BBA3042 Business Research
Project I
Class Session Two
Devotions
Attitude
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
Individual Learning Outcomes
Individual Learning Outcomes
are post BBA career goal
competencies, skills, and abilities.
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
Individual Learning Outcomes
Competencies:
possessing the necessary
qualities for a specific
profession
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
Individual Learning Outcomes
Skills:
technical expertness;
proficiency; aptitude
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
Individual Learning Outcomes
Abilities:
physical, mental, or legal
powers to perform; talent for
a specific task
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
Individual Learning Outcomes
The competencies, abilities, and
skills identified by the literature
review and expert interviews
related to the post BBA career
goal will generate the Individual
Learning Outcomes.
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
Individual Learning Outcomes
The outcomes must be broad
enough to be fulfilled by an
assignment within the BBA
curriculum and yet pertinent
to the special requirements of
the post BBA career goal.
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
Individual Learning Outcomes
Management, communication,
and analytical competencies
are in demand by employers.
Focus on these areas when
developing Individual Learning
Outcomes.
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
Individual Learning Outcomes
Post BBA career goal: Internet
specialist for the banking
industry
(from sample Post BBA Career
Goal Report in Appendix K)
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
Individual Learning Outcomes
Plan to Achieve
Individual Learning Outcomes
(listed in Appendix B of the
sample Post BBA Career Goal
Report)
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
Individual Learning Outcomes
List possible ways to achieve
each Individual Learning
Outcome within the BBA
program.
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
Individual Learning Outcomes
Develop a working knowledge
of Internet
Understand current banking
regulations (general overview)
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
Individual Learning Outcomes
Understand re-engineering,
strategic planning, and
leadership
Develop communication skills,
oral and written
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
Individual Learning Outcomes
Know how to develop and
implement training programs
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
Individual Learning Outcomes
What purposes do the Individual
Learning Outcomes serve?
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
Individual Learning Outcomes
Clarify the broader purpose of
the BBA program
Illustrate connection between
BBA program and post BBA
career goal
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
Review of HWA 2-3:
Post BBA Career Goal Proposal
Break up into pairs
Each person evaluates the other’s
HWA 2-3 assignment
(DO NOT MARK ON THE COPY TO BE
GIVEN TO FACILITATING
INSTRUCTOR AT THE END OF THIS
CLASS SESSION.)
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
Review of HWA 2-3:
Post BBA Career Goal Proposal
Discuss how the proposed expert
interviews will be conducted.
Create questions for the expert
interviews.
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
Review of HWA 2-3:
Post BBA Career Goal Proposal
How will the results of the literature
review and proposed expert interviews be
incorporated into Individual Learning
Outcomes?
Share examples of Individual Learning
Outcomes that might be developed.
Suggest how the Individual Learning
Outcomes might be fulfilled within the
BBA program.
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal:
HWA 3-1: Plan for Post BBA Career
Goal
Review next
week’s
assignment.
Scientific Inquiry
?
Selltiz, C., Wrightsman, L. S., & Cook, S. W. (1972).
Research methods in social relations (3rd ed.). New
York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Scientific Inquiry Versus
Common Sense
Definition of Common Sense:
The unreflective opinions of
ordinary men
Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary. (1971).
Springfield, MA: G. & C. Merriam Company.
Scientific Inquiry Versus
Common Sense
What are some examples
of common sense?
Scientific Inquiry Versus
Common Sense
Why did people 500 plus years
ago think that the world was
flat (or least hump-backed)?
Scientific Inquiry Versus
Common Sense
Scientific Inquiry and
Common Sense are both
Perception-Screening Devices
Scientific Inquiry Versus
Common Sense
Scientific Inquiry utilizes a:
systematic
well planned
logical approach to explain
observations
Scientific Inquiry Versus
Common Sense
Common sense limits you to the
familiar.
Scientific Inquiry Versus
Common Sense
This may be an interesting
discussion for the natural
sciences (biology, chemistry,
physics, etc.) -- BUT what
does it have to do with my
world?
Scientific Inquiry Versus
Common Sense
Decisions made by using
generally accepted common
sense can be wrong.
Scientific Inquiry Versus
Common Sense
It is not practical to throw away
common sense and subject
every work-related decision to
a scientific inquiry process.
Scientific Inquiry Versus
Common Sense
However, understanding and
incorporating the discipline of
the scientific inquiry process
can ENHANCE your decisionmaking skills for solving workrelated problems.
Scientific Inquiry Versus Common
Sense: Freshman Seminar at MVNC
Freshman Seminar course has
been promoted at MVNC to
improve GPAs and Retention
Rates.
Bolender, R. K. (1997). The evaluation of institutional goals
for Freshman Seminar at Mount Vernon Nazarene College.
Resources in Education Journal, The George Washington University.
