COURSE SYLLABUS: MGMT 5320 Research Methods
WINTER 2014-2015, Tucson Campus
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.
Instructor:
Dr. Charles Motzko, P.E.
Office:
Tucson Campus
Cell Phone:
(520) 744-7528 (9:00am – 9:00pm)
Email:
charles.motzko@wayland.wbu.edu
Course Web Site:
www.wbu.edu
Office Hours:
Before/After Class or by Appointment
Class Day and Hours:
Thursday 6:00PM – 9:40pm
Reference Course Schedule & Assignments Table (p. 6)
Class Location:
Tucson Campus, 6235 E. Broadway Blvd (520) 792-1506
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.
This course provides an overview of business research and the requirements needed to conduct quality business research.
Business research is conducted to provide trustworthy information on business problems or issues by systematically applying one
of a family of methods. In some form affects many aspects of our business and personal lives. Unfortunately, there is questionable
research that can lead to poor management decisions. This knowledge from this class will help inform students how to read and
understand research reports, analyze and interpret results, prepare a research design, and finalize a research project. Moreover, we
will explore the work of others to contrast “good” research with “bad” research.
On course completion, students will also demonstrate their grasp of the fundamentals of research by developing and presenting
the results of a comprehensive research project. Students will conduct their research by developing a management dilemma research question(s) hierarchy, an appropriate research design (with hypothesis testing), collecting data, conducting the data
analyses, and presenting the findings and conclusions.
All written assignments in this class will comply with the writing style contained in the Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association (APA).
TEXTBOOK:
BOOK
Business Research
Methods
AUTHOR
Cooper
ED YEAR PUBLISHER
12th
2013
McGraw-Hill
ISBN#
UPDATED
9780-07352-1503
6/11/13
Optional Material: Academic Journals, Business Magazines and Websites, Newspapers, and Internet search engines results.
Dr. Charles Motzko
MGMT5320 – Research Methods
Page 1 of 6
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.
 Understand and explain the terminology involved in conducting research.
 Demonstrate the methodological 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.
 Prepare a research proposal leading to a research study.
 Understand both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
 Be able to read and understand research reports.
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Students should attend all classes. All absences must be explained to the instructor, who will determine whether
omitted work may be made up. If allowed, the late penalties may applies. When a student has three consecutive
absences, in accordance with WBU policy, the instructor will advise the student and file an unsatisfactory
progress/attendance report with the campus dean. Any student that misses 25 percent the of classes (3+ classes) as
unexcused absences will receive a grade of F. Additional attendance policies, as defined by the instructor in the
course syllabus, are considered part of the University’s attendance policy.
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.”
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.
Incompletes:
Grades of incomplete are not awarded.
Late Assignments:
Assignments are late if submitted after 11:30 pm on the due date. Assignments are usually collected on
each class night. Late assignments may receive a penalty.
University Grading and Assessment Criteria:
A
90-100
Honor Grade; clear demonstration of complete mastery of the subject
B
80-89
Above Average; mastery of most course concepts
C
70-79
Average; satisfactory performance
D
60-69
Below Average
F
Below 60
Failure to meet minimum course requirements
I
Incomplete
A grade of I is granted only if the student is passing the course, but circumstances
beyond the student’s control prevented completion of required course work during
the term & attendance requirements were met. See catalog for further details.
Dr. Charlie Motzko
MGMT 5320; Winter 2014-15
Page 2 of 6
Assessment Criteria
Research Paper
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5 Mid-term
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Class
DQ
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
EXAMS
Presentation
Paper
20
120
60
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
120
Week 11 Final
Sub-Total
90
90
180
20
120
500
Percentage
18.0%
18.0%
36.0%
4.0%
24.0%
100.0%
Presentation, Participation and Deconstruction of Journal Articles: In order to better understand the complexity of
structured research, each student will be required to bring to class and be prepared to discuss a research report/article
each class week (To be discussed in Week 1).
Analyses of scholarly articles help students learn writing of the literature review and clarify how to make theory from the
textbook “come alive.” One way of understanding the relationship between theory and practice is by working through the
definition by Kerlinger (1973) "...as logically interrelated constructs that present a systematic view of phenomena by
specifying relationships among variables, with the purpose of explaining and predicting the phenomena."
Lead Chapter Discussions: Students will be assigned as facilitators for assigned chapters during the term. Facilitators are
expected to encourage active learning (e.g., student feedback/questions in a seminar format); as such, please refrain from
a straight lecture format.
Research Study: Students will complete one major research paper. Topic selection for the research paper will be discussed
during the first class session. Each topic must be approved by the instructor. Students will present study updates at
selected classes (specified in Assignments) during the course. See “Ca Index” on Page 633 of the text, for a starting point
for research paper topic. Other topics may be submitted for approval. I have included a booklet (13 pages) titled “CASE
STUDY METHODOLOGY” that may be used as supplemental resource to introduce rigor and structure to your research
paper. The booklet will be available in class and under the “Course Resource” tab in Blackboard.
The research paper is due at Week 10. Research papers must comply with the writing style contained in the Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition (APA 6 th edition). Papers will be a minimum of 5,000
words, and contain at least 10 references (40 percent within the past 5 years, and 40 percent from peer-reviewed
journals). In addition, students will orally present, in a professional manner, their research study to the class. The
presentation should be between 10 - 15 minutes in duration, in narrative form and contain appropriate visual aids.
The research paper is the major product for this course and students receive a grade of “F” if a completed
