Organizations need research, and managers have to be able to commission, judge and use others' research as well as conduct research themselves to inform business decisions. Business Research Methods helps you understand the challenges of carrying out worthwhile research into significant issues and develop a wide range of research-related professional skills. Guiding you through the process of selecting, carrying out and reporting on a successful research project, it breaks down the research process, from exploring the literature and crafting a research proposal to practical research management and addressing the transferable skills of project management and communication.

Business Research Methods places research firmly in the real world, exploring why research is done and how to ensure that projects are meaningful for organizations. Examples and case studies, including examples of students' projects, give learners with little or no work experience a meaningful context in which to relate their own projects. Online supporting resources for lecturers include an instructor's manual with additional activities and supporting handouts, lecture slides and figures and tables from the text. Resources for students include web links, templates, quizzes, activities, examples of practice and sample questionnaire results for students.

Sheila Cameron is a senior lecturer at the Open University Business School (OUBS), UK.

Deborah Price is a lecturer in Management at the Open University Business School (OUBS), UK.

• Section - ONE: From First Ideas to Possible Topics;
• • Chapter - 01: Practical Business Research - An Overview;
  • Chapter - 02: The Complexities of Business Research;
  • Chapter - 03: The Investigative Process;
  • Chapter - 04: Stakeholders, Power and Ethics;
  • Chapter - 05: Considering Possible Topics;
• Section - TWO: Towards a Research Proposal;
• • Chapter - 06: Exploring the Literature;
  • Chapter - 07: Writing A Literature Review;
  • Chapter - 08: Research Questions and Purposes;
  • Chapter - 09: Data, Evidence and Sampling;
  • Chapter - 10: Choosing a Research Method;
  • Chapter - 11: Crafting a Research Proposal;
• Section - THREE: Data Collection;
• • Chapter - 12: Producing a Research Project from Secondary Data;
  • Chapter - 13: Case Study Research;
  • Chapter - 14: Action-Oriented Research and Action Research;
  • Chapter - 15: Questionnaires;
  • Chapter - 16: Interviews;
  • Chapter - 17: Focus Groups and Workshops;
• Section - FOUR: Data Analysis;
• • Chapter - 18: Grounded Theory;
  • Chapter - 19: Content Analysis;
  • Chapter - 20: Representing Quantitative Data;
  • Chapter - 21: Inferential Statistical Analysis;
  • Chapter - 22: Drawing Valid Conclusions;
• Section - FIVE: Essential Research Skills;
• • Chapter - 23: Managing the Project;
  • Chapter - 24: Managing Client Relationships;
  • Chapter - 25: Learning and Reflection;
  • Chapter - 26: Writing about Research