Overview

Master the tools and techniques needed to design, conduct, and analyze research projects effectively Research Methods for Business, 9th Edition explains the principles and practices of using a systematic, organized research approach, facilitating the development of effective solutions to business challenges. Designed to help students view research from the perspective of management, this leading textbook guides readers through the entire business research process while fostering a deeper understanding of how to conduct rigorous, relevant, and ethical research. WILEY ADVANTAGE Provides a clear, student-friendly introduction to business research with an informal and accessible writing style Covers a wide range of business research methods and practices used in areas such as human resources management, strategic management, operations management, finance, and accounting Integrates real-world case studies and examples from various business disciplines to illustrate key concepts Emphasizes both scientific and pragmatic approaches to research to ensure a well-rounded understanding Enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills through structured exercises and hands-on activities AN INTERACTIVE, MULTIMEDIA LEARNING EXPERIENCE This textbook includes access to an interactive, multimedia e-text. Icons throughout the print book signal corresponding digital content in the e-text. Videos: Research Methods for Business integrates abundant video content developed by the authors to complement the text and engage readers more deeply. Interactive Self-Scoring Quizzes: Concept Check Questions at the end of each section provide immediate feedback, helping readers monitor their understanding and mastery of the material. Downloadable Files: Additional Cases and SPSS Data Sets can be found throughout the text, helping students further engage with the content.

Full Product Details

Author:   Roger Bougie (Tilburg University, The Netherlands) ,  Uma Sekaran (Southern Illinois University)
Publisher:   John Wiley & Sons Inc
Imprint:   John Wiley & Sons Inc
Edition:   9th edition
ISBN:  

9781394319008

ISBN 10:   1394319002
Pages:   448
Publication Date:   23 October 2025
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Awaiting stock  
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Table of Contents

