FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT RESEARCH METHODOLOGY MGT 2700 Y Spring 2018

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1 FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT RESEARCH METHODOLOGY MGT 2700 Y Spring 2018 FRIDAYS, 6:00 PM 8:50 PM ROOM: S4036 INSTRUCTOR OFFICE HOURS COURSE MATERIALS Required Textbook: Zhanna Lyubykh, M.Sc. (Mgt) address: zhanna.lyubykh@uleth.ca Thursday 5-5:45 PM (by appointment only) Zikmund, W. G., Babin, B. J., Carr, J. C., Griffin, M. (2013, 9th Ed). Business Research Methods. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. ISBN-13: (Order through bookstore.uleth.ca) PREREQUISITES/ CO-REQUISITES/EQUIVALENTS Management 2030 AND One of Psychology 2030 or Statistics 1770 COURSE DESCRIPTION Credit Hours: 3.00 An introduction to quantitative and qualitative designs in management research as well as frequently-used applied statistics. Special attention to ethical concerns in research, measurement issues such as reliability and validity, and the critical assessment of research tools such as questionnaires. OVERVIEW OF COURSE CONTENT, FOCUS AND APPROACH The course is intended to cover the major aspects of business research methods, including: the role of business research; qualitative and quantitative research tools; research designs; data collection, frequentlyused applied statistics, and interpretation; and ethical issues in research. Most of the semester will focus on MGT 2700 Y Spring

2 the fundamentals of quantitative applied research, although qualitative research will be explored as well. Learning is accomplished through a blend of applied exercises, textbook readings, and instructor presentations. COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES To develop basic skills in the design, conduct, and evaluation of applied management research; To identify and evaluate current and emerging tools used in conducting applied management research; To evaluate the quality and credibility of the sources; To understand key ethical issues in the conduct of applied research; To understand the potential uses of applied research and research methods in management theory and practice; To recognize the strengths and weaknesses of various research methods and their appropriate usage; To distinguish among the various approaches to research; To design appropriate methodology for conducting research; To develop and/or select/adapt psychometrically sound measuring instruments for conducting research. METHOD OF ASSESSMENT There are four evaluation components in the course. Students are required to complete all components of this course. There are no exceptions to this. Extra assignments to improve grades will not be allowed. Grades will not be adjusted on the basis of need. ASSIGNMENT VALUE DUE DATE Class participation 10% Attendance and verbal contribution to class discussions Ongoing Midterm 20% March 9 th Research Proposal* 40% See tentative class schedule Final Exam 30% April 20 th Total 100% * Individual assignment. Detailed instructions will be posted on Moodle. PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS Participation (10%) Participation will be determined by your attendance and involvement in class discussions. Coming to class prepared (or not prepared) could increase (or decrease) your participation points. Therefore, attending and preparing for class are essential. Research Proposal (30%) This is where you tie together everything we have covered in the class by designing your own study. Your project will need to consist of the following sections: MGT 2700 Y Spring

3 Research topic (N/A) Due on January 26 th Theoretical background and hypotheses development (15%) Due on February 16 th Research methodology (10%) Due on March 30 th Questionnaire (10%) Due on April 6 th Recruitment poster (5%) Due on April 6 th Students are expected to design a research proposal related to any management discipline (Organizational Behavior, Marketing, Human Resources, etc.). This is expected to be a detailed proposal for carrying out a quantitative empirical study (Please note: you can also incorporate qualitative elements into your proposed research, but the main analytical approach should be quantitative). The task is to first identify a relevant research problem (i.e., one that holds both practical/managerial and theoretical/academic significance) that would require a quantitative and primary data research effort (e.g., survey). Note that with this project there are a few steps that must be accomplished at regular intervals during the course of the semester. In other words, there are various due-dates for various components of the project. Components of the proposal include: Research Topic The task is to first identify a novel and relevant research topic related to management (e.g., Human Resources, Organizational Behavior, Marketing, Finance, etc.) that would require a primary data collection research effort. Theoretical Background and Hypotheses Development (15%) This assignment should provide a review of the literature that contextualizes the problem and gaps in the literature your study hopes to fill. The end result of this section should be a set of testable hypotheses. The introduction should present the study goal(s) and importance and reasons for conducting your research, and the literature review should provide theoretical background of your research. Your literature review should include references. Please use APA style to format the references. Detailed instructions will be posted on Moodle ( Research Methodology (10%) The methodology section should include the detailed study design: sampling method, target population, sample size, chosen quantitative tool, a detailed participant recruitment strategy, etc. Questionnaire (10%) Based on your hypotheses, write a survey questionnaire on the topic of your interest. A consent form should be included at the beginning of your survey. Detailed instructions will be posted on Moodle ( Recruitment Poster (5%) You need to prepare a flyer / brochure that you would use to recruit your research participants. You can use different programs (photoshop, adobe acrobat, etc.) or websites to create the flyer / brochure. Visual materials should be creative and include information relevant to your research project. MGT 2700 Y Spring

