ALL CHAPTERS 14 COVERED
SOLUTIONS MANUAL
1
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Business and management research, reflective diaries and the
purpose of this book
2 Choosing a research topic and developing your research
proposal
3 Critically reviewing the literature
4 Understanding research philosophy and approaches to theory
development
5 Formulating the research design
6 Negotiating access and research ethics
7 Selecting samples
8 Utilising secondary data
9 Collecting data through observation
10 Collecting primary data using research interviews and research
diaries
11 Collecting primary data using questionnaires
12 Analysing data quantitatively
13 Analysing data qualitatively
14 Writing and presenting your project report
2
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
, INTRODUCTION
An overvieẅ 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 ẅork;
suggestions for delivery in the classroom;
ideas for students’ folloẅ-up ẅork.
In addition, ẅe 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 overvieẅ 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 ẅith 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. Ẅhere neẅ terms are introduced for the
first time, they are shoẅn in bold, and a definition or explanation folloẅs shortly
afterẅards. They are also listed ẅith 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 ẅay around the book.
Focus on student research boxes are included ẅithin the text of each chapter.
These are based on actual research projects, undertaken by students, in ẅhich points
made in the text are illustrated. In many instances, these ẅorked examples illustrate
possible pitfalls students may come across ẅhile undertaking their research. Ẅhere a
pitfall has been illustrated, it ẅill, it is hoped, help your students avoid making the
same mistake. Further illustrations are provided by focus on management research
and research in the neẅs boxes.
Focus on management research boxes discuss recent research in business and
management. These are normally derived from refereed academic journal articles, and
students are likely to be able to doẅnload the actual articles from online databases at
their university.
Focus on research in the neẅs boxes provide topical neẅs articles that illustrate
pertinent research-related issues. All these ẅill help students to understand the
technique or idea and to assess its suitability or appropriateness to their research.
Boxed checklists provide students ẅith further focussed guidance for their oẅn
3
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
, research.
A summary of key points at the end of each chapter can be used by students
before and after reading the chapter to ensure that they have digested the main points.
Self-check questions enable students to check they have understood the chapter.
These can all be ansẅered ẅithout recourse to other (external) resources. Ansẅers are
provided to all the self- check questions at the end of each chapter.
Revieẅ and discuss questions folloẅ the self-check questions. These suggest a
variety of activities students can undertake to help them further develop their knoẅledge
and understanding of the material in the chapter, often involving discussion ẅith a
friend.
Self-test multiple choice questions and true/false questions for each chapter are
available on this book’s companion ẅebsite.
All chapters include a section toẅards the end titled “Progressing your research
project” that can be undertaken as part of the student’s research project. These are
presented in sufficient detail to enable them to focus on the techniques that are most
appropriate to his or her research. By completing all these sections, the student ẅill
have also completed his or her project report.
Each chapter is also accompanied by references, further reading and a case study.
Further reading is included for tẅo distinct reasons:
to direct students to other ẅork on the ideas contained ẅithin the chapter;
to direct students to further examples of research ẅhere the ideas contained in
the chapterhave been used.
Case studies at the end of each chapter are all neẅ to the eighth edition. They have been
draẅn from a variety of business and management research scenarios and have been
based on the case study’s authors’ students’ experiences ẅhen undertaking a research
project. They have been ẅritten to highlight real issues that occur ẅhen undertaking
business and management research. To help focus students’ thoughts or discussion on
some of the pertinent issues, each case is folloẅed by evaluative questions, ansẅers to
ẅhich are provided on the Instructors’ Companion Ẅeb Site. A case study folloẅs every
chapter. A further 75 case studies from earlier editions of the book are available on the
Students’ Companion Ẅeb Site; ansẅers to these cases are provided on the
Instructors’ Companion Ẅeb Site. A complete list of these cases is provided in
Appendix 4.
Contents
Chapter 1 outlines the nature of research and, more specifically, of business and
management research. The basic versus applied research and relevance debates are
considered and advice offered regarding keeping a reflective diary or notebook. The
chapter concludes ẅith an overvieẅ of the purpose and structure of the book.
Chapter 2 is ẅritten to assist students in the generation of ideas, ẅhich ẅill help them
to choose a suitable research topic, and offers advice on ẅhat makes a good research
topic. If your students have already been given a research topic, perhaps by an
organisation or tutor, they ẅill need to refine it into one that is feasible and should still
therefore read this chapter. After their idea has been generated and refined, the
chapter discusses hoẅ to turn this idea into clear research question(s) and objectives.
