Syllabus 1

RES/341 v. 6

Syllabus
School of Business
RES/341 v.6
Research & Evaluation I
Copyright © 2010, 2009, 2005, 2003, 2002 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

Course Description

This course integrates applied business research and descriptive statistics. Examination of the role of statistics
in research, statistical terminology, the appropriate use of statistical techniques and interpretation of statistical
findings in business and research will be the primary focus.

Policies

Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained
within the following two documents:

• University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document.
• Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum with the syllabus.

University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies
may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed
modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality.

Course Materials

Sekaran, U. (2003). Research methods for business: A skill-building approach (4th ed.). New York, NY: John
Wiley & Sons.

Doane, D. P., & Seward, L. E. (2007). Applied statistics in business and economics. Boston, MA: McGraw-
Hill/Irwin.

Supplemental Resources

Orris, J. B. (2007). Basic statistics using Excel and MegaStat. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Bluman, A. G. (2009). Elementary statistics: A step-by-step approach (7th ed.) New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
This is an eBook. Go to Library, eBooks, then search by Author.

All electronic materials are available on the student website except Bluman, which is in the eBooks collection
and in the Center for Mathematics Excellence, Statistics section.
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Week One: Defining Research Process & Data Measurement

Objectives 1.1 Define how data is collected, measured, and described in business research.
1.2 Define business research and its purpose.
1.3 Develop problem definitions and hypotheses.
1.4 Explain the components of a sampling design.

Readings You may need to read more than assigned. These areas are specific to this week.
Readings from Research methods for business: A skill-building approach.
Read about Orlando, Ch. 1, 2, pp. 2-3, 21-22
Review Exhibit 1 Some commonly researched areas in business, Ch. 1, pp. 6-7
Read The Manager and the Consultant-Researcher, Ch. 1, pp. 12-14
Read External Consultants (Advantages, Disadvantages), Ch. 1, pp. 16-17
Read Ethics in Business Research, Ch. 1, pp. 17-18
Read Hallmarks of Scientific Research, Ch. 2, pp. 22-26
Read Example 2.2 or 2.3, Ch. 2, pp. 32-35
Review The research process, Ch. 4, p. 56, Figure 4.1.

WEEK 1 Details Due Points

Participation Participate in class discussion. 20

Discussion Respond to weekly discussion questions. Day 4,5 45

Questions Note: DQs do not count for participation points.

Individual: Resource: Online Practice for Students – eCampus Materials; Course Code
Nongraded - Installation document in Course Materials.
ALEKS Online Log in to the Online Practice system located on your student website and register
Practice yourself as a user. You may do this by clicking Online Practice for Students.
Preparation Continue to use this login method after registration.
Complete the tutorial in Online Practice after registering.
Install the course code YY6HF-YLWQY to log for your specific course section.
Instructions are in the course code installation document.
Note: A course code is unique to the instructor. Your RES/342 instructor may
provide a new course code.

Statistical PC Resource: MegaStat™ on your student website

Software
For Office 2003
• Download MegaStat, Getting Started Guide, and scroll down for the Video
Tutorials.
• Install MegaStat 2003
For Office 2007
• Install MegaStat 2003 then install MegaStat 2007 update
MAC Resource: Varies to Microsoft Office version
For Office 2004
• Analysis ToolPak, Microsoft Office application
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• StatPlus (free version) http://www.analystsoft.com/en/products/statplusmacle/

For Office 2008 & Office 2011
• StatPlus (free version)

Individual: Resources: Syllabus Quiz in Course Materials Day 2 10

Syllabus Quiz
Complete the syllabus quiz
Submit to Assignments

Navy Seals Podcasts: Optional – may earn rainy-day points Day 7

Listen to all four podcasts
Respond to the four-questions
Submit to Assignments in the same location as the Syllabus
Quiz.

