DBA 715 Major Research Paper Guidelines and Rubric The Major Research Paper is a final project (20-25 pages of content) where you will select a course topic that may be associated with your proposed dissertation topic. The paper should include a driving research question and literature review. Make sure your focus is related to issues in the field of Organizational Behavior (See listing of possible topics below). Your professor must approve your topic. Your paper should do the following: 1. Identify and define the areas of your study and the fields of theory and research from Organizational Behavior that make up the background of this area. 2. Evaluate the current methods in Organizational Behavior. 3. Identify how the field and current research might help improve the quality and productivity in an organization. 4. Identify how the field and present research might lead to more socially-responsible behavior. 5. Indicate the future direction you believe the area of study should take (i.e., identify unresolved or understudied questions, make suggestion for theory development and possible streams of research) and explain why you think your observations might be true? 6. Identify and analyze major business trends that have or could have a significant impact on your area of concentration. Use current research to support your analysis. Explain if and how answering your research question addresses these trends. 7. Your paper should be from 20-25 pages in length excluding the cover page, table of contents, executive summary, and reference section. Standard APA format is required. Some possible topics for the research paper might include: a. Organizational and Social Justice b. Organizational Commitment c. The Human Side of Innovation Management d. Role of Emotions in Organizations e. Organizational Theory & Design f. Corporate Social Responsibility in Industries g. The Role of Job Satisfaction Relating to Organizational Performance h. What styles of Leadership Should be Used for Maximum Organizational Effectiveness i. Managing Teams in Global Organizations j. Are There Dangers to Having Too Much Diversity on a Team and How Should One Best Manage a Diverse Team? The Major Research Paper Question is due in Module 2. The Major Research Paper is due in Module 7. (This is linked to Turnitin.) Points Associated with LOM Code No Paper 1-74 75-82 83-94 95-100 Scores of “Excellent” in each section serve as evidence of achieving the Saint Leo University Core Value of EXCELLENCE through comprehensively researched and scholarly written assignments. Category Weight Excellent Satisfactory Unsatisfactory Paper Content (80%) Introduction/Thesis (10%) Score: __% Captures reader’s attention, previews main ideas. Offers a compelling argument. Provides specific topic overview. States the theme of the paper; captures reader’s attention. Provides a ge ...

1. DBA 715
Major Research Paper Guidelines and Rubric
The Major Research Paper is a final project (20-25 pages of
content) where you will select a course topic
that may be associated with your proposed dissertation topic.
The paper should include a driving
research question and literature review. Make sure your focus is
related to issues in the field of
Organizational Behavior (See listing of possible topics below).
Your professor must approve your topic.
Your paper should do the following:
1. Identify and define the areas of your study and the fields of
theory and research from
Organizational Behavior that make up the background of this
area.
2. Evaluate the current methods in Organizational Behavior.
3. Identify how the field and current research might help
improve the quality and productivity in an
organization.
4. Identify how the field and present research might lead to

2. more socially-responsible behavior.
5. Indicate the future direction you believe the area of study
should take (i.e., identify unresolved or
understudied questions, make suggestion for theory
development and possible streams of
research) and explain why you think your observations might be
true?
6. Identify and analyze major business trends that have or could
have a significant impact on your
area of concentration. Use current research to support your
analysis. Explain if and how
answering your research question addresses these trends.
7. Your paper should be from 20-25 pages in length excluding
the cover page, table of contents,
executive summary, and reference section. Standard APA format
is required.
Some possible topics for the research paper might include:
a. Organizational and Social Justice
b. Organizational Commitment
c. The Human Side of Innovation Management
d. Role of Emotions in Organizations

3. e. Organizational Theory & Design
f. Corporate Social Responsibility in Industries
g. The Role of Job Satisfaction Relating to Organizational
Performance
h. What styles of Leadership Should be Used for Maximum
Organizational Effectiveness
i. Managing Teams in Global Organizations
j. Are There Dangers to Having Too Much Diversity on a Team
and How Should One Best Manage
a Diverse Team?
The Major Research Paper Question is due in Module 2.
The Major Research Paper is due in Module 7. (This is linked to
Turnitin.)
Points Associated with LOM Code No Paper 1-74 75-82 83-94
95-100
Scores of “Excellent” in each section serve as evidence of
achieving the Saint Leo University Core Value
of EXCELLENCE through comprehensively researched and
scholarly written assignments.
Category Weight Excellent Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
Paper Content (80%)