research paper is not submitted.
Examinations: The mid-term examination and a final examination will be proctored. Each exam will be two hours in
length.
Dr. Charlie Motzko
MGMT 5320; Winter 2014-15
Page 3 of 6
Other Important Course Information:
1.
Assigned assignments (homework) are due at the beginning of each class. No late homework will be accepted
without the prior approval of the instructor. Approval may granted only if the student has informed the instructor of
an absence prior to the class.
2.
Missed quizzes or exams cannot be made-up at a later date as a matter of policy. Extraordinary circumstances will
be considered on a case-by-case basis. Consideration to administer a quiz or exam other than on the scheduled date
will occur only if the student receives approval from the instructor prior to the scheduled quiz/exam date.
3.
All written assignments must comply with the APA (6th edition) writing style. Grammar as well as content and
organization of contents will be a part of the grading criteria of each assignment.
4.
Any student who has questions about an assigned grade must make an appointment with the instructor so that issues
can be resolved within a week after the assignment is returned to the student. This is to avoid questions about grade
questions arising at the end of the course or after the course is over.
5.
All exams and homework are to be the work of the student, except when the assignment is a group assignment. A
violation (cheating or plagiarism) will result in a "zero" for the assignment. Importantly, if the violation occurs on
either the midterm or final examination, or on the final research paper, the student will receive an "F" as the class
grade. Academic honesty is expected of all (see Academic Standards statement below). Cheating or plagiarism may
include: using unauthorized assistance on any in-class or take-home examination, paper, or project; presenting the
work of someone else as your own without acknowledging the source; taking exams or course material from an
instructor or student; or submitting the same academic work for credit more than once without consent.
6.
Students need to use the WBU eLibrary to access information for the research project.
7.
Please no beepers or cellular phones in class unless they are placed on the silent or vibrating mode.
8.
Please do not bring children to class.
9.
Always contact the instructor if you have difficulty with course material, assignments, or should a personal situation
arise where you need assistance. Contact the instructor as early as possible for direction or assistance.
ACADEMIC STANDARDS:
Students are expected to conduct themselves according to the highest standards of academic honesty. Academic misconduct
subjects the student to penalty. Examples of such misconduct may include all forms of cheating, illicit possession of examinations
or examination materials, forgery, or plagiarism. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work of another as one’s own work. Content
papers without source citations arouse suspicion of plagiarism. See also the current Wayland Academic Catalog.
ACCEPTABLE WEB SITES:
Four types of websites will be accepted as source citations: government (i.e., US, State, local, etc.), academic (i.e., WBU and
other libraries), companies and corporations (i.e., Honeywell, Raytheon, etc.). General-use sites, such as Wikipedia and Google,
are conditionally accepted with one or more supporting academic citations.
WRITING AND DOCUMENTATION ASSISTANCE:
Grammatically accurate writing about course concepts is paramount. A paper’s content is difficult to comprehend when there are
numerous grammatical and documentation shortcomings. Students may receive grammatical assistance from any writing style
guide, and for an American Psychological Association (APA) refresher visit www.apa.org or www.carmun.com. In this course,
the intent is to motivate students to elevate their writing skills to the next level of professionalism.
I will make myself available to act as an editor (time permitting) for those who want a second opinion on format, grammar, style,
punctuation, use of in-text citations, references, etc... Content will always remain the sole responsibility of the author.
Instructor Biography:
Dr. Motzko began his 50+ year business career starting with the U.S. Air Force’s Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory
(PMEL) program in 1961. After separation from the USAF, he obtained registration as a State of California Professional Engineer
in Quality (1978). He received his Bachelor of Arts in Management (with distinction) in 1982, and his MBA from UCLA in 1984.
In 2008, he received his Doctor of Management based on his global research involving leadership and the determinants of
organizational effectiveness for National Measurement Institutes.
Dr. Motzko has worked in the Aerospace and Defense Industry sector, at the executive level for much of his career, all
culminating in the formation of his own management consultancy in 1996. The consultancy’s area of expertise is domestic and
international regulatory compliance and metrology management. Dr. Motzko is currently serving as Adjunct Faculty at the
Wayland Baptist University Campus Center in Tucson, AZ.
Dr. Charlie Motzko
MGMT 5320; Winter 2014-15
Page 4 of 6
My Educational Philosophy:
My educational philosophy is one of learning by engagement. Lectures and directed class discussion will reinforce the readings,
assignments, and writings. Quizzes, discussions, papers, projects, and examinations will evaluate the students' retention and
assimilation of the course material. I encourage my students to call me with their questions so that we can get those questions
answered as quickly as possible without waiting on email turn around.
Each week, I will facilitate opportunities to explore the subject matter through class discussion, student assignments, and critical
thinking. Through formative assessment of the learner’s weekly performance (quizzes and class discussion), The goal is to guide
the students to a critical examination and analysis of the subject matter. The course culminates in a project paper and final
summative assessment that provides each student the opportunity to demonstrate their accomplished understanding.
Dr. Charlie Motzko
MGMT 5320; Winter 2014-15
Page 5 of 6
MGMT 5320 COURSE ASSIGNMENTS – Winter Term Nov 10, 2014 – Feb 14, 2015
Date &
Class
Night
Week 1
Nov 13,
2014
Week 2
Nov 20
Reading/Topic
Read Chapters 1 and 2
Discussion Questions 1 & 2
Read Chapters 3 & 4
Discussion Questions 3 & 4
Assignments
 Read syllabus
 Begin examination of supplemental webpages
(URLs contained in text book & syllabus)
 Read Chapters 1 and 2
 Discussions on Chapters 3 and 4
 Weekly Discussion Questions
 Discuss your selected research topic
THANKSGIVING BREAK, Nov 24 – Nov 30, 2014
Week 3
Dec 4
Week 4
Dec 11
Week 5
Dec 18
Read Chapters 5, 6 & 7
Discussion Questions 5, 6 & 7
Read Chapters 10 & 11
Discussion Questions 8 & 9


