Edith Cowan UniversitySchool of Business and LawTelephone: 134328 | Calls outside Australia (61 8)6304 0000Email: courseadvice@ecu.edu.au | Web: http://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/business-and-law/overviewCRICOS IPC 00279B

Unit PlanBUS3100Business Research PracticesSemester 1, 2019

BUS3100Business Research Practices

Discipline: Business ServicesPrepared by: Associate Professor Sean Kim, Version 1.0

Key unit contacts

UNIT COORDINATOR AND LECTURER

Name Room Email Tel Consultation Time

Associate Professor Sean Kim JO2.251 s.kim@ecu.edu.au 6304 5146 Email for appointment

TUTOR

Name Room Email Tel Consultation Time

Dr Sharon Shan JO2.255 h.shan@ecu.edu.au Email for appointment

ACADEMIC COORDINATOR

Name Room Email Tel

Dr Ruth Sibson JO2.238 r.sibson@ecu.edu.au 6304 5600

Dr Greg Willson JO2.259 g.willson@ecu.edu.au 6304 2558

Classes for on campus delivery

LECTURE

Day Time Room

Wednesday 13:30 – 15:00 JO08.101

TUTORIAL

Day Time Room

Wednesday 15:00 – 16:30 JO02.105 (Digital Hub)

Wednesday 16:30 – 18:00 JO02.105 (Digital Hub)

Wednesday 18:00 – 19:30 JO02.105 (Digital Hub)

Acknowledgement of CountryThe School of Business and Law acknowledges and respects the Nyoongar people, who are the traditional custodians of the land upon which its campuses stand and its programs operate. In particular ECU pays its respects to the Nyoongar Elders, past and present, and embraces their culture, wisdom and knowledge.

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Introduction to the UnitWelcome to BUS3100 Business Research Practices!

This unit explores the nature and process of business research. It covers a review of the methods used to collect research data available to an organization and examines how these different avenues for research complement each other to form a sound information base for management decisions. We trace the process of research including: principles of social science research, research paradigms, framing research questions, data collection methods, sampling, measurement concepts and techniques, data preparation and analysis, and business research applications. In addition, the implications of research ethics are discussed. The focus of the unit is on providing decisional research for business managers, so we adopt a practical and applied approach to activities and assessment tasks.

BUS3100 is a capstone unit for the Marketing Major in the Bachelor of Commerce. The knowledge and skills you acquire in this unit are important for graduate level professionals because they will help you make more informed and rational business decisions. The unit also develops and consolidates course level outcomes relating to problem solving, teamwork and business ethics.

To succeed in this unit, it’s important to engage with preparatory readings and participate fully in tutorials to get the most out of the learning experience.

Unit Learning OutcomesAt the end of this unit you will be able to:

1. Analyse and apply quantitative and qualitative techniques to business situations and interpret findings for management.

2. Compare quantitative and qualitative methods used in the business research context.3. Critically assess when to use research effectively in a business context.4. Design and implement a real-life research project.5. Develop analytical, communication & team work skills relevant to effective data collection and

interpretation.6. Understand and critically evaluate secondary data collection and analysis methods.

Course Learning OutcomesYour learning in this unit will contribute to the development of the following Course Learning Outcomes:

UGCLO2: Access, analyse and critically evaluate relevant information to solve challenging business problems systematically [AQF7 S1, S3, A1].

UGCLO4: Collaborate effectively in team settings to produce measurable outcomes [AQF7 A1, A3]. UGCLO7: Value professional behaviours and/or personal citizenship that reflect an appreciation of

the interrelationship between business ethics and corporate social responsibility [AQF7 S3, A1, A3].

Communication SkillsCommunication skills are not only crucial for success at University, employers also want graduates who are competent and confident communicators, with strong English language proficiency.

For assistance with improving your English language skills, you can make an appointment to see an Academic Learning Consultant or attend one of the Writing Skills workshops. Please visit Blackboard > Communities > Academic Skills Centre for workshop registrations and Academic Learning Consultant appointments.

