Syllabus

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Title: Business Research Methodology
Course Number: BA 301
Credit: 3 Units
Prerequisite(s): None
Co-requisites: None
Instructor: Dr. Sylvia Y. Schoemaker Rippel
Email: sysr@lincolnuca.edu
Course-related email for the semester: docsyl20@gmail.com
Blog: http://ba301-brm.blogspot.com
Wiki: http://brmwiki.wetpaint.com/

Instructional Materials and References
REQUIRED TEXT:

Sekaran, Uma. (2003). Research methods for business: A skill-building approach.
(4th Ed.) Hoboken, N. J.: Wiley.

RECOMMENDED TEXT:

Business Communication Handbook

COURSE DESCRIPTION

BA 301 - BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The course objective is to prepare
the student for the later BA 399, MBA Research Project. Emphasis is on practical
work and not on memorizing or deriving formulas. Ethical aspects of research are
featured. Each student is expected to develop understanding and practice in
research techniques, writing of short reports, use of statistical tools and
presentation techniques, preparation of effective tables and diagrams, as well
as footnotes and bibliographical references. (3 units)

OBJECTIVES
Primary BA 301 objectives are for students to
1. Acquire skills to locate problem areas in organizational settings, and plan, organize, design, and conduct research to help solve the identified problems;
2. Get conversant with the use of statistical analysis and computer programs;
3. Be able to write and present research reports; and
4. Develop skills and knowledge to discriminate "good" from "bad" research reported in academic, business, and trade journals.

FORMAT
The course sessions will include presentation, discussion, and application modes.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Students are expected to attend class, to participate in individual and group work in a productive manner, to complete assignments according to schedule and at a level appropriate to university rubrics, and to take personal responsibility for meeting the objectives of the course.
For each of the units on schedule below (as well as additional assignments given in class), students will do the following:
• Read assigned materials with care and understanding,
• Complete and present selected exercises relevant to the class and text materials
• Reflect on the assignments in writing, addressing primary content and points of personal interest,
• Create a personalized, three-level map for each week’s assignment using the open source program Freemind (downloadable from http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
• Email your assignments to me at docsyl20@gmail.com
• Blog your work for sharing and presentations.

Note: The maps for your blog need to be in graphic (.png or .jpg) format and you will need to save the native Freemind (.mm) format for submitting your work to me by email.
Assignments are due on the dates indicated in the schedule below. Additions/revisions to the schedule will be announced in class as needed. Class attendance is mandatory for content, interactions, and presentations. Researched materials must be documented using a consistent style for both in-text and end-text citations of sources using the published standards of the most recent subject-appropriate style guide, such as APA (social sciences) or MLA (humanities), for example.

SCHEDULE

#	Date	Session	Unit	Chapter
1	Sunday 5/17/2009 10am-6pm	10:00-1:00	Introduction	Chapter 1: Introduction to Research
2		2:00-6:00	Scientific Investigation	Chapter 2: Scientific Investigation
3	Monday 5/18/2009 6pm-9pm	6-7:15	Technology and Research	Chapter 3: Computer Technology and Business Research
4		7:30-9	Research Process I	Chapter 4: The Research Process : Steps 1 -3
5	Tuesday 5/19/2009 6 pm-9 pm	6-7:15	Research Process II	Chapter 5: The Research Process : Steps 4 & 5
6		7:30-9	Research Process III	Chapter 6: The Research Process : Step 6
	Wednesday 5/20/2009		NO CLASS
7	Thursday 5/21/2009 6pm-9pm	6:00-7:00	Experimental Design	Chapter 7: Experimental Designs
8		7:15-9	Midterm	Chapter 8: Measurement of Variables
9	Friday 5/22/2009 6pm-9pm	6:00-7:15	Measurement	Chapter 9: Measurement: Scaling, Reliability, Validity
10		7:30-9	Data Collection	Chapter 10: Data Collection Methods
11	Saturday 5/23/2009 11am-6pm	11am-1pm	Sampling	Chapter 11: Sampling
12		2pm-6pm	Data Analysis	Chapter 12: Data Analysis and Interpretation
13	Sunday 5/24/2009 11am-6pm	11am-1pm	Research Report	Chapter 13: The Research Report
14		2pm-3:45pm 4pm-6pm	Decision-Making FINAL EXAM	Chapter 14: Managerial Decision -Making and Research

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA & METHOD OF EVALUATING STUDENTS

Students will demonstrate their level of achievement through appropriate and accurate application of classic and contemporary business communication theory and best practices. Students will be evaluated on their increased communicative competence, including effective business communication skills for analysis, problem-solving, decision-making. Students attaining the higher levels of course goals will show successful application of critical and creative communication skills in approaching and solving academic and real-world examples, individually and as group participants.

The following tables quantify assignment areas and grade distribution scales.

Class Participation	15%
Quizzes	10%
Projects	15%
Term Paper	30%
Presentation	10%
Final Exam	20%
Total	100%

100-95	A
94-90	A-
89-87	B+
86-84	B
83-80	B-
79-77	C+
76-74	C
73-70	C-
69-67	D+
66-64	D
63-60	D-
59 or <	F