Argosy UniversityCOURSE SYLLABUS

R7103Solutions Oriented Business Research Methods

Online access: http://www.myeclassonline.com

Faculty InformationFaculty Name: Edward N BalliCampus: Argosy ChicagoContact Information: 815-501-0175Office Hours: one hour before classClass Day: Friday Night 6:00 pm to 10:00 p.m.E-mail: eballi@argosy.eduShort Faculty Bio: Edward N. Balli is a partner in Financial and Managerial Solutions in Dekalb, Illinois. Dr Balli earned his

Doctored in Business Administration in Accounting with a minor in MIS from Argosy University in August 2007. Dr. Balli’s experience is in working with small to medium size private and public firms in the Midwest with accounting and information systems. These recommendations may include a complete audit of the operations to recommendations of proposed application software, telecommunications, and hardware. Dr. Balli has over 25 years of professional experience and over 20 years of experience teaching at Aurora University. Dr. Edward N Balli is a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Information Systems Audit and Control Association; Certified Internal Auditor; Special Interest Group on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining; and Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics; American Mathematical Society; and Illinois CPA Society.

Course description: This foundation course in business research provides an overview of business research methods and concepts of probability theory, regression analysis and assumptions of multivariate analysis. Computer software and the ethics of research in business settings are also components of the course.

Course Pre-requisites: None

Required Textbook: Cooper, D. R. Schindler, P. S. (2008). Business Research Methods with CD. 10th Ed. McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 9780077224875.

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Course length: 7.5 Weeks

Contact Hours: 45 Hours

Credit Value: 3.0

Program Outcomes:1. Research

1.1. Performing – Design, conduct, and justify applied research in a business context using appropriate methodology1.2. Understanding – Evaluate and apply existing theory and research to current business practice

2. Communication2.1. Oral – Present orally, complex business information that is concise, clear, organized, and well supported in a professional

manner appropriate to the business context2.2. Written – Present in writing, complex business information that is concise, clear, organized, and well supported in a

professional manner appropriate to the business context using required format3. Critical Thinking/Problem Solving

3.1. Critical thinking – Evaluate relevance of established theory to current business practice and identify gaps in current literature 3.2. Problem Solving/Decision Making – Given a business situation, diagnose the underlying causes of the situation, evaluate

possible solutions, in relation to underlying business theory and determine and defend appropriate course of action3.3. Information Literacy - Conduct an exhaustive literature search from a variety of sources, evaluate the credibility of the

sources, and apply that information to create new knowledge4. Team

4.1. Leadership - Conduct an exhaustive literature search from a variety of sources, evaluate the credibility of the sources, and apply that information to create new knowledge

4.2. Collaboration - Given a case study or business situation collect, assimilate, and disseminate the views of stakeholders5. Ethics

5.1. Ethics - Given a case study or business situations, evaluate the ethical dimensions of decision situations and personal, social, and corporate responsibility not absolved by market forces

6. Diversity6.1. Diversity - Given a case study or business situation evaluate the multicultural dimensions of decision situations and

multicultural solutions to business situations

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Course Objectives:1. Structure problems to prepare for decision analysis.

1.1 Given a business situation, identify qualitative and quantitative variables. (Program Outcomes: 3.2)1.2 Given statements about the frequency of two or more events, calculate conditional and joint probabilities. (Program

Outcomes: 3.1, 3.2)1.3 Calculate z scores, convert them to probabilities and vice versa. (Program Outcomes: 3.2)1.4 Use Excel with PHStat2 to enter data and calculate test statistics and probabilities. (Program Outcomes: 3.2)1.5 Construct confidence intervals. (Program Outcomes: 3.2)1.6 Describe the hypothesis testing procedure. (Program Outcomes: 2.2, 3.3)1.7 Determine whether the necessary conditions have been met to apply a specific statistical technique. (Program Outcomes:

3.2)1.8 Identify whether a one-tailed or a two-tailed test is appropriate. (Program Outcomes: 1.2, 3.3)

2. Develop and refine data gathering skills and techniques2.1 Organize data into frequency distributions. (Program Outcomes: 3.1)2.2 Explain the relationship between populations and samples. (Program Outcomes: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2)

