SYLLABUS
Wayland Baptist University, Fairbanks Campus,
School of Business
Spring 2014
Mission: Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging and
distinctively Christian environment for professional success and service to God and humankind.
Course Name: MGMT 5320 – Research Methods
Term and Year: Spring, 2014- February 24, 2014 -May 17, 2014
Full Name of Instructor: Dr. Karen Dempster, Esq., BA, MED, EDS, JD
Office & Home Phone and email: dempsterk@wbu.edu Office: 377-4398; H: 456-2365; C: 978-7745
Office Hours, Building, and Location: Eielson AFB, Bldg. 2623, Monday, 1:00 to 5:30PM, Sat. Noon,
Ft. Wainwright, TBA.
Class Meeting Time and Location: Wednesday, Doyon facility, Rm. 302. 6:00-10:00 PM
Catalog Description: The study of basic tools, vocabulary, processes, and methods used in business, industry,
and governmental research. Students will learn to read and understand research reports, analyze and interpret
results, prepare a research proposal, and conduct a research project.
Prerequisites: None
Required Textbook and Resources:
BOOK
Business Research
Methods w/CD
AUTHOR
Cooper
ED YEAR PUBLISHER
12th
2012
ISBN#
9780-07352-
McGraw-Hill 1503
REVIEW
Spring 14
Optional Materials: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th Ed.
ISBN 10: 1-4338-0561-8
Course Outcome Competencies:
Upon completion of this course the student should be able to:
 Apply and explain approaches and techniques required in performing reliable and valid research.
 Explain the terminology involved in conducting research.
 Demonstrate the methodology and analytical skills relevant to researching a business problem.
 Describe the interdisciplinary relationships between business research and other fields.
 Present both an oral and written research proposal and report.
 Develop a conceptual framework for research methodology.
 Be able to prepare a research proposal.
 Understand both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
 Understand research methodology terminology.
 Be able to read and understand research reports.
PARTICIPATION & ATTENDANCE: Participation is essential in the learning process. Therefore, it is
incumbent upon you to read the assignment chapter(s) prior to class and to arrive to class prepared to share
textual understanding, ask meaningful questions, provide experience input, and share insights with fellow
classmates. Attendance is extremely important.
Disability Statement: “In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), it is the
policy of Wayland Baptist University that no otherwise qualified person with a disability be excluded
from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational
program or activity in the university. The Coordinator of Counseling Services serves as the coordinator
of students with a disability and should be contacted concerning accommodation requests at (806) 2913765. Documentation of a disability must accompany any request for accommodations.”
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION: Your course grade is calculated based on the points earned during
the class/divided by the total possible points (700). Total points values are:
Research topic and 2 research questions:
Survey Instrument/research:
Survey/research Analysis:
Analysis of Interviews/conclusions:
Research Paper
Presentation & Participation
TOTAL POINTS
50
50
50
50
100
100
400
Points
Points
Points
Points
Points
Points
Points
I will be with your through this entire process. We will work on issues in class, clarify procedures together and generally have
fun while you learn something significant about the process of business research.
RESEARCH TOPIC AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS: Select a research topic and develop a research question for
your topic. The research question should not be too trivial or too complex. Then write a thesis statement for your
research question. Your topic must be approved by the instructor before proceeding to the next step. This is to ensure that
you can demonstrate your understanding of the preliminary steps in writing a research paper and the critical thinking
necessary to perform research. We will jointly search for useful links that will help with the writing process, how to
make citations, etc.
SURVEY INSTRUMENT: Develop and write a discipline related survey instrument and conduct, as a minimum, a 5
person survey. You should have a minimum of 5-10 survey questions. Again, the questions must be approved by the
instructor before you administer it.
SURVEY ANALYSIS: Write, as a minimum, a three-page (but no more than five-page) report that interprets the
survey results, with tables or graphs, illustrating some of the important discoveries you have made.
OR
Conduct an observation of an event or of people over a period of two weeks, which is related to this course, and record
the observations in a field journal, or conduct interviews of, as a minimum, 5 people, course related, and make a
record of the interviews in a field journal.
ANALYSIS OF INTERVIEWS: After you complete your survey, you will most likely have additional questions that
were omitted previously or new questions that you discovered during the survey and analysis process. Therefore, you
will do a follow-up interview of the same people you initially surveyed. The follow-up questions should not be the
same questions that were asked on the survey, but they can be structured as “why did you answer questions# __the
way that you did?” You should have approximately 12-15 questions for your follow-up interview. You are now to
write, as a minimum, a three-page (but no more than five-page) analysis of the observations or follow-up interviews
summarizing your findings.
RESEARCH PAPER (Due May 14, 2014 or no later than May 19, 2014): Write a 20-25 page research paper with a
title page and reference page (Microsoft Word can do this automatically!!!) for a minimum total pages of 22 pages.
The course paper will be prepared in the American Psychological Association (APA) format, latest Edition. (In class I
will give you a web site that assists you with APA format)
PRESENTATION: (on May 7 or May 14): Each person will make a formal presentation of the findings of their
research paper. The presentation will be no less than fifteen minutes and no more than twenty minutes in length. The
presentation will be conducted during class, with tables and/or graphs being used to support your oral presentation of
the data (Good time to use Power Point!).
STATEMENTS: “This class will adhere to zero tolerance for using someone else’s work as your own.” Students will
submit final drafts on blackboard and run it through “Safe Assignment” which will identify any copied sections- you are
ok if you credit the quoted material. Remember, Plagiarism is taking the work of another, without attribution and
claiming it as your own work.
“It is university policy that no otherwise qualified disabled person be excused from participation in, be
denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the University.
Students should inform the instructor of existing disabilities at the first class meeting”
“Students are responsible for reading, understanding, obeying, and respecting all academic policies, with
added emphasis being placed upon academic progress policies, appearing in the Wayland Baptist University
Academic Catalog applicable to their curriculum and/or program of study.”
Tentative Schedule:
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
DATE
2/26/14
CHAPTERS
Chapter 1& 2
Appendix A
ASSIGNEMENT
Introduction to research/why it is important to you. Begin
formulating your research area of interest. How to break a 25 page
paper into bite sized bits.
Film: + analysis of film into the parts of the research paper. Homework, write an Abstract for film
3/05/14
Chapters 3-5
Narrow the research question-Noel Wien Library Research
3/10/14 – 3/14/14 Spring Break!
3/19/14
Chapters 6-8
Stage II: Draft of Research questions
3/26/14
Chapters 9-10
Stage III: Survey Instruments proposal
4/2/14
Chapters 11-12
Survey Instruments Proposal
4/9/14
Chapters 13-14
Stage IV: Survey Instrument Chosen
4/16/14
Chapters 15-16
Survey Analysis proposal
4/23/14
Chapters 17-18
Stage V Analysis Interviews
4/30/14
Chapters 19-20
Stage VI: Critique of research proposals, how to present
5/7/14
Research Papers/Presentations to the Class
5/14/14
Research Papers/Presentations to the Class