Business Research

A Practical Guide for Undergraduate and

Postgraduate Students
3rd edition

Jill Collis, Roger Hussey

JILL COLLIS is Director, Accounting and Auditing Research Centre, Brunel University, UK
ROGER HUSSEY is Dean of the Guangzhou International Business School, China

About the book

Business Research A concise and straightforward guide for students undertaking a research project for the
first time. The new edition details the entire research process, from reviewing the
literature to writing up results. It features balanced and expanded coverage of collection
Paperback 9781403992475 and analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data, and new chapters on academic
Feb 2009 £37.99 76.00$ 87.00CAN$ decision making and preparing research proposals.
Ebook(s) available
Students find this book very practical, as it provides the tools they need to successfully
embark on research projects and applies theories to real life scenarios. It also features an
excellent glossary and practical troubleshooting section which identifies potential
problems and provides likely solutions.A companion website is available providing
lecturer and student resources, including PowerPoint slides, datasets and interactive
revision questions.

CONTENTS
Preface
Understanding research
Making academic decisions
Dealing with practical issues
Identifying your research paradigm
Choosing a methodology
Searching and reviewing the literature
Writing your research proposal
Collecting qualitative data
Analysing qualitative data
Collecting data for statistical analysis
Analysing data using descriptive statistics
Analysing data using inferential statistics
Writing up the research
Troubleshooting
Glossary
References
Index of names
Index of subjects
Reviews
'This is a good introductory book to Business Research Methods. It manages to make very
accessible a subject that is, at the same time, important for business students and
difficult for them to grasp. The book is user-friendly, and the troubleshooting session at
the end a must for students in difficulties with their research projects.' - Gilberto
Montibeller, Department of Management, London School of Economics, UK

'With an excellent new chapter on Troubleshooting, this text remains the best-value and
most easily accessible textbook for students taking a Management or Accounting degree.
Thoroughly recommended.' - Richard Hull, Senior Lecturer in Management, Newcastle
University Business School, UK

'The new edition of Collis& Hussey builds on the strengths of previous editions, providing
a clear and accessible foundation for undergraduate and postgraduate management
students in undertaking research. The authors combine a sound approach to research
method with a sympathetic understanding of the practical problems that students new to
individual research regularly face. The book is helpful not only for students working alone
(particularly the chapters on collecting and analysing data, expanded for this edition) but
also for formal research methods courses.' - Christopher Napier, Professor of Accounting,
School of Management, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK

'Collis and Hussey take the beginning researcher by the hand and lead them
sympathetically and lucidly through the academic maze.' - Peter Walton, Professor of
Accounting, Accounting and Finance Research Unit, The Open University, UK.

'Finding a rigorous overview of the variety of research approaches can be difficult, but a
broad grounding is essential if students are to make sensible choices about the relevant
approach needed to answer their particular research questions. Collis and Hussey not only
provide this starting point but also give signposts to the more detailed literature that will
allow students to focus successfully.' - Jane Broadbent, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and
Professor of Accounting, Roehampton University, UK

'Business Research by Collis and Hussey offers a coherent, extremely well thought out
and stimulating book on research in business. Activities and progress tests allow the text
to be used in class, and also, can be used to refine one's 'knowledge' individually. I
especially enjoyed the section on 'Making Academic Decisions', as having recently joined
a university at post-graduate level I think the majority of my recent troubles and woes
would have been made less dramatic. I have already recommended the book to many of
my colleagues teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

An excellent book, which can be used as a checklist for experienced researchers, or

(should be) treated as a 'sacred text' by students new to research.' - Simon Parker,
Postgraduate Assistant Researcher, Lincoln Business School, UK

'Comprehensive, clarifying, convincing...From front to back this book offers everything

that the research student requires. Practical help is accompanied by a clear analysis of
theoretical concepts. If you have struggled with research in the past this book will be a
good companion for your research projects in the future.' - Elizabeth Mantzari, PhD
student, University of Essex, UK

'I have used Collis and Hussey's Business Research: a Practical Guide for Undergraduate
and Postgraduate Students since the first edition was published in 1997. Research
methods is an impenetrable topic for most students, especially undergraduates, and at
the time this book filled a gap in the market, with its readable style and accessible
format. I am delighted to see the third edition in updated form with progress tests and
activities and a focus on the practical issues that student face when approaching a
research project for the first time. The main strength of the work remains the strong
student focus, helping them to make sense of the different referencing systems and
copious tips and advice on all aspects of preparing a dissertation or thesis. It is also
extremely useful for students preparing their research proposal, which is a key
component for the successful completion of any project. The inclusion of screen shots and
output files from the latest version of SPSS (16.0), the main quantitative analytical
package used in business schools is also a very helpful feature of the third edition.' -
Professor Neil Marriott, Dean, Winchester Business School & Hoare Chair of Business, UK

Praise for the second edition of Business Research

 'I purchased your book some time ago and am now in the throes of a dissertation at
Sheffield University. I just wanted to say thank you for writing such a wonderful book
that explains everything really logically and is also inspiring and interesting! Yes, I never
thought I would say that about research methods! It's worth every penny!' - Donna
O'Brien, euphoric, nearly-finished dissertation student, Sheffield University, UK

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