Research

1. 1
BUSINESS RESEARCH
COURSE SYLLABUS – SPRING 2011
SCHOOL: School of Professional Studies
DIVISION : Business
HOURS, CREDIT NUMBER/TITLE: 3 Hours, GBUS 3753
Business Research
ONLINE COURSE
INSTRUCTOR: Ms. Karen A. Sneary
Office Phone Number: 580-327-8509
Office Number: Room 220, Jesse Dunn, Alva
Office Hours: 11-12 MWF; 1-3 MW; 9-12 T
Or by appointment
E-Mail: kasneary@nwosu.edu
TEXTBOOK
Business Research Methods, 11th edition. Donald R. Cooper and Pamela S. Schindler. McGraw-
Hill Irwin. ISBN 9780073373706.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Applied business statistics and research techniques relevant to business decision making.
PREREQUISITES
MATH 1313, MATH 1513 and ENGL 1213.
Students must complete the Prerequisite form found in BlackBoard under Course
Documents and return to instructor by Monday, January 17.
Students must read this syllabus in its entirety. Questions related to many of your questions
will be found within this document. Please do not ask a procedural question without consulting
this document first. You will be asked to complete an initial attendance assignment that
requests that you acknowledge that you have read this syllabus and agree to abide by the
policies set forth within it.

2. 2
Departmental Goals
1. Each graduating student should have basic knowledge of the various disciplines in
business.
2. Each graduating student should have well developed communication skills and be
competent in the use of technology.
3. Each graduating student is expected to think critically.
4. Each graduating student is expected to possess good interpersonal skills.
5. Each graduating student should have the ability to formulate good ethical judgments.
Course Objectives
By the completion of GBUS 3753 Business Research, a student should be able to:
1. Discuss business trends and their impact on business research
2. Analyze and understand various types of research used in business
3. Distinguish between population and sample, analyze factors that influence sample size,
determine appropriate sample size
4. Discuss difference between qualitative and quantitative statistics
5. Create and assess the use of questionnaires as instruments for data collection
6. Describe the nature of relationships between variables
7. Describe the elements of a research proposal
8. Convey the importance of effective communication to the research process
9. Prepare a thorough report on a research project using effective communication skills.
Performance Measures
Grades will be assigned based on the following grading schedule:
90 – 100% = A
80 – 89% = B
70 – 79 % = C
60 – 69% = D
Below 59% = F
Course point breakdown:
4 Exams (100 pts. each) = 400 points
20 Quizzes (10 pts. each) = 200 points
14 Case Study Assignments (50 pts. each) = 700 points
Course Discussions (20 points each) = 100 points
Research Project = 400 points
Total points = 1,800 points
Homework: The case studies used in this course are downloadable from the text website at
www.mhhe.com/cooper11e. Please consult the assignment section of this syllabus for the
correct case study to complete for each chapter. Incorrect submissions WILL NOT be graded.
Each case study is worth 50 points for a total of 700 points possible. Please be sure to answer
the questions thoroughly in order to earn the full credit. A one or two sentence answer for
each question will generally not be sufficient for full credit-ensure you answer the question
fully vs. “writing something down to get by.” A MINIMUM of one single-spaced 12 point font

