Research Methods For Business Students

Front Cover
Half Title Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Brief contents
Contents
How to use this book
Preface
Contributors
Publisher’s acknowledgements
1 Business and management research, reflective diaries and the purpose of this book
Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill
Learning outcomes
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The nature of research
1.3 Business and management research
1.4 The research process
1.5 Keeping a reflective diary or research notebook
1.6 The purpose and structure of this book
1.7 Summary
Self-check questions
Review and discussion questions
Progressing your research project: Starting your reflective diary or notebook
References
Further reading
Case 1: Investigating diversity and inclusion at OilCo
Catherine Cassell
Self-check answers
2 Choosing a research topic and developing your research proposal
Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill
Learning outcomes
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Characteristics of a good research topic
2.3 Generating and refining research topic ideas
2.4 Developing your research proposal
2.5 Writing your research proposal
2.6 Summary
Self-check questions
Review and discussion questions
Progressing your research project: Choosing a research topic and developing your re-search proposal
References
Further reading
Case 2: Kristina’s first draft research proposal
Kathrin Schwark, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill
Self-check answers
3 Critically reviewing the literature
Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill
Learning outcomes
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Being ‘critical’ and the purposes and forms of review
3.3 The content and structure of a critical review
3.4 Literature sources
3.5 Planning your literature search
3.6 Conducting your literature search
3.7 Reading critically and evaluating the literature
3.8 Note taking and referencing
3.9 Using systematic review
3.10 Drafting your critical review
3.11 A note about plagiarism
3.12 Summary
Self-check questions
Review and discussion questions
Progressing your research project: Critically reviewing the literature
References
Further reading
Case 3: Using a Thematic Analysis Grid to help critically review the literature
Deborah Anderson
Self-check answers
4 Understanding research philosophy and approaches to theory development
Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis, Adrian Thornhill and Alexandra Bristow
Learning outcomes
4.1 Introduction
4.2 The philosophical underpinnings of business and management
4.3 Research paradigms
4.4 Five management philosophies
4.5 Approaches to theory development
4.6 Summary
Self-check questions
Review and discussion questions
Progressing your research project: Heightening your Awareness of your Research Philosophy (HARP)
References
Further reading
Case 4: In search of a research philosophy
Neve Isaeva and Des Williamson
Self-check answers
5 Formulating the research design
Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill
Learning outcomes
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Choice and coherence in research design
5.3 Methodological choice: the use of a quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods re-search design
5.4 Quantitative research designs
5.5 Qualitative research designs
5.6 Mixed methods research designs
5.7 Recognising the purpose of your research design
5.8 Choosing a research strategy or strategies
5.9 Choosing a time horizon
5.10 Establishing the ethics of the research design
5.11 Establishing the quality of the research design
5.12 Taking into account your role as researcher
5.13 Summary
Self-check questions
Review and discussion questions
Progressing your research project: Deciding on your research design
References
Further reading
Case 5: The relationship between risk and return in loan decisions at credit un-ions
Bill Lee
Self-check answers
6 Negotiating access and research ethics
Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill
Learning outcomes
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Issues associated with gaining traditional access
6.3 Issues associated with Internet-mediated access
6.4 Strategies to gain access
6.5 Research ethics and why you should act ethically
6.6 Ethical issues at specific stages of the research process
6.7 An introduction to the principles of data protection and data management
6.8 Summary
Self-check questions
Review and discussion questions
Progressing your research project: Negotiating access and addressing ethical issues
References
Further reading
Case 6: Gaining and maintaining fieldwork access with management consultants
William S. Harvey and Andreas Paul Spee
Self-check answers
7 Selecting samples
Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill
Learning outcomes
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Probability sampling
7.3 Non-probability sampling
7.4 Multi-stage sampling
7.5 Summary
Self-check questions
Review and discussion questions
Progressing your research project: Using sampling as part of your research
References
Further reading
Case 7: Starting-up, not slowing down: social entrepreneurs in an aging society
Zeineb Djebali
Self-check answers
8 Utilising secondary data
Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill
Learning outcomes
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Types of secondary data and uses in research
8.3 Advantages and disadvantages of secondary data
8.4 Searching for and locating secondary data
8.5 Evaluating secondary data sources
8.6 Summary
Self-check questions
Review and discussion questions
Progressing your research project: Assessing the
suitability of secondary data for your research
References
Further reading
Case 8: Using social media for research
David Houghton
Self-check answers
9 Collecting data through observation
Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill
Learning outcomes
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Dimensions of observation
9.3 Participant observation
9.4 Structured observation
9.5 Internet-mediated observation
9.6 Observation using videography, audio recordings and visual images
9.7 Summary
Self-check questions
Review and discussion questions
Progressing your research project: Deciding on the appropriateness of observation
References
Further reading
Case 9: Observing religious tourists
Matina Terzidou
Self-check answers
10 Collecting primary data using research interviews and research diaries
Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill
Learning outcomes
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Types of research interview and their link to the purpose of research and research strategy
10.3 When to use semi-structured and in-depth interviews
10.4 Data quality issues associated with semi-structured and in-depth interviews
10.5 Preparing for semi-structured or in-depth interviews
10.6 Conducting semi-structured or in-depth interviews
10.7 Managing logistical and resource issues
10.8 Group interviews and focus groups
10.9 Telephone interviews
10.10 Internet-mediated interviews
10.11 Visual interviews
10.12 Use of research diaries to collect data
10.13 Summary
Self-check questions
Review and discussion questions
Progressing your research project: Using research interviews and research diaries
References
Further reading
Case 10: Visualising consumption
Finola Kerrigan
Self-check answers
11 Collecting primary data using questionnaires
Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill
Learning outcomes
11.1 Introduction
11.2 An overview of questionnaires
11.3 Deciding what data need to be collected
11.4 Questionnaire validity and reliability
11.5 Designing individual questions
11.6 Constructing the questionnaire
11.7 Pilot testing
11.8 Delivering and collecting the questionnaire
11.9 Summary
Self-check questions
Review and discussion questions
Progressing your research project: Using questionnaires in your research
References
Further reading
Case 11: Work-life balance - from the idea to the questionnaire
Almuth McDowall
Self-check answers
12 Analysing data quantitatively
Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis, Adrian Thornhill and Catherine Wang
Learning outcomes
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Preparing data for quantitative analysis
12.3 Data entry and checking
12.4 Exploring and presenting data
12.5 Describing data using statistics
12.6 Examining relationships, differences and trends using statistics
12.7 Summary
Self-check questions
Review and discussion questions
Progressing your research project: Analysing your data quantitatively
References
Further reading
Case 12: Giving proper attention to risk management controls when using derivatives
Frank Bezzina, Vincent Cassar and Simon Grimma
Self-check answers
13 Analysing data qualitatively
Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill
Learning outcomes
13.1 Introduction
13.2 The diversity of qualitative data, their implications for analysis and the interactive nature of this process
13.3 Key aspects to consider when choosing a qualitative analysis technique
13.4 Preparing your data for analysis
13.5 Aids to help your analysis
13.6 Thematic Analysis
13.7 Template Analysis
13.8 Explanation Building and Testing
13.9 Grounded Theory Method
13.10 Narrative Analysis
13.11 Discourse Analysis
13.12 Visual Analysis
13.13 Data Display and Analysis
13.14 Using CAQDAS
13.15 Summary
Self-check questions
Review and discussion question
Progressing your research project: Analysing your data qualitatively
References
Further reading
Case 13: Exploring employees experiences of remote working practices
Amanda Lee
Self-check answers
14 Writing and presenting your project report
Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill
Learning outcomes
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Undertaking writing
14.3 Structuring your project report
14.4 Writing reports for different audiences
14.5 Making the report’s content clear and accessible
14.6 Developing an appropriate writing style
14.7 Meeting the assessment criteria
14.8 Writing a reflective essay or section
14.9 Oral presentation of the report
14.10 Summary
Self-check questions
Review and discussion questions
Progressing your research project: Writing your project report
References
Further reading
Case 14: Presenting research findings to a business audience
Colin Hughes
Self-check answers
Bibliography
Appendices
1 Systems of referencing
2 Calculating the minimum sample size
3 Random sampling numbers
4 Guidelines for non-discriminatory language
Glossary
Index
Back Cover