3. Analyze a business problem by (a) identifying the issues, (b) gathering, compiling and organizing data, (c) recommending solutions, and (d) determining success measures and objectives

3.1 Select the appropriate functions in PHStat2 to solve basic statistical problems. (Program Outcomes: 1.1, 3.1, 3.2)3.2 Apply appropriate hypothesis testing procedures to one, two and multiple sets of data. (Program Outcomes: 3.2, 5.1)3.3 Apply appropriate hypothesis testing procedures to categorical data. (Program Outcomes: 1.1, 1.2, 3.1, 3.2, 6.1)3.4 Find the appropriate balance between Type I and Type II errors. (Program Outcomes: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 3.1)3.5 Distinguish between statistical and causal relationships. (Program Outcomes: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 3.1)3.6 Calculate the least squares regression line. (Program Outcomes: 3.2)3.7 Calculate coefficients of correlation and determination. (Program Outcomes: 3.2)3.8 Select the appropriate functions in PHStat2 to construct multiple regression models. (Program Outcomes: 1.2, 3.3)3.9 Given a business situation, assess the strengths and weaknesses of statistical analysis. (Program Outcomes: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2,

3.1)

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4. Recognize problem resolution skills through the application of systems thinking and creative/innovative methodologies4.1 Find the relevance of descriptive and inferential statistics to business decision-making. (Program Outcomes: 1.1, 1.2, 2.2,

3.1, 5.1)4.2 Given different measures of central tendency and variability, determine which are consistent with one another. (Program

Outcomes: 3.2, 3.3)4.3 Make inferences about populations from sample data, and vice versa. (Program Outcomes: 3.1, 5.1)4.4 Construct a sampling distribution of the sample mean. (Program Outcomes: 3.2)4.5 Use the Central Limit Theorem to make estimates. (Program Outcomes: 3.1, 3.2)4.6 Identify the weakness of point estimates. (Program Outcomes: 2,2 3.1)4.7 Use confidence intervals to augment point estimates. (Program Outcomes: 3.2)4.8 Determine appropriate sample sizes. (Program Outcomes: 3.2)4.9 Identify dependent and independent variables. (Program Outcomes: 1.1, 1.2, 3.1)4.10 Given historical data, use simple linear and multiple regression to make predictions, and assess the likely accuracy of

predictions. (Program Outcomes: 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 5.1)

Assignment Table

Module Module Topics Readings Assignments1

(9/5)Introduction to Business Research

Research in Business

Thinking Like a Researcher

Ethics in Business Research

Chapters 1, 3 & 4. Online Discussion Question 1.

Assignment 1

Chapter 3: Question 6, A and B. Answer with a 1 to 3 page paper using APA 5th edition.

Submit your paper on the Following day of class. Submit this to Doc Sharing.

Assignment 2

Develop a theory showing constructs, predictive indicators, and criterion

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variable(s) that will explain the differences in academic success that various students achieve in a K-12 grade school and a higher education institution. Submit a 1-3 page paper using APA fifth edition.

Assignment 3

Individually locate a peer-reviewed journal article in an area of business, social science, psychology, or medicine that is of interest to you. Your selected article should be a research article with sufficient content for a 1 to 3 page report.

The objective of the critique is to describe how the study followed, or failed to follow, the criteria for good research, as described in Chapter 1,2 and 3. You must speculate on which of the writer’s conclusions were warranted, and which were not.

Your literature review should be at least five pages discussing your findings and analysis. Cite three or more references. Adhere to APA standards as established in the 5th edition.

Assignment 4

The purpose of the Final Research Presentation is to develop a Multiple Regression Model that will allow your team to study and make inferences about a quantitative variable of interest to you (the dependent criterion variable Y). The team should identify the population and at least two other variables (predictor variables X) that the team believes are highly correlated with the Y variable.

Secondary published data should be selected from business, education, psychology, social sciences, medicine, sports, entertainment etc. Before proceeding with the statistical analysis, consult with your instructor on the suitability of the dataset. (Refer to CD-ROM supplied with Cooper, D. R. &

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Schindler, P. S. (2008). Business Research Methods with CD, 10th Edition.)

