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Make Better Managerial Decisions Through Scientific Research! With the third edition, you'll gain the skills necessary to carry out research projects that will greatly improve decision making for all areas of business. Through its clear and straightforward presentation of ideas, you'll learn the practical usefulness of business research to managers. And you'll easily be able to focus on the theory behind scientific research and immediately apply it to research projects. Key Features of the Third Edition
* A new chapter on Technology and Business Research highlights the use of the Internet and Intranet, e-mail, enterprise resource planning, video conferencing, data mining, and more.
* New Managerial Relevance sections are integrated throughout the text to provide a real-world perspective on how research is applied in actual business situations.
* The use of software for data collection, data analysis, and report presentation is fully explained. The uses of SPSS and EXCEL for data analysis are comprehensively illustrated.
* Ethical issues relating to research and the aspects of business, data collection, and data analysis are integrated throughout the book
* Examples and projects throughout each chapter help build the essential skills for managerial success.
* The issues in cross-national research in sampling and data collection are thoroughly discussed.
* The qualitative-quantitative aspects of research are brought together through a case study on the final chapter.

Tabla de contenidos provista por Syndetics

• Chapter 1 Introduction to Research(p. 1)
• What Is Research?(p. 2)
• Business Research(p. 3)
• Types of Business Research: Applied and Basic(p. 6)
• Managers and Research(p. 10)
• The Manager and the Consultant-Researcher(p. 11)
• Internal versus External Consultants/Researchers(p. 13)
• Knowledge About Research and Managerial Effectiveness(p. 16)
• Ethics and Business Research(p. 17)
• Summary(p. 17)
• Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder(p. 17)
• Chapter 2 Scientific Investigation(p. 19)
• The Hallmarks of Scientific Research(p. 21)
• Some Obstacles to Conducting Scientific Research in the Management Area(p. 25)
• The Building Blocks of Science(p. 26)
• The Hypothetico-Deductive Method(p. 28)
• Summary(p. 34)
• Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder(p. 34)
• Chapter 3 Computer Technology and Business Research(p. 36)
• Information Needs in Business(p. 38)
• Computer Technology and Business(p. 38)
• Advantages of Computers(p. 39)
• PC Applications Using Software(p. 40)
• Growth of Core Business Applications of the PC(p. 43)
• Other PC Advances Useful to Business, Research, and Data Presentation(p. 45)
• The Role of Information Systems in Managerial Decision Making(p. 46)
• Data Warehousing, Data Mining, and Decision Support(p. 47)
• Management Information System(p. 48)
• The Future of Computer Technology(p. 49)
• Managerial Implications of Technological Advancements(p. 49)
• Ethics in Handling Information Technology(p. 50)
• Summary(p. 50)
• Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder(p. 50)
• Chapter 4 The Research Process: Steps 1 to 3: the Broad Problem Area, Preliminary Data Gathering, Problem Definition(p. 52)
• The Research Process for Applied and Basic Research(p. 53)
• Broad Problem Area(p. 55)
• Preliminary Data Collection(p. 56)
• Literature Survey(p. 61)
• Problem Definition(p. 67)
• Managerial Implications(p. 69)
• Ethical Issues in the Preliminary Stages of Investigation(p. 69)
• Summary(p. 70)
• Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder(p. 70)
• Practice Projects(p. 71)
• Appendix(p. 72)
• Section 1 Some On-Line Databases Useful for Business Research(p. 72)