(ERIC: ED 406 912)
Scientific Inquiry Versus Common
Sense: Freshman Seminar at MVNC
The value of Freshman Seminar
is generally accepted.
Scientific Inquiry Versus Common
Sense: Freshman Seminar at MVNC
An informal evaluation was
conducted by comparing the
average first semester GPAs of
the group that completed
Freshman Seminar versus the
group that did not.
Scientific Inquiry Versus Common
Sense: Freshman Seminar at MVNC
The informal evaluation
supported the generally
accepted belief that Freshman
Seminar helps improve
students’ GPAs. The GPAs
were slightly higher.
Scientific Inquiry Versus Common
Sense: Freshman Seminar at MVNC
This also supported the
generally accepted assumption
that students who have better
GPAs, return for the 2nd, 3rd,
and 4th semesters.
Scientific Inquiry Versus Common
Sense: Freshman Seminar at MVNC
What are some possible
problems with an informal
(common sense) evaluation?
Scientific Inquiry Versus Common
Sense: Freshman Seminar at MVNC
Bolender (1997) supported the
Freshman Seminar course and
wanted to prove that it
accomplished the GPA and
retention goals.
Scientific Inquiry Versus Common
Sense: Freshman Seminar at MVNC
The purpose of the formal
evaluation was to prove that
Freshman Seminar should be
required for all freshmen.
Scientific Inquiry Versus Common
Sense: Freshman Seminar at MVNC
The study, using inferential
statistics, did not prove the
assumptions that the
Freshman Seminar course had
a positive impact on GPAs or
retention rates.
Scientific Inquiry Versus Common
Sense: Freshman Seminar at MVNC
Any GPA improvement made by
students completing the
Freshman Seminar course was
not any better than pure
chance.
Scientific Inquiry Versus Common
Sense: Freshman Seminar at MVNC
In fact, the formal study could
not even replicate the informal
average findings. More care
was taken in handling the data
in the formal study.
Scientific Inquiry Versus
Common Sense
How does this example
compare with any work related
problems you face?
Scientific Inquiry Versus
Common Sense
Scientific Inquiry is:
Deliberate
Focused
Systematic
Logical
Scientific Inquiry: Business
Research Project I, II, and III
How is the scientific inquiry
process used within
Business Research Project
I, II, and III?
Scientific Inquiry: Business
Research Project I, II, and III
Business Research Project Sequence
Track One: Post BBA Career Goal
The post BBA career goal will be studied and
developed using the development methodology
format.
The scientific inquiry process will be more deliberate,
systematic, focused, and logical toward connecting the post
BBA career goal with the BBA program than using a nonscientific inquiry approach (for example--common sense).
Scientific Inquiry: Business
Research Project I, II, and III
Track Two: Work Related Problem
The work related problem will be solved by studying
the problem with one of three possible
methodologies (development, evaluation, or
research/quasi-experimental).
The scientific inquiry process will be more deliberate,
systematic, focused, and logical toward solving the work
related problem (a real world application) than using a nonscientific inquiry approach (for example--common sense).
Scientific Inquiry:
Development Methodology
The post BBA career goal report (see
Appendix K in the Student Study Guide)
utilizes an abbreviated form of the
development methodology.
There is an example of a work related
problem report utilizing the development
methodology at www.bolender.com.
Scientific Inquiry:
Development Methodology
The development methodology
is preferred for solving a work
related problem due to its
application-oriented nature.
Scientific Inquiry:
Development Methodology
This methodology produces a
product as a result of an
investigated problem.
Scientific Inquiry:
Development Methodology
The product can be a:
Plan
Program
Model
Handbook
Video
Scientific Inquiry:
Development Methodology
Uses the formal scientific
inquiry process to investigate
a problem.
A research question is studied
without the use of a
hypothesis or statistical
analysis.
Scientific Inquiry:
Development Methodology
Components of the
Development Methodology
Research Question
Literature Review
Formative Committee
Summative Committee
Scientific Inquiry:
Development Methodology
Research Question
Reduce the problem to be
investigated into a concise
question that can be solved by
developing a product.
Scientific Inquiry:
Development Methodology
Literature Review
A literature review allows the
investigator to determine what is
already known about the research
question. See Appendix C in the
Student Study Guide.
Scientific Inquiry:
Development Methodology
Formative Committee
Select three “experts” within your
organization
Give the committee an outline of
a possible solution developed
from the literature review
Scientific Inquiry:
Development Methodology
Formative Committee
Have the committee give
suggestions for what ought to
be included in the product.
Scientific Inquiry:
Development Methodology
Review the suggestions from
the formative committee and
combine with the literature
review outline to develop the
first version of the product.
Scientific Inquiry:
Development Methodology
Summative Committee
Select three “experts” outside of your
organization to review the product
Allow the committee members ample time
to review your product
Note: If distance is an obstacle, summative committee
members do not have to meet together in a joint
meeting.
