityDayTimeRoomNote

1 7 LectureMon

1 4 pm

8 Mid-term

9 13Lecture

Mon

1 4 pm

14Reserve

15Final Exam

2.3. Units of Credit

UOC value for the course: 3

2.4. Perquisite and Parallel courses

Pre-requisite: Statistics for BusinessThis course is offered for senior students only (final year) who are ready for doing thesis

2.5. Relationship of this course to other course offerings

This course combines the knowledge of all courses (especially the courses of your specialization) and research methodology theories (that will be provided in this course) to solve a real project/ problem 2.6. Approach to learning and teaching

The teaching and learning adopted in this course is learner-center, and consequently, requires active student participation and contribution. Through a range of interactive activities and teaching strategies, it seeks to engage students in the learning. It also seeks to facilitate independent learning through individual tasks and research, and fosters collaborative learning through a range of group activities. It considers prior learning through a range of group activities.

3. COURSE OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES

3.2. Course objectives

This course seeks to: provide student with a good understanding of business research, and

equip student with the practical tools and skills to conduct business research

3.3. Student learning and outcomes By the end of the course, students are expected to have attained proficiency in the following areas: distinguish between good research and research that falls short of professional quality appreciate the value of learning research process skills

identify and formulate research questions and hypotheses write and critically evaluate research proposals identify ethical issues and research and understand the need to adhere to ethical guidelines when conducting research understand and apply the major types of research designs

understand relationships that exist between variables in research design and steps for evaluating those relationships

plan and collect sample data for a research project

understand and evaluate content, criterion-related and construct validity and reliability

understand the various scale formats for measurement and how to construct each

develop survey instruments and conduct survey research design and conduct qualitative studies

collect, code and analyze various types of data explore, display and examine data present research results via both written and oral reports

3.4. Teaching Strategies

The teaching and learning approach in this course is highly inter-active, requiring student participation and contribution. To this end, and prior to each class, students must:

Download the weekly lecture and tutorial outline from the course website through class email. Pls. note that the Lecture Notes will be posted before each class. Prepare your weekly readings (from the textbook and other distributed course materials)

Prepare your responses to set discussion questions and cases

Be prepared to participate in the class discussions, group work

The general format of classes in this course will be as follows (with some variations) Lecturing Student presentation & discussion Group Project

4. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT

4.1. Workload

It is expected that you will spend at least 6 hours per week studying this course. This time should be made up of reading, working on individual assignment, group assignment and attending class lectures. In periods where you need to complete assignment or prepare for examinations, the workload may be greater.

4.2. Attendance

Your regular and punctual attendance at lectures and related seminar (if any) is expected in this course. University regulations indicate that if students attend less than 80% of scheduled classes they may be refused final assessment. Regular attendance is essential for successful performance and learning in this course, particular in view of the interactive teaching and learning approach adopted. Please inform your lecture if you are unable to attend the class, and arrange for a classmate to collect any handouts.

4.3. General Conduct and Behavior

You are expected to conduct yourself with considerable and respect for the needs of your fellow students and teaching staff. Conduct that unduly disrupts or interferes with a class, such as ringing, or talking on mobile phones, or chatting on internet, is nor acceptable and students may be asked to leave the class.

4.4. Keeping informed

You should take note of all announcements made in lectures, tutorials or on the course website. From time to time, the University will send important announcements to your through website, course website and/ or Announcement Board (of School of Business and/ or Academic Affair) without providing you with a paper copy. You will be deemed to have received this information.

5. LEARNING ASSESSMENT

5.1. Assessment details

To pass this course, student must:

attempt ALL FOUR assessment tasks

submit/ complete all assessment tasks on time

attain an overall pass mark of 50% in the course

Assessment Tasks: Assignment: 25%

Midterm: 20%

Final evaluation: 55% TasksMarksDue dates

1. Participation in Group/ Class discussion 5%

2. Individual Assignment 20%

Individual Assignment 1 10%Week 3

Individual Assignment 2 10%Week 9

3. Group Assignment

Midterm: Project Proposal Final: Project Results20%20% Week 7 (Group presentation)

Week 13 (Group presentation)

4. Final Test35% Week 15

Note: Students have to fulfill all individual assignments, if you lack of any of them, you are not allowed to attend the final exam

DETAIL INSTRUCTIONS FOR ASSIGNMENTS:

1. INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENTS ASSIGNMENT 1: RESEARCH IDEAS (1 2 pages A4) You are supposed to write your own research topic. In your paper, you should have: (a) Research title (b) Backgrounds and rationale: What you want to do? Why do you want to do your study? Why it is necessary? Due date: Students are required to submit this assignment on week 3 (Mon, Sep 30).ASSIGNMENT 2: RESEARCH PROPOSAL (5 8 pages A4)Basing on your research topic, you are required to design the research approach and Data collection Method to conduct the research. The structure of a research proposal is: a. Research project title

b. Introduction/ Backgrounds of the research

c. Rationales and Problems statement (What is problem? Why do you want to choose that problem/ issue?)d. Aims and purposes (What you will do to address your research questions?)e. Significance and Implications (What is benefit of your study)f. Research approach and Data collection methods (Which study design you will use? How do you choose the target sample and how large is that sample? How you will go and collect the data)g. Literature Review: Theoretical background & Related studies You should present theories, concepts and results of previous studies that will be used as a foundation for your research. You are encouraged to discuss and criticize why or why not those theories/ models may apply for your research. The sources of information should be included. Pls. follow the principles of citation of APA. You can use Internet or Library to come up with a preliminary list of references that you could use for your research. Ideally, you should have a few references in each of the following: (a) publications related to the topic (b) publications related to the theory or model you will adopt for your researchDue date: Students are required to submit this assignment on week 7.2. GROUP ASSIGNMENTFor Mid-term

The project is designed for a group of up to five students. Your syndicate group is asked to propose and conduct a full research. The proposal will be presented within 10 minutes plus 10 minutes for questions and should describe what, when, where and how you will conduct your research. In addition, your proposal should have some general modules:

Research project title

Research Background

Problem statement and rationales Aims and Purposes (Research Objectives)

Significances and Implications

Literature review

Methodology

Research process

Study design

Target sample

Sample size

Data collecting

Due date: you are required to make the first presentation in week 7 and week 8 and submit report one week later. You could modify your proposal based on your colleges opinions and suggestions during your presentation. This result will be considered as midterm test.For Final

Based on the research proposal conducted before, your group is expected to develop a complete research. You are asked to make a class presentation of your complete research with no more than 20 minutes and 10 minutes for questions. Your complete research should be outlined into sections below: INTRODUCTION

Research title

Backgrounds and Rationales

Problem Statement

Aims and Purposes (Research Objectives)

Research scopes and Limitations

Significances and Implications of the study

LITERATURE REVIEW

METHODOLOGY

Research Process

Research Design

Research Approach

Sampling selection

Data collection method(This part is from your first report) DATA ANALYSIS & FINDINGS RECOMMENDATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

REFERENCES

APPENDIX

Due date: your group is expected to make a presentation of your complete research in the week 12 and 13 this semester and submit the report on that day. The presentation of final results will be considered as a part of final evaluation (20%)3. FINAL TEST

The final test will be 90 minutes in length during Final Exam Period and account for 35% of total grade. It will be in the form of essay (problems/ criticized). This is OPEN book test

Grading

The letter grade will be followed by the University suggested rule:

90-100: A+, 80-90: A, 70 80: B+, 65 70: B, 55 65: C+, 50 55: C, 30 -