4 Midterm (20%) and Final Examination (30%) There will be one midterm and one final exam given during the semester. The midterm and final exam will consist primarily of multiple choice questions and short open-ended questions, and will cover materials from the textbook and lectures. The final exam will be comprehensive, which could include any of the material covered during the semester (cumulative exam). Make-up exams will only be given in extreme circumstances (please refer to the Course Policies for more details). All tests must be taken during their scheduled time unless you have made prior arrangements. LATE SUBMISSION PENALTIES I will deduct 10 percent for every day the assignment is late. I will not accept any papers more than a week late. GRADING SCHEME Percent Mark Letter Grade Percent Mark Letter Grade A A A B B B C C C D D 0-49 F Grading. All grading is done by the instructor. The final grade will be determined based on each student s individual performance. Once assigned, the final grade in the class will not be changed except in the case of a recording error. Make-up or extra work to improve your grade is not possible. Extra assignments to improve grades will not be allowed. Grades will not be adjusted on the basis of need. Remarking. You are welcome to discuss your individual class performance and standing in the course with me during my office hours. You have the right to have any assignment remarked, if you choose. To do so, you must submit, in writing, a memo detailing the reason why you believe your mark should be reconsidered within 48 hours of receiving your mark. No remarking will be considered after this 48-hour period has passed. Please note I will remark the entire assignment which may result in raising, lowering, or no change to your mark. COURSE POLICIES 1. Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: It is the responsibility of the student to check the Calendar-mandated pre/co-requisites for all courses before registration (link to Course Catalogue: If students are found to be registered in a course where they do not MGT 2700 Y Spring

5 sufficiently meet its associated requisites and that they have not received prior permission from the appropriate program chair to register in it, then they will be de-registered. Should this circumstance occur after the course drop deadline, tuition will not be refunded. 2. Requesting an In-Class Examination Deferral: Alternative arrangements for writing a missed, non-final, examination (e.g. in-class test, quiz, or midterm) may be made at the discretion of the instructor. Deferrals may only be granted in extenuating circumstances beyond the student s control. Students who are requesting an alternative arrangement must provide satisfactory evidence of illness or extenuating circumstances. Students who fail to write final examinations must provide satisfactory evidence of illness or extenuating circumstances AND must have the approval of the Dean for a makeup exam. Work commitments, holidays or traffic are not considered legitimate reasons for missing an exam. For unsubstantiated missed final exams that are not approved for makeup by a Dean, a grade of F (0 marks) will be given. 3. Requesting a Final Examination Deferral: Students who are unable to write a Registrar-scheduled final exam due to extenuating circumstances or for other reasons beyond their control, must: (1) read and understand the university s policies regarding Final Exam Deferrals on page 1 of the Special Final Examination Request Form (link: and (2) meet with their Academic Advisor to initiate the approval process. The final decision for all Special Final Examination requests is made at the Dean s level. 4. Conduct of Examinations: The instructor may articulate regulations for late entry to and early exit from the examination room. Instructors may also prescribe or restrict materials that may be used during the exam. No material aids including such items as: mobile phones, computers, or other digital devices, may be brought into the examination site without prior approval from the instructor. Please see additional examination policies in the 2017/2018 University Calendar page 76 ( 5. Student Conduct: Special care should be taken to understand the university s position on academic and non-academic misconduct as listed in part 4, sections 4 through 8 of the 2017/2018 Academic Calendar (/ It is the responsibility of the student to read, familiarize, and comply with these policies. Students will respect the basic standards of intellectual integrity, including, but not limited to, refraining from plagiarism, cheating or duplicating someone else s work. In addition, students are expected to take an active role in encouraging other members of the academic community to refrain from academic dishonesty, and are asked to advise the instructor if they are aware of any such violations. This provision applies to any work submitted as a group project. 6. Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism: Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will automatically result in a zero grade for the submission. Any student caught plagiarizing may also be subject to additional University sanctions. 7. Use of plagiarism detection services: The instructor reserves the right to employ the use of Universityapproved plagiarism detection services to determine the originality of student work (e.g. Turnitin). Therefore the instructor can require students to submit their work in electronic form for plagiarism checking purposes. MGT 2700 Y Spring