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The Learning ExperienceThe mode of delivery for this unit is through a weekly on-campus 1.5-hour lecture, accompanied with a 1.5-hour tutorial in a computer lab. Lectures provide the theoretical foundation of key concepts in business research practices, while the tutorials are skills-based. It is important that students attend BOTH the lecture and tutorial each week because content for the exam is being provided and developed in both class types. Please arrive punctually and participate constructively and professionally. You will find it beneficial to complete the associated reading prior to attending class, to give you some understanding of the topic and improve your confidence with sharing your ideas during class.

The teaching and learning approach is enhanced through in-tutorial discussions, where the skills of working effectively with others (specifically working in teams, task collaboration and working productively with people from diverse cultures), communicating effectively, critical appraisal and the ability to generate ideas are emphasised. Successful completion of this unit requires students to complete individual and (potential) group assessment items, which are assessed for quality academic and professional standards, including written communication (structure, language and conventions), ability to work effectively with others, critical analysis (depth of thought, development of argument and logicalanalysis), depth and breadth of coverage, and the ability to research effectively, using both academic and contemporary sources.

Blackboard, the ECU learning management system, will be used in this unit to permit communication outside of the scheduled classes, and to provide you with information relevant to this unit. As an enrolled student in BUS3100, you will be able to access the relevant unit information and resources that have been placed there. To login to Blackboard, log in to your student portal or via http://myecu.ecu.edu.au. You will need your username and password that were assigned to you as an enrolled student at ECU. You should also check your ECU email regularly, as the lecturer/tutor will use this as a means of communication.

All teaching and learning at ECU is conducted in accordance with the Student Charter (accessed at: http://intranet.ecu.edu.au/student/my-studies/rules-and-policies/student-charter). You should familiarize yourself with this document in order to appreciate the culture and behavioural expectations of the University.

Active learningStudying a university-level course requires you to take an active role in what you are learning. To get the most out of your time at ECU, you should engage with and actively participate in your units, and take responsibility for your own learning.

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Discussion board expectationsNetworking with other students; asking questions to clarify understanding; responding to questions asked by other students; debating different perspectives; and sharing articles or other information you discover throughout your studies, are all important parts of learning. To enable you to ‘discuss’ the unit content with other students or to ask questions about the assessments, etc., an electronic Discussion Board is available on the Blackboard site for this unit. It is your responsibility to check the discussion board at least once a week via Blackboard > Discussion Board. If you are not sure how to find, or how to use the Discussion Board, ask (or email) your tutor or lecturer for help.

When using the discussion boards, you must display the normal courtesies of professional communication. Please refer to ‘ECU Discussion Board Etiquette’ (below) to guide your communication with other students. The discussion boards are monitored and postings deemed unprofessional, inappropriate and/or unrelated to the unit content will be removed.

ECU DISCUSSION BOARD ETIQUETTEPlease ensure your online communications follow these guidelines:

Be polite; Use correct spelling and grammar; Do not write using capital letters (this can be interpreted as SHOUTING!); Avoid exotic fonts or colours; Be concise; Be respectful of different perspectives; Avoid responding when you are feeling angry; Do not disclose personal contact details; and Take the plunge and get involved in the discussions.

Texts and ResourcesThere is no mandatory textbook for this unit however a list of recommended texts are listed below. All are available from the ECU Library.

Recommended textsBryman, A. (2016). Social Research Methods (5th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University.

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approach (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Jennings, G. (2010). Tourism research (2nd ed.). Milton, Qld: John Wiley & Sons Australia

Kvale, S. (1996). Interview: An Introduction to Qualitative Research Interviewing. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Pallant, J. (2010). SPSS Survival Manual. Buckingham: Open University Press.

Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods( 3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Punch, K. F. (2014). Introduction to Social Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications.

Sekaran, U. (2013). Research Methods for Business–A Skill Building Approach (6th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Yin, R. (2003). Case Study Research: Design and Methods (3rd ed.). California: Sage Publications

Software requirementsStudents will need a licence or access to Microsoft Excel and SPSS. All computers in the e-Labs have Microsoft Excel and SPSS pre-loaded.

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Study ScheduleThis schedule provides a guideline on the topics covered and activities required each week, including assessment dates during the semester.

Wk Date Topic/s Readings Tutorial Exercises Assessment

1 27 Feb The role of business research

Forsey, M., & Low, M. (2014). Beyond the production of tourism imaginaries: Student-travellers in Australia and their reception of media representations of their host nation. Annals of tourism research, 44, 156–170.

Case Study: Larouche Candy Company

2 6 Mar Business research process Please refer to Blackboard Case Study: Public Exercise Station – Defining Research problem

3 13 Mar Qualitative and quantitative research methods

Please refer to Blackboard Focus Group Planning & Interview

4 20 Mar Research design and sampling methods

Please refer to Blackboard Case Study: Public Exercise Station –Research Desgin

5 27 Mar Questionnaire design and measurements

Please refer to Blackboard Developing Research Instrument: Case Study

6 3 Apr Business research ethics and data preparation

Please refer to Blackboard Analysing Open-ended questions

Work on Business Research Proposal

7 10 Apr Student consultations Assessment 1 Consultation

Work on Business Research Proposal

8 17 Apr Qualitative data analysis Please refer to Blackboard Analysing Qualitative data- A case study

1st Assignment due 18th April

Mid Semester Break

9 1 May Quantitative data analysis I (descriptive and inferential)

Please refer to Blackboard Designing Data Analysis Strategy

10 8 May Quantitative data analysis II (descriptive and inferential)

Please refer to Blackboard Using Excel for Descriptive Data Analysis

11 15 May

Reporting your findings Please refer to Blackboard Using SPSS for Data Analysis

Work on Business Research Report.

12 22 May

Student consultations Assessment 2 Consultation

Work on Business Research Report.

13 29 May

Unit Summary, conclusions and exam preparation

No Tutorial 2nd Assignment due 31st May

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Assessment InformationIn order to pass this unit, you must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more from the assessment tasks sumarised below. It is possible to fail an assessment task and still pass the unit but you are urged to apply yourself consistently throughout the semester to avoid unnecessary risk.

Assessment summary

No. Assessment Due Date and Time Value Mandatory to Pass

1 Assignment: Business Research Proposal

Thursday 18th April, 5pm 25% No

2 Report: Business Research Report

Friday 31st May, 5pm 35% No

Examination Exam week 40% No

Assessment Task 1: Assignment – Business Research ProposalStudents will be required to prepare a business research proposal relating to industry-driven research based on a case study provided on Blackboard. Students will be required to research and develop the managerial problem, research statement, and research objectives. Provide an outline of the research design, a focus group plan, a questionnaire, and a measurement instrument table based on the information provided in their chosen case study. Research brainstorming, plans and preparations will be encouraged collectively within a group. Please be informed that your submission is individual.

PREPARATIONBefore starting this assignment, you should have read all assessment materials provided on Blackboard and consulted with your Tutor for additional instructions and support. Obtain approval for your chosen topic if it is not a topic provided on Blackboard. Please refer to the marking rubric for this proposal on Blackboard to see marking criteria and achievement expectations.

ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONSA systematic approach to undertaking research is imperative to ensure reliable and valid outcomes. This process involves identifying issues raised by industry and formulating a short proposal to guide the research process. This assessment requires you to develop the following documentation relating to one of two case studies provided on Blackboard. The business research proposal should include the following:

INTRODUCTION- Overview of the case study, including key issue (s) identified from the case study- Outline the project’s aims and introduce the content that will follow

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Value: 25%

Format: Research Proposal, 2500 words (+/- 10%), MSWord, Times New Roman 12pt font, 1.5 spacing. Please include an ECU Cover Sheet at the start of the document.

Due date & time: Thursday 18th April, 5pm

How to submit: Electronically, via Blackboard>Assessment folder > Turnitin link

Unit learning outcomes:

Compare quantitative and qualitative methods used in the business research context; and

Critically assess when to use research effectively in a business context.

Course learning outcomes

UGCLO7: Value professional behaviours and/or personal citizenship that reflect an appreciation of the interrelationship between business ethics and corporate social responsibility.