3. 3
page is required. Papers that are shorter than specified are considered not acceptable and
will not be graded.
Quizzes: Twenty quizzes will be completed and turned in through Blackboard. The quizzes
are worth 10 points each (total points 200) and will assist you in identifying some of the
important points of each chapter. The quiz must be completed prior to the beginning of the
chapter discussion (the only exceptions are quiz one and quiz two, which must be completed
during the first week).
Exams: Four exams will be given during the course of the semester. These exams will be
administered via Blackboard. The exams, worth 100 points each, will consist of multiple
choice, and/or problem-based questions.
Makeup Exam and Quiz Policy: Students will not be allowed to take makeup exams or
quizzes. If an exam is missed, the student will be required to take a comprehensive exam
during the week of finals which will count towards the missed exam. The makeup exam will
need to be scheduled with Ms. Sneary prior to finals week, so that arrangements can be made
to make the exam available to you.
Missed quizzes cannot be made up.
Discussion Board: (100 points) There will be a minimum of five discussion board forums
during the semester. Students are expected to respond thoughtfully and think critically as
they respond to the each forum. Points will not be awarded for responses that do not show
adequate critical thought process such as “I agree.” Students should carefully consider their
responses to each discussion item and also respond a minimum of three times to the thoughts
of their peers for a richer discussion.
Research Project: (400 points) This assignment MUST be completed for successful
completion of this course. Failure to complete this assignment will result in a failing grade
being assigned regardless of the student’s overall grade.
You will need to break into teams of 2-3 students per team. Three is the maximum number
allowable per team. Individual projects are not allowed. You must submit your team member
names to me no later than January 30th by 11:30 p.m. via an assignment link in Blackboard.
Failure to complete this task in a timely fashion will result in a 10% penalty deduction on the
final score of this project.
You will need to select a company to conduct a research project for. You do not have to
physically contact this company, but you will be required to conduct legitimate research
regarding the company. This will entail accessing information regarding the company and its
products. I would suggest consulting various business-related magazines to locate a company
that is struggling to survive. You must have your company selected no later than February
6th. This information must be submitted via Blackboard by 11:30 p.m. that evening. See
above for missed deadline penalty.
You will need to construct a questionnaire with a minimum of 15 questions (no more than 5
can be demographic in nature). This questionnaire must be administered to a minimum of 30

4. 4
successful respondents. You may choose the administration method (phone, mail, email, in-
person). Results must be submitted in an Excel spreadsheet via Blackboard no later than
April 3rd at 11:30 p.m. See above for missed deadline penalty.
After completion of the survey, you will assemble a project report that includes your research
findings and recommendations. This report is to be a minimum of 15 pages single-spaced, 12-
point font in length. This report will be due no later than April 24th at 11:30 p.m. Failure to
meet this deadline will result in a grade of zero for the project. Please see the Sample Student
Project on the book’s companion site www.mhhe.com/cooper11e for an example of this
project.
Services for Students with Disabilities
Any student needing academic accommodations for a physical, mental or learning disability
should contact the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities, or faculty member
personally, within the first two weeks of the semester so that appropriate accommodations
may be arranged. The location for ADA assistance is the Fine Arts building room 126 on the
Alva Campus. The location for ADA assistance on the Enid campus is Room 102 and the
contact is Lori Coonrod. The location for ADA assistance on the Woodward campus is the
Main Office and the contact is Dr. Deena Fisher. The location for ADA assistance at the
University Center at Ponca City campus is the Main Office and the contact is Dr. Brenda Stacy.
IMPORTANT PROCEDURAL INFORMATION:
I do not utilize the course announcements section of Blackboard to inform you when items are
due. The syllabus contains the information you need to be successful in this class, including all
due dates. I expect each of you to follow the due dates in this syllabus versus relying on
reminders from me on managing your assignment and reading loads.
Students are expected to REGULARLY check their university-provided email account as this is
where all class correspondence will be delivered to. Failure to check your email account is not
a valid excuse for missing correspondence. If you are having a problem accessing your
campus email, you need to contact IT immediately to correct the issue. Please see the “Email
access page” available from the NWOSU homepage for a tutorial. Students are expected to
note the particular class they are discussing in the email subject line. I will not respond
to emails that do not include a subject line.
All emails must be written in a professional manner. The Division of Business has
adopted a “writing across the curriculum” plan of operation for the business program. As
such, I expect you to conduct yourself in a professional manner even in your email
conversations. This statement provides an expectation that you will review your email for
typographical and grammatical errors before sending it to me. Emails should always include
your name and students should not assume that the instructor will know who the student is
based simply on the NWOSU email address. Treat email just as you would treat your
assignments. This practice will serve you well as you enter the business world.
Examples of unacceptable email content:
1. Emoticons of any type.

