Research Project Focus of the Research Project The final version of your Research Project should be 10 to 12 double-spaced pages (not including the title page, reference page, tables, appendices, etc.). The paper will be an original business research project that tests a hypothesis of your choice.  The research can relate to your place of current/previous employment or other contexts of interest. Sample topics could include, but are not limited to: • Manufacturing quality/cost improvement • Service quality improvement • Systems design • Accounts receivable/billing/accounts receivable aging • Marketing/advertising Issues • Sales of goods • Investments • Product safety • Workplace safety • Labor pools • Human resources matters of broad concern • Population studies For your Research Project, you will be combining all parts that you have worked on from Weeks One through Five. Your paper should be formatted as follows: • Part 1: Introduction ◦ Background information about your research project (Week One) ◦ Describe the management dilemma (Week One) ◦ Ethical Concerns (Week Two) ◦ Develop and explain your hypothesis (Week One) • Part 2: Literature review ◦ Background research on at least three scholarly sources (Week One) • Part 3: Data ◦ Secondary data (Week Three) ◦ Measurement benchmark and scales (Week Three) ◦ Plans for using observations, focus groups, interviews, or surveys (Week Four) ◦ Plans for analyzing data (Week Five) ◦ Plans for how to analyze results (Week Five) • Part 4: Results ◦ Summarize and display the results of your research. Provide charts, graphs, tables, and so forth, as they might apply to your research. ◦ State whether you reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis based on your study; explain. • Part 5: Conclusion ◦ Summarize the entire study and reflect on it ▪ Consider the “take-home” message that management and other decision makers can use from this research to make informed business decisions. ▪ Include the strengths and weaknesses of the study and suggestions for future research. • Part 6: References ◦ Include a separate references page and cite all references within the text of the paper. • Part 7: Appendix ◦ If applicable Writing the Research Project The Research Project • Must be 10 to 12 double-spaced pages in length (not including the title page, reference page, tables, appendices, etc.) and formatted according to APA style • Must include a separate title page with the following: ◦ Title of paper ◦ Student’s name ◦ Course name and number ◦ Instructor’s name ◦ Date submitted • Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement. • Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought. • Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis. • Must use at least three scholarly sources from the Ashford University Library, in addition to the text. • Must document all sources in APA style • Must include a separate reference page th.

1. Research Project
Focus of the Research Project
The final version of your Research Project should be 10 to 12
double-spaced pages (not including the title page, reference
page, tables, appendices, etc.). The paper will be an original
business research project that tests a hypothesis of your choice.
The research can relate to your place of current/previous
employment or other contexts of interest. Sample topics could
include, but are not limited to:
•
Manufacturing quality/cost improvement
•
Service quality improvement
•
Systems design
•
Accounts receivable/billing/accounts receivable aging
•
Marketing/advertising Issues
•
Sales of goods
•
Investments
•
Product safety
•

2. Workplace safety
•
Labor pools
•
Human resources matters of broad concern
•
Population studies
For your Research Project, you will be combining all parts that
you have worked on from Weeks One through Five. Your paper
should be formatted as follows:
•
Part 1: Introduction
◦
Background information about your research project (Week
One)
◦
Describe the management dilemma (Week One)
◦
Ethical Concerns (Week Two)
◦
Develop and explain your hypothesis (Week One)
•
Part 2: Literature review
◦
Background research on at least three scholarly sources (Week

3. One)
•
Part 3: Data
◦
Secondary data (Week Three)
◦
Measurement benchmark and scales (Week Three)
◦
Plans for using observations, focus groups, interviews, or
surveys (Week Four)
◦
Plans for analyzing data (Week Five)
◦
Plans for how to analyze results (Week Five)
•
Part 4: Results
◦
Summarize and display the results of your research. Provide
charts, graphs, tables, and so forth, as they might apply to your
research.
◦
State whether you reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis
based on your study; explain.
•
Part 5: Conclusion
◦

4. Summarize the entire study and reflect on it
▪
Consider the “take-home” message that management and other
decision makers can use from this research to make informed
business decisions.
▪
Include the strengths and weaknesses of the study and
suggestions for future research.
•
Part 6: References
◦
Include a separate references page and cite all references within
the text of the paper.
•
Part 7: Appendix
◦
If applicable
Writing the Research Project
The Research Project
•
Must be 10 to 12 double-spaced pages in length (not including
the title page, reference page, tables, appendices, etc.) and
formatted according to APA style
•
Must include a separate title page with the following:
◦

5. Title of paper
◦
Student’s name
◦
Course name and number
◦
Instructor’s name
◦
Date submitted
•
Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct
thesis statement.
•
Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
•
Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
•
Must use at least three scholarly sources from the Ashford
University Library, in addition to the text.
•
Must document all sources in APA style
•
Must include a separate reference page that is formatted
according to APA style