Individual: Resource: Business Research Analysis document (with Day 6 10

Current Business search instructions) in Week 1 Course Materials; UOPX
Research Paper Online Library
Select an article of your liking from the list in the Business
Research Analysis document in Course Materials. Locate the
document in the University library using the instructions.
Use the Word template in Course Materials in APA format.
Purpose: Awareness of statistical terms, and how to read a
statistical article.
Write a 350- to 700-word synopsis of the article. Include:
• Define the article’s business research and its purpose.
• Explain the business problem(s) under investigation.
• Identify if article was qualitative, quantitative or mixed
method study.
• What were their hypotheses? Write out two.
• Describe the data collection method(s) that were used in
the article. Identify if random selection or random
assignment was used?
• What did the researchers conclude as a result of their
research? Identify if their findings were “significant.”
• List the number of references that were used.
Submit to Assignments

Individual: Resource: ALEKS Online Practice. Day 7 10

Online Practice
Complete Mathematical Readiness: 12 topics – Topics are
listed at end of this syllabus.
Purpose: It may have been awhile since your last math class.
This assignment will provide basic math exercises to refresh.

Individual: A Summary thread will be posted in the Main forum with Day 7 5
Weekly Summary several questions on Day 6 or 7.
Weekly summaries will be required in this course but not
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counted as class participation, but will earn points separately.

Learning Team: Resource: Learning Team Toolkit on your student website; Day 7 10
Team Charter team charter in Course Materials.
Complete the Learning Team Charter. Assign different team
leaders each week.
Submit to Assignments for instructor review.

Learning Team: RES/341 will have you conduct research on a problem and write a complete
Nongraded - research paper. The numerical data used for this project will come from a pilot test
Team Project on a team survey created in Week 3.
Paper Overview
This research project is conducted throughout Weeks Two through Five. During
each week, a portion of the total paper is submitted, with a revised final paper &
presentation due in Week Five. Each week includes an edited version of the
previous week’s paper plus the requirements for the current week. The following
steps of the business research process to be included in the final project:
• Introduction
• Research Question (RQ)
• Literature Review (literature survey)
• Variables identified with respective level of measurement
• Theoretical Framework
• Sampling Plan & Data Collection
• Methodology includes descriptive statistics, a confidence interval, & Findings
• Conclusion
A business problem is general and not written in a manner that can easily be
researched. A Research Question (RQ) is clear, unambiguous and researchable.
While a research article will use multiple RQs to help answer the business problem,
we will use one RQ.
Finally, this textbook does not use the term RQ, but uses Problem Statement. We
will refer to the problem statement as the RQ during this project.

Learning Team: Resource: Research methods for business, Exhibit 1: Some Day 7 10
Project Paper commonly researched areas in business. Use the example in
Course Materials as a guide.
Select one research area from Exhibit 1 that is of interest. It is
desirable to have everyone agree on a common topic but if
that cannot happen, the team leader has the final vote.
Note: There is a sign-up sheet in the Main forum to ensure the
topic is different from another team.
Write a one-page realistic story surrounding this topic.
Review but do not copy the ZYX example is in Course
Materials.
Brainstorm two business problems. The Business problems
will drive the creation of a literature review and the research
question in Week 2.
Submit to Assignments.

WEEK 1 Total 120

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Week Two: Data Collection Methods & Introduction to Descriptive Statistics

Objectives 2.1 Develop a questionnaire for survey research.
2.2 Identify ethical implications in business research.
2.3 Calculate measures of central tendency and dispersion.
2.4 Identify statistical symbols and definitions.

Readings You may need to read more than assigned. These areas are specific to this week.
Readings from Research methods for business: A skill-building approach.
Review The research process, Ch. 4, p. 56, Figure 4.1
Read Literature survey, Ch. 4, pp. 63-69
Read Problem definition, Ch. 4, pp. 69-71
Readings from Applied Statistics in Business and Economics.
Review Ch. 1 Overview of Statistics
Review Ch. 2 Data Collection

WEEK 2 Details Due Points

Participation Participate in class discussion. 20

Discussion Respond to weekly discussion questions. Day 4,5 45

Questions Note: DQs do not count for participation points.

Individual: Resource: Use the Week 1 team chosen area, the Internet, Day 6 20
Literature Search the University Library, and other resources
Project Paper
Locate two peer-reviewed, scholarly research articles that are
unique from your teammates, and relevant to the team’s
research topic.
Note: Locating a relevant article may take a several hours. If it
has been awhile, there is a library tutorial that will aid in the
research process. You may also ask the librarian.
Write a one-page per article, in an APA format.
Write the business problem.
Explain how your article expands your knowledge on the
business problem.
Submit simultaneously to Assignments and to your learning
team. The teamleader may set an earlier due day.

Individual: Resource: ALEKS Online Practice Day 7 30

Online Practice Complete Descriptive Statistics: 6 topics – Assigned topics
are listed at end of this syllabus.

