Essentials of Business Research Methods (4^th Ed.)

In an era of big data and data analytics, how can managers make decisions based on almost unlimited information, not to mention hiring and retaining individuals with the required data analytics skills? The new fourth edition of Essentials of Business Research Methods explains research methods and analytical techniques for individuals who aren't data scientists.

The authors offer a straightforward, hands-on approach to the vital managerial process of gathering and using data to make relevant and timely business decisions. They include critical topics, such as the increasing role of online research, ethical issues, privacy matters, data analytics, customer relationship management, how to conduct information-gathering activities more effectively in a rapidly changing business environment, and more. This is also the only text that includes a chapter on qualitative data analysis, and the coverage of quantitative data analysis is more extensive as well as much easier to understand than in other texts.

A realistic continuing case used throughout the book, applied research examples, and ethical dilemma mini cases enable upper-level undergraduate and postgraduate students to see how business research information is used in the real world.

This comprehensive textbook is supported by a range of online resources, including instructors? manuals, PowerPoint slides, and test banks.

Preface

Part I: Introduction

1: Business Research for The Twenty-First Century

2: Overview of the Research Process

3: Ethics in Business Research

Part II: Beginning the Research

4: Defining the Research Problem and Reviewing the Literature

5: The Nature and Sources of Secondary Business Data Chapter

6: Conceptualization and Research Design

Part III: Sampling and Data Collection

7: Sampling Approaches and Considerations

8: Methods of Collecting Primary Data

9: Measurement and Scaling

10: Questionnaire Design

Part IV: Analysis and Interpretation of Data

11: Basic Data Analysis for Qualitative Research

12: Basic Data Analysis for Quantitative Research

13: Testing Hypotheses in Quantitative Research

14: Examining Relationships Using Correlation and Regression

15: Other Multivariate Techniques

Part V: Communicating the Results

16: Reporting and Presenting Research

Index

Joe F. Hair, Jr. holds the Cleverdon Chair of Business in the Mitchell College of Business, University of South Alabama, USA.

Michael Page is Professor of Finance and Management at Bentley University, USA, and Professor Extraordinaire at University of Stellenbosch Business School, RSA.

Niek Brunsveld is senior policy adviser Research & Innovation at the Executive Staff of the University of Amsterdam, as well as faculty member of the Amsterdam Business School.