Business Research Methods (11172.2)

To make appropriate and effective business decision, it is essential to have an understanding of the research process. Students will learn theoretical conceptualisations that chart the connections among the various factors operating in any given situation that are integral to business research and the basic principles of research design, literature review, sampling, data collection, data analysis and research proposal writing. Students will also be introduced to a range of relevant quantitative and qualitative business research techniques, including the applications of various analytical tools.

On completion of this unit, students will have a thorough understanding of research methodology, develop research skills and be able to formulate and present effective research reports. Such knowledge and skill will be highly applicable in both academic and business contexts.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Explain the importance of quantitative and qualitative research methods to business, the difference between qualitative and quantitative data and identify examples of each type of data;
2. Describe what research and research ethics are and understand the steps involved in the business research process;
3. Conduct a critical literature review;
4. Explain basic descriptive and inferential statistics;
5. Conduct basic statistical data analysis in a spread sheet environment; and
6. Develop and write a research proposal

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

9522 Business Research Methods

Assumed knowledge

None.