HAWAII CAMPUS
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
SYLLABUS
1. Mission Statement: Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically
challenging, learning-focused and distinctively Christian environment for professional success and service
to God and humankind.
2. Course: MGMT 5320 – HI01, Research Methods
3. Term: Spring 2015
4. Instructor: Dr. Dan Jacobson
5. Office Phone Number and WBU Email Address: (808) 369-6325, daniel.jacobson@wayland.wbu.edu
6. Office Hours, Building, and Location: Immediately before and after class
7. Class Meeting Time and Location: Thursdays – 5:30p-8:30p WBU Campus - Mililani
8. Catalog Description: Tools, vocabulary, processes, and methods used in business, industry, and
governmental research; measurement of results of internal and external research. Must be taken within
first twelve (12) semester hours of graduate enrollment.
9. Prerequisites: None
10. Required Textbook and Resources:
BOOK
Business Research Methods
AUTHOR ED YEAR PUBLISHER
Cooper
12th 2013
McGraw-Hill
ISBN#
978-007352-1503
UPDATED
6/11/13
11. Optional Materials: None
12. 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.
13. Attendance Requirements: Attendance is very important to your success in this class. Exams may be made
up (with a penalty of 10% per day for lateness), but no other aspect of this course may be made up at a later
date. Meeting deadlines is very important. In the event of a missed assignment or activity, it is the student’s
responsibility to contact the instructor. Absences will affect your grade. Missing more than 25% of the classes
will result in a failing grade for the course. Missing an hour or more of a class is counted as an absence.
Participation in online portions counts as an equal part of the attendance component. Missing online
assignments is the same as missing face-to-face classes.
14. Statement on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty: Wayland Baptist University observes a zero
tolerance policy regarding academic dishonesty. Per university policy as described in the academic
catalog, all cases of academic dishonesty will be reported and second offenses will result in
suspension from the university.
15. 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) 291- 3765.
Documentation of a disability must accompany any request for accommodations.”
16. Course Requirements and Grading Criteria:
Students shall have protection through orderly procedures against prejudices or capricious
academic evaluation. A student who believes that he or she has not been held to realistic
academic standards, just evaluation procedures, or appropriate grading, may appeal the final
grade given in the course by using the student grade appeal process described in the Academic
Catalog. Appeals may not be made for advanced placement examinations or course bypass
examinations. Appeals are limited to the final course grade, which may be upheld, raised, or
lowered at any stage of the appeal process. Any recommendation to lower a course grade must be
submitted through the Executive Vice President/Provost to the Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals
Committee for review and approval. The Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals Committee may
instruct that the course grade be upheld, raised, or lowered to a more proper evaluation.
Grading Criteria:
Positive Participation in Class
Online Assignments
Homework Assignments
Paper
Paper Presentation
Final Examination
10%
14%
21%
35%
5%
15%
Grading Scale:
100-90
89-80
79-70
69-60
Below 60
W=
WP=
WF=
I=
A
B
C
D
F
Approved Withdrawal
Approved Withdrawal Passing
Withdrawal Failing
Incomplete
17. Tentative Schedule: (Calendar, Topics, Assignments)
February 26
Introductions
Syllabus review
Chapters 1-2
Talk about research paper topics
Discussion of homework assignments/online assignments
Homework for next time:
Homework assignment #1
Online assignment (Chapter 3)
March 5
Chapters 4-5
Discuss research paper outlines
Homework for next time:
Homework assignment #2
Online assignment (Chapter 6)
March 12
Chapters 7-8
Homework for next time:
Homework assignment #3
Online assignment (Chapter 9)
March 19
** NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK **
March 26
Chapters 10-11
Homework for next time:
Homework assignment #4
Online assignment (Chapter 12)
April 2
Chapters 13-14
Homework for next time:
Homework assignment #5
Online assignment (Chapter 15)
April 9
Chapters 16-17
Homework for next time:
Homework assignment #6
Online assignment (Chapter 18)
April 16
** NO CLASSROOM MEETING **
April 23
Chapter 19
Homework for next time:
Homework assignment #7
Online assignment (Chapter 20)
April 30
Chapter 21
Review for final exam
Paper due on Safe Assignment before next week’s class
Discuss presentation criteria
Homework for next time:
Study for final exam
All chapters will be covered
May 7
Paper presentations
May 14
Paper presentations/Final Exam Due
** Professor reserves the right to alter this schedule as needed **
18. Additional information as desired by the faculty member.
Class Participation: Class participation is a very important part of education. This class requires active
class participation. Many classes begin with a basic question that appears clear-cut, and the class
participation is what helps add to the complexity that is critical for solving problems and understanding
processes. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in class.
Other Important Information:
1. Homework is due by the beginning of each class.
2. Late homework will result in a lower grade.
3. Written work is graded on the basis of content first, but also on APA formatting, the quality of
grammar and punctuation.
4. All written assignments should be 12-point type, double-spaced, and using APA Manuscript
Writing Style.
5. Questions concerning grades received should be resolved within one week after the assignment
has been returned.
6. Unless noted as a group assignment, all work should be original work of the individual student.
7. Academic honesty is expected of all students. Plagiarism, cheating, and other acts that lack
academic honesty may result in a zero on the particular assignment.
8. Students will need to use the Internet to access some assignments.
9. Cell phones and pagers must be placed on vibrate or silent mode.
10. Presentations of papers must be done on the assigned date with the class to receive credit.
11. Exams may be made up, but there is a 10% penalty for each day it is late.
12. Always contact the professor if you need assistance.
Term Paper: Students will complete one research paper for this class. The paper should be a minimum of
ten pages of content, excluding coversheet, abstract and references, and should utilize at least ten
references, five of them scholarly (journal articles, not just websites). Students will orally present a
summary of this paper to the class. Papers must utilize APA format. Topics for papers must also be preapproved by the professor. To avoid a 10% deduction, paper draft must be available by the ninth class
meeting to submit online to Safe Assignment. If Safe Assignment detects more than a 20% match of
previously written work, you must discuss with the instructor to get further instructions.
STATEMENTS:
Course Format: This course will be taught in a blended format, with the majority (over 51%) of the
contact hours occurring in class. There will also be Blackboard assignments and other activities outside the
classroom.
“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.”