Individual: A Summary thread will be posted in the Main forum with Day 7 5
Weekly Summary several questions on Day 6 or 7.

Learning Team: Resources: Week 1 learning team paper; Individual Peer Day 7 30
Project Paper Reviewed Articles.
Schedule with each member when the articles are to be
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delivered to the learning team so there is time to summarize.

Summarize the business scenario from Week 1 learning
team paper into less than one page. It should be a brief
background, and description of the problem. This will initially
form the introduction of the project paper.
Summarize the pertinent peer-reviewed articles submitted by
each team member on about one page. Choose the business
problem and narrow this down. Then, associate only the
articles submitted by the members to support this narrowed
choice; not all articles will be needed. This will be the
literature review section of the team project paper.
Develop one research question (RQ) based on the business
problem and from the literature search. It is permissible to
modify the business problem and the scenario if necessary
providing the scenario, business problem and research
question are consistent.
Submit the team project paper to Assignments

WEEK 2 Total 150

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Week Three: Introduction to Research Design and Probability Theory

Objectives 3.1 Examine the role of probability for making inferences in business research.
3.2 Interpret descriptive statistical data.

Readings You may need to read more than assigned. These areas are specific to this week.
Readings from Research methods for business: A skill-building approach.
Read Guidelines for questionnaire design, Ch. 10, pp. 237-244
Read Principles of measurement, Ch. 10, p. 244.
Read General appearance of the questionnaire, Ch. 10, pp. 245-249
Read Variables (independent & dependent), Ch. 5, pp. 87-91
Read Theoretical framework, Ch. 5, pp. 97-99
Read Hypothesis development, Ch. 5, pp. 103-108
Readings from Applied Statistics in Business and Economics.
Read Data types (attribute, numeric), Ch. 2, pp. 24-26
Read Level of measurement, Ch. 2, pp. 26-29
Read Hypothesis formulation, Ch. 9, p. 348
Read Can hypothesis be proved, Role of evidence, Criminal trial, Ch. 9, pp. 348-349

WEEK 3 Details Due Points

Participation Participate in class discussion. 20

Discussion Respond to weekly discussion questions. Day 4,5 45

Questions Note: DQs do not count for participation points.

Individual: Resource: Use the Week 2 team paper, Sekaran textbook, or Day 6 20
Survey Project other resources. The textbook should be adequate.
Paper
Write a 5-10-question one-page survey to collect primary data
to help answer or shed a perspective on your team’s research
question. Format to the APA writing style.
Include different levels of measurement: Attribute (nominal
and ordinal) and quantitative (interval and ratio) variables in
your survey questions.
Discuss briefly: a) How the survey addresses the team RQ,
b) Which question(s) would answer the RQ, and c) Identify the
level of measurement being used for each of survey question.
Submit to Assignments and to your learning team.

Individual: Resource: ALEKS Online Practice Day 7 25

Online Practice Complete Probability: 3 topics & Random Variables: 2 topics
(total 5 topics) – Assigned topics at the end of this syllabus.

Individual: Excel Resource: Applied Statistics in Business and Economics Day 7 10

Preps Complete Week 3 Assignment
Submit Excel file to Assignments

Individual: A Summary thread will be posted in the Main forum. Day 7 5

Weekly Summary
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Learning Team 1. Survey questionnaire: Day 7 30

Project Paper (two
Resources: Week 2 learning team paper; Individual Survey
parts)
questionnaires, textbook.
Schedule with each member when the surveys are to be
delivered to the learning team so there is time to assemble a
team survey questionnaire.
Create a survey questionnaire taking the pertinent questions
from each team member. It should be about 10 questions and
one page. Include an introduction for the respondent.
Submit the questionnaire to Assignments, and add to the
project paper’s Appendix.
The survey will be used in Week 4 to collect data but must not
be used publically. Use this only with friends and relatives
who volunteer. Also, any volunteer has the choice to quit at
any time without justification.