Preface xxi About the Authors xxiv 1 Introduction to Research 1 Introduction 1 Business Research 2 Research and the Manager 3 Types of Business Research: Applied and Basic 4 Applied Research 5 Basic or Fundamental Research 7 Managers and Research 7 Why Managers Need to Know About Research 7 The Manager and the Consultant–Researcher 8 Internal Versus External Consultants/Researchers 9 Internal Consultants/Researchers 9 Advantages of Internal Consultants/Researchers 9 Disadvantages of Internal Consultants/Researchers 9 External Consultants/Researchers 10 Advantages of External Consultants/Researchers 10 Disadvantages of External Consultants/Researchers 10 Knowledge About Research and Managerial Effectiveness 11 Ethics and Business Research 11 Summary 12 Discussion Questions 13 Case: The Laroche Candy Company 14 Case Questions 16 2 The Scientific Approach and Alternative Approaches to Investigation 17 Introduction 17 The Hall marks of Scientific Research 18 Purposiveness 18 Rigor 18 Testability 19 Replicability 19 Precision and Confidence 19 Objectivity 20 Generalizability 20 Parsimony 20 The Hypothetico- Deductive Method 21 The Seven- Step Process in the Hypothetico- Deductive Method 21 Identify a Broad Problem Area 21 Define The Research Problem 22 Develop Hypotheses 22 Determine Measures 22 Data Collection 22 Data Analysis 22 Interpretation of Data 23 Review of the Hypothetico- Deductive Method 23 Alternative Approaches to Research 24 Positivism 24 Constructionism 24 Critical Realism 25 Pragmatism 25 A Pragmatic Approach to Research 26 Organizational Challenges and Opportunities 26 Organizational Change: A Specific Case and Approach 27 The Initial Stages: The Manager Starts Exploring 29 The Initial Stages: Briefing the Researcher 30 Defining the Organizational Problem 31 Defining the Research Problem 32 Developing a Research Proposal 32 A Critical Literature Review 32 The Planning Collection and Analyses of Data 32 Conclusions and Recommenda tions 33 The Final Stages: The Manager Makes a Decision and Acts 33 Comparing Two Important Approaches 33 Conclusion 34 Summary 34 Discussion Questions 35 3 Defining the Management Problem 37 Introduction 37 Organizational Challenges and Opportunities 37 The First Step of the Research Process: Exploration 38 To Conduct Research or Not 38 Defining the Management Problem 39 Applied Research in Support of a Process of Planned Change 40 The First Step of the Research Process in Change Situations: Exploration 40 The Second Step of the Research Process: Diagnosis 42 The Constraints or Preconditions That Should be Taken into Account 46 Different Types of Problems and Solutions to These Problems 46 Providing Feedback to the Client Organization 49 Managerial Implications 49 Summary 50 Discussion Questions 51 Appendix: Background Information on the Organization 52 4 Defining the Research Problem 54 Introduction 54 Defining the Research Problem 54 What Makes a Good Problem Statement? 54 Basic Types of Questions: Exploratory Descriptive and Causal Questions 58 Exploratory Research Questions 58 Descriptive Research Questions 59 Causal Research Questions 60 The Research Proposal 61 Managerial Implications 64 Ethical Issues in the Preliminary Stages of Investigation 64 Summary 65 Discussion Questions 65 5 The Critical Literature Review 67 Introduction 67 Definition and Functions of the Critical Literature Review 67 How to Approach the Literature Review 69 Data Sources 69 Textbooks 69 Journals 69 Theses 69 Conference Proceedings 69 Unpublished Manuscripts 69 The Internet 70 AI Tools 70 Searching for Literature 70 Evaluating the Literature 71 Reading Strategies 72 Documenting the Literature Review 72 Citing Sources in Your Literature Review 76 Reference and Citation Management Programs 78 On the Use of AI and Large Language Models 78 Ethical Issues 79 Final Note 80 Summary 80 Discussion Questions 81 Practice Project 82 Appendix: Some Online Resources Useful for Business Research 83 Online Databases 83 On the Web 84 Accounting and Finance 84 Economics and Econometrics 84 Environmental Science 85 Marketing 85 Organizational Behavior and Human Resources 86 Strategic Management and Management Science 86 Tourism Leisure and Hospitality Management 86 Overview of Academic Top Journals Per Subject Area 87 Accounting and Finance 87 Economics and Econometrics 87 Environmental Science 87 Management Science and Operations Research 88 Marketing 88 Organizational Behavior and Human Resources 89 Strategic Management 89 Tourism Leisure and Hospitality Management 89 Apa Guidelines 90 APA Format for Referencing Relevant Articles 90 Specimen Format For Citing Different Types of References (Apa Format) 90 Referencing and Quotation in the Literature Review Section 91 Quotations in Text 92 Sample Apa Style Student Papers 94 6 Theoretical Framework and Hypothesis Development 95 Introduction 95 The Need for a Theoretical Framework 96 Variables 97 Dependent Variable 97 Independent Variable 98 