The population of interest must be large (i.e. have a size of at least 1000 units).The sample should be chosen randomly (and stratified if necessary) and should have a size of at least 15 to 20 data points for each independent variable but no more than a sample of 100 data in total.

The report should be submitted in an MSWord file with tables, graphs, narrative, interpretation, discussion, and conclusions (see below for guidelines).

The Final Report should be brief and follow APA format (maximum 15 pages long, excluding the abstract, references, tables, graphs, and appendix). The quality of the written work will be a factor considered when grading.

You will use EXCEL with PHStat2 or SPSS 14.0 or MINITAB to obtain the regression equation, the regression analysis output, and appropriate residual plots. Analyze the model and write a report summarizing your findings as a research paper worthy of publication. Please include in your study predictions of interest along with your data.

Guidelines in data selection:

Which ever topic you choose for the project, first identify the variables and ask the following questions. Then examine if you can obtain secondary data on those variables.

1. What is the dependent variable Y? The dependent variable must be metric data (i.e. it must have a numeric scale and an interval.) The dependent variable must be normally distributed.

2. What are the independent variables X1, X2, X3, ... Xm? The independent variables must all be metric data.

3. After identifying the dependent and independent variables, ask yourself if

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the independent variables are directly affecting the dependent variable or the relationships between independent and dependent variables associational. Based on you answer to this question, propose a hypothesis.

4. Identify the limitations of the study, such as ease of data gathering and process reliability, sample size, measurement errors etc. Note that you are NOT designing a questionnaire survey or asking questions to subjects. You will only obtained secondary published data.

The following topics should be included in your Final Presentation study:

a. Problem Statement, questions asked and benefits of this study.b. Literature review to support your problem statement and hypotheses.c. Description of regression model, formal statement of hypotheses,

assumptions and limitations, data collection process, and any other information relevant to the problem.

d. Processes and methods used in the conduct of the statistical analyses.e. Conduct a Reliability Test (Cronbach Alpha) on the dataset.f. Interpretation and discussion of the regression coefficients. This

interpretation must include confidence intervals or hypothesis tests about the regression coefficients.

g. Interpretation of R² (coefficient of determination).h. Discussion of the significance of the regression model using the ANOVA

perspective.i. Test of significance for each of the independent variables X.j. Interpretation of confidence intervals and prediction intervals.k. Analysis of Residual Plots to verify validity of the Regression Model.l. Discussion of presence or absence of Multi-Colinearity (supported by

correlation matrix and or scatter plots).m. If needed, a description of an improved model.n. Conduct an Internal Validity Test of the dataset and results. Validity Test

is done by selecting 60% of the dataset as holdout sample and repeating steps f to m to observe if similar results were obtained. Compare the

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results between the full 100% and 60% holdout samples.

The research paper should be organized as follows (publishable quality, not exceeding 15 pages excluding abstract, references, tables, graphs, appendix):

Title Page

Table of Content

Abstract (100-200 words)

Purpose - Design/methodology/approach – Findings - Originality/value - Keywords

Chapter 1: Introduction

Problem background - Purpose of the study - Research questions - Limitations and delimitations - Importance of the study

Chapter 2: Literature Review

Chapter 3: Methodology

Hypotheses - Selection of secondary data – Assumptions - Data Processing

Chapter 4: Analysis of Results

Integrity of data - reliability - Data analysis and interpretations - Internal validity of data -Limitations and assumptions

Chapter 5: Conclusions & Recommendations

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Findings - Areas of further study - Benefits of the study

Appendix:

Sample Dataset and Computer outputs.

The following must be included in the appendix:

a. Printout of sample data collectedb. Scatter plots and correlation matrixc. Multiple Regression printout obtained via EXCEL with PHStat2 or SPSS

or MINITAB. Please choose fullest output.d. Confidence and Prediction Intervals for two sets of values of the X

variablese. Residual Plots, Homogeneity Test, Homoscedasticity of Variances,

Reliability & Validity results.

You should write this paper with the view that it could be published later (since the University believes in encouraging students to publish).

The Final Presentation Project will involve stating the purpose of the study, proposing hypotheses, literature review to support the hypotheses, secondary data collection, statistical analyses and interpretations, data reliability and validity, conclusions and recommendations.

