SOLUTION MANUAL b
Research Methods For Business Students
b b b b b
8th Edition Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis
b b b b b
b Chapters 1 - 14, Complete
b b b b b
3
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
b b b b
, Contents
Chapters Pages
Introduction 5
1 Business and management research, reflective diaries and the purpose
b b b b b b b b
of this book
b b 15
2 Choosing a research topic and developing your research proposal
b b b b b b b b 19
3 Critically reviewing the literature
b b b 23
4 Understanding research philosophy and approaches to theory development 27
b b b b b b b
5 Formulating the research design b b b 32
6 Negotiating access and research ethics b b b b 36
7 Selecting samples b 40
8 Utilising secondary data
b b 44
9 Collecting data through observation b b b 48
10 Collecting primary data using research interviews and research diaries
b b b b b b b b 54
11 Collecting primary data using questionnaires
b b b b 59
12 Analysing data quantitatively b b 63
13 Analysing data qualitatively b b 68
14 Writing and presenting your project report
b b b b b 72
Appendix 75
1 Research project assignment
b b 75
2 Group poster research project assignment
b b b b 80
3 Research proposal assignment
b b 84
4 Additional cases on the companion website b b b b b 89
4
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
b b b b
, INTRODUCTION
An overview of the instructors’ manual
b b b b b
This instructors’ manual provides commentary for the eighth edition of the textbook Research
b b b b b b b b b b b b
Methods for Business Students. The commentary is on a chapter by chapter basis and includes:
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
chapter learning outcomes; b b
summary of the content; b b b
comments on likely student reactions and possible use of materials; b b b b b b b b b
ideas for students’ preparatory work; b b b b
suggestions for delivery in the classroom; b b b b b
ideas for students’ follow-up work. b b b b
In addition, we have included a copy of a research project assignment, a group research
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
projectposter assignment and a copy of a dissertation proposal assignment as appendices.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
ResearchMethodsforBusiness–anoverview oftheeighth edition b b b b b b b b b b
Pedagogic features b
The over-riding purpose of Research Methods for Business Students is to help undergraduate and
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
postgraduate students and students on professional courses to undertake research. Each
b b b b b b b b b b b
chapter deals with a part of the research process and discusses the ideas, techniques and methods
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
using aslittle jargon as is possible. Tables, checklists and diagrams are used to aid this discussion.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Where new terms are introduced for the first time, they are shown in bold, and a definition or
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
explanation follows shortly afterwards. They are also listed with a brief definition in the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
glossary. The application of appropriate information technology is considered, in most
b b b b b b b b b b b
instances as an integral part of the text. Chapters have been cross-referenced as appropriate,
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
and an index is provided tohelp students find their way around the book.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Focus on student research boxes are included within the text of each chapter. These are based on
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
actual research projects, undertaken by students, in which points made in the text are
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
illustrated. In many instances, these worked examples illustrate possible pitfalls students
b b b b b b b b b b b
may come across while undertaking their research. Where a pitfall has been illustrated, it
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
will, it is hoped, help your students avoid making the same mistake. Further illustrations are
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
provided byfocus on management research and research in the news boxes.
b b b b b b b b b b b b
Focus on management research boxes discuss recent research in business and management.
b b b b b b b b b b b
These are normally derived from refereed academic journal articles, and students are likely to be
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
able to download the actual articles from online databases at their university.
b b b b b b b b b b b b
Focus on research in the news boxes provide topical news articles that illustrate pertinent
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
research-related issues. All these will help students to understand the technique or idea and to
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
assess its suitability or appropriateness to their research. Boxed checklists provide students with
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
further focussed guidance for their own research.
b b b b b b b
5
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
b b b b
, Saunders, Research Methods for Business Students, 8e, Instructor’s Manual b b b b b b b b
A summary of key points at the end of each chapter can be used by students before and after
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
reading the chapter to ensure that they have digested the main points.
b b b b b b b b b b b b
Self-check questions enable students to check they have understood the chapter. These can all be
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
answered without recourse to other (external) resources. Answers are provided to all the self-
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
check questions at the end of each chapter.
b b b b b b b b
Review and discuss questions follow the self-check questions. These suggest a variety of
b b b b b b b b b b b b
activities students can undertake to help them further develop their knowledge and
b b b b b b b b b b b b
understanding of the material in the chapter, often involving discussion with a friend.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Self-test multiple choice questions and true/false questions for each chapter are available on this
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
book’s companion website.