5. 5
2. Multiple punctuation marks-for example (???? or !!!!)-simply express what you are
trying to ask or state versus attempting to convey the message in a format that may
not be clear.
3. Texting language is unacceptable for email. For example, the pronoun “I” should
always be capitalized and the pronoun “you” should always be spelled out.
4. Excessive grammatical errors-the messages you send reflect directly on your
abilities and you always want to present yourself in the best light possible at all
times-making statements such as “what’s up with this” is not considered proper
business etiquette.
5. Accusatory verbiage or implications-if you approach a business situation with
wording that automatically puts the reader on the defensive, you will usually be
unsuccessful at accomplishing what you planned.
All homework must be submitted as an attachment in a Word-compatible format versus
cutting and pasting or typing in the comments box on Blackboard. Any assignment that does
not meet this requirement will not be graded and cannot be made up. All due dates have a
completion time of 11:30 p.m. All assignments must include the student’s last name, first
initial, and name of the assignment.
Discussion over test question concerns:
I do accept discussion inquiries concerning questions on exams and quizzes that you may
believe are incorrect. Any such inquiry must be completed within 48 hours of your
completion of the test. Inquiries received outside that parameter will not be considered. This
is a method for you to discuss questions that you are fairly confident may have a wrong
answer. (There are not generally many questions such as this) Students are expected to be
respectful of this benefit-this is not an encouragement to inquire on every question you miss
or ask me to give you free points because “the answer was none of the above and I forgot to
answer the question-I ought to get the points.” Abuse of this privilege (through misuse of the
process or disputing my decision) can result in discontinuance of the ability to inquire about
potential issues. This will be determined on an individual student basis and will be
documented.
If you wish to inquire about a question you MUST follow the guidelines below:
1. Copy and paste the question, your answer and the answer the quiz/exam lists as
correct
2. Find supporting materials in your text or other reputable sources
3. Provide a listing to a page number or a source and location with the question
submission
4. I will consider your submission and advise you of my decision within a week
5. All decisions are final
Any inquiry that does not follow these guidelines will not be considered and cannot be
resubmitted.
Our Blackboard technicians have posted an instruction guide on every class home page and
the initial login page that will tell you what to do with your computer settings if you are on

6. 6
Vista or Windows 7. Please make sure this setting is correct BEFORE you attempt to do an
assignment or take a test as it is the student’s responsibility to ensure they are prepared to
proceed with online work. This should be a one-time process on your own computer versus a
lab computer, but I encourage you to “just make sure” before you begin a test as the only way I
can reset a test is to completely erase it and let you start over…(See below for a reason why
this may not be a good option).
Additionally, I do not weight scores; therefore you can figure your grade at any time without
assistance. You can simply total your points received and divide by the number of total points
available at that point in the course to arrive at your percentage which can be compared to the
chart above. Any comments that are made on your graded papers can be accessed by going to
the grade book on Blackboard and clicking on the appropriate grade.
Finally, online courses work much like the “real world” that you will be entering in the future
or you are already operating in. Failure of infrastructure happen, just as in the “real
world”…and in the “real world” your boss doesn’t offer you a “do-over” just because you had a
flat or there was an accident and you were late to an important meeting. I treat this course
the same way. Waiting until the last minute to do an assignment is not an excuse for missing a
deadline. The last six hours of an assignment’s deadline are considered “at your own risk”
times. This means that you take it upon yourself to determine whether you wish to risk an
infrastructure failure or delay that could result in you not receiving credit for an assignment
or test. I do this as I may or may not be able to quickly get to a computer to help find a
solution to the issue you may be having.
This class will be conducted in an online learning environment. This will require you to
utilize your time effectively and plan to complete work required in the course each
week. Online courses typically require more work than a face-to-face or ITV course in
that you are expected to read the chapter and complete assignments without the
continual verbal reminder. You must prepare for class and will not be successful if you
wait until right before an exam to try to learn material. I expect students to be able to
think critically and carefully consider responses.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Students who are found by the professor to have engaged in academic dishonesty are
subject to sanctions imposed by the professor and/or university. These sanctions may
range from a warning to dismissal from the university. The appropriate penalty for an act of
dishonesty will be determined by the professor, with or without consultation with the
department chair, dean or University’s Executive Vice President. Penalties for academic
dishonesty may vary depending on the facts and circumstances of the situation, person
involved, the nature of the dishonest act, and such other factors as determined by the
professor or university. The penalty structure is not intended to be a progressive
disciplinary scheme. The sanction to be applied is in the discretion of the professor.