By the end of Module 2, every group should be ready to discuss in class the following information:

1. Names of the assigned 3 or 4 students in the group.2. Description of the population to be studied.3. Definition of the dependent variable (Y) and the independent variables (X

's) to be used in your study.

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4. Description of how you plan to collect the sample data so that it is a valid random sample.

At the end of the course, in Module 8, you will collate all information you have gathered into a business plan using an Organizing Project document. Go through the sections in this document to get an idea of how your final project submission will take shape. This is necessary because this will ensure that your project task in each module is completed with this final goal in mind. The document should be about 15 pages long and written in the APA format with respect to citations and references. The analysis section must include an interpretation of all EXCEL with PHStat2 or SPSS or MINITAB printouts.

Team Research Presentation Formation

During the first week, Dr. Ed will divide you into teams comprising 3–4 members. As a team, your first task is to complete the Team Project Plan. Each team member will assume different roles, such as CEO, Vice president, Director, Manager, etc. Nominate one member from your team to take on the role of team leader. In the subsequent weeks, another team member will assume the leadership role so that all members have an opportunity to be team leader. This will help in effective allocation of work among team members.

Dr. Ed will consult with each class member to assign the member to a particular team. It is encouraged to designate project meetings to discuss your progress and work. After you are assigned to a Team, contact your team member and organize your tasks. Your Instructor will check in to see how you are progressing.

The task should be equally divided between team members. Your team of three members will follow the directives below. Allow your team leader to take the final decision.

As a team, your first task is to complete the Team Project Plan. In the first week, organize a meeting with all the team members to discuss the scope of your

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project. Discuss the following:

Process of teamwork for the entire project Issues that will be solved in the project Process to ensure teamwork Process for conflict resolution in a team Operating procedures for the team Process to deal with non-performance if it occurs Group norms

The Team Project Plan is an assessment instrument which will be used throughout the duration of the course to determine how well your team works together and how each team member performs individually. Remember, as in the workplace, you will be evaluated on your individual performance as well as your team’s abilities and participation. A thorough project plan will identify if any team member goes off the track and jeopardizes the grade of the team on this project.

The table below defines each team member’s task.

Student Names Task Delivery Deadline

Team Member A

1. Define the process of teamwork for the entire project.

2. Identify the issues that will be solved in the project.

3. Decide on the dependent and independent variables. Give your rationale for this choice.

By week 3, prepare a report in Word format.E-mail the findings to other team members.

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Team Member B

1. Identify a process to ensure teamwork.

2. Establish operating procedures for the team.

3. Draw an organization chart showing the company, its domestic operations, and its overseas operations

By week 3, prepare a report in Word format.E-mail the findings to other team members.

 Team Member C

(Team Leader)

1. Define a process for conflict resolution in a team.

2. Establish group norms. Indicate how the team will deal with non-performance, if it occurs.

3. State your planned entry strategy and give your reasons for this strategy. Use the BCG Matrix model to support your reasons.

By week 3, prepare a report in Word format.E-mail the findings to other team members.

In week 4, conduct meeting with all the team members. In this meeting, discuss all the issues faced in this assignment, and help your team leader combine individual findings. Use established APA 5th edition guidelines for effective writing. Submit the Team Project Plan in class.

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2 (9/12) The Research Process

Clarifying the Research Question through Secondary Data and Exploration

Chapters 2 and 5. Online Discussion Question 2.

Assignment 1

Chapter 5: Question 6. Gentlemen’s Magazine has asked you to carry out a research study. The magazine has been unsuccessful in attracting shoe manufacturers as advertisers. When the sales force tried to secure advertising from shoe manufacturers, they were told men’s clothing stores are a small and dying segment of their business. Since Gentlemen’s Magazine goes chiefly to men’s clothing stores, the manufacturers reasoned that it was not a good vehicle for their advertising. The editor believes that a survey (via mail questionnaire) of men’s clothing stores in the United States will probably show that these stores are important outlets for men’s shoes and are not declining in importance as show outlets. He asks you to develop a proposal for the study and submit it to him. Develop a management-research question hierarchy that will help you develop a scientific proposal.

