FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT RESEARCH METHODOLOGY MGT 2700 Y – SPRING 2017 FRIDAYS, 6:00pm – 8:50pm | ROOM: S4021 INSTRUCTOR
Zhanna Lyubykh, M.Sc. (Mgt) Email address:
[email protected]
OFFICE HOURS
Thursday 5-5:50pm (please email me to set up a meeting)
COURSE MATERIALS Required Textbook: Zikmund, W. G., Babin, B. J., Carr, J. C., Griffin, M. (2013, 9th Ed). Business Research Methods. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. ISBN-13: 978-1-111-82692-5 (Order through bookstore.uleth.ca) PREREQUISITES/ CO-REQUISITES/EQUIVALENTS Prerequisites: Management 2030 AND One of Psychology 2030 or Statistics 1770
COURSE DESCRIPTION An introduction to quantitative and qualitative designs in management research as well as frequently-used applied statistics. Special attention to ethical concerns in research, measurement issues such as reliability and validity, and the critical assessment of research tools such as questionnaires.
MGT 2700 Y
Spring 2017
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OVERVIEW OF COURSE CONTENT, FOCUS AND APPROACH An introduction to quantitative and qualitative designs in management research as well as frequently-used applied statistics. Special attention to ethical concerns in research, measurement issues such as reliability and validity, and the critical assessment of research tools such as questionnaires. The course is intended to cover the major aspects of business research methods, including: the role of business research; qualitative and quantitative research tools; research designs; data collection, frequentlyused applied statistics, and interpretation; and ethical issues in research. Most of the semester will focus on the fundamentals of quantitative applied research, although qualitative research will be explored as well. Learning is accomplished through a blend of applied exercises, textbook readings, and instructor presentations.
COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES
To develop basic skills in the design, conduct, and evaluation of applied management research To identify and evaluate current and emerging tools used in conducted applied management research To evaluate the quality and credibility of the sources To understand key ethical issues in the conduct of applied research To understand the potential uses of applied research and research methods in management theory and practice To recognize the strengths and weaknesses of various research methods and their appropriate usage. To distinguish among the various approaches to research To design appropriate methodology for conducting research To develop and/or select/adapt psychometrically sound measuring instruments for conducting research
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT ASSIGNMENT Class Participation Midterm 1 Midterm 2 Research Project Final Examination
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Total
VALUE 5% 17.5% 17.5% 30% 30% 100%
Spring 2017
DUE DATE Ongoing February 10 March 17 See tentative class schedule April 21
2
PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS Midterm Examination and Final Examination: There will be two midterm exams and one final exam given during the semester. The midterm exams and final exam will consist primarily of multiple choice questions and short open-ended questions, and will cover materials from the textbook and lectures. The final exam will be comprehensive, which could include any of the material covered during the semester (cumulative exam). Make-up exams will only be given in extreme circumstances. All tests must be taken during their scheduled time unless you have made prior arrangements. Participation: Participation will be determined by your attendance and involvement in class discussions. Coming to class prepared (or not prepared) could increase (or decrease) your participation points. Therefore, attending and preparing for class are essential. Individual Research Project: This is where you tie together everything we have covered in the class by designing your own study. Your project will need to consist of the following sections: Introduction and literature review (15% of your final grade). A research area is outlined and relevant literature is concisely reviewed. The end result of this section should be a set of testable hypotheses (or one hypothesis). The introduction should present the study goal(s), and the literature review should provide background and significance of (importance and reasons for conducting) your research. Your literature review should include references. Please use APA style to format the references. Detailed instructions will be posted on Moodle (https://moodle.uleth.ca). Methodology (15% of your final grade). The methodology section should include study design and questionnaire. Based on class discussion and your readings, write a 3-4 page survey questionnaire about a topic of your interest. Detailed instructions will be posted on Moodle (https://moodle.uleth.ca).
LATE ASSIGNMENTS I will deduct 10 percent for every day the assignment is late. I will not accept any papers more than a week late.