Moderating Variable 100 The Distinction Between an Independent Variable and a Moderating Variable 101 Mediating Variable 103 How Theory Is Generated 104 The Components of the Theoretical Framework 105 Hypothesis Development 106 Definition of a Hypothesis 106 Statement of Hypotheses: Formats 107 If–then Statements 107 Directional and Nondirectional Hypotheses 107 Null and Alternate Hypotheses 108 Managerial Implications 112 Summary 113 Discussion Questions 113 Practice Project 115 7 Elements of Research Design 116 Introduction 116 The Research Design 116 Elements of Research Design 117 Research Strategies 117 Experiments 118 Survey Research 118 Ethnography 118 Case Studies 119 Grounded Theory 119 Action Research 120 Qualitative Versus Quantitative Research 120 Extent of Researcher Interference With the Study 122 Study Setting: Contrived and Noncontrived 123 Unit of Analysis: Individuals Dyads Groups Organizations Cultures 125 Time Horizon: Cross- Sectional Versus Longitudinal Studies 127 Cross- Sectional Studies 127 Longitudinal Studies 127 Trade- Offs and Compro mises 128 Managerial Implications 129 Summary 129 Discussion Questions 130 8 Interviews 131 Introduction 131 Primary Data Collection Methods 131 Interviews 132 Unstructured and Semi-Structured Interviews 133 Unstructured Interviews 133 Semi- Structured Interviews 133 Training Interviewers 134 Some Tips to Follow When Interviewing 135 Establishing Credibility and Rapport and Motivating Individuals to Respond 135 The Questioning Technique 136 Review of Tips to Follow When Interviewing 137 Face- To- Face Online and Telephone Interviews 137 Face-to- Face Interviews: Advantages and Disadvantages 138 Online Interviews: Advantages and Disadvantages 138 Telephone Interviews: Advantages and Disadvantages 138 Personal and Group Interviews 139 Focus Groups 139 Expert Panels 140 Advantages and Disad vantages of Interviews 141 Summary 142 Discussion Questions 142 9 Observation 144 Introduction 144 Definition and Purpose of Observation 145 Four Key Dimensions That Characterize the Type of Observation 145 Controlled Versus Uncontrolled Observational Studies 145 Participant Versus Non- Participant Observation 146 Structured Versus Unstructured Observational Studies 146 Concealed Versus Unconcealed Observation 147 Online Observation 147 Two Important Approaches to Observation 148 Participant Observation: Introduction 148 The Participatory Aspect of Participant Observation 149 The Observation Aspect of Participant Observation 150 What to Observe 151 Structured Observation: Introduction 153 The Use of Coding Schemes in Structured Observation 153 Advantages and Disadvantages of Observation 155 Summary 157 Discussion Questions 157 10 Administering Questionnaires 159 Introduction 159 Types of Questionnaires 159 Personally Administered Questionnaires 160 Self- Administered Questionnaires 160 Mail Questionnaires 160 Electronic and Online Questionnaires 160 Guidelines For Questionnaire Design 162 Principles of Measurement 162 Principles of Wording 163 Content and Purpose of the Questions 164 Language and Wording of the Questionnaire 164 Type and Form of Questions 164 General Appearance or ‘Getup’ of the Questionnaire 166 A Good Introduction 166 Organizing Questions Giving Instructions and Guidance and Good Alignment 167 Personal Data 168 Information on Income and Other Sensitive Personal Data 168 Open- Ended Question at the End 169 Concluding the Questionnaire 169 Sequencing of Questions 169 Administrative and Classification Questions 170 Review of Questionnaire Design 171 Pretesting of Structured Questions 171 Electronic Questionnaire and Survey Design 171 International Dimensions of Surveys 172 Special Issues in Instrumentation for Cross- Cultural Research 172 Other Issues in Cross- Cultural Data Collection 173 Review of the Advantages and Disadvan tages of Different Data Collection Methods and When to Use Each 173 Multimethods of Data Collection 174 A Brief Introduction of Codebooks 174 Managerial Implications 174 Ethics in Data Collection 175 Ethics and the Researcher 175 Ethical Behavior of Respondents 176 Summary 176 Discussion Questions 177 11 Experimental Designs 180 Introduction 180 The Lab Experiment 183 Control 183 Manipulation 183 Controlling the Contaminating Confounding or “Nuisance” Variables 185 Matching Groups 185 Randomization 185 Internal Validity of Lab Experiments 186 External Validity or Generalizability of Lab Experiments 186 The Field Experiment 187 External and Internal Validity in Experiments 187 Trade- Off Between Internal and External Validity 187 Factors Affecting the Validity of Experiments 188 History Effects 188 Maturation Effects 189 Testing Effects 189 Selection Bias Effects 190 Mortality Effects 190 Statistical Regression Effects 191 Instrumentation Effects 191 Identifying Threats to Validity 192 Review of Factors Affecting Internal and External Validity 193 Types of Experimental Design and Validity 193 Quasi- Experimental