The course provides a strong grounding in understanding the research process enabling students to either engage an external research organisation to undertake a study on their behalf in a business environment or, alternatively, action and complete a research project themselves as either the sole researcher or as part of a research team. In addition to the technical skills and knowledge required to be successful in these endeavours, the course also provides students with a clear understanding of the ethical considerations involved in undertaking research and the special challenges evidenced in international and cross cultural studies.
On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Text Book: Gill, John & Johnson, Phil (2010) Research Methods for Managers, 4th edition, London: Sage. 9781487870940

Readings: See Course Materials - Assigned reading material has been provided to generate greater depth of understanding on particular topics and may be discussed during class sessions. It is likely that this material will provide useful examples and references during assessment.

3.1 WEEKLY CATCHUP THROUGH ADOBE CONNECT
We will be catching up every Monday night through the Adobe Connect Portal. It is important for you to attend as many of these (direct from your own PC) as you can – although attendance is not compulsory. We will provide the details in the first visit.

3.2 BRING YOUR OWN PC
During the visits we will be using a range of software that requires you to bring your own PC that can connect to NGA wireless. The software is:
• Qualtrics Data Collection Suite (Web Based)
• Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (Web Based through ADAPT)
• nVivo 11 Qualitative data analysis software (PC only – no Mac)

3.4 ONLINE LEARNING
Course Website: www.myuni.adelaide.edu.au

3.5 QUALTRICS DATA COLLECTION SUITE
As an important part of your course, you will need to become familiar with the collection of quantitative data using a web survey. You will need to get yourself an account by going to www.adelaide.qualtrics.com and using your university password.

3.6 “ADAPT” FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
ADAPT (Any Device, Any Place and Time) allows staff and students to access their learning and teaching applications on personal devices: desktops, laptops, tablets and smart phones, anywhere:

• On campus via the UofA wireless network; and
• Off campus via broadband access and 3G/4G Mobile networks.

Through this “virtual suite” you will be able to use a range of licensed software products such as Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and the nVIVO Qualitative Data Analysis suite.

Details for ADAPT can be found at:

http://www.adelaide.edu.au/technology/yourservices/learning-teaching/adapt/

Seminars consist of lectures, practical, and student presentations. Essentially, your job in this course is to develop a well thought out, well justified research proposal and an associated set of research methods to embark on a project of your own, under close supervision. We will also strongly support the face to face work with digital content through the MyUni platform. This will include:

• Synchronous “Catchup” sessions each Monday night
• Two Lecturer visits
• Broadcast Emails
• Powerpoints, Readings and Case Studies all posted online
• Lecture recordings on video
• Digital Feedback on assignments – PDF of assignment rubric & video feedback (YouTube Link)

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

Our face to face sessions are a total of 36 hours long. You can expect to spend about the same amount of time preparing for each class. Assignments and exam preparation will demand additional concentrated periods of non-classroom study, on your own or with your allocated student group. So you could expect to spend in the order of 120 hours of study time to complete the course, of which 36 hours would be in class.

Date Week Weekly Catchup Activities Monday Night Assessment
11-Jul 1 Hello and Welcome
16-18 Jul Visit 1 Research Brief presentation
18-Jul 2 Consolidate your written Resarch Brief - Group. Cullen at NAA this week to consult if necessary Research Brief Document
25-Jul 3 Discuss the Quantitative assignment
1-Aug 4 Completing the Quantitative Assignment Quantitative Assignment
5-8 Aug Visit 2
8-Aug 5 Using nVivo to get on top of the literature for your research proposal
15-Aug 6 The important theory of the course
22-Aug 7 Pre-Exam Review
27-Aug Theory Examination
29-Aug 8 Use qualitative methods and nVivo to firm up your ideas
5-Sep 9 Build a solid piece of qualitative investigation
Qualitative Assignment
12-Sep 10 Build a strong literature review
19-Sep 11 Finalising a Research Proposal
26-Sep 12 Research Proposal Document

