SOLUTION MANUAL
Research Methods For Business
Students
8th Edition Mark Saunders, Philip
Lewis Chapters 1 - 14, Complete
3
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
, Contents
Chapters Pages
Introduction 5
1 Business and management research, reflective diaries and the purpose
of this book 15
2 Choosing a research topic and developing your research proposal 19
3 Critically reviewing the literature 23
4 Understanding research philosophy and approaches to theory development
27
5 Formulating the research design 32
6 Negotiating access and research ethics 36
7 Selecting samples 40
8 Utilising secondary data 44
9 Collecting data through observation 48
10 Collecting primary data using research interviews and research diaries54
11 Collecting primary data using questionnaires 59
12 Analysing data quantitatively 63
13 Analysing data qualitatively 68
14 Writing and presenting your project report 72
Appendix 75
1 Research project assignment 75
2 Group poster research project assignment 80
3 Research proposal assignment 84
4 Additional cases on the companion website 89
4
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
, INTRODUCTION
An overview of the instructors’ manual
This instructors’ manual provides commentary for the eighth edition of the textbook
Research Methods for Business Students. The commentary is on a chapter by chapter
basis and includes:
chapter learning outcomes;
summary of the content;
comments on likely student reactions and possible use of materials;
ideas for students’ preparatory work;
suggestions for delivery in the classroom;
ideas for students’ follow-up work.
In addition, we have included a copy of a research project assignment, a group
research project poster assignment and a copy of a dissertation proposal assignment
as appendices.
Research Methods for Business – an overview of the eighth edition
Pedagogic features
The over-riding purpose of Research Methods for Business Students is to help
undergraduate and postgraduate students and students on professional courses to
undertake research. Each chapter deals with a part of the research process and discusses
the ideas, techniques and methods using as little jargon as is possible. Tables, checklists
and diagrams are used to aid this discussion. Where new terms are introduced for the
first time, they are shown in bold, and a definition or explanation follows shortly
afterwards. They are also listed with a brief definition in the glossary. The application
of appropriate information technology is considered, in most instances as an integral
part of the text. Chapters have been cross-referenced as appropriate, and an index is
provided to help students find their way around the book.
Focus on student research boxes are included within the text of each chapter. These
are based on actual research projects, undertaken by students, in which points made in
the text are illustrated. In many instances, these worked examples illustrate possible
pitfalls students may come across while undertaking their research. Where a pitfall has
been illustrated, it will, it is hoped, help your students avoid making the same mistake.
Further illustrations are provided by focus on management research and research in
the news boxes.
5
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
, Focus son smanagement sresearch sboxes sdiscuss srecent sresearch sin sbusiness sand
smanagement. sThese sare snormally sderived sfrom srefereed sacademic sjournal sarticles,
sand sstudents sare slikely sto sbe sable sto sdownload sthe sactual sarticles sfrom sonline
sdatabases sat stheir suniversity.
Focus son sresearch sin sthe snews sboxes sprovide stopical snews sarticles sthat sillustrate
spertinent sresearch-related sissues. sAll sthese swill shelp sstudents sto sunderstand sthe
stechnique sor sidea sand sto sassess sits ssuitability sor sappropriateness sto stheir sresearch.
sBoxed schecklists sprovide sstudents swith sfurther sfocussed sguidance sfor stheir sown
sresearch.
6
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
Research Methods For Business
Students
8th Edition Mark Saunders, Philip
Lewis Chapters 1 - 14, Complete
3
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
, Contents
Chapters Pages
Introduction 5
1 Business and management research, reflective diaries and the purpose
of this book 15
2 Choosing a research topic and developing your research proposal 19
3 Critically reviewing the literature 23
4 Understanding research philosophy and approaches to theory development
27
5 Formulating the research design 32
6 Negotiating access and research ethics 36
7 Selecting samples 40
8 Utilising secondary data 44
9 Collecting data through observation 48
10 Collecting primary data using research interviews and research diaries54
11 Collecting primary data using questionnaires 59
12 Analysing data quantitatively 63
13 Analysing data qualitatively 68
14 Writing and presenting your project report 72
Appendix 75
1 Research project assignment 75
2 Group poster research project assignment 80
3 Research proposal assignment 84
4 Additional cases on the companion website 89
4
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
, INTRODUCTION
An overview of the instructors’ manual
This instructors’ manual provides commentary for the eighth edition of the textbook
Research Methods for Business Students. The commentary is on a chapter by chapter
basis and includes:
chapter learning outcomes;
summary of the content;
comments on likely student reactions and possible use of materials;
ideas for students’ preparatory work;
suggestions for delivery in the classroom;
ideas for students’ follow-up work.
In addition, we have included a copy of a research project assignment, a group
research project poster assignment and a copy of a dissertation proposal assignment
as appendices.
Research Methods for Business – an overview of the eighth edition
Pedagogic features
The over-riding purpose of Research Methods for Business Students is to help
undergraduate and postgraduate students and students on professional courses to
undertake research. Each chapter deals with a part of the research process and discusses
the ideas, techniques and methods using as little jargon as is possible. Tables, checklists
and diagrams are used to aid this discussion. Where new terms are introduced for the
first time, they are shown in bold, and a definition or explanation follows shortly
afterwards. They are also listed with a brief definition in the glossary. The application
of appropriate information technology is considered, in most instances as an integral
part of the text. Chapters have been cross-referenced as appropriate, and an index is
provided to help students find their way around the book.
Focus on student research boxes are included within the text of each chapter. These
are based on actual research projects, undertaken by students, in which points made in
the text are illustrated. In many instances, these worked examples illustrate possible
pitfalls students may come across while undertaking their research. Where a pitfall has
been illustrated, it will, it is hoped, help your students avoid making the same mistake.
Further illustrations are provided by focus on management research and research in
the news boxes.
5
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
, Focus son smanagement sresearch sboxes sdiscuss srecent sresearch sin sbusiness sand
smanagement. sThese sare snormally sderived sfrom srefereed sacademic sjournal sarticles,
sand sstudents sare slikely sto sbe sable sto sdownload sthe sactual sarticles sfrom sonline
sdatabases sat stheir suniversity.
Focus son sresearch sin sthe snews sboxes sprovide stopical snews sarticles sthat sillustrate
spertinent sresearch-related sissues. sAll sthese swill shelp sstudents sto sunderstand sthe
stechnique sor sidea sand sto sassess sits ssuitability sor sappropriateness sto stheir sresearch.
sBoxed schecklists sprovide sstudents swith sfurther sfocussed sguidance sfor stheir sown
sresearch.
6
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
