UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST

COLLEGE OF DISTANCE EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS STUDIES

Master of Business Administration Programme

Course Syllabus/Teaching Schedule

Academic Year - 2015/2016

1.0 Instructor & Course Information BUS817D Research Methods

ACCRA CAPE COAST KUMASI TAMALE

Dr. Mohammed Zangina Ishaq – 0240821011 Prof. (Mrs) R. Boohene John Windie Ansah – Dr. Alhassan Abdul-Razak
(Finance G. 1) 0207105865 (Mkt &HRM) 0244981048 0506964577 (All groups)
Dr. Boateng Agyenim – 0208182442 Dr. Andrews Yalley Dr. Gabriel Eshun
(Finance G.2) 0265549416 (Acc & Fin.) 0244824096 (Mkt &HRM)
Stanley Semaco (HRM) - 024 387 4000
Philip Nyarko (Acc & Mkt) 0244130277

2.0 Course Description:

This course focuses on how to conduct Business Research in support managerial decisions. The course exposes students to
theories and concepts of business research. Students will be taken through the philosophical foundations of management
research, the meaning of research and types of research. Also to be considered is the research process; highlighting problem
definition, literature review, ethical practices in research, research design, sampling, data collection methods, data management
and processing.

3.0 Objectives:

The main goal of this course is to familiarized students with issues in business research as a decision making tool. The specific
objectives are to:
i. Acquire knowledge in the forms and areas of business research;
ii. Equip the students with the skills in research methods in business; and
iii. Apply the knowledge and skills in conducting both academic and non-academic research.

4.0 Learning Outcomes

The following are some expected learning outcomes. At the end of the course, Students should be able to
a. select a research topic, conduct initial research to develop appropriate problem statements, research questions,
and hypotheses;
b. determine an appropriate research method
c. develop a literature review and a research methodology based on the selected topic;
d. use appropriate manuscript writing procedures

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 4.0 Course Outline:
Block Topic/Reading materials Advance Preparation /Assignments
INTRODUCTION OF RESEARCH
Week 1  Approaches to knowledge FACE-TO-FACE 1
 Explaining research and characteristic of research
Session 1: Facilitation
 Principles of research
 Usefulness and limitations of research
Session 2: Student Group work and Presentations
 Ethics in Research Session 3: Facilitation
RESEARCH PARADIGM Read various research paradigms (positivism, constructionism,
 positivism, constructionism, subjectivism, interpretism subjectivism, interpretism and types of research. Read on the
 Types of research ethical dimension of Research.
 Ethical practices in research
Week 2 HOME BASED READING
FORMULATING & CLARIFYING THE RESEARCH TOPIC Read on the following:
 The research problem  What is a research problem?
 Guidelines for selecting research problem/topic.  What are the guidelines for selecting research problem/topic?
 How research problems originate
 The origin of research problem
 How are research objectives, questions and hypothesis
 Stating the research objectives, questions and formulated?
hypothesis.  Structure of research proposal
 Structure of research proposal
LITERATURE REVIEW Read on the following
 Sources and strategies for locating related literature;  What are the Sources and strategies for locating
ethical issues etc related literature?
 Theory and theoretical review  What is the difference between theoretical and
 Developing theoretical/ Conceptual framework Conceptual framework?
 Defining of variables
Week 3 FACE TO FACE BASED ON Session 1: Facilitation
 Formulating and clarifying the research
 Literature review Session 2: Student Group work and Presentations

Session 3: Facilitation
Week 4 HOME BASED READING
RESEARCH DESIGN Read on the following:
 Elements of research design  What are the elements of research design?
 Types of research design  Explain the types of research design.
 Research ethics and ethical practices  Identify some research ethics and ethical practices.

SAMPLING & DATA COLLECTION METHODS Read on the following

 Reasons and principles of sampling  Reasons and principles of sampling
 Types of Sampling methods  Sampling design - probability and non probability
 Data and Data Classifications methods
 Data Collection Methods/ Instrumentation  Classification of Data Collection Methods
 Quantitative Methods - Surveys Methods
 Quantitative Methods - Surveys Methods
Read on the following:
DATA MANAGEMENT AND REPORT WRITING
 What is data preparation
 Data preparation and analysis
 What is data analysis
 Guidelines for presenting the report  What are the guidelines in writing the report?
 Components of the final research work
 Referencing and formatting (APA Ref style)
Week 5 FACE TO FACE BASED ON Session 1: Facilitation
Data collection methods and tools
Data management and report writing Session 2: Student Group work and Presentations

Session 3: Facilitation

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5.0 Instructional Approach
Instructional approaches employed in this course include the following:
a. Group work/team learning. Team work is emphasized. Very early in the course, students are expected to form
teams. Assignments will be done in teams and learning to work in teams or groups is part of the learning outcomes
of the course.
b. Group presentations and case analysis – using their groups, students are expected to prepare and make a
PowerPoint presentation to the class on their assigned topic(s). This would form the basis for class discussion and
part of continuous assessment.
c. Short lectures: the lecturer provides information and explains concepts where necessary only briefly. Where
necessary, the lecturer will provide handouts to students.
d. Class time will be devoted to highlighting discussing and analyzing operation defects and successful strategies of
known organization, and discussing important ways of developing operations strategy. It is assumed that you have
read the topic to be discussed BEFORE class. Failure to do so will place you at a severe disadvantage to those who
have. Frequent and informed participation is expected.

6.0 Assessment Weighting

a. Assignment I 20%
b. Assignment II 20%
c. Final Exams 60 %

7.0 References: (please highlight the main text)

a. Sunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2013). Research methods in business for students. Harlow, Prentice Hall.
b. Neuman, W.L. (2011). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Seventh Edition:
Allyn and Bacon
c. Sarantakos, S. (2005). Social research (3rd ed.). Houndmill, New York: Macmillan Press

8.0 Course Policies

Attendance Attendance does not directly affect your grade. However, you should be punctual for lectures. If you have
an occasional absence, it won't be a problem as long as you keep up with the work. Attendance is
required for presentations.
Class participation Class participation is a major part of the performance indicators. Points will be awarded to students who
evidence quality participation. Consequently, students are expected to come to lectures having
thoroughly read their assigned materials. After each reading, outline the central arguments, offer your
analysis of the strengths and weaknesses, and relate the material to understanding issues in the
Ghanaian workplace.
Assignments If for any justifiable reason the student will miss an assignment, the student should get clearance from the
lecturer in advance. Retrospective permissions will not be granted. All assignments must be handed in at
the stated time and in the stated form or they will automatically receive a grade of zero. Late assignments
are not acceptable. It is your responsibility to retain a copy of all assignments should any questions arise
later concerning that assignment. Students are to submit all assignments typed, with font size of 12,
doubled spacing, good margins (justified), with an appropriate referencing style (APA style), with cover
page and table of content. Students are to ensure that they comply with rules of page limit.
Late submission of Late assignments will not be tolerated. If a student has any genuine problem, he/she must contact the
assignments lecturer before the deadline for the submission of the assignment. There are no guarantees for extension
of time; each case will be treated on its own merit.
Grading of group work Unless group members present evidence to the contrary, all members of the group will be presumed to
have worked equally and be entitled to the same group mark. Groups are encouraged to indicate in their
reports members who did not participate in the group assignments so that they can be treated differently.
Academic dishonesty Cheating and plagiarism will be severely penalized. Students are advised to acknowledge sources they
consult in preparing their papers and reports. Though students are encouraged to use the Internet as
sources of information, papers copied from the internet will be rejected.

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