Respond to one of the above-mentioned question as assigned by the instructor in a 2-4 page paper. Be sure to use vocabulary that is relevant to the topic!

Be prepared to discuss your response in class. When providing feedback in class, be objective, clear, and concise in your critique. Always use constructive language, even in criticism, to work toward the goal of positive progress.

Assignment 2

Answer one of the following research scenarios in a 1-3 page paper using APA 5th edition standards.

How does it help you to perform statistical analyses and assess the outcome of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) program in a K-12 grade school if a variable

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(graduating standardized test scores) is not normally distributed? Describe three tests that can be used to determine whether a variable is normally distributed, including the criteria for deciding whether each test has been met or not.

Assignment 3

Locate a peer-reviewed journal article in an area of business, social science, psychology, or medicine that involves ethical issues in research. It should be a research article with sufficient content for a two-page report. Use the checklist (given below) to evaluate the article.

Provide in APA format detailed reference to the journal article you looked at so that it can be accessed by others.

Checklist For Evaluating Research Articles

1. Describe the purpose of the article.2. What is the problem? Is it clearly stated?3. Does the problem have a theoretical rationale?4. How significant is the problem?5. Is there a review of the literature? If so, is it relevant? Describe briefly.6. Are the constructs operationally defined?7. What are the hypotheses? How clearly are they stated?8. Is the procedure (or method) used to address and answer the problem

described fully and completely to enable future researchers to replicate the study? Describe briefly.

9. Was a sample used? If so, how was it selected? Provide sample information.

10. What are the limitations or delimitations of the study? Were these stated?11. Are there any probable sources of error that might influence the results of

the study? If so, have they been controlled or acknowledged as limitations to the generalizability of the research?

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12. What statistical techniques are used to analyze the data? Are they appropriate?

13. How clearly are the results presented? Describe the results.

14. What are the findings? Are they presented clearly? Do the data support the conclusions? Does the researcher over-generalize the findings? Explain.

3 (9/19) Research Design

Secondary Data Searches

Qualitative Research

Observation Studies

Surveys

Experiments and Test Markets

Chapters 6-10 Online Discussion Question 3.

Assignment 1

Answer ALL of the following scenarios. 1 to 3 APA 5th edition.

In the following situations, decide whether you would use a personal interview, telephone survey, or self-administered questionnaire. Give your reasons. Respond to All of the questions as assigned by Dr. ED. Be prepared to discuss in class.

A survey of the residents of a new subdivision on why they happened to select that area in which to live. You also wish to secure some information about what they like and do not like about life in the subdivision.

1. A poll of students at Metro University on their preferences among three candidates who are running for president of the student government.

2. A survey of 58 wholesale grocery companies scattered over the eastern United States, on their personnel management policies for warehouse personnel.

3. A study of financial officers of the Fortune 500 corporations to learn their predictions for the economic outlook in their industries in the next year.

4. A study of applicant requirements, job tasks, and performance expectations as part of a job analysis of student work-study jobs on a college campus of 2,000 students, where 1,500 are involved in the work-study program.

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Assignment 2

Answer 1 to 3 pages APA 5th edition for the following scenarios.

A sample of randomly chosen customers of your company has been surveyed; each customer has rated his/her overall level of satisfaction with the service provided by your company on a scale from 1 to 10. The mean level of satisfaction of the sample is 6.3, and the standard deviation is 1.5

a. What is the standard error of the mean if the sample included 100 customers?

b. What is the standard error of the mean if the sample included 400 customers?

c. Explain the relationship between your answers to a and b.d. What is the distribution of the sample mean? Why?

Assignment 3: Collaborative Team Research Presentation. 1 Page.

Prepare a progress report on Chapter 1: Introduction describing the following:

Problem background Purpose of the study Research questions Limitations and delimitations Importance of the study

Be prepared to discuss your progress in class.4 (9/26) The Sources and

Collection of Data

Measurement

Chapters 11-14 Online Discussion Question 4.

Assignment 1

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Measurement Scales

Questionnaires and Instruments

Crafting Effective Measurement Questions

Pretesting Options and Discoveries

Sampling

Answer with 1 to 3 pages APA 5th edition for the following scenario.