b b b
All chapters include a section towards the end titled “Progressing your research project” that can be
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
undertaken as part of the student’s research project. These are presented in sufficient detail to
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
enable them to focus on the techniques that are most appropriate to his or her research. By
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
completing all these sections, the student will have also completed his or her project report.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Each chapter is also accompanied by references, further reading and a case study.
b b b b b b b b b b b b
Further reading is included for two distinct reasons:
b b b b b b b
▪ to direct students to other work on the ideas contained within the chapter;
b b b b b b b b b b b b
▪ to direct students to further examples of research where the ideas contained in the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
bchapterhave been used. b b b
Case studies at the end of each chapter are all new to the eighth edition. They have been drawn from a
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
variety of business and management research scenarios and have been based on the case study’s
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
authors’ students’ experiences when undertaking a research project. They have been written
b b b b b b b b b b b b
to highlight real issues that occur when undertaking business and management research. To help
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
focus students’ thoughts or discussion on some of the pertinent issues, each case is followed by
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
evaluativequestions, answers to which are provided on the Instructors’ Companion Web Site. A
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
case study follows every chapter. A further 75 case studies from earlier editions of the book are
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
available on the Students’ Companion Web Site; answers to these cases are provided on the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Instructors’ Companion Web Site. A complete list of these cases is provided in Appendix 4.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Contents
Chapter 1 outlines the nature of research and, more specifically, of business and management
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
research. The basic versus applied research and relevance debates are considered and advice
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
offered regarding keeping a reflective diary or notebook. The chapter concludes with an
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
overview of the purpose and structure of the book.
b b b b b b b b b
Chapter 2 is written to assist students in the generation of ideas, which will help them to choose
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
a suitable research topic, and offers advice on what makes a good research topic. If your students
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
have already been given a research topic, perhaps by an organisation or tutor, they will need
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
to refine it into one that is feasible and should still therefore read this chapter. After their idea
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
has been generated and refined, the chapter discusses how to turn this idea into clear research
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
question(s) and objectives. (Research questions and objectives are referred to throughout the
b b b b b b b b b b b b
book.) Finally, the chapter provides advice on how to write a research proposal.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
6
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
b b b b
Research Methods For Business Students
b b b b b
8th Edition Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis
b b b b b
b Chapters 1 - 14, Complete
b b b b b
3
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
b b b b
, Contents
Chapters Pages
Introduction 5
1 Business and management research, reflective diaries and the purpose
b b b b b b b b
of this book
b b 15
2 Choosing a research topic and developing your research proposal
b b b b b b b b 19
3 Critically reviewing the literature
b b b 23
4 Understanding research philosophy and approaches to theory development 27
b b b b b b b
5 Formulating the research design b b b 32
6 Negotiating access and research ethics b b b b 36
7 Selecting samples b 40
8 Utilising secondary data
b b 44
9 Collecting data through observation b b b 48
10 Collecting primary data using research interviews and research diaries
b b b b b b b b 54
11 Collecting primary data using questionnaires
b b b b 59
12 Analysing data quantitatively b b 63
13 Analysing data qualitatively b b 68
14 Writing and presenting your project report
b b b b b 72
Appendix 75
1 Research project assignment
b b 75
2 Group poster research project assignment
b b b b 80
3 Research proposal assignment
b b 84
4 Additional cases on the companion website b b b b b 89
4
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
b b b b
, INTRODUCTION
An overview of the instructors’ manual
b b b b b
This instructors’ manual provides commentary for the eighth edition of the textbook Research
b b b b b b b b b b b b
Methods for Business Students. The commentary is on a chapter by chapter basis and includes:
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
chapter learning outcomes; b b
summary of the content; b b b
comments on likely student reactions and possible use of materials; b b b b b b b b b
ideas for students’ preparatory work; b b b b
suggestions for delivery in the classroom; b b b b b
ideas for students’ follow-up work. b b b b
In addition, we have included a copy of a research project assignment, a group research
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
projectposter assignment and a copy of a dissertation proposal assignment as appendices.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
ResearchMethodsforBusiness–anoverview oftheeighth edition b b b b b b b b b b
Pedagogic features b
The over-riding purpose of Research Methods for Business Students is to help undergraduate and
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
postgraduate students and students on professional courses to undertake research. Each
b b b b b b b b b b b
chapter deals with a part of the research process and discusses the ideas, techniques and methods
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
using aslittle jargon as is possible. Tables, checklists and diagrams are used to aid this discussion.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Where new terms are introduced for the first time, they are shown in bold, and a definition or
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
explanation follows shortly afterwards. They are also listed with a brief definition in the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
glossary. The application of appropriate information technology is considered, in most
b b b b b b b b b b b
instances as an integral part of the text. Chapters have been cross-referenced as appropriate,
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
and an index is provided tohelp students find their way around the book.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Focus on student research boxes are included within the text of each chapter. These are based on
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
actual research projects, undertaken by students, in which points made in the text are
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
illustrated. In many instances, these worked examples illustrate possible pitfalls students
b b b b b b b b b b b
may come across while undertaking their research. Where a pitfall has been illustrated, it
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
will, it is hoped, help your students avoid making the same mistake. Further illustrations are
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
provided byfocus on management research and research in the news boxes.