• Section 2 Bibliographical Indexes(p. 75)
• Section 3 APA Format for Referencing Relevant Articles(p. 77)
• Section 4 Referencing and Quotation in the Literature Review Section(p. 79)
• Section 5 Frequently Cited Business Journals(p. 81)
• Chapter 5 The Research Process: Steps 4 and 5: Theoretical Framework Hypothesis Development(p. 89)
• The Need for a Theoretical Framework(p. 90)
• Variables(p. 90)
• Theoretical Framework(p. 102)
• Hypotheses Development(p. 108)
• Hypothesis Testing with Qualitative Research: Negative Case Analysis(p. 114)
• Summary(p. 117)
• Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder(p. 117)
• Practice Project(p. 118)
• Chapter 6 The Research Process: Step 6: Elements of Research Design(p. 120)
• The Research Design(p. 121)
• The Purpose of the Study: Exploratory, Descriptive, Hypothesis Testing (Analytical and Predictive), Case Study Analysis(p. 123)
• Type of Investigation: Causal versus Correlational(p. 129)
• Extent of Researcher Interference with the Study(p. 131)
• Study Setting: Contrived and Noncontrived(p. 133)
• Unit of Analysis: Individuals, Dyads, Groups, Organizations, Cultures(p. 135)
• Time Horizon: Cross-Sectional versus Longitudinal Studies(p. 138)
• Managerial Implications(p. 140)
• Summary(p. 141)
• Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder(p. 141)
• Exercises(p. 142)
• Chapter 7 Experimental Designs(p. 144)
• The Laboratory (Lab) Experiment and the Field Experiment(p. 147)
• Control(p. 147)
• Manipulation of the Independent Variable(p. 148)
• Controlling the Contaminating Exogenous or "Nuisance" Variables(p. 149)
• Internal Validity(p. 151)
• External Validity or Generalizability of Lab Experiments(p. 152)
• The Field Experiment(p. 152)
• External Validity(p. 153)
• Trade-Off between Internal and External Validity(p. 153)
• Factors Affecting Internal Validity(p. 154)
• Identifying Threats to Internal Validity(p. 158)
• Internal Validity in Case Studies(p. 160)
• Factors Affecting External Validity(p. 160)
• Types of Experimental Designs and Internal Validity(p. 161)
• Simulation(p. 166)
• Ethical Issues in Experimental Design Research(p. 168)
• Managerial Implications(p. 169)
• Summary(p. 170)
• Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder(p. 171)
• Appendix Further Experimental Designs(p. 172)
• The Completely Randomized Design(p. 172)
• Randomized Block Design(p. 173)
• Latin Square Design(p. 174)
• Factorial Design(p. 175)
• Chapter 8 Measurement of Variables: Operational Definition and Scales(p. 176)
• How Variables Are Measured(p. 176)
• Operational Definition: Dimensions and Elements(p. 178)
• Scales(p. 187)
• Summary(p. 194)
• Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder(p. 194)
• Exercises(p. 195)
• Chapter 9 Measurement: Scaling, Reliability, Validity(p. 196)
• Rating Scales(p. 197)
• Ranking Scales(p. 202)
• Goodness of Measures(p. 203)
• Item Analysis(p. 204)
• Reliability(p. 204)
• Validity(p. 207)
• Summary(p. 210)
• Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder(p. 210)
• Exercise(p. 210)
• Appendix Examples of Some Measures(p. 211)
• Measures from Management Research(p. 211)
• Measures from Marketing Research(p. 214)
• Chapter 10 Data Collection Methods(p. 219)
• Data Collection Methods, Settings, and Sources of Data(p. 221)
• Interviewing(p. 222)
• Unstructured and Structured Interviews(p. 222)
• Questionnaires(p. 233)
• Guidelines for Questionnaire Design(p. 235)
• Cross-Cultural Research(p. 242)
• Principles of Measurement(p. 243)
• General Appearance or "Getup" of the Questionnaire(p. 244)
• Important Aspects of Questionnaires(p. 244)
• Electronic Questionnaire and Surveys(p. 249)
• Other Methods of Data Collection(p. 251)
