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 as outlined in the  Ashford Writing Center . 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, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Must include a separate reference page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Cent.

1. 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)

2. 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 as outlined in the
Ashford Writing Center
.
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

3. 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, as outlined in the
Ashford Writing Center.
Must include a separate reference page that is formatted
according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing
Center.