Designs 194 Pre- test and Post- test Experimental Group Design 194 Post- tests Only with Experimental and Control Groups 194 Time Series Design 195 True Experimental Designs 196 Pre- test and Post- test Experimental and Control Group Design 196 Solomon Four- Group Design 197 Double- Blind Studies 198 Ex Post Facto Designs 199 Simulation 199 Ethical Issues in Experimen tal Design Research 199 Managerial Implications 200 Summary 202 Discussion Questions 203 Appendix: Further Experimental Designs 204 The Completely Randomized Design 204 Randomized Block Design 205 Latin Square Design 205 Factorial Design 206 12 Measurement of Variables: Operational Definition 207 Introduction 207 How Variables are Measured 207 Operational Definition (Operationalization) 209 Operationalization: Dimensions and Elements 211 Operationalizing the (Multidimensional) Construct of Achievement Motivation 211 What Operationalization Is Not 213 Review of Operationalization 213 International Dimensions of Operationalization 214 Summary 214 Discussion Questions 214 13 Measurement of Variables: Scaling Reliability and Validity 216 Introduction 216 Four Types of Scales 216 Nominal Scale 217 Ordinal Scale 218 Interval Scale 219 Ratio Scale 219 Ordinal or Interval? 220 Rating Scales 221 Dichotomous Scale 221 Category Scale 221 Semantic Differential Scale 222 Numerical Scale 222 Itemized Rating Scale 222 Likert Scale 223 Fixed or Constant Sum Scale 223 Stapel Scale 224 Graphic Rating Scale 224 Consensus Scale 225 Other Scales 225 Ranking Scales 225 Paired Comparison 225 Forced Choice 226 Comparative Scale 226 International Dimensions of Scaling 226 Goodness of Measures 226 Validity 227 Content Validity 227 Criterion- Related Validity 228 Construct Validity 228 Reliability 230 Stability of Measures 230 Internal Consistency of Measures 230 Reflective Versus Formative Measurement Scales 231 What is a Reflective Scale? 231 What is a Formative Scale and Why Do the Items of a Formative Scale Not Necessarily Hang Together? 231 Summary 232 Discussion Questions 233 Appendix: Examples of Some Measures 234 Measures From Behavioural Finance Research 234 Information Overload 234 Orientation Toward Finance: Interest in Financial Information 235 Measures From Management Accounting Research 235 Measures From Management Research 235 Organizational Resilience 235 Job Involvement 236 Career Salience 236 Measures From Marketing Research 237 Complaint Success Likelihood 237 SERVQUAL: A Multidimensional Scale to Capture Customer Perceptions and Expectations of Service Quality 237 Perceived Authenticity of a Social Media Influencer 238 14 Sampling 239 Introduction 239 Population Element Sample Sampling Unit and Subject 240 Population 240 Element 240 Sample 241 Sampling Unit Unit of Observation and Unit of Analysis 241 Subject 242 Sample Data and Popula tion Values 242 Parameters 242 Representativeness of Samples 242 Normality of Distributions 243 The Sampling Process 244 Defining the Population 244 Determining the Sample Frame 244 Determining the Sampling Design 244 Determining the Sample Size 245 Executing the Sampling Process 245 Probability Sampling 246 Unrestricted or Simple Random Sampling 246 Restricted or Complex Probability Sampling 247 Systematic Sampling 247 Stratified Random Sampling 247 Cluster Sampling 249 Double Sampling 250 Review of Probability Sampling Designs 250 Non- Probability Sampling 251 Convenience Sampling 251 Purposive Sampling 251 Judgment Sampling 251 Quota Sampling 252 Review of Non- Probability Sampling Designs 252 Intermezzo: Examples of When Certain Sampling Designs Would be Appropriate 254 Simple Random Sampling 254 Stratified Random Sampling 255 Systematic Sampling 256 Cluster Sampling 256 Area Sampling 257 Double Sampling 257 Convenience Sampling 257 Judgment Sampling: One Type of Purposive Sampling 258 Quota Sampling: A Second Type of Purposive Sampling 258 Issues of Precision V Confidence in Determining Sample Size 259 Precision 259 Confidence 260 Sample Data Precision and Confidence in Estimation 260 Trade- Off Between Confidence and Precision 261 Sample Data and Hypoth esis Testing 262 The Sample Size 264 Determining the Sample Size 264 Sample Size and Type II Errors 265 Statistical and Practical Significance 266 Rules of Thumb 266 Efficiency in Sampling 267 Sampling as Related to Qualitative Studies 267 Managerial Implications 268 Summary 268 Discussion Questions 270 15 Quantitative Data Analysis 272 Introduction 272 Choosing Your Data Analysis Software 274 Consulting Your Codebook 274 Coding the Responses 276 Data Entry 278 Editing Data 278 Getting a Feel for the Data 281 Frequencies 282 Bar Charts and Pie Charts 283 Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion 283 Measures of Central Tendency 283 Measures of Dispersion 285 Relationships Between Variables 288 Relationship Between Two Nominal Variables: χ 2 Test 288 Correlations 289 Excelsior Enterprises: Descriptive Statistics Part 1 290 Testing the