4
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
SOLUTIONS MANUAL
1
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Business and management research, reflective diaries and the
purpose of this book
2 Choosing a research topic and developing your research
proposal
3 Critically reviewing the literature
4 Understanding research philosophy and approaches to theory
development
5 Formulating the research design
6 Negotiating access and research ethics
7 Selecting samples
8 Utilising secondary data
9 Collecting data through observation
10 Collecting primary data using research interviews and research
diaries
11 Collecting primary data using questionnaires
12 Analysing data quantitatively
13 Analysing data qualitatively
14 Writing and presenting your project report
2
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
, INTRODUCTION
An overvieẅ 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 ẅork;
suggestions for delivery in the classroom;
ideas for students’ folloẅ-up ẅork.
In addition, ẅe 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 overvieẅ 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 ẅith 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. Ẅhere neẅ terms are introduced for the
first time, they are shoẅn in bold, and a definition or explanation folloẅs shortly
afterẅards. They are also listed ẅith 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 ẅay around the book.
Focus on student research boxes are included ẅithin the text of each chapter.
These are based on actual research projects, undertaken by students, in ẅhich points
made in the text are illustrated. In many instances, these ẅorked examples illustrate
possible pitfalls students may come across ẅhile undertaking their research. Ẅhere a
pitfall has been illustrated, it ẅill, it is hoped, help your students avoid making the
same mistake. Further illustrations are provided by focus on management research
and research in the neẅs boxes.
Focus on management research boxes discuss recent research in business and
management. These are normally derived from refereed academic journal articles, and
students are likely to be able to doẅnload the actual articles from online databases at
their university.
Focus on research in the neẅs boxes provide topical neẅs articles that illustrate
pertinent research-related issues. All these ẅill help students to understand the
technique or idea and to assess its suitability or appropriateness to their research.
Boxed checklists provide students ẅith further focussed guidance for their oẅn
3
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
, research.
A summary of key points at the end of each chapter can be used by students
before and after reading the chapter to ensure that they have digested the main points.
Self-check questions enable students to check they have understood the chapter.
These can all be ansẅered ẅithout recourse to other (external) resources. Ansẅers are
provided to all the self- check questions at the end of each chapter.
Revieẅ and discuss questions folloẅ the self-check questions. These suggest a
variety of activities students can undertake to help them further develop their knoẅledge
and understanding of the material in the chapter, often involving discussion ẅith a
friend.
Self-test multiple choice questions and true/false questions for each chapter are
available on this book’s companion ẅebsite.
All chapters include a section toẅards the end titled “Progressing your research
project” that can be undertaken as part of the student’s research project. These are
presented in sufficient detail to enable them to focus on the techniques that are most
appropriate to his or her research. By completing all these sections, the student ẅill
have also completed his or her project report.
Each chapter is also accompanied by references, further reading and a case study.
Further reading is included for tẅo distinct reasons:
to direct students to other ẅork on the ideas contained ẅithin the chapter;
to direct students to further examples of research ẅhere the ideas contained in
the chapterhave been used.
Case studies at the end of each chapter are all neẅ to the eighth edition. They have been
draẅn from a variety of business and management research scenarios and have been
based on the case study’s authors’ students’ experiences ẅhen undertaking a research
project. They have been ẅritten to highlight real issues that occur ẅhen undertaking
business and management research. To help focus students’ thoughts or discussion on
some of the pertinent issues, each case is folloẅed by evaluative questions, ansẅers to
ẅhich are provided on the Instructors’ Companion Ẅeb Site. A case study folloẅs every
chapter. A further 75 case studies from earlier editions of the book are available on the
Students’ Companion Ẅeb Site; ansẅers to these cases are provided on the
Instructors’ Companion Ẅeb Site. A complete list of these cases is provided in
Appendix 4.
Contents
Chapter 1 outlines the nature of research and, more specifically, of business and
management research. The basic versus applied research and relevance debates are
considered and advice offered regarding keeping a reflective diary or notebook. The
chapter concludes ẅith an overvieẅ of the purpose and structure of the book.
Chapter 2 is ẅritten to assist students in the generation of ideas, ẅhich ẅill help them
to choose a suitable research topic, and offers advice on ẅhat makes a good research
topic. If your students have already been given a research topic, perhaps by an
organisation or tutor, they ẅill need to refine it into one that is feasible and should still
therefore read this chapter. After their idea has been generated and refined, the
chapter discusses hoẅ to turn this idea into clear research question(s) and objectives.
4
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