GRADING SCHEME Percent Mark 95-100 86-89 78-81 70-73 62-65 50-57
MGT 2700 Y
Letter Grade A+ AB C+ CD
Percent Mark 90-94 82-85 74-77 66-69 58-61 0-49
Spring 2017
Letter Grade A B+ BC D+ F
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COURSE POLICIES 1. Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: It is the responsibility of the student to check the Calendar-mandated pre/corequisites for all courses before registration (link to Course Catalogue: www.uleth.ca/ross/courses). If students are found to be registered in a course where they do not sufficiently meet its associated requisites and that they have not received prior permission from the appropriate program chair to register in it, then they will be de-registered. Should this circumstance occur after the course drop deadline, tuition will not be refunded. 2. Makeup Examinations and Quizzes: Alternative arrangements for writing a missed, non-final, examination (e.g. inclass test, quiz, or midterm) may be made at the discretion of the instructor. Deferrals may only be granted in extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control. 3. Final Examinations: Students who are unable to write a Registrar-scheduled final exam due to extenuating circumstances or for other reasons beyond their control, must: (1) complete a Special Final Examination Request Form (link: www.ulethbridge.ca/sites/default/files/Special%20Final%20Examination%20V%201.pdf) (2) enclose evidentiary support of legitimate absence (e.g. doctor’s note for severe illness), and (3) submit all compiled documentation to their respective Academic Advisor for review. The final decision for the student’s Special Final Examination Request will be made at the Dean’s level. Requesting an alternate final examination time for personal reasons (e.g. work commitments, holidays, traffic, the purchase of a non-refundable airline tickets etc.) is not a legitimate reason for missing a final exam. 4. Conduct of Examinations: The instructor may articulate regulations for late entry to and early exit from the examination room. Instructors may also prescribe or restrict materials that may be used during the exam. No material aids including such items as: mobile phones, computers, or other digital devices, may be brought into the examination site without prior approval from the instructor. Please see additional examination policies in the 2016/2017 University Calendar page 82-83 (www.uleth.ca/ross/sites/ross/files/imported/academic-calendar/201617/part04.pdf). 5. Student Conduct: Special care should be taken to understand the university’s position on academic and nonacademic misconduct as listed in part 4, sections 4 through 8 of the 2016/2017 Academic Calendar (www.uleth.ca/ross/sites/ross/files/imported/academic-calendar/2016-17/part04.pdf). It is the responsibility of the student to read, familiarize, and comply with these policies. Students will respect the basic standards of intellectual integrity, including, but not limited to, refraining from plagiarism, cheating or duplicating someone else’s work. In addition, students are expected to take an active role in encouraging other members of the academic community to refrain from academic dishonesty, and are asked to advise the instructor if they are aware of any such violations. This provision applies to any work submitted as a group project. 6. Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism: Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will automatically result in a zero grade for the submission. Any student caught plagiarizing may also be subject to additional University sanctions. 7. Use of plagiarism detection services: The instructor reserves the right to employ the use of University-approved plagiarism detection services to determine the originality of student work. Therefore the instructor can require students to submit their work in electronic form for plagiarism checking purposes.
MGT 2700 Y
Spring 2017
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CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS Class Participation. Each student is expected to come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings Attendance. You are expected to attend each scheduled class. If you must miss a class, it is your responsibility to get notes, assignments and other information from another student. I will make announcements of any schedule or exam changes in class. Attendance is essential for good performance. Deadlines. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date indicated. I will deduct 10 percent for every day the assignment is late. I will not accept any papers more than a week late. Cell phones. Cellphones need to remain silenced and put away during the class.
LIBERAL EDUCATION & HOW IT APPLIES TO THIS COURSE Liberal education has been a community tradition at the University of Lethbridge since its founding. Our principle of Liberal Education is based on four pillars: (1) encouraging breadth of knowledge; (2) facilitating connections across disciplines; (3) developing critical thinking skills so that our graduates can adapt to ever-changing employment and social conditions; and (4) emphasizing engaged citizenship in our communities at all levels from the local to the global. We help students become creative explorers, innovative critical thinkers, and leaders who can navigate through complex global issues and who use the breadth, connections, and skills developed here to make our world a better place for all. The objective of a liberal education is to develop the multi-disciplinary learning and thinking skills to enable individuals to contribute to their communities at all levels. This course will contribute to this philosophy in the following ways: • • •
MGT 2700 is a course that encourages students to connect and integrate knowledge across discipline. MGT 2700 enhances critical thinking and problem solving skills. MGT 2700 focuses on the need for good citizenship by considering ethical issues in business research.
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CLASS SCHEDULE Below is a tentative outline. Recognizing that teaching excellence requires a degree of flexibility and responsiveness to both students' needs and emergent circumstances, adjustments to the course outline may sometimes be necessary, provided that no student is disadvantaged by the change. DATE
TOPIC
PRE-CLASS READING
Wk 1 – January 13
Course Outline / Introduction to the Course Chapter 1: Role of Business Research
Wk 2 – January 20
Chapter 3: Theory Building Chapter 3, 4 Chapter 4: Business Research Process Chapter 5: Organizational and Ethical Issues Chapter 5, 6 Chapter 6: Problem Definition: The Foundation of Business Due: Research topic Research Chapter 8: Qualitative Research Chapter 8, 18 Chapter 18: Fieldwork Chapter 11: Observation Method Midterm 1
Wk 3 – January 27
Wk 4 – February 3 Wk 5 – February 10
Chapter 1
February 24
Chapter 9: Survey Research: An Overview Chapter 10: Survey Research: Communicating Respondents Reading Week, No Class
Wk 7 – March 3
Chapter 12: Experimental Design
Chapter 12
Wk 8 – March 10
Chapter 13: Measurement and Scaling Concepts Chapter 14: Attitude Measurement Chapter 15: Questionnaire Design
Chapter 13, 14
Wk 6 – February 17
Wk 9 – March 17 Wk 10 – March 24
Wk 11 – March 31
Wk 12 – April 7 April 21
MGT 2700 Y
Chapter 9, 10 with Due: Research Project Part 1
Midterm 2
Chapter 16: Sampling Design and Sampling Procedure Chapter 16, 17 Chapter 17: Determination of Sample Size: A Review of Statistical Theory Chapter 20: Basic Data Analysis Chapter 20 Due: Research Project Part 2 Chapter 25: Communicating Research Results Chapter 25 Exam Review FINAL EXAM
Spring 2017
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