Introduction to research
MS Word basic, intermediate & advanced. (esp: formatting, heading styles etc…, captions & cross-references) 
MS Excel basic, intermediate & advanced. (esp: charting and formulae) 
Library basics & database usage workshop. (including common Business Databases)  
a.     … Secondary Sources (most of) 
Academic integrity workshop/s (including plagiarism & ethics). 
Nature & Value of Research in Business Setting (& ethics – 1st intro: academic & commercial)  
a.     Outsourcing research (build a research brief, select a research provider, evaluate provided research)  
b.     Designing & conducting research (develop a research proposal & conduct research)  
Identifying and elucidating the business problem   
a.     From Defining a research topic to Refining a research question  
Dimensions of Research: Approaches; Philosophies & Design (& Morphological Analysis)  
a.     Pure/basic vs applied;   
b.     Qualitative & Quantitative & Hybrid, and Mixed Method & Multi-Method (& preview intro to Qualtrics)  
i.     Inductive/Deductive/Abductive research (& iterative)  
c.     Research ‘question’ vs research ‘objective’ and ‘develop hypotheses’ vs ‘explore & develop’  
d.     More than “Qual vs Quant”: Exploratory, descriptive & causal and          
i.     Broader & wider “Research Options” overview (eg: Case Study, Action Research; Systems Research; Systems Dynamics; Design-based research…)  
ADAPT - The University of Adelaide's Virtual Suite
Qualtrics data collection suite
SPSS Software: overview of SPSS as a Research Support Tool  
NVivo software: Overview of NVivo as a Research Project Management Tool  
a. research log   
b. research journal 
(Secondary Sources – follow up & complete from Prequel)  
Conceptual frameworks & theories: 
a.     working with pre-existing conceptual frameworks & theories 
b.     incremental/iterative – working with the old and refining to the new 
c.     developing new conceptual  frameworks & theories 
NVivo software supporting research design & development (and Literature Review; & Data Management):  
(Literature Review for Background, Review, Justification, Exploration, Method & Results) 
a.     creating & importing folders & documents;  
b.     use of literature to define & refine research questions & hypotheses;  
c.     use of ‘coding’ as an analytical tool for literature review and data analysis;  
i.     a priori coding 
ii.     a posteriori (post hoc) coding 
d.     5 different methods (mechanically) of coding in NVivo  
Intro to Quantitative Research, Scientific Method & Experimental Method 
a.     “From Research question to questionnaire items” 
b.     “From conceptual framework to questionnaire items” 
c.     Variable types: dependent, independent, moderator 
d.     Measurement (ratio / interval / ordinal / nominal) 
Research Brief  
a.     What is it & why have it 
b.     Content & focus  
c.     Timelines & Budgets 
d.     Format & delivery 
NVivo software supporting research design & development: 
a.     developing use of codes, nodes and classifications;  
b.     dealing with demographics;  
c.     identifying relationship types & relationships; 
d.     working with images 
Quantitative Research Design: 
a.     Data editing 
b.     Data coding 
c.     Data transformation 
Survey Research Design  
Survey Design and Application 
a.     Overview introduction to Qualtrics 
Qualtrics – Build & Distribute Surveys 
a.     Question types 
b.     Answer types 
c.     Survey flow / logic 
d.     Distributing a survey 
e.     Time and timing / length 
f.      Attention checks 
g.     Validity checks (internal & external) 
Content Analysis – Qualitative & Quantitative views 
Qualtrics – On-board analysis 
a.     Built-in histograms 
b.     Charting 
c.     Filtering result-views 
d.     Cross-tabulations 
e.     Exporting data to Excel & SPSS 
SPSS software supporting research design & development:  
a.     Exploring quantitative data  
i.     tabulations;  
ii.     descriptive statistics;  
iii.     data transformation (conversions between data types) 
SPSS supporting research design & development: 
a.     Tests of difference 
                                               i.     Paired sample t-test 
                                             ii.     Independent samples t-test 
                                            iii.     ANOVA 
Demographics & background – what, where & how much (screener or info?) 
SPSS supporting research design & development: 
a.     Association 
                                               i.     Correlation 
                                             ii.     Linear regression 
                                            iii.     Crosstabs / non-parametric 
Sampling: 
a.     Probability 
b.     Non-probability 
c.     Expanding purposive & theoretical sampling  
d.     What & why (NOT) “convenience”  
SPSS supporting research design & development: 
a.     Data reduction / Factor Analysis 
b.     Multiple regression analysis 
NVivo software supporting research design & development: 
a.     Data sets;  
b.     Data Classification & Analysis;  
c.     Data linking;  
d.     Basic Queries. 
Research Proposal 
a.     What is it & why? 
b.     Content & focus 
c.     Ethics 
d.     Format & discipline-specificity 
e.     How to design & build – customized to YOUR research 
Strong research paradigms in the Business World: 
a.     Case study 
b.     Action Research (& TQM / Sigma / RAD / Design-based … Lewin) 
c.     Systems Analysis & Design & Systems Dynamics  
NVivo software supporting research design & development:   
a.     Querying literature & raw data to launch 
                                               i.     â€¯Word frequency queries. 
                                             ii.     Text search queries 
b.     Sets 
c.     Memos & Annotations 
d.     Links & Hyperlinks 
NVivo software supporting research design & development:   
a.     Synthesis & Exploration of Data:  
b.     Advanced Queries: 
                                               i.     Coding 
                                             ii.     Compound 
                                            iii.     Matrix 
                                            iv.     Group 
                                              v.     Coding Comparison  
Non-reactive data & analysis 
Methods, Techniques & Skills in data collection 1: 
a.     Developing (& Conducting) interviews A 
                                               i.     Structured / semi-structured / unstructured 
                                             ii.     Types of question 
                                            iii.     Order of questions 
                                            iv.     Framing of questions 
                                              v.     Probes 
NVivo software supporting research design & development:   
a.     Synthesis & Visualization of Data:  
b.     Models – static; dynamic; customized 
c.     charts 
d.     graphs 
e.     cluster analysis 
Methods, Techniques & Skills in data collection 3: 
a.     (Developing &) Conducting interviews B 
                 i.     Venue & timing 
                 ii.     Rapport & Aura (& empathy) – subjective & objective 
                 iii.     Recording (ethics & mechanics) 
                 iv.     Verbal communication – listening, studying & interpreting: 
                        1.     ‘Obvious’ meaning 
                        2.     Words & word choice 
                        3.     Underlying meanings & assumptions  
                        4.     Fluency  
                        5.     Cultural,  ethnic, organisational… influences 
                  v.     Non-verbal communication – ‘listening’, studying & interpreting: 
                                   1.     Kinesics (body movement) 
                                   2.     Proxemics (spatial) 
                                   3.     Vocalics (paralanguage) 
                                   4.     Chronemics (time) 
                                   5.     Haptics (touch) 
                                            vi.     Phrasing, probing, affirming… 
NVivo software supporting research design & development:   
a.     Transcription (video &/or audio to text). 
b.     Types of transcription 
c.     Choice of transcriber (self or outsource?) 
Methods, Techniques & Skills in data collection 1: 
a.     Developing & Conducting Focus Groups A 
                                               i.     Multiple participants vs individual interview 
                                             ii.     Room design 
                                            iii.     Recording issues (ethical & mechanical) 
                                            iv.     Building a discussion guide 
                                              v.     Facilitation of egalitarian input 
                                            vi.     Facilitation of comfort/ confidentiality / security 
                                           vii.     Controlling direction of discussion 
                                         viii.     Managing ‘difficult’ members 
Pulling it all together – toward the final Research Report (or thesis) 
NVivo software supporting research design & development:   
a.     Framework Matrices –  
                                               i.     theory,  
                                             ii.     method &  
                                            iii.     practice 
Research design & development:  
a.     Longitudinal  (qual & quant) 
b.     [optional ‘advanced topic’?] Temporal Dimensions in Research (including Time Series) â€¯ 
Methods, Techniques & Skills in data collection 4: 
a.     The subtleties of the interview (& focus groups) 