PROBLEM DEFINITION (150 - 200 words)- Management Problem- Research Statement- Research Objectives (3-4 objectives)

RESEARCH DESIGN- Research methodology

o Justification of the use of mixed methods: Qual and Quant- Qualitative Research

o Justification of the data collection method: focus groupso Justification of the target population, sampling methodology and method, and

sample sizeo List of focus group questions in a table (objectives and questions)

- Quantitative Research o Justification of the data collection method: a questionnaire surveyo Justification of the target population, sampling methodology and method, and

sample sizeo A table of measurement (see an example below)

PROJECT SUMMARY- Summary of the research project: purpose, method and expected outcomes

REFERENCES

Example of a table of measurement

Research objectives QuestionsMeasurement

Level

1. {insert objective}{Question #} {Question label} *

{Question #} {Question label} *

2. …“ “ *

Demographics “ “ *

* Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, Ratio OR Open-ended

To perform satisfactorily in this assignment, consider the following:

Your questionnaire should show a diverse application of question types and formats. It is important to consider the wording of your questions, order of placement, and most importantly, relevance to the issue brief/objectives. In addition, questions mustcover both categorical and numerical ‘measurement levels’, in order to demonstrate your understanding of the statistical and analysis application of the data.This will be further discussed in the lectures and tutorials. Layout of the questionnaire is important; students will be encouraged to prepare their questionnaire referring to a sample questionnaire provided on Blackboard.

Readability – content should be succinct yet information-rich, well edited in terms of grammar and spelling and professionally presented.

Correct referencing is required adopting the APA referencing style. Proof read your work before submission, as marks will be deducted for an unprofessional or

unedited documents. Please keep a back-up of all your work as there will be no extensions for ‘lost’ work.

RESOURCESApart from the references provided above, a list of suitable resources will be made available on Blackboard.

MARKING CRITERIA

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Please refer to the marking rubric on Blackboard for this assignment to see criteria and performance expectations.

FEEDBACKFeedback will be available via Blackboard>My Grades. There will be opportunity in labs to obtain feedback from your tutor as you progress with the assessment task.

Assessment Task 2: Report – Business Research ReportStudents in groups will be required to prepare a business research report based on data provided on Blackboard. You are encouraged to prepare your practices and exercises within your group in order to help and learn from each other. The final report must be an individual submission.

PREPARATIONBefore starting this assignment, you should have read all assessment materials provided on Blackboard and consulted with your Tutor for additional instructions and support. Please refer to the marking rubric for this report on Blackboard to see marking criteria and achievement expectations.

ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONSInforming business stakeholders of research outcomes is an important step in finalising the research process. This can beachieved through many mediums, such as, a brief report, one-page snapshot or infographic on the key findings, or through an oral presentation. For this assessment you will be required to develop a brief report relating to the data set provided on Blackboard.

The brief reportshould include:

a brief outline of the research project a demographic snapshot of the research participants, the so-called research samples; key findings for objective 3 in the given case study (demonstrating the application of both descriptive

and inferential statistical techniques); recommendations based on your findings.

Note: A detailed guideline is available on Blackboard>Assignments>Assignment 2

To perform satisfactorily in this assignment, consider the following:

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Value: 35% of the unit

Format: Microsoft Word document, 2500 words (+/- 10%). Times New Roman, 12pt font, 1.5 spacing and 2.5cm margins are recommended. Please include an ECU Cover Sheet at the start of the document.

Due date & time: Friday 31st May, 5pm

How to submit: Electronically, via Blackboard>Assessment folder > Turnitin link

Unit learning outcomes:

understand and critically evaluate secondary data collection and analysis methods;

analyse and apply quantitative and qualitative techniques in business situations and interpret findings for management;

design and implement a real-life research project; and develop analytical, communication and team work skills relevant to effective

data collection and interpretation.

Course learning outcomes

UGCLO2: Access, analyse and critically evaluate relevant information to solve challenging business problems systematically.

UGCLO4: Collaborate effectively in team settings to produce measurable outcomes.

The design and format of your report must be of a high standard. That is, considered acceptable in a professional environment. You should consider style, font size, and quality of graphics and tables.