A. One of the problems in developing rating scales is choosing the response terms to use. Below are samples of some widely used scaling codes. Do you see any problem with them? Explain.

a. Yes—Depends—Nob. Excellent—Good—Fair—Poorc. Excellent—Good—Average—Fair—Poord. Strongly Approve—Approve—Uncertain—Disapprove—Strongly

Disapprove.

Assignment 2

Answer with a 1 to 3 pages APA 5th edition for the following scenarios.

A. A door manufacturer wants to monitor the performance of a new painting process, which was designed to apply paint with a mean thickness of 0.7mm by detecting any departure from this target. One hundred doors are randomly chosen from each day’s production, and the thickness of paint on each of the 100 doors is measured.

a. Explain how you would test whether the mean thickness of paint on the entire day’s production meets the required standard of 0.7mm, using a .01 level of significance. Include all the following in your explanation:

i. whether the test will be one-tailed or two-tailed;ii. how you would calculate a test statistic;

iii. how you would define the rejection region;iv. any assumptions you would make;v. how would interpret the possible results of the test.

b. In a school study, the mean grade point of ninth graders was 3.57 with standard deviation of 0.30 and sample size of 25. Comparing to the all-

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State school’s, the overall mean grade point was 3.42. Use these data to conduct the test of hypothesis.

Assignment 3: Collaborative Team Research Presentation. 1 page

Prepare a progress report on Chapter 2: Literature Review. Submit this chapter to instructor for approval before proceeding to the next phase of the project. Be prepared to discuss your progress in class.

5(10/ 3)

Analysis and Presentation of Data

Data Preparation and Description

Exploring, Displaying, and Examining Data

Hypothesis Testing

Chapters 15-17 Online Discussion Question 5.Assignment 1

Respond to the questions as assigned by the instructor. Answer all of the following research scenarios in a 1-3 page paper. Be sure to use vocabulary that is relevant to the topic. Adhere to APA standards as established in the fifth edition.

A. What hypothesis testing procedure would you use in the following situations? Explain your reasons, including assumptions and limitations for selecting the procedure. 1. A test classifies applicants as accepted or rejected. Based on 200 applicants, test the hypothesis that ad placement success is not related to gender. 2. A company manufactures and markets automobiles in two different countries. You want to know if the gas mileage is the same for vehicles from both facilities. There are samples of 45 units from each facility.

B. Suppose you were preparing a two-way table of percentages for the following pairs of variables. How would you run the percentages? 1. Age and consumption of breakfast cereal. 2. Family income and confidence about the family’s future. 3. Marital status and sports participation.

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4. Crime rate and unemployment rate.

Assignment 2

Answer with TEAM GROUP with 1 to 3 pages APA 5th edition.

1. Each year a study is conducted of children’s drug, alcohol, and tobacco usage. Children in fourth, eighth, and twelfth grades are asked about their use of cigarettes, chewing tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, (abuse of) prescription drugs, beer, wine, and liquor. For each substance, they are asked about their use during the past 30 days, and during the past twelve months.

The results of the study are reported separately for boys and girls, and are compared with the previous year’s results. Typically, media reports of the annual study take the form of, “Marijuana use rises among eighth grade girls.”

Explain why it is not possible to know whether the increase in eighth grade girls’ use of marijuana is statistically significant.

Explain the role that an analysis of variance (ANOVA) could play in establishing whether any of the results of the study are statistically significant, and how you would identify which results of the study might be statistically significant.

2. Your company is deciding which of four machines to purchase for a production line. The machines are all designed to fill and close bottles of liquid detergent. Each machine is tested for the same period on 10 separate occasions in a completely randomized design.

The results are as follows:

Bottles Filled Per Minute by Machine

Time period A B C D

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1 251.2 263.2 269.7 251.62 245.1 262.9 263.2 248.63 248.0 265.0 277.5 249.44 251.1 254.5 267.4 242.05 260.5 264.3 270.5 246.56 250.0 257.0 265.5 251.37 253.9 262.8 270.7 261.88 244.6 264.4 272.9 249.09 254.6 260.6 275.6 247.110 248.8 255.9 266.5 245.9

Conduct an F-test to test the hypothesis that the population means for machines A, B, C, and D is equal. State the assumptions that are necessary to ensure the validity of the test. Interpret the result.