7. 7
Any student who is penalized for academic dishonesty by the professor has the right to
appeal the sanction. The student will be advised of the appeal process should it become
necessary.
ORIGINAL WORK:
The paper should be the original work of the student. Students may not use a paper for two
different classes without the express consent, in advance, of both professors involved. To
use a paper in two classes without the express consent of both professors is academic
dishonesty.
Further, students should limit the amount of direct quotations used within a paper. Direct
quotations should only be used for emphasis or because it is important for the reader to
know the exact wording. Otherwise, student should paraphrase the ideas, thoughts and
words of others. [NOTE: The student still must provide a citation to the other person’s work
or else it is plagiarism.] There is no set limit on the amount of material in the paper that are
direct quotations. As a guide, under most circumstances, a student should attempt to have
less than 10% of the paper being the words of others (direct quotations). Paper grades will
be lowered if there is too much content that is in the words of others.
PLAGIARISM:
According to Robert Perrin, Pocket Guide to APA Style, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company,
2004 (p. 15-16):
Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s words, ideas, or line of thought without
acknowledgement. Even when it is inadvertent – the result of careless note-
taking, punctuating, or documenting – the writer is still at fault for dishonest
work.
Under the rules of NWOSU, plagiarism is academic dishonesty. The NWOSU Student
Handbook provides the following:
All forms of academic dishonesty including cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized
possession of exams or other materials, forgery, or alteration or misuse of
university records, are subject to disciplinary action by the university. The
forgery of faculty signatures is prohibited. You must get authentic signatures on
all official documents. (Student Handbook, p. 125)
COLLABORATION:
Depending on the assignment, students may elect to work together on preliminary matters.
If the assignment is such that collaboration is appropriate and the professor has not banned
collaboration, students may feel free to help each other. However, unless a group paper is
assigned, the end product must be the original work of the individual. Any variation would
be academic dishonesty and handled appropriately.

8. 8
What is the difference between collaboration and academic dishonesty? This example may
help. As final exams approach a group of students meet to study together. They may
discuss the various issues that they believe will be on the test. They may ask each other
questions and discuss various points. However, on test day each of the students must take
the test by themselves. Likewise, students may discuss various aspects of the paper and
issues related thereto, but when it is time to write the paper, each student must research
and write the paper individually.
CITATIONS:
All direct quotes, indirect quotes, other’s original thoughts, facts not commonly known and
other such material must be cited. If there is a question in your mind whether or not to cite
a source, to avoid possible plagiarism, cite.
If the material in the paragraph is from the same source, then a citation at the end of the
paragraph is acceptable. However, you must place a citation immediately after every
direct quote even if the entire paragraph is from the same source. In that case there
would be two or three citations, depending on where the direct quotation is placed within
the paragraph. If only part of the content of a paragraph is from a certain source, then the
citation should be at the end of that material so it clearly indicates that the rest is not from
the same source.
QUOTATIONS:
A direct quotation of 49 words or shorter (approximately three lines or less) is considered a
regular quote. Such a quote should be placed in quotation marks. Periods, commas and
question marks at the end of the quote should be inside the quotation marks. Failure to
place such a quote within quotation marks and/or failure to cite the source, intentionally or
unintentionally, is plagiarism.
LONG QUOTES (BLOCK QUOTES):
A direct quotation that is 50 words or longer (approximately four lines or longer) is
considered a long quote. Such a quote should be formatted in a long quote or block format.
The block format is to indent the quotation an extra ½-inch on both sides and single space
the quotation. The line before the long quote should end with a colon and quotation marks
should not be used at the beginning or end of the block quote. Within the block quote, new
paragraphs are not indented any more than the block format indentation, but an extra line
separates the paragraphs. It is important that you introduce the quotation so the reader
understands that this is a quote rather than your original work.
When using a bullet list or similar format, it is the responsibility of the student to clearly
indicate if it is a direct quote or a compilation of information by the student. Either direct
quote or compilation of information would require a citation. Therefore simply having a
citation does not mean that the material is a direct quote.
Failure to properly indicate a direct long quotation, intentionally or unintentionally, is
plagiarism.