Discussions on Chapters 5, 6, & 7
Weekly Discussion Questions



Discussions on Chapters 10 and 11
Weekly Discussion Questions
Discuss Sources and Collection of Data for
research paper
MID -TERM EXAMINATION on Dec 18th
(Chapters 1 – 11, except Chapters 8 & 9)
CHRISTMAS BREAK, Dec 22, 2014 – Jan 2, 2015
Week 6
Jan 8,
2015
Week 7
Jan 15
Week 8
Jan 22
Week 9
Jan 29
Week 10
Feb 5
Week 11
Feb 12,
2015
Read Chapters 12, 13 & 14
Discussion Questions10 & 11
Read Chapters 8 & 9
Discussion Questions 12 & 13
Read Chapters 15,16 & 17 and
Appendix 15a
Discussion Questions 14 & 15
Read Chapters 18 & 19
Discussion Questions 16 & 17
Research Paper & Presentations
Discussion Question 18



Discussions on Chapters 12, 13 & 14
Weekly Discussion Questions
Research paper status update


Discussions on Chapters 8 and 9
Weekly Discussion Questions

Discussions on Chapters 15, Appendix 15a,
16 and 17
Weekly Discussion Questions Research paper
status update



Discussions on Chapters 18 and 19
Weekly Discussion Questions
 Present Research Study Findings
 Turn in Research Paper NLT 2/12/2015
 Weekly Discussion Questions
FINAL EXAMINATION on Feb 12th, 2015
(Chapters 1-21, with emphasis on Chapters 8-9 and Chapters 12-21)
NOTE: Discussion Questions are to be answered in Blackboard. Discussion Questions are due the week
following the presentation of material (i.e. Week 1 Discussion Question are due, in class, on Week 2)
Dr. Charles Motzko
MGMT5320 – Research Methods
Page 6 of 6