Assignment 3: Team Research Presentation. 1 page

Prepare a progress report on Chapter 3: Methodology – Hypotheses, Selection of Secondary Data, Assumptions, and Data Processing.

Be prepared to discuss your progress in class.

6 (10/10)

Measures of Association

Multivariate Analysis

Presenting Results: Oral and Written Reports

Chapters 18 & 20 Online Discussion Question 6.

Assignment 1

Answer the following research question with a 1 to 3 page APA 5th edition.

1. Explain Theoretical Construct. Provide examples and usage in the structure of the methodology.

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Assignment 2

Write 2 to 3 pages on the following topics. Address this in the view of the cause and effect relationship of quantitative statistical analysis.

Content Validity

Criteria Validity

Discriminate Validity

Convergent Validity

Assignment 3: Collaborative Team Research Presentation. 1 page.

Prepare a progress report on Chapter 4: Analysis of Results - Integrity of Data - Reliability, Data Analysis and Interpretations, Internal Validity of Data, Limitations and Assumptions.

Submit this chapter to your instructor for approval before proceeding to the next phase of the project. Be prepared to discuss your progress in class.

7 (10/17)

Final Presentations

Team Research Presentations.

.

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Grading Criteria

Grading Scale Grading requirements

Model for evaluation of all assignments Content (60%)

Good content that addresses all aspects of the question or issue raised is critical. If what you say is wrong or invalid, it does matter how well you say it.

Grammar and Mechanics (20%) Bad grammar, incorrect spelling, slang, and incomplete sentences are not acceptable in master’s level work.

Clarity and Style (20%) In the world of business, your writing and speaking must make sense and be to the point. Do not use jargon unnecessarily, but if you must provide explanations for those who may be unfamiliar with the jargon. Avoid long winded sentences and rambling passages that are unclear; however, do not be so brief that you do not completely make your point.

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A 100 – 93A- 92 – 90B+ 89 – 88B 87 – 83B- 82 – 80C+ 79 – 78C 77 – 73C- 72 – 70F 69 and below

Online Discussion Questions 6

18%

Weekly Assignments 6 30%Final Team Presentation 34%Attendance 6 18%

100%

Professor reserves the right to make changesRetain this syllabus for future reference

Specific criteria for writing assignments

Letter Grade

Criteria

A Paper is turned in on-time, is grammatically correct, uses APA format correctly, is well thought out, and provides excellent coverage of the topic.

B Paper is well thought out but has a few formatting, grammar, or APA style errors OR coverage of the material is only adequate OR paper is one day late, regardless of level of performance on other criteria.

C There are several errors in grammar, formatting, and/or APA style application. Coverage of the topic is limited or misses important aspects OR paper is two days late, regardless of level of performance on other criteria.

F Paper is disorganized and not well thought out OR coverage of the topic is limited OR significant style and format errors exist. There is substantiated evidence of plagiarism or the paper is not submitted by the third day after the due date.

Specific criteria for presentations

Grade Criteria

A Presentation is well-organized and provides complete coverage of the topic. Presentation media is excellent and the needs of the audience have been completely considered and incorporated into the presentation. The presentation is completed within two minutes of the allotted time. Answers to questions and comments represent complete knowledge of the topic.

B Presentation is well-organized and provides good coverage of the topic area. Use of presentation media is good the needs of the audience have been analyzed and incorporated (for the most part) into the presentation. The presentation is completed within five minutes of the allotted time. Answers to questions and comments represent good knowledge of the topic.

C

Presentation is organized and provides adequate coverage of the topic area. Use of presentation media is adequate and there is evidence of some audience needs analysis but incorporation of those needs into the presentation lacks a degree of concern for the audience. The presentation is completed within five minutes of the allotted time. Answers to questions and comments represent good knowledge of the topic.

F Any or all of the criteria for a grade of “C” is/are not met or the presentation is not completed and delivered.

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Library:

All resources in Argosy University’s online collection are available through the Internet.  The campus librarian will provide students with links, user IDs, and passwords. 