• Data Collection Through Mechanical Observation(p. 254)
• Projective Methods(p. 254)
• Secondary Data(p. 255)
• Some Special Data Sources(p. 256)
• Panels(p. 257)
• Multimethods of Data Collection(p. 258)
• Managerial Advantage(p. 259)
• Ethics in Data Collection(p. 260)
• Summary(p. 261)
• Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder(p. 262)
• Exercises(p. 262)
• Chapter 11 Sampling(p. 264)
• Population Element, Population Frame, Sample, and Subject(p. 266)
• Sampling(p. 267)
• Normality of Distributions(p. 269)
• Probability and Nonprobability Sampling(p. 270)
• Probability Sampling(p. 271)
• Nonprobability Sampling(p. 277)
• Sampling in Cross-Cultural Research(p. 287)
• Issues of Precision and Confidence in Determining Sample Size(p. 287)
• Sample Data, Precision, and Confidence in Estimation(p. 289)
• Trade-Off Between Confidence and Precision(p. 290)
• Sample Data and Hypothesis Testing(p. 291)
• Determining the Sample Size(p. 293)
• Importance of Sampling Design and Sample Size(p. 296)
• Efficiency in Sampling(p. 296)
• Sampling as Related to Qualitative Studies(p. 297)
• Summary(p. 297)
• Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder(p. 298)
• Exercises(p. 299)
• Chapter 12 Data Analysis and Interpretation(p. 301)
• Getting Data Ready for Analysis(p. 302)
• Data Analysis(p. 307)
• Data Analysis and Interpretation(p. 310)
• Research Done in Excelsior Enterprises(p. 310)
• Use of Expert Systems in Choosing the Appropriate Statistical Tests(p. 324)
• Summary(p. 324)
• Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder(p. 325)
• Appendix Data Analysis Using Excel(p. 327)
• Analysis of the Accounting Chair Data Set Using Excel(p. 327)
• Analysis Using Excel(p. 328)
• Chapter 13 The Research Report(p. 340)
• The Written Report(p. 341)
• Integral Parts of the Report(p. 347)
• Oral Presentation(p. 354)
• Summary(p. 356)
• Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder(p. 357)
• Exercise(p. 357)
• Appendix(p. 358)
• Report 1 Sample of a Report Involving a Descriptive Study(p. 358)
• Report 2 Sample of a Report Where an Idea Has to Be "SOLD"(p. 362)
• Report 3 Sample of a Report Offering Alternative Solutions and Explaining the Pros and Cons of Each Alternative(p. 365)
• Report 4 Example of an Abridged Basic Research Report(p. 367)
• Chapter 14 Managerial Decision Making and Research(p. 373)
• Scientific Research and Managerial Decision Making(p. 373)
• Case Study of the Cradle of Indian Handcrafts(p. 376)
• The Consulting Team and Its Approach(p. 379)
• Assessment of the Quality of Research Done(p. 385)
• How Scientific Is This Study?(p. 387)
• What Else Could Have Been Done?(p. 387)
• How Has the Research Facilitated the Decision-Making Process for the President of the Cradle of Indian Handcrafts?(p. 389)
• Summary(p. 390)
• Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder(p. 390)
• A Final Note to the Student(p. 392)
• Module a Refresher on Some Statistical Terms and Tests(p. 394)
• Descriptive Statistics(p. 395)
• Inferential Statistics(p. 401)
• Other Tests and Analysis(p. 408)
• Analysis of Qualitative Data(p. 410)
• Managerial Relevance(p. 413)
• Summary(p. 413)
• Discussion Questions(p. 414)
• Glossary of Terms(p. 416)
• Supplementary Readings(p. 428)
• References(p. 436)
• Statistical Tables(p. 442)
• Table I Cumulative Normal Probabilities(p. 442)
• Table II Upper Percentage Points of the t Distribution(p. 445)
• Table III Upper Percentage Points of the X[superscript 2] Distribution(p. 446)
• Table IV Percentage Points of the F Distribution(p. 448)
• Index(p. 451)

Notas de autor provistas por Syndetics

Uma Sekaran is Professor Emerita of Management, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale