Research Methods For Business Students 4th Edition Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis, Adrian Thornhill - Solutions

What types of data will you need to retain and file while you are undertaking qualitative research? LO6
How would you differentiate between a deductive and an inductive analytical approach? LO6
What are the main implications of using a deductive analytical approach for the way in which you conduct the process of qualitative analysis? LO6
What are the main implications of using an inductive analytical approach for the way in which you conduct the process of qualitative analysis? LO6
Visit one of the CAQDAS websites listed in Table 13.3. Find and download a demonstration version of the CAQDAS program and explore its features. How useful do you think this will be for analysing your research data? LO6
generate ideas that will help in the choice of a suitable research topic. LO5
identify the attributes of a good research topic. LO5
turn research ideas into a research project that has clear research question(s)and objectives. LO5
draft a research proposal. LO5
You have decided to search the literature to ‘try to come up with some research ideas in the area of Operations Management’. How will you go about this? LO5
You are interested in doing some research on the interface between business organisations and schools. Write three research questions that may be appropriate. LO5
How may the formulation of an initial substantive theory help in the development of a research proposal? LO5
How would you demonstrate the influence of relevant theory in your research proposal? LO5
Together with your colleagues, decide on the extent to which a set of research topics constitute a‘good research topic’ according to the checklist in Box 2.2. The set of topics you choose may be past topics obtained from your tutor which relate to your course. Alternatively they may be those
Watch the news on television. Most bulletins will contain stories on research which has been carried out to report the current state of affairs in a particular field. Spend some time investigating news sites on the Internet (for example http://www.news.google.com) in order to learn more about the
To find out the reasons why so many women are now working in Chinese organisations. LO5 Catherine Chang was a Chinese MBA student studying at a large university in the North of England. Her MBA was designed for international students, most of whom were Chinese although there were students from
To identify what difficulties and problems women face when they work in management. LO5 Catherine Chang was a Chinese MBA student studying at a large university in the North of England. Her MBA was designed for international students, most of whom were Chinese although there were students from
To recommend actions that senior management should take to overcome the problems women face when they work in management. LO5 Catherine Chang was a Chinese MBA student studying at a large university in the North of England. Her MBA was designed for international students, most of whom were Chinese
To understand the barriers which women may face when seeking top managerial jobs. LO5 Catherine Chang was a Chinese MBA student studying at a large university in the North of England. Her MBA was designed for international students, most of whom were Chinese although there were students from other
How advisable do you think it was for Catherine to concentrate her study in China? LO5 As well as the title and objectives, Catherine included in her proposal the background to the research. This included material on the problem facing women managers in China and an indication of the literature
Had you been Catherine’s course tutor, what comments would you have made in response to her proposal? LO5 As well as the title and objectives, Catherine included in her proposal the background to the research. This included material on the problem facing women managers in China and an indication
Why do you think Catherine was so disappointed to receive no feedback from her tutor? LO5 As well as the title and objectives, Catherine included in her proposal the background to the research. This included material on the problem facing women managers in China and an indication of the literature
What difficulties, of both a theoretical and a practical nature, would you alert Catherine to were you her course tutor? LO5 As well as the title and objectives, Catherine included in her proposal the background to the research. This included material on the problem facing women managers in China
What specific comments would you make to Catherine about the main source books she used in preparing her proposal? LO5 As well as the title and objectives, Catherine included in her proposal the background to the research. This included material on the problem facing women managers in China and an
Design a short questionnaire to determine the factors that influence the frequency of people shopping at a particular supermarket, allowing analysis by gender, age and socioeconomic grouping.
In Excel use the formulas = average (range), = median (range) and = st.dev(range) to find the median, average and standard deviation for salary and years of education. To find the average of salary go to a cell on the worksheet and enter= average (f2:f475).
Use pivot tables to compute the mean years of education for job category by ethnic minority.
In Table 11.28 the incidence of crime in a country is displayed.Calculate the row per cents and interpret the table.Is there any association between the crime and the region where the crime was committed?Table 11.28 Crime by Region Region Crime Incidence Homicide Rape Arson South 8 30 25 West 50
Use the data Table 11.29 to investigate if there is any association between social class and diagnostic category of happiness of psychiatric patients.Table 11.29 Social Class and Patient Happiness Social Class Diagnosis Depressed Sad Happy Euphoric 1 46 25 18 15 2 12 45 28 22 3 10 12 12 10 4 3 8 20
The data in Table 11.30 is the number of franchisors in a region by age and size of an enterprise. Apply median polishing and draw conclusions.Table 11.30 Number of Franchisors by Company Age and Size Age Size Micro Small Medium Large Total Newly emerged 29 23 35 6 93 Young 18 6 14 3 41 Older 21 12
Using the data in the file employe.xls analyse the following: is there evidence that the mean number of months in employment is not 80?
Using the data in the file employe.xls compare the educational levels of whether or not someone is in a minority.
Using the data in the file employe.xls how does the salary of male and female clerical workers compare.
The percentage market penetration of a product in eight regions before and after advertising is tabulated in Table 11.31.Table 11.31 Market Penetration by Region before and after Advertising Region Advertising 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Before 12 15 10 25 21 44 21 25 After 15 25 8 30 33 49 20 30 Source:
Conduct a Chi-square test for Table 11.32.Table 11.32 Distribution of Employees by Gender and Job Grade Number in Job Grade Shop Floor Supervisor Manager Female 102 20 10 Male 200 60 25
Determine a model of the cost of stay in hospital (cost), which is dependent on the duration of stay in days (day).Obtain the scatter plot—are any adjustments required?Correlation coefficient =R2 =Model =Standard errors of coefficients =Obtain the residual plot and test residuals for
Determine a model of how sales volume (svol) depends on the number of contacts a salesperson has. Try a model of the form Y = a + b X and one of the form Y = a + b X + cX2.For Y = a + b X R2 =Model =Standard Errors of Coefficients =For Y = a + b X + cX2 R2 =Model =Standard errors of coefficients
A company reckons that sales are exponentially related to advertising expenditure.Use the data advertex and sales to test this hypothesis by fitting the model:sales =Note that in Excel the exponential function is written as = exp(cell ref)This can be re-expressed as ln(sales) = β0 + β1 advertex
Is there a relationship between heart attacks and wine consumption—use the variables wine and heart.Correlation coefficient =R2 = Model = Standard errors of coefficients =
Determine how demand for electricity (load) in California depends on temperature(temp).Correlation coefficient =R2 =Model =Standard errors of coefficients =
The variables pe-ratio, profit, growth and employ are the price earnings ratio for 19 companies (firm) and their associated profit margins, percentage growth rates and number of employees in thousands. Obtain and interpret a multiple regression model with pe-ratio as the dependent
The file Telser.xls contains data on the demand for cigarettes—use this data to obtain a model of cigarette demand. This data was extracted from Telser (1962).Locate file from http://www.sagepub.in/books/Book242499/samples.
The following is a table of quarterly sales for a company for the last four years.Use a regression model to predict the sales in 1998.Year Sales Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4 1994 1,000 800 550 1,600 1995 1,105 890 630 1,808 1996 1,180 970 780 1,950 1997 2,050 1,020 830 To do this make
A longitudinal research study is concerned with:a A study of two or more research issues at the same time b The period of time a study takes to be completed c Measurements of distance d A study of one or more research issues over a period of time
Research Methods and Research Methodology are:a The same thing b Nothing to do with each other c The first comes from the second d The second comes from the first
Inductivism is based on:a Numerical data only b Empirical observations of phenomena c Testing the predictions of a theory d Qualitative data only
A hypothesis is:a A research question b A research objective c A statement to be proved d A statement to be statistically tested
An evaluative, exploratory and instrumental review are all examples of:a Critical reviews b Masters dissertations c Literature reviews d Research studies
A cross-sectional research design focuses on:a Relationships between variables over time b A cross-section of the population c Relationships between variables in the past d Relationships between variables now
A nominal measurement scale measures:a Categories of things b Ranking of things c Time d Percentages
A sample where every unit has an equal chance of being included is:a A stratified sample b A systematic sample c A probability sample d A cluster sample
If a research statement is logically true, then:a It must also be materially true b It may or may not be materially true c It will be materially true if its premise is materially true d None of the above
Deductivism requires that:a Enough data is produced to generate predictions b Hypotheses are tested against predictions c Data is produced to support predictions d Any hypothesis is materially true
Ordinal data is:a Ranked data b Numbers c Ordinary data d Categorical data
The purpose of critical reading is to:a Be able to find mistakes in research studies b Enable the reader to take an opposite view c Enable the reader to re-define an argument d Enable the reader to evaluate the validity of a research study
The measurement of any variable is reliable if:a It has been clearly defined b Repeated measurement gives the same result c Repeated measurement gives nearly the same result d The existence of the variable is materially true
Primary data is data that has been:a Collected by someone else b Collected by the government c Collected by you d Collected from a website
The standard deviation of N observations is given by:a The square root of the sample size b The variance divided by 2 c The square root of the variance d The mean of the sample divided by N
A Likert scale is an example of:a A semantic scale b A longitudinal scale c A percentage scale d A categorical scale
The coefficient of variation is given by:a Standard deviation divided by the mode b Standard deviation divided by the mean c Variance multiplied by the mean d The mean divided by the standard deviation
An odd number scale is commonly used in surveys because it allows for:a A normal distribution b Zero neutrality c A distribution that is not normal d Independence of responses
Secondary data is data that has been:a Collected by you b Collected by someone else c Collected in a survey d Collected in a case study
A Paired Sample T-test is used to compare:a Samples that are hypothesised to be related in some way b Samples that are hypothesised to be the same c Samples that are hypothesised not to be related to each other d Samples that are hypothesised to be only negatively related
Compile a list of the format of secondary data that physically exist at your nearest library.Comment on the usefulness of each format in terms of your own area of research.