We are building a research brief as a team, and then we may be developing a research proposal as a team activity (subject to negotiation) which may flow through to a social enterprise project on a team or individual basis, or an individual academic thesis style project.

Assessment Weight Basis Related Learning Outcome
Assignment 1: Participation 10% Individual 1, 5, 6, 7


Assignment 2a: Research Brief - Presentation 5% Individual 2, 3


Assignment 2b: Research Brief - Document 10% Individual 2, 3


Assignment 3: Quantitative Assignment 15% Individual 1, 6


Assignment 4: Qualitative Assignment 15% Individual 1, 6


Assignment 5a: Research Proposal Presentation 5% Individual 2, 4, 5


Assignment 5b: Research Proposal Document 35% Individual 2, 4, 5

Assignment 1 - Class Discussion and (optional) blog support (Individual grade 10%)
Get involved
By the end of the course, I will know all of you pretty well. I will have spent over 35 hours in a classroom with you, seen some projects and taken attendance (really just as a reminder to me). This is ample opportunity for me to allocate 10% of the course mark to the quality of your contribution. This can be confronting for some people, but part of the transition to senior manager role involves being prepared to comment when the opportunity arises.
So this component of assessment in the course is essentially around the week’s case study, but general engagement within the class is good too.
Why not build a blog?
Grasp the nettle. Many people in business these days are creating a simple reflective blog – allowing it to be public but enhancing their personal brand. If you feel a little uncomfortable about speaking up in class, then why not do some reflection in a blog – even one that is public. This provides a triple benefit; you learn a few new skills, you can supplement the insights you demonstrated in the class, and it pumps you up the Google rankings against your name. In the first session I’ll show you how to get a blog going. It’s a five minute job. For the “tragic” among us, we might feed the blog with an outreach medium such as Twitter.
So for A1 the overarching criterion is as follows:
The instructor’s subjective assessment of the student’s contribution to the discussion of marketing concepts, principles and examples. This can occur in a face-to-face or blog context, or both.