Demonstration of analysis techniques and the interpretation of data findings. This includes applying the correct statistical techniques for the question(s) under investigation, including both descriptive and inferential analyses, as well as identifying key findings relevant to the study.

Correct referencing is required adopting the APA referencing style. Proof read your work before submission, as marks will be deducted for an unprofessional or

unedited documents. Please keep a back-up of all your work as there will be no extensions for ‘lost’ work.

RESOURCESApart from the references provided above, a list of suitable resources will be made available on Blackboard.

MARKING CRITERIAPlease refer to the marking rubric on Blackboard for this report to see criteria and performance expectations.

FEEDBACKFeedback will be available via Blackboard>My Grades.

Assessment Task 3: Examination You will be required to undertake an invigilated 2-hour written examination on the subjects covered in this unit during the official exam weeks.

PREPARATIONExam preparation will take place in exam weeks. Sample exams will not be provided although you are encouraged to review lecture slides and tutorial activities.

EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONSInstructions will be provided on the day of the exam. As this is a closed book examination, you are not permitted to take notes into the examination room.

RESOURCESApart from all of the content and resources provided throughout the semester, you are advised to refer to the Exam Techniques academic tip sheet (accessed at: http://intranet.ecu.edu.au/student/my-studies/study-assistance/academic-tip-sheets).

MARKING CRITERIAYour lecturer will provide an indication of the exam structure and marking approach during week 13, with notes posted on Blackboard.

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Value: 40% of the unit.

Format: Invigilated, closed book exam, 2 hours.

Date & time: To be advised on SIMO

Where: To be advised on SIMO

Unit learning outcomes:

Compare quantitative and qualitative methods used in the business research context.

Critically assess when to use research effectively in a business context. Design and implement a real-life research project.

FEEDBACKYour exam score will be available via Blackboard>My Grades.

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Occupational Health and SafetyPlease consider the health and safety of yourself, and others you study with, in all the environments where you study. Any group tasks need to be undertaken with the interests of all involved, ensuring the culture of respect and safe working is similar to what would be undertaken in a workplace or community setting.

ECU is proud to have led the move to smoke-free university campuses in WA and Australia. ECU’s smoke-free policy was established in 2012 to promote the health of staff, students and visitors. Smoking is not permitted on any ECU campus and this applies 24 hours a day seven days a week. In accordance with the ECU Smoke-Free University Guidelines (#4.4) "Employees observing other employees, contractors, visitors or students smoking on University grounds should advise them that they are smoking in a prohibited area and request them to move off ECU property."

Feedback and unit developmentWe invite and welcome honest feedback at ECU, both for praise and criticism, and there are a number of ways to proceed during a semester or teaching period. The teaching staff are your first and most important point of contact for feedback about the unit (their details are on the first page of this document). If the unit has a general discussion board, you can post your comments there as well. More formally, in week four of a standard semester, the School has an online survey to gauge your opinions about the progress of the unit in this early stage.

The University has a central email address to capture and action feedback of a more general nature. You can email student.feedback@ecu.edu.au or visit the Student Feedback page (accessed at: http://intranet.ecu.edu.au/student/support/contact-us/student-feedback).

Unit and Teaching Evaluation Instrument (UTEI)Towards the end of any given teaching period in a unit, enrolled students will be invited by email to complete the ECU UTEI online survey. This survey will ask questions concerning your level of satisfaction with the unit, your lecturer and your tutor. Your feedback is essential to help us to improve the quality of our units and courses and as such, we appreciate your time to complete the survey carefully. Your participation and the feedback you provide are anonymous and confidential.

Unit Development resulting from student feedbackStudents from the previous semester indicated they enjoyed the synergy with the teaching staffs in this unit. This semester we continue the good practice. Unit content will also be adjusted to assit students overcome learning breakdowns and make the assessment better reflect students’ ability to apply their analytical skills.

Unit Development resulting from Assurance of LearningIn order to more accurately assess your actual achievement against the course learning outcomes, the assessment tasks have been redesigned to incorporate both individual and team requirements.

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