Identify a recent journal article written by an academic or researcher. Note all the references used in this particular article and use a catalogue or search engine to locate them.• What proportion of them can you obtain from your own library?• What proportion can you obtain by downloading from
Read the notes ‘WWW search skills’ and carry out the exercises included in the text.
understand the need for sampling in business and management research. LO4
be aware of a range of probability and non-probability sampling techniques and the possible need to combine techniques within a research project. LO4
be able to select appropriate sampling techniques for a variety of research scenarios and be able to justify their selection. LO4
be able to use a range of sampling techniques. LO4
be able to assess the representativeness of respondents. LO4
be able to assess the extent to which it is reasonable to generalise from a sample. LO4
be able to apply the knowledge, skills and understanding gained to your own research project. LO4
Lisa has emailed her tutor with the following query regarding sampling and dealing with nonresponse.Imagine you are Lisa’s tutor. Draft a reply to answer her query. LO4
You have been asked to select a sample of manufacturing firms using the sampling frame below. This also lists the value of their annual output in tens of thousands of pounds over the past year. To help you in selecting your sample the firms have been numbered from 0 to 99. LO4 Output Output Output
You have been asked to select a 10 per cent sample of firms from the sampling frame used for self-check question 7.3. LO4 a Select a 10 per cent systematic sample and mark those firms selected for the sample on the sampling frame.b Calculate the average (mean) annual output in tens of thousands of
You have been asked to undertake a survey of residents’ opinions regarding the siting of a new supermarket in an inner city suburb (estimated catchment population 111 376 at the last census). The age and gender distribution of the catchment population at the last census is listed below: LO4
For each of the following research questions it has not been possible for you to obtain a sampling frame. Suggest the most suitable non-probability sampling technique to obtain the necessary data, giving reasons for your choice. LO4 a What support do people sleeping rough believe they require from
identify the full variety of secondary data that are available. LO7
appreciate ways in which secondary data can be utilised to help to answer research question(s) and to meet objectives. LO7
understand the advantages and disadvantages of using secondary data in research projects. LO7
use a range of techniques, including published guides and the Internet, to locate secondary data. LO7
evaluate the suitability of secondary data for answering research question(s)and meeting objectives in terms of coverage, validity, reliability and measurement bias. LO7
apply the knowledge, skills and understanding gained to your own research project. LO7
Give three examples of different situations where you might use secondary data as part of your research. LO7
Suggest possible secondary data that would help you answer the following research questions.How would you locate these secondary data? LO7 a To what extent do organisations’ employee relocation policies meet the needs of employees?b How have consumer-spending patterns in your home country altered
As part of case study research based in a manufacturing company with over 500 customers you have been given access to an internal market research report. This was undertaken by the company’s marketing department. The report presents the results of a recent customer survey as percentages. The
With a friend revisit Figure 8.1, types of secondary data, and reread the accompanying text in Section 8.2. Agree to find and, where possible, make copies (either electronic or photocopy) of at least two examples of secondary data for each of the seven sub-headings: LO7 a written materials, b
able to classify research interviews in order to help you to understand the purpose of each type. LO9
aware of research situations favouring the use of semi-structured and in-depth interviews, and their limitations. LO9
able to analyse potential data quality issues and evaluate how to overcome these. LO9
able to consider the development of your competence to undertake semistructured and in-depth interviews, and the logistical and resource issues that affect their use. LO9
aware of the relative advantages of using one-to-one and group interviews, including focus groups, in particular contexts. LO9
aware of the issues and advantages of conducting interviews by telephone and via the Internet or intranet. LO9
What are the advantages of using semi-structured and in-depth interviews? LO9
Having quizzed you about the trustworthiness and usefulness of your work for other researchers, the panel member decides that one more testing question is in order. He explains that qualitatively based work isn’t an easy option. ‘It is not an easier alternative for those who want to avoid
What are the key issues to consider when planning to use semi-structured or in-depth interviews? LO9
What are the key areas of competence that you need to develop in order to conduct an interview successfully? LO9
With a friend, each decide on a topic about which you think it would be interesting to interview the other person. Separately develop your interview themes and prepare an interview guide for a semi-structured interview. At the same time, decide which one of the ‘difficult’ participants in Table
understand the advantages and disadvantages of questionnaires as a data collection method. LO5

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Research Methods For Business Students 4th Edition Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis, Adrian Thornhill - Solutions

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