Assignment 2 – Research Brief (15%) total
You are required to submit a research brief that summarises a stated business problem that requires specific information in order for Managers to decide a strategic direction to address the issue.

This will include:

• a background to the problem and
• the implications of not finding a solution.
• The nature of the information that needs to be sourced (from both secondary and primary sources):
• concise and actionable research objectives and
• an indicative time frame and budget for the completion of the resulting study.

This is not meant to be an 'argument' for the research per se - but it must provide any researchers that may take on the task with good understanding of the issues involved and nature of the information that is needed to find a solution.

• This brief (including no more than 10 references) may not exceed 2000 words.
• there is no minimum word limit - this will be dictated by the fewest possible words to contain adequate information to fully communicate the brief.
• A sample brief will be provided to students (see attached) and many others can be found from a variety of sources.

Assignment 3 – Quantitative Assignment (10%) total
Students are required to read a short case study provided in this brief and answer 5 questions, selecting the appropriate statistical test to answer each business problem.

You can download the datafile for this assignment from Myuni. You would also need to install SPSS software to perform the required quantitative data analysis. Detailed instructions on how to install SPSS on personally owned equipment can be found at: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/technology/yourservices/software/personal/

This is an individual assignment. So, make sure you conduct data analysis and prepare a summary report individually. The written report represents a summary of key insight from your data analysis, demonstrating an ability to choose an appropriate statistical technique to provide answers to specific business research objectives, as well as an ability to correctly interpret results and develop preliminary conclusions and recommendations.

The title for this report should also include the words Assignment 1_quant_student ID. Please submit this assignment as a Microsoft Word file. The assignment should not exceed 1,500 words (excluding the Appendix). Please use only the key tables or charts in the main body of your report with all support tables attached in the Appendix.

Learning Objectives
This assignment focuses on student’s ability to:
• Develop skills in statistical analysis
• Understand the need to relate research and management objectives to analysis and findings
• Demonstrate an understanding of quantitative research and required analytical skills
• Develop knowledge in the choice and application of inferential and descriptive statistical tests
• Understand how quantitative research fits into the broader management and business planning process
• Apply an advanced understanding of quantitative analysis methods to a specific research problem

In addition, the aim of this assignment is to develop advanced knowledge in relation to the fundamental quantitative business and marketing research processes, such as:
• Data preparation and re-coding
• Descriptive data analysis and charting in SPSS and Excel, use of filters
• Significant difference testing using ANOVA or an Independent-samples T-test
• Factor analysis
• Correlations and regressions
• Provision of a short summary of key findings and recommendations

Assignment 4 – Qualitative Assignment (10%) total
Assessment item: submit an NVivo Project that supports the development of the Literature Review (Background and Introduction) of your Research Proposal, identifying your Research Gap and Research Questions and/or Hypotheses.

Using NVivo software, students will:

1. Import and collate relevant materials to support the development of their Research Proposal. This may include academic literature, government reports, white papers, business articles, survey data, photographs and other images, marketing media, audio and/or video clips.

2. Use the node & coding, classification and query tools to analyse and explore the imported documentation and materials, for the purpose of:
a) summary of “what is already known” about the research topic
b) identification of themes and patterns in “what is already known” about the research topic
c) identification of need for research (research gap/justification)
d) formulation of research question and hypotheses / propositions to address the research gap.

Assignment 5 – Research Proposal (35%) total
This Proposal is not only the culmination of the work in this course, it is also the official proposal that will be used to shape the required research in the 6 unit Research Project for most degree programs (or the equivalent for students in other disciplines).

(as above) In order to pass this course, students must achieve at least 50% overall, and achieve a passing mark of at least 50% for their final research proposal.

This document will be assessed on:
1. Short restatement and justification of the research problem
2. Relevance of objectives to the stated problem
3. Adequate assessment of the relevant secondary data
4. Justification of the research design and proposed methodology, including data collection and sampling methods. Questions to be answered include:
a) can it be done this way?
b) is it an appropriate design - is there a precedent for this design/approach?
c) will it provide the right kind of data and enough of it?
d) will analysis of the data provide the insights required?
e) are projected costs defendable?
5. Proposed analytical methods
6. Research budget and timelines for completion of the project
7. Quality of written presentation (referencing, grammar, punctuation and clarity).

For the purposes of this course, this document is expected to be no more than 15 pages (not including references and appendices), and follow the "Document Guidelines".

Note: where students come from a Discipline that has a specified Research Proposal descriptor, the Proposal must conform to that Discipline’s specifications.

Presentation of Assignments
• Please must retain a copy of all assignments submitted.
• All assignments must be submitted electronically through the MyUni assignments portal
• Assignments cannot be reworked and resubmitted after marking.