Scientific Inquiry:
Development Methodology
The summative committee is to
validate the product as a
reasonable solution to the
research question.
Scientific Inquiry:
Development Methodology
The summative committee may
require revisions prior to giving
approval. This process is not
complete until a revised product
has been validated.
Note: The term final version of the
product is the same as revised product.
Scientific Inquiry:
Development Methodology
Present the validated product to
a key decision-maker who
is familiar with the work
related problem.
Scientific Inquiry:
Development Methodology
When feasible, include the product in
the appendix of the report.
If not feasible, put a description of the
product in the appendix of the report.
A copy of the product along with the
report must be given to the
facilitating instructor.
Scientific Inquiry: Career
Development Possibilities
Scientific Inquiry: Career
Development Possibilities
Do you see any career
development possibilities with
this work related problem
study?
Scientific Inquiry: Career
Development Possibilities
To whom are you selling
yourself while conducting this
investigation?
Scientific Inquiry: Career
Development Possibilities
Inside your organization
(formative committee members
and a key decision-maker)
Outside your organization
(summative committee members)
Scientific Inquiry: Career
Development Possibilities
What are you illustrating about
yourself to these people?
Your initiative
Your awareness of the
organization
Your problem-solving abilities
Scientific Inquiry:
Evaluation Methodology
The evaluation methodology
requires a higher level of
analytical skills.
Qualitative questions or
problems are solved with
quantitative analysis.
Scientific Inquiry:
Evaluation Methodology
Evaluation methodology focuses
on whether an EXISTING
product or process is meeting
the organization’s
expectations.
Scientific Inquiry:
Evaluation Methodology
The evaluation methodology
allows the application of the
scientific inquiry process to a
specific setting to make
decisions.
Scientific Inquiry:
Evaluation Methodology
A decision may be made to:
continue
continue with changes
discontinue
replace
Scientific Inquiry:
Evaluation Methodology
The evaluation methodology
produces a quantitative
solution for a qualitative
question.
Scientific Inquiry:
Evaluation Methodology
A hypothesis is developed from
the research question to be
analyzed using statistical
analysis.
Scientific Inquiry:
Evaluation Methodology
BBA383 Data Development and
Analysis will illustrate the
proper way to test a
hypothesis using statistical
analysis.
Scientific Inquiry:
Evaluation Methodology
Components of the Evaluation
Methodology
Research Question
Literature Review
Develop Hypothesis from Research Question
Select Statistical Analysis
Collect Data
Test Hypothesis
Scientific Inquiry:
Evaluation Methodology
The results of the hypothesis
testing process will assist you
in making a decision about the
quality of the product or
process evaluated in this
study.
Scientific Inquiry: Research (QuasiExperimental) Methodology
The research (quasi-experimental)
methodology requires a higher
level of analytical skills.
Qualitative questions or problems
are solved with quantitative
analysis.
Scientific Inquiry: Research (QuasiExperimental) Methodology
This methodology investigates
the possible cause-andeffect relationship of a
treatment to a problem.
Scientific Inquiry: Research (QuasiExperimental) Methodology
Example
The error rate in the shipping
department for a large mail order
company is too high.
Your observation is that the
competence level is rather low
among the 300 plus workers.
Scientific Inquiry: Research (QuasiExperimental) Methodology
Your suggestion that the shipping
department receive formal
training is rejected due to cost.
You counter with a suggestion to
conduct an experiment using only
50 of the workers.
Management agrees.
Scientific Inquiry: Research (QuasiExperimental) Methodology
To solve this problem with a new
treatment, two groups (as similar as
possible) are selected.
Control Group: Treatment not
applied
Experimental Group: Treatment
applied
Scientific Inquiry: Research (QuasiExperimental) Methodology
You randomly select 50 workers to be
randomly assigned into two groups.
One group of 25 workers is assigned to
the control group. This group will not
receive any formal training.
The other group of 25 workers is the
experimental group. It will receive the
treatment (formal training).
Scientific Inquiry: Research (QuasiExperimental) Methodology
The treatment is given to the
experimental group.
Data is collected for the one
month period following the
treatment.
Scientific Inquiry: Research (QuasiExperimental) Methodology
The t-test was used to compare
the correct shipment rates for
the control and experimental
groups.
Scientific Inquiry: Research (QuasiExperimental) Methodology
The improvement in the
correct shipment rates for the
experimental group was
statistically significant.
Scientific Inquiry: Research (QuasiExperimental) Methodology
Management decided to
implement the formal training
program for all shipping
employees.
Scientific Inquiry: Research (QuasiExperimental) Methodology
The BBA383 Data Development
and Analysis course will illustrate
the use of statistical significance.
