Business Research Methodology (BFT 501/3)

This themed issue of Management Decision focuses upon the uses of qualitative methods in management research. Within this introduction we raise some issues about what is meant by qualitative research, outline our aims in producing the special issue, and introduce the articles within it. Initially one might assume that qualitative research is simply defined as research that does not use numbers or statistical procedures; however defining qualitative research is not as straightforward as it might seem. The main reason for this concerns the range of different approaches that are subsumed under the heading “qualitative” (Symon et al., 2000), indeed this diversity is exacerbated in management research precisely because of its multi-disciplinary (Brown, 1997), and interdisciplinary (Watson, 1997) nature. There is also considerable variety and range in the forms and uses of qualitative research in different parts of the world.

Good business depends on good research and on those who know how to interpret empirical evidence. Understanding something as complex as social interaction or human behavior, especially in an organizational context, is not easy. Without an empirical, scientific approach to the development of a body of knowledge, our understanding of people in the workplace will be incomplete and rife with error. Having a solid understanding and appreciation of research methods will help you to make quality, informed decisions. The goal of this chapter is to prepare you to be both a producer and consumer of scientific knowledge about human behavior in the workplace.

Research methods present the strategic management field with great opportunities and challenges. This first volume includes three types of chapters aimed at exploiting the opportunities and meeting the challenges. One group of chapters addresses broad issues of science, including the state of strategy research, issues surrounding the age of data, and how to build cumulative knowledge within the strategic management field. A second group of chapters highlight ways to improve specific practices, including the measurement of knowledge, the assessment of limited dependent variables, and designing studies. A final group of chapters describe how strategy researchers can better use particular methods. These methods include social network analysis, longitudinal analysis, qualitative methods, survey research, and structural equation modeling. Collectively, the chapters offer state of the art thinking about research methodology provided by intellectual leaders within the strategic management field

This best-selling text continues in its eighth edition to provide the most current and comprehensive coverage of business research. Its student-friendly design contains numerous examples illustrating real-world research in management, marketing, finance, accounting, and other business areas. BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS, 8E, is the ideal text for undergraduate and first year MBA courses in marketing, management, or quantitative studies.

The Eleventh Edition of Business Research Methods continues to provide the most timely, richest, and most comprehensive coverage of the research experience in Business Research Methods. Students and instructors will find thorough coverage of all business research topics –backed by solid theory. The expertise and practical experience of Cooper and Schindler is evident in the realistic Snapshots, Close-Ups, PicProfiles, and case studies found throughout the text. Managerial decision making is the underlying theme, and topics and applications are presented and organized in a manner that allows students to thoroughly understand the business research function. Consequently, the structure of the text encourages and supports completion of an in-depth business research project during your course.

Research in accounting is concerned with solving problems, investigating relationships and building a body of knowledge. With this in mind, Research Methods in Accounting will provide a clear and concise overview of the conduct of applied research studies in accounting.