2. Variables, theoretical framework and hypothesis:

Resources: Week 2 learning team paper, textbook
a. Identify the independent and dependent variables in the
RQ.
The independent variable is changed and the dependent
variable is measured. For instance, if energy (IV) is put into
peddling a bicycle, the speed (DV) will change proportionally
to that energy providing other variables, such as road
inclination, weather, and road quality does not change.
Amend the team paper with independent and dependent
variables in the designated section.
b. Identify the theoretical framework
This is the foundational support for the research. For instance,
the method EPA uses to measure highway and city fuel
efficiency is a theoretical framework for a research study that
would be testing other vehicles. Another example is financial
ratios by industry. If research were being conducted of the
health of a particular company, one question would inquire as
to how the company compares to other companies in the
same industry; there are standard indices. The framework
helps to ensure there is a consistency in the variables. What
might be the framework on your business problem?
Amend the team project with the framework in the designated
section.
c. Identify the null and alternate hypothesis
The null hypothesis is status quo, and an alternate hypothesis
reflects change. For instance, if a process were improved, the
alternate hypothesis would reflect the change as being
significant.
Amend the team project with the hypothesis in the designated
section.
Submit the learning team paper to Assignments.

WEEK 3 Total 155

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Week Four: Continuous Probability Distributions

Objectives 4.1 Explain the central limit theorem and its importance in sampling theory.
4.2 Apply confidence intervals to solve business problems.

Readings You may need to read more than assigned. These areas are specific to this week.
Readings from Research methods for business: A skill-building approach.
Read Reliability, Ch. 9, pp. 203-205
Read Validity Ch. 9, pp. 206-208
Read Structured interviews, Ch. 10, p. 227
Read Face to face and telephone interviews, Ch. 10, pp. 232-233
Read Ethics in data collection, Ch. 10, pp. 260-261
Read Population, element, frame, sample, subject, Ch. 11, pp. 265-266
Read Convenience sampling, Ch. 11, pp. 276-277, 284
Read Figure 11.3 Choice points in sampling design (No-nonprobability), Ch. 11, p.
281
Read Getting data ready for analysis (edit, blank, coding), Ch. 12, pp. 301-305
Readings from Applied Statistics in Business and Economics.
Read Population (sampling frame), Ch. 2, p. 32
Read Convenience sample, Ch. 2, p. 40
Read Frequency distributions, Histograms, Ch. 3, pp. 65-68
Read Line charts, Ch. 3, pp. 72-75
Read Bar charts, Ch. 3, pp. 76-79
Read Deceptive graphs, Ch. 3, pp. 95-98
Read Numerical description, Ch. 4, pp. 113-114
Read Central tendency (mean, median, mode), Ch. 4, pp. 119-123
Read Dispersion (standard deviation, range, interquartile range), Ch. 4, pp. 130-
133, 145
Read Skewness, Ch. 4, pp. 149-150
Read Confidence interval for mean (unknown !), Ch. 8, pp. 309-316
Read Confidence interval for proportion, Ch. 8, pp. 317-323

WEEK 4 Details Due Points

Participation Participate in class discussion. 20

Discussion Respond to weekly discussion questions. Day 4,5 45

Questions Note: DQs do not count for participation points.

Individual: Resource: Use the Week 3 team paper, Sekaran textbook, or Day 6 20
Data Collection other resources. The textbook should be adequate.
Project Paper
Write a sampling plan for collecting data for the team paper.
Format to the APA writing style.
Include:
• Define the population (sampling frame) from which your
samples came. What is the target population size, N?
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• Determine the sample size, n, appropriate for this

research topic, and
• identify the possible sources of bias or error that could
occur when sampling (validity and reliability).
Collect: Use the team survey questionnaire to collect about
10 samples of data from family and friends who volunteer.
Volunteers have the prerogative to quit at any time without
reason.
Submit to Assignments and to your learning team.

Individual: Resource: ALEKS Online Practice Day 7 30

Online Practice Complete Distribution: 6 topics – Topics are listed at end of
this syllabus. Start early as this will take time!

Individual: Excel Resource: Applied Statistics in Business and Economics Day 7 10

Preps Complete Week 4 Assignment
Submit Excel file to Assignments

Individual: A Summary thread will be posted in the Main forum with Day 7 5
Weekly Summary several questions on Day 6 or 7.