b b b b b b b b b b b b
Focus on management research boxes discuss recent research in business and management.
b b b b b b b b b b b
These are normally derived from refereed academic journal articles, and students are likely to be
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
able to download the actual articles from online databases at their university.
b b b b b b b b b b b b
Focus on research in the news boxes provide topical news articles that illustrate pertinent
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
research-related issues. All these will help students to understand the technique or idea and to
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
assess its suitability or appropriateness to their research. Boxed checklists provide students with
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
further focussed guidance for their own research.
b b b b b b b
5
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
b b b b
, Saunders, Research Methods for Business Students, 8e, Instructor’s Manual b b b b b b b b
A summary of key points at the end of each chapter can be used by students before and after
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
reading the chapter to ensure that they have digested the main points.
b b b b b b b b b b b b
Self-check questions enable students to check they have understood the chapter. These can all be
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
answered without recourse to other (external) resources. Answers are provided to all the self-
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
check questions at the end of each chapter.
b b b b b b b b
Review and discuss questions follow the self-check questions. These suggest a variety of
b b b b b b b b b b b b
activities students can undertake to help them further develop their knowledge and
b b b b b b b b b b b b
understanding of the material in the chapter, often involving discussion with a friend.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Self-test multiple choice questions and true/false questions for each chapter are available on this
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
book’s companion website.
b b b
All chapters include a section towards the end titled “Progressing your research project” that can be
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
undertaken as part of the student’s research project. These are presented in sufficient detail to
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
enable them to focus on the techniques that are most appropriate to his or her research. By
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
completing all these sections, the student will have also completed his or her project report.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Each chapter is also accompanied by references, further reading and a case study.
b b b b b b b b b b b b
Further reading is included for two distinct reasons:
b b b b b b b
▪ to direct students to other work on the ideas contained within the chapter;
b b b b b b b b b b b b
▪ to direct students to further examples of research where the ideas contained in the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
bchapterhave been used. b b b
Case studies at the end of each chapter are all new to the eighth edition. They have been drawn from a
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
variety of business and management research scenarios and have been based on the case study’s
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
authors’ students’ experiences when undertaking a research project. They have been written
b b b b b b b b b b b b
to highlight real issues that occur when undertaking business and management research. To help
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
focus students’ thoughts or discussion on some of the pertinent issues, each case is followed by
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
evaluativequestions, answers to which are provided on the Instructors’ Companion Web Site. A
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
case study follows every chapter. A further 75 case studies from earlier editions of the book are
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
available on the Students’ Companion Web Site; answers to these cases are provided on the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Instructors’ Companion Web Site. A complete list of these cases is provided in Appendix 4.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Contents
Chapter 1 outlines the nature of research and, more specifically, of business and management
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
research. The basic versus applied research and relevance debates are considered and advice
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
offered regarding keeping a reflective diary or notebook. The chapter concludes with an
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
overview of the purpose and structure of the book.
b b b b b b b b b
Chapter 2 is written to assist students in the generation of ideas, which will help them to choose
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
a suitable research topic, and offers advice on what makes a good research topic. If your students
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
have already been given a research topic, perhaps by an organisation or tutor, they will need
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
to refine it into one that is feasible and should still therefore read this chapter. After their idea
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
has been generated and refined, the chapter discusses how to turn this idea into clear research
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
question(s) and objectives. (Research questions and objectives are referred to throughout the
b b b b b b b b b b b b
book.) Finally, the chapter provides advice on how to write a research proposal.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
6
© Pearson Education Limited 2019
b b b b