4. Introduction/Thesis
(10%)
Score: __%
Captures reader’s attention,
previews main ideas. Offers a
compelling argument. Provides
specific topic overview.
States the theme of the
paper; captures reader’s
attention. Provides a
general topic overview.
No discernable
introduction. No thesis
statement.
Evidence (10%)
Score: __%
Research presented is
authoritative; compelling,

5. scholarly; and well supported.
Research is authoritative
& compelling but more
professionally oriented
or web-based.
Uses poor or
unsupported resources.
Body
Structure/Flow
(20%)
Score: __%
Main ideas and arguments
clearly presented and
supported in well-developed
paragraphs. Excellent balance
of paper sections.
Main ideas presented,
but paper lacks clarity

6. and focus and/or does
not flow well.
Confusing ideas
presented. Poor balance
of paper sections.
Analysis,
Synthesis, &
Evaluation (30%)
Score: __%
Determines most important
points in material. Combines
numerous concepts to develop
new ideas. Compares,
contrasts, and/or appraises
ideas, procedures, and
solutions in literature.
Discovers some
important points.

7. Combines at least two
concepts. Shows some
signs of evaluation.
Relates unimportant
information. Lacks
synthesis of concepts.
Does not evaluate ideas,
procedures, or solutions.
Conclusion (10%)
Score: __%
Summarizes content and
provides ideas for future
research.
Summarizes paper
content.
No discernable
conclusion.
Content Total: __%

8. Paper Style (20%)
Grammar/Spelling
(5%)
Score: __%
No errors in usage. Few minor errors in
usage.
Frequent errors in
usage.
Paper Length (5%)
Score: __%
Appropriate length. Within 17-19 pages. Fewer than 18 pages.
APA Style (10%)
Score: __%
All sources accurately
documented in APA; accurate
reference page; effective use of
headers/sub headers.
Some APA citation

9. errors; references mostly
accurate; minor paper
formatting errors.
Sources are not
documented; numerous
APA errors; no reference
list or headers.
Style Total: __%
LEARNING OUTCOME MANAGER (LOM) CODE 0 1 2 3 4
Final Grade: _____%
1

10. Course Learning Objectives (CLOs)
Program Learning Objectives
1. Understand the difference between basic and applied business
research and how research contributes to business success.
Compare research methodology and differentiate among the
types of reasoning in research design. Explain significance of
research questions and their relationship to other components of
design. Compare and contrast the basic attributes of qualitative
and quantitative methods.
1, 4, 5, 7, 8
0. Evaluate how a literature review is used to focus on a
problem. Compare and contrast between populations, samples,
and participants. Interpret the relationship between sampling
techniques and research questions. Understanding
considerations in determining ideal sample size.
1, 4, 5, 7, 8
0. Perform a basic assessment of reliability and validity.
Compare conceptual and practical differences between the
quantitative and qualitative aspects of reliability and validity.
Compare and contrast different types of instruments and the
different methods of data collection and measurement, including
observational methods.
4, 5, 7, 8
0. Evaluate differences between independent, dependent,
mediator, moderator, and confounding variables and assess the
limitations of experimental and non-experimental research
designs, the components of causality, defining attributes of
single-subject, longitudinal, pre-experimental, quasi-
experimental, and true experimental designs.
1, 4, 5, 7, 8
0. Determine the various types of data and levels of
measurement and appropriate analysis techniques for the
different types of data. Explain the difference between
descriptive and inferential statistics. Interpret hypotheses, null
hypothesis testing, probability, statistical significance, alpha

11. and p values and their application in hypothesis testing,
standard error of the mean and sampling error; threats of
researcher bias and reactivity.
1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
0. Determine evaluation, and how it relates to the basic rules for
writing theses, dissertations, and reports.
1, 4, 5, 7, 8
0. Determine the key components and differences between
qualitative research approaches, including ethnography,
phenomenology, grounded theory, critical theory, case study,
narrative inquiry, content analysis, and historical analysis.
1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8
0. Understand the difference between the methods of data
collection and data coding using human subjects; including
surveys, open-ended and closed-ended questions, direct
interviews, and focus groups. Determine why the issues related
to research using human participants is important to
institutional review boards.
1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8