Goodness of Measures 292 Reliability 292 Excelsior Enterprises: Checking the Reliability of the Multi- item Measures 292 Validity 294 Excelsior Enterprises: Descriptive Statistics Part 2 294 Summary 297 Discussion Questions 297 16 Quantitative Data Analysis: Hypothesis Testing 300 Introduction 300 Type I Errors Type II Errors and Statistical Power 300 Choosing the Appropriate Statistical Technique 302 Testing a Hypothesis About a Single Mean 303 Testing Hypotheses About Two Related Means 304 Testing Hypotheses About Two Unrelated Means 308 Testing Hypotheses About Several Means 309 Regression Analysis 310 Standardized Regression Coefficients 313 Regression with Dummy Variables 313 Multicollinearity 314 Testing Moderation Using Regression Analysis: Interaction Effects 314 Other Multivariate Tests and Analyses 317 Discriminant Analysis 317 Logistic Regression Analysis 318 Conjoint Analysis 318 Two- Way ANOVA 319 Manova 319 Canonical Correlation 320 Excelsior Enterprises: Hypothesis Testing 321 Overall Interpretation and Recommendations to the President 322 Data Mining and Operations Research 323 Some Software Packages Useful for Data Analysis 324 Summary 325 Discussion Questions 325 17 Qualitative Data Analysis 328 Introduction 328 Important Approaches to Qualitative Data Analysis 328 Inductive and Deductive Coding 329 Coding in Grounded Theory 329 Open Coding 330 Axial Coding 330 Selective Coding 331 Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research 342 Other Methods of Gathering and Analyzing Qualitative Data 344 Content Analysis 344 Narrative Analysis 344 Discourse Analysis 345 Software to Analyze Qualitative Data 345 Big Data 345 Summary 346 Discussion Questions 347 18 Conclusions 348 Introduction 348 Conclusions and Recommendations: Where Your Journey as a Researcher Ends 349 Writing Down Your Conclusions 349 Different Ways of Looking at Conclusions 350 Characteristics of Conclusions 351 Developing an Argument 353 Different Types of Arguments 354 One the Importance of Using the Correct Type of Argumentation 357 Incorrect or Flawed Forms of Reasoning 357 Managerial Implications 358 Summary 358 Discussion Questions 360 19 The Research Report 362 Introduction 362 The Written Report 362 The Purpose of the Written Report 363 The Audience for the Written Report 363 Characteristics of a Well- Written Report 363 A Structured Approach to Writing 364 Contents of an Applied Research Report 365 The Title and the Title Page 365 Preface 366 The Authorization Letter 366 The Executive Summary or Abstract 366 Table of Contents 367 List of Tables Figures and Other Materials 368 The Introductory Section 368 The Body of the Report 368 The Final Part of the Report 369 References 370 Appendices 371 On the Structure of Academic Research Papers 372 Oral Presentation 372 Deciding On the Content 373 Visual Aids 373 The Presenter 374 The Presentation 374 Handling Questions 374 Summary 375 Discussion Questions 375 Appendix 1: Different Routes and Structures of a Master’s Thesis 376 Preface 377 Abstract or Management Summary 377 Table of Contents 377 Introduction 377 Case Organization 377 Definition Management Problem 377 Definition Research Problem 377 Scope 378 Relevance 378 Methods 378 Reading Guide 378 Theoretical Framework 378 Methods 378 Procedure 378 Sample 379 Operationalizations 379 Analyses 379 Validity and Reliability 379 Results 379 Conclusions and Recommendations 379 Discussion 379 Theoretical and Practical Implications 379 Limitations 380 Future Research 380 Appendix 2: Checklist for Theses 381 Appendix 3: Factors Affecting the Upward Mobility of Women in Public Accounting 383 A Final Note to Students 387 Statistical Tables 389 Glossary 399 Bibliography 409 Index 417

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Author Information

ABOUT THE AUTHORS Roger Bougie is the Academic Director of the Executive Master of Management and Organization at TIAS School for Business & Society (Tilburg University) and an Associate Professor in Research Methods. He holds a PhD in Marketing from Tilburg University and has more than two decades of experience teaching undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs. A recipient of multiple teaching awards, he has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and co-authored books and articles on research methods, marketing, and managerial decision making in complex situations. Uma Sekaran was Professor Emerita of Management at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She earned her MBA from the University of Connecticut and her PhD from UCLA. A distinguished researcher, she authored or co-authored eight books, numerous book chapters, and more than 55 refereed journal articles. Renowned for her contributions to cross-cultural research, she received multiple awards for her teaching and research excellence from the Academy of Management and other professional organizations.

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