6 CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS Class Participation. Each student is expected to come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings Attendance. You are expected to attend each scheduled class. If you must miss a class, it is your responsibility to get notes, assignments and other information from another student. I will make announcements of any schedule or exam changes in class. Attendance is essential for good performance. Deadlines. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date indicated. I will deduct 10 percent for every day the assignment is late. I will not accept any papers more than a week late. Special Needs. Please let me know if you have special needs that may require some modification of seating, testing or other class requirements so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Please see me before or after class. Special arrangements must be made before any assignment due dates have passed. Recording. Audio or video recording of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is permitted ONLY with the prior written consent of the instructor or if recording is part of an approved accommodation plan. Recorded material is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the instructor. LIBERAL EDUCATION & HOW IT APPLIES TO THIS COURSE Liberal education has been a community tradition at the University of Lethbridge since its founding. Our principle of Liberal Education is based on four pillars: (1) encouraging breadth of knowledge; (2) facilitating connections across disciplines; (3) developing critical thinking skills so that our graduates can adapt to ever-changing employment and social conditions; and (4) emphasizing engaged citizenship in our communities at all levels from the local to the global. We help students become creative explorers, innovative critical thinkers, and leaders who can navigate through complex global issues and who use the breadth, connections, and skills developed here to make our world a better place for all. This course will address the Liberal Education pillars, in the following ways: MGT 2700 is a course that encourages students to connect and integrate knowledge across disciplines. MGT 2700 enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills. MGT 2700 focuses on the need for good citizenship by considering ethical issues in business research. MGT 2700 Y Spring

7 CLASS SCHEDULE Below is a tentative outline. Recognizing that teaching excellence requires a degree of flexibility and responsiveness to both students' needs and emergent circumstances, adjustments to the course outline may sometimes be necessary, provided that no student is disadvantaged by the change. Wk 1: Jan 12 DATE TOPIC PRE-CLASS READING Course Outline / Introduction to the Course Chapter 1: Role of Business Research Chapter 1 Wk 2: Jan 19 Chapter 3: Theory Building Chapters 3 & 4 Chapter 4: Business Research Process Wk 3: Jan 26 Chapter 5: Organizational and Ethical Issues Chapter 6: Problem Definition: The Foundation of Business Research Chapters 5 & 6 Assignment due: Research topic Wk 4: Feb 2 Chapter 8: Qualitative Research Chapter 8 Wk 5: Feb 9 Chapter 11: Observation Method Chapter 11 Wk 6: Feb 16 Wk 7: Feb 23 Chapter 9: Survey Research: An Overview Chapter 10: Survey Research: Communicating with Respondents Reading Week (No class) Chapters 9 & 10 Assignment due: Research Proposal (theoretical background and hypotheses development) Wk 8: Mar 2 Chapter 12: Experimental Design Chapter 12 Wk 9: Mar 9 Chapter 13: Measurement and Scaling Concepts Chapters 13 & 14 Chapter 14: Attitude Measurement Midterm Wk 10: Mar 16 Chapter 15: Questionnaire Design Chapter 15 Wk 11: Mar 23 Chapter 16: Sampling Design and Sampling Chapters 16 & 17 Procedure Chapter 17: Determination of Sample Size: A Review of Statistical Theory Wk 12: Mar 30 Good Friday (No class) Assignment due: Research proposal Research Methodology Wk 13: Apr 6 Optional Class: Apr 13 Chapter 20: Basic Data Analysis Chapter 25: Communicating Research Results Exam Review Exam consultation Chapters 20 & 25 Assignment due: Questionnaire AND Recruitment Poster Wk 14 Apr 20 FINAL 6 PM IN-CLASS FINAL EXAM MGT 2700 Y Spring