BA2312 Business Research MethodsBahçeşehir UniversityDegree Programs PSYCHOLOGYGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy StatementNational QualificationsBologna Commission
PSYCHOLOGY
Bachelor TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
BA2312 Business Research Methods Spring 3 0 3 4
This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

Language of instruction: English
Type of course: Non-Departmental Elective
Course Level: Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery: Face to face
Course Coordinator : Prof. Dr. AHMET ERKUŞ
Course Lecturer(s): Dr. Öğr. Üyesi GÜLBERK GÜLTEKİN SALMAN
Prof. Dr. İPEK ALTINBAŞAK FARİNA
Recommended Optional Program Components: None
Course Objectives: This course is intended primarily for those who expect business and marketing intelligence to be an important part of their professional work. This includes not only those who plan to do marketing research, but those planning to go into other marketing jobs or who expect to be users of marketing research or clients of research departments or research vendors. Thus this course is aimed at the manager who is the ultimate user of business and marketing research and who is responsible for determining the scope and direction of research activities conducted on his/her behalf.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
I. Helps students understand the business and marketing research process and why it takes time and money to do it right.
II. Develops ability to think conceptually and develop abstract ideas or concepts to more concrete solutions or results.
III. Improves teaming and group effectiveness skills.
IV. Develops skills in obtaining and interpreting secondary data using internet and library sources.
V. Develops ability to conduct primary and secondary research, analyze results, develop findings, report and interpret results.
VI. Improves written and verbal communication skills.
VII. Builds up the knowledge of data analysis techniques.

Course Content

1st Week: Introduction and Early Phases of Business/Marketing Research
2nd Week: Defining the Business/Marketing Research Problem
3rd Week: Research Design
4th Week: Exploratory Research Design: Secondary Data and Qualitative Research
5th Week: Descriptive Research Design: Survey and Observation
6th Week: Measurement and Scaling: Fundamentals and Comparative Scaling
7th Week: Measurement and Scaling: Noncomparative Scaling Techniques
8th Week: Midterm
9th Week: Questionnaire Form Design
10th Week: Sampling: Design and Procedures
11th Week: Data Analysis: Examining Differences and Investigating Associations
12th Week: Qualitative Data Analysis
13th Week: Data Analysis by SPSS: Preliminary Steps
14th Week: Report writing

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) 1st Week: Introduction and Early Phases of Business/Marketing Research
2) 2nd Week: Defining the Business/Marketing Research Problem
3) 3rd Week: Research Design
4) 4th Week: Exploratory Research Design: Secondary Data and Qualitative Research
5) 5th Week: Descriptive Research Design: Survey and Observation
6) 6th Week: Measurement and Scaling: Fundamentals and Comparative Scaling
7) 7th Week: Measurement and Scaling: Noncomparative Scaling Techniques
8) 8th Week: Review
9) 9th Week: Questionnaire Form Design
10) 10th Week: Sampling: Design and Procedures
11) 11th Week: Data Analysis: Examining Differences and Investigating Associations
12) 12th Week: Qualitative Data Analysis
13) 13th Week: Data Analysis by SPSS: Preliminary Steps
14) 14th Week: Report writing

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks: Required Text:
Marketing Research: An Applied Orientation by Naresh K. Malhotra, Prentice-Hall, 6th edition.
References: Optional Texts:
Research Methods for Business by Uma Sekaran and Roger Bougie, Wiley and Sons, 5th edition, 2010.

Research Methods for Business Students, Mark Saunders, Adrian Thornhill, and Philip Lewis, 5th edition, Pearson Education Europe, Middle East & Africa.

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Quizzes 5 % 25
Midterms 1 % 30
Final 1 % 45
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 55
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 45
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Workload
Course Hours 14 40
Study Hours Out of Class 15 56
Quizzes 5 5
Midterms 1 2
Final 1 2
Total Workload 105

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) To develop an interest in the human mind and behavior, to be able to evaluate theories using empirical findings, to understand that psychology is an evidence-based science by acquiring critical thinking skills.
2) To gain a biopsychosocial perspective on human behavior. To understand the biological, psychological, and social variables of behavior.
3) To learn the basic concepts in psychology and the theoretical and practical approaches used to study them (e.g. basic observation and interview techniques).
4) To acquire the methods and skills to access and write information using English as the dominant language in the psychological literature, to recognize and apply scientific research and data evaluation techniques (e.g. correlational, experimental, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, case studies).
5) To be against discrimination and prejudice; to have ethical concerns while working in research and practice areas.
6) To recognize the main subfields of psychology (experimental, developmental, clinical, cognitive, social and industrial/organizational psychology) and their related fields of study and specialization.
7) To acquire the skills necessary for analyzing, interpreting and presenting the findings as well as problem posing, hypothesizing and data collection, which are the basic elements of scientific studies.
8) To gain the basic knowledge and skills necessary for psychological assessment and evaluation.
9) To acquire basic knowledge of other disciplines (medicine, genetics, biology, economics, sociology, political science, communication, philosophy, anthropology, literature, law, art, etc.) that will contribute to psychology and to use this knowledge in the understanding and interpretation of psychological processes.
10) To develop sensitivity towards social problems; to take responsibility in activities that benefit the field of psychology and society.
11) To have problem solving skills and to be able to develop the necessary analytical approaches for this.
12) To be able to criticize any subject in business and academic life and to be able to express their thoughts.