9. 9
COURSE OUTLINE AND TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
The instructor reserves the right to modify or change the assignments in this list. No late work will be
accepted. It is the student’s responsibility to meet the deadlines posted below. Use the syllabus and
schedule to plan accordingly.
Week Chapter(s)
& Material
Covered
Homework,
Discussions, and
Case Studies
Test/Quiz Due Date For
Assignments,
Quizzes and
Tests
January 10 Chapters 1&2 Post Introduction; Read
Ohio Lottery Case and
discuss on Discussion
Board; Read syllabus, Read
Code of Ethics Statement
and complete Quiz that you
have read Code of Ethics;
Complete Quiz for chapter 1.
Chapter 1 Quiz;
Code of Ethics Quiz
Syllabus Quiz
Prerequisites form
completed and
submitted to Ms.
Sneary
January 16 prior to
11:30 p.m.
January 17 Chapters 2 & 3 Akron Children's Hospital
Ethical Considerations in
Research Discussion Board
Chapter 2 Quiz
Chapter 3 Quiz
January 23rd prior to
11:30 p.m.
January 24 Chapters 4 & 5 HeroBuilders.com Chapter 4 Quiz
Chapter 5 Quiz
Exam 1 (1-5)
January 30th prior to
11:30 p.m.
January 31 Chapter 6 Lexus SC430
Information Sources
Discussion Board
Chapter 6 Quiz February 6th prior to
11:30 p.m.
February
7
Chapter 7 USTA: Come Out Swinging Chapter 7 Quiz February 13th prior to
11:30 p.m.
February
14
Chapters 8&9 Starbucks, Bank One, and
Visa Launch Starbucks Card
Duetto Visa
Chapter 8 Quiz
Chapter 9 Quiz
February 20th prior to
11:30 p.m.
February
21
Chapter 10 Ramada Demonstrates Its
Personal Best™
Chapter 10 Quiz
Exam 2 (6-10)
February 27th prior to
11:30 p.m.
February
28
Chapters 11&12 State Farm: Dangerous
Intersections
Chapter 11 Quiz
Chapter 12 Quiz
March 6th prior to 11:30
p.m.
March 7 Chapter 13
Chapter 14
McDonald’s Tests Catfish
Sandwich
Sampling Design Discussion
Board
Chapter 13 Quiz
Chapter 14 Quiz
Exam 3 (11-14)
March 13th prior to
11:30 p.m.
March 14 SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK NO ASSIGNMENTS SPRING BREAK
March 21 Chapter 15&16 Pebble Beach Chapter 15 Quiz
Chapter 16 Quiz
March 27th prior to
11:30 p.m.
March 28 Chapter 17 Volkswagen's Beetle Chapter 17 Quiz April 3rd prior to 11:30
p.m.

10. 10
April 4 Chapter 18 Can Research Rescue the
Red Cross?
Writing Research Findings
Discussion Board
Chapter 18 Quiz April 10th prior to 11:30
p.m.
April 11 Chapter 19 Goodyear's Aquatred Chapter 19 Quiz April 17th prior to 11:30
p.m.
April 18 Chapter 19 NetConversions Influences
Kelley Blue Book
Chapter 20 Quiz April 24th prior to 11:30
p.m.
April 25 Chapter 20 AgriComp Exam 4 (15-20) May 1st prior to 11:30
p.m.