6. Total Possible Score
: 35.00
Includes a Revised Version of All Work Completed in Weeks
One throughFive
Total: 10.00
Distinguished - Includes all suggested revisions for all of the
work completed in Weeks One through Five.
Proficient - Includes most of the suggested revisions for all of
the work completed in Weeks One through Five. The revised
version is slightly underdeveloped.
Basic - Includes some of the suggested revisions for all of the
work completed in Weeks One through Five. The revised
version is underdeveloped.
Below Expectations - Does not include the suggested revisions
for all of the work completed in Weeks One through Five. The
revised version is significantly underdeveloped.
Non-Performance - The revised version of all work completed
in Weeks One through Five is either nonexistent or lacks the
components described in the assignment instructions.
Summarizes and Displays the Results of the Research
Total: 10.00
Distinguished - Provides a detailed summary and display of the
research results.
Proficient - Provides a summary and display of the research
results. Either the summary or display is slightly
underdeveloped.
Basic - Provides a summary and display of the research results.
The summary and/or display is underdeveloped.
Below Expectations - Attempts to provides a summary and
display of the research results; however, the summary and/or
display is significantly underdeveloped.
Non-Performance - The summary and display of the research

7. results are either nonexistent or lack the components described
in the assignment instructions.
States and Explains Whether to Reject or Fail to Reject the
Hypothesis Based on the Study
Total: 5.00
Distinguished - Specifically states and comprehensively
explains whether or not the hypothesis is rejected based on the
study.
Proficient - States and explains whether or not the hypothesis is
rejected based on the study. The statement or explanation is
slightly underdeveloped.
Basic - States and partially explains whether or not the
hypothesis is rejected based on the study. The statement and/or
explanation is underdeveloped.
Below Expectations - Attempts to state and explain whether or
not the hypothesis is rejected based on the study; however, the
statement and explanation are significantly underdeveloped.
Non-Performance - The statement and explanation of whether or
not the hypothesis is rejected based on the study are either
nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment
instructions.
Summarizes the Entire Study and Reflects on It
Total: 4.00
Distinguished - Provides a thorough summary and reflection of
the study. Effectively includes consideration of how
management can use this research to make informed business
decisions, the strengths and weaknesses of the study, and
suggestions for future research.
Proficient - Provides a summary and reflection of the study.
Includes consideration of how management can use this research
to make informed business decisions, the strengths and
weaknesses of the study, and suggestions for future research.

8. The summary or reflection is slightly underdeveloped.
Basic - Provides a limited summary and reflection of the study.
Somewhat includes consideration of how management can use
this research to make informed business decisions, the strengths
and weaknesses of the study, and suggestions for future
research. The summary and/or reflection is underdeveloped.
Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a summary and
reflection of the study; however, does not include consideration
of how management can use this research to make informed
business decisions, the strengths and weaknesses of the study,
and suggestions for future research. The summary and reflection
are significantly underdeveloped.
Non-Performance - The summary and reflection are either
nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment
instructions.
Critical Thinking: Explanation of Issues
Total: 1.00
Distinguished - Clearly and comprehensively explains the issue
to be considered, delivering all relevant information necessary
for a full understanding.
Proficient - Clearly explains the issue to be considered,
delivering enough relevant information for an adequate
understanding.
Basic - Briefly explains the issue to be considered, delivering
minimal information for a basic understanding.
Below Expectations - Briefly explains the issue to be
considered, but may not deliver additional information
necessary for a basic understanding.
Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.
Critical Thinking: Evidence
Total: 1.00

9. Distinguished - Employs persuasive and applicable information
from credible sources to develop an ample analysis or synthesis
of the topic. Viewpoints of experts are scrutinized thoroughly.
Proficient - Employs applicable information from credible
sources to develop an analysis of the topic.
Basic - Identifies applicable information from credible sources,
but may neglect the application of such information toward the
analysis of the topic.
Below Expectations - Presents information from external
sources, but such information may lack credibility and/or
relevance. Neglects to apply such information toward the
analysis of the topic.
Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.
Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanics
Total: 1.00
Distinguished - Displays meticulous comprehension and
organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and
grammar. Written work contains no errors and is very easy to
understand.
Proficient - Displays comprehension and organization of syntax
and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work
contains only a few minor errors and is mostly easy to
understand.
Basic - Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics,
such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few
errors which may slightly distract the reader.
Below Expectations - Fails to display basic comprehension of
syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written
work contains major errors which distract the reader.
Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.

10. Written Communication: APA Formatting
Total: 1.00
Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently
throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.
Proficient - Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper.
However, layout contains a few minor errors.
Basic - Exhibits limited knowledge of APA formatting
throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA
requirements.
Below Expectations - Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA
formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout
difficult to distinguish as APA.
Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.
Written Communication: Page Requirement
Total: 1.00
Distinguished - The length of the paper is equivalent to the
required number of correctly formatted pages.
Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the
required number of correctly formatted pages.
Basic - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three
quarters of the required number of correctly formatted pages.
Below Expectations - The length of the paper is equivalent to at
least one half of the required number of correctly formatted
pages.
Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.
Written Communication: Resource Requirement
Total: 1.00
Distinguished - Uses more than the required number of
scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support
ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited

11. correctly within the body of the assignment.
Proficient - Uses the required number of scholarly sources to
support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and
cited correctly within the body of the assignment.
Basic - Uses less than the required number of sources to support
ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the
reference page are used within the body of the assignment.
Citations may not be formatted correctly.
Below Expectations - Uses an inadequate number of sources
that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not
be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used
within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted
correctly.
Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.