Business Research Methods

by Bryman, Alan; Bell, Emma

• ISBN13: 9780199259380
• ISBN10: 0199259380
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-02-12
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

'Business Research Methods' is an exciting new text which provides a comprehensive introduction to the area of business research methods. This book is an adaptation of the highly successful 'Social Research Methods' by Alan Bryman. The book gives students an assessment of the contexts within which different methods may be used and how they should be implemented. It covers both quantitative and qualitative research and assesses the significance of this very distinction. In addition to giving a thorough introduction to thepractice of business research, the book relates issues of research method to wider issues within the business and management field, such as the links between theoretical traditions and the research approach. In an accessible and student friendly manner, the book shows students how to go about doingtheir own research projects and how to write up their research. The book contains up to date empirical research examples so providing a text which careully mixes theoretical issues with practical applications.The book has a colourful and easy to navigate text design and contains a number of student learning features, including case study material, reader's guides, student exercises, vignettes and end of chapter questions.WEBSITEThe book will be accompanied by a companion web site which will contain:- a lecturer's guide- PowerPoint slides- multiple-choice questions- research examples- annotated links- discussion summaries- a methods and skills guide to doing a research project

Author Biography

Professor Alan Bryman is Professor of Social Research at Loughborough University Emma Bell is lecturer in Organisational Behaviour at Warwick Business School, University of Warwick

Table of Contents

Abbreviations	ix
Guide to the Book	x
1 Business research strategies	3	(28)
2 Research designs	31	(36)
3 The nature of quantitative research	67	(23)
4 Sampling	90	(24)
5 Structured interviewing	114	(26)
6 Self-completion questionnaires	140	(15)
7 Asking questions	155	(20)
8 Structured observation	175	(18)
9 Content analysis	193	(18)
10 Secondary analysis and official statistics	211	(21)
11 Quantitative data analysis	232	(25)
12 Using SPSS for Windows	257	(22)
13 The nature of qualitative research	279	(35)
14 Ethnography and participant observation	314	(26)
15 Interviewing in qualitative research	340	(27)
16 Focus groups	367	(17)
17 Language in qualitative research	384	(19)
18 Documents as sources of data	403	(21)
19 Qualitative data analysis	424	(20)
20 Computer-assisted qualitative data analysis: using NVivo	444	(21)
21 Breaking down the quantitative/qualitative divide	465	(14)
22 Combining quantitative and qualitative research	479	(16)
23 Using the Internet as object and method of data collection	495	(22)
24 Writing up business research	517	(18)
25 Ethics in business research	535	(15)
26 Doing a research project	550	(17)
Glossary	567	(10)
References	577	(20)
Name Index	597	(6)
Subject Index	603