What may appear to be an
improvement may not be
statistically significant.
Scientific Inquiry: Research (QuasiExperimental) Methodology
Components of the Research (QuasiExperimental) Methodology
Research Question
Literature Review
Develop Hypothesis from Research Question
Select Statistical Analysis
Collect Data
Test Hypothesis
Scientific Inquiry: Research (QuasiExperimental) Methodology
The results of the hypothesis
testing process will assist you
in making a decision about the
cause-and-effect
relationship of the tested
treatment.
Scientific Inquiry:
Literature Review
What is it?
Scientific Inquiry:
Literature Review
It is the foundation of the
scientific inquiry process.
Scientific Inquiry:
Literature Review
It allows the investigator to
determine what is already
known about the problem or
research question.
Scientific Inquiry:
Literature Review
If a student’s post BBA career
goal is to become a specialist in
developing Internet services for
the banking industry, the
literature review will provide a
formal background in this area.
Scientific Inquiry:
Literature Review
If a work related problem deals
with training employees who are
semi-literate, the literature review
may provide studies describing
how this problem has been solved
at other organizations.
Scientific Inquiry:
Literature Review
The literature review expands
the understanding of the
subject beyond what is
commonly known and also
provides thought provoking
ideas for possible solutions.
Scientific Inquiry:
Literature Review
The literature review tells you
what has been done and what
needs to be done.
Scientific Inquiry:
Literature Review
It allows the investigator to
begin the study at a higher
level.
Scientific Inquiry:
Literature Review
The study should not be
re-inventing the wheel--although a
redesigned wheel could be a solution.
Example
 The development and implementation of a wellness program at Zolab will
reduce the company’s portion of medical insurance premium.
 How would a properly conducted literature review impact this study?
 What type of sources (technical and managerial) would be reviewed?
This is a business management program--so even a technical
problem must include a managerial component as part of the
solution.
Scientific Inquiry:
Literature Review
If a review of the current
literature is not conducted at
the beginning of the
investigation, it is difficult to
develop a high-quality,
innovative solution.
Scientific Inquiry:
Literature Review
Literature Review within Business Research Project I, II, and III
 BBA342 Business Research Project I
 Track One: Post BBA Career Goal
 Post BBA Career Goal Proposal
•
Requires a minimum of two sources listed in References and cited within the body of the
paper
 Post BBA Career Goal Report
•
Requires a minimum of three sources listed in References and cited within the body of the
paper
 BBA402 Business Research Project II
 Track Two: Work Related Problem
 Work Related Problem Proposal
•
Requires a minimum of five sources listed in References and cited within the body of the
paper
 BBA482 Business Research Project III
 Track Two: Work Related Problem
 Work Related Problem Report
•
Requires a minimum of 10 sources listed in References and cited within the body of the paper
Scientific Inquiry:
Literature Review
Remember -- many more sources
will be reviewed than what are
finally included in the proposal or
report. Every source does not
contribute pertinent information
to the review.
Scientific Inquiry:
Literature Review
The librarian should not conduct
the literature review for you -but -- REQUEST HELP FROM
A LIBRARIAN BEFORE YOU
BEGIN YOUR SEARCH!
Scientific Inquiry:
Literature Review
Why?
Because you may overlook
some valuable sources that
are specifically related to your
research problem.
Scientific Inquiry:
Literature Review
Quality of Sources
Graduate-level, quality sources are not
required for the literature review in
this course.
However -- you should be concerned
about the quality of your sources.
Scientific Inquiry:
Literature Review
Remember -- the purpose of
scientific inquiry is to go
BEYOND common sense. You
cannot develop a good study if
your literature review consists of
low-quality sources.
Scientific Inquiry:
Literature Review
Confused - Worried - Clueless?
Remember -When in doubt --
ASK!
Track Two: Work Related Problem:
Review of HWA 2-4:
Work Related Problem Worksheet
Rationale Document
Select one of the problems from your Work Related
Problem Worksheet.
Create a new Microsoft Word document to answer the
following questions (save this document as Rationale):
Would the successful implementation of the solution of this
problem make a positive economic impact (give specifics) on the
organization?
Is the problem dealing with a “structural” issue(s)--or is it
limited to the “personality” of one or two employees within the
organization?
Is the problem “worthy” of a multiple month study? If so, why?
What type of literature review would be conducted? What areas
(technical and non-technical) would be reviewed? Give specific
examples.
Track Two: Work Related Problem:
Review of HWA 2-4:
Work Related Problem Worksheet
Rationale Document
Print the rationale document.
The rationale document will not affect your
grade unless it is not included with HWA 2-4
Do not print a new copy of HWA2-4 Work
Related Problem Worksheet
DO NOT LEAVE
Until you have given the
facilitating instructor the
following items:
HWA 2-3
HWA 2-4