Learning Team: Resources: Week 3 learning team paper; Individual Survey Day 7 40
Project Paper data; textbook. Schedule with each member when the data is
to be delivered to the learning team so there is time to
complete descriptive statistics.
Tabulate the collected data and place in the project paper
Appendix. The table should have one row per respondent,
and one column per question. Code the responses for
categorical data. For instance, instead of red, white, blue, use
a code where: 1 = red, 2 = white, 3 = blue. The appearance is
similar to Excel Preps data, with a legend.
Create a table and bar chart (categorical and discrete data) or
histogram (numeric data) on the four most important
questions (ensure one question has numerical data.) Place
the tables and charts in the paper’s Appendix.
Calculate the descriptive statistics, to include central
tendency, dispersion, shape and a confidence interval on
question(s) with numerical data. Place the calculations in the
paper’s Appendix.
Interpret the results of these four questions (or more if
needed) to answer the RQ. Include: a) was the numerical data
normally distributed, b) based on your skew value and
histograms, discuss the best measures of central tendency
and dispersion of the data, and justify the selection, and c/
interpret the confidence interval.
Submit the project paper & Excel file to Assignments.

WEEK 4 Total 170

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Week Five: Summarizing and Looking Forward

Objectives 5.1 Use statistical research to reduce risk in the making of a business decision.

Readings Readings from Research methods for business: A skill-building approach.

Read Descriptive study, Ch. 6, pp. 121-124
Readings from Applied Statistics in Business and Economics.
Read Statistical pitfalls, Ch. 1, pp. 14-16

WEEK 5 Details Due Points

Discussion Respond to weekly discussion questions. Day 4,5 45

Questions Note: No Participation in Week 5

Individual: Resources: ALEKS Online Practice Day 7 15

Online Practice Complete Inferential: 3 topics – Topics are listed at end of
this syllabus.

Individual: Excel Resource: Applied Statistics in Business and Economics Day 7 10

Preps Complete Week 5 Assignment
Submit Excel file to Assignments

Individual: Resource: Textbook: Applied Statistics in Business and Day 7 150

Final Exam Economics and A Skill-Building Approach; Navy Seals for
steadying the stress.
Click the link to the Final Examination on your student
website available from the end of Week Four through the end
of Week Five.
Complete the Final Examination. You have one attempt to
complete the exam, which is timed and must be completed in
3 hours. Results are auto-graded and sent to your instructor.
Note. Problems? STOP and contact UOPX Tech Support.
They will restart the final one time – this starts you from the
beginning.

Individual: A Summary thread will be posted in the Main forum with Day 7 5
Weekly Summary several questions on Day 6 or 7.

Learning Team: Resources: Week 4 learning team paper; textbooks. Day 7 160
Final Research Review the instructor’s comments from previous weeks and
Project make corrections.
Assignment Write the conclusion and recommendations and place in the
paper’s designated section.
Submit the project paper to Assignments.

Learning Team: Prepare 8-10 Microsoft® PowerPoint® slides without speaker Day 7 20
Final Research notes, illustrating your Research Project. Your presentation
Project should include a slide for each heading in the paper, plus the
Presentation appendix.

WEEK 5 Total 405

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ALEKS ONLINE PRACTICE

Week 1: Mathematical readiness (Complete 12 of 13 Topics)

Arithmetic readiness:
Order of operations: Problem type 1
Order of operations: Problem type 2
Decimal place value
Rounding decimals
Converting between percentages and decimals
Percentage of a whole number
Writing a ratio as a percentage
Converting a fraction to a percentage
Summation of indexed data
Algebra readiness:
Solving a two-step equation with integers
Solving a linear equation with several occurrences of the variable: Problem type 1
Solving a linear equation with several occurrences of the variable: Problem type 3
Week 2: Descriptive statistics (Complete 6 of 12 Topics)
Graphical displays:
Interpreting relative frequency histograms
Box-and-whisker plots
Descriptive measures:
Mean, median, and mode: Computations
Population standard deviation
Sample standard deviation
Mean, median, and mode: Comparisons
Week 3: Probability (Complete 3 of 12 Topics)
Events and probability:
Outcomes and event probability
Conditional probability:
Calculating relative frequencies in a contingency table
Tree diagrams for conditional probabilities
Week 3: Random variables (Complete 2 of 4 Topics)
One random variable:
Classification of variables and levels of measurement
Discrete versus continuous variables
Week 4: Distributions (Complete 6 of 13 Topics)
Fundamental distributions:
Standard normal probabilities
Normal versus standard normal density curves
Normal distribution raw scores
t distribution
Chi-square distribution
F distribution
Week 5: Inferential statistics (Complete 3 of 4 Topics)
Confidence intervals and estimation:
Confidence interval for the population mean: Use of the standard normal
Choosing an appropriate sample size
Confidence interval for the population mean: Use of the t distribution