Library Resources: Argosy University’s core online collection features nearly 21,000 full-text journals and 23,000 electronic books and other content covering all academic subject areas including Business & Economics, Career & General Education, Computers, Engineering & Applied Science, Humanities, Science, Medicine & Allied Health, and Social & Behavior Sciences.  Many titles are directly accessible through the Online Public Access Catalog athttp://library.argosy.edu.  Detailed descriptions of online resources are located at http://library.argosyu.edu/misc/onlinedblist.html.

In addition to online resources, Argosy University’s onsite collections contain a wealth of subject-specific research materials searchable in the Online Public Access Catalog.  Catalog searching is easily limited to individual campus collections.  Alternatively, students can search combined collections of all Argosy University Libraries.  Students are encouraged to seek research and reference assistance from campus librarians.

Information Literacy: Argosy University’s Information Literacy Tutorial was developed to teach students fundamental and transferable research skills. The tutorial consists of five modules where students learn to select sources appropriate for academic-level research, search periodical indexes and search engines, and evaluate and cite information. In the tutorial, students study concepts and practice them through interactions. At the conclusion of each module, they can test their comprehension and receive immediate feedback. Each module takes less than 20 minutes to complete. Please view the tutorial at http://library.argosy.edu/infolit/

Mission Statement, College of BusinessArgosy University College of Business is dedicated to providing practical, evidence-based, high-quality, solutions-focused business programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as continuing business education and specified certificate training to business practitioners in public private, and non-profit, sectors across industries. All undergraduate and graduate programs of the College of Business are designed for the business practitioner, to instill excellence of execution in knowledge, skills, and ethical values of the business professional and business educator. The inherent goal of these academic programs is to foster values of social responsibility in a supportive, learner-centered environment of mutual respect and professional excellence.

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Mission Statement, Argosy University Academic Catalog Argosy University is a private institution of higher education dedicated to providing high quality professional educational programs at the doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s, and associate’s degree levels, as well as continuing education to individuals who seek to advance their professional personal lives. Argosy University emphasizes programs in the behavioral sciences, business, education and the health care professions. A limited number of pre-professional programs and general education offerings are provided to permit students to prepare for entry into those professional fields. The programs of Argosy University are designed to instill the knowledge, skills, and ethical values of professional practice and to foster values of social responsibility in a supportive learner-centered environment of mutual respect and professional excellence.

Academic Policies

Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism: In an effort to foster a spirit of honesty and integrity during the learning process, Argosy University requires that the submission of all course assignments represent the original work produced by that student. All sources must be documented through normal scholarly references/citations and all work must be submitted using the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th Edition (2001). Washington DC: American Psychological Association (APA) format. Please refer to Appendix A in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th Edition for thesis and paper format. Students are encouraged to purchase this manual (required in some courses) and become familiar with its content as well as consult the Argosy University catalog for further information regarding academic dishonesty and plagiarism.

Scholarly writing: The faculty at Argosy University is dedicated to providing a learning environment that supports scholarly and ethical writing, free from academic dishonesty and plagiarism. This includes the proper and appropriate referencing of all sources. You may be asked to submit your course assignments through “Turnitin,” (www.turnitin.com), an online resource established to help educators develop writing/research skills and detect potential cases of academic dishonesty. Turnitin compares submitted papers to billions of pages of content and provides a comparison report to your instructor. This comparison detects papers that share common information and duplicative language.

Americans with Disabilities Act Policy

It is the policy of Argosy University to make reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If a student with disabilities needs accommodations, the student must notify the Director of Student Services. Procedures for documenting student disability and the development of reasonable accommodations will be provided to the student upon request.

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Students will be notified by the Director of Student Services when each request for accommodation is approved or denied in writing via a designated form.  To receive accommodation in class, it is the student’s responsibility to present the form (at his or her discretion) to the instructor.  In an effort to protect student privacy, the Department of Student Services will not discuss the accommodation needs of any student with instructors. Faculty may not make accommodations for individuals who have not been approved in this manner.

The Argosy University Statement Regarding Diversity

Argosy University prepares students to serve populations with diverse social, ethnic, economic, and educational experiences. Both the academic and training curricula are designed to provide an environment in which students can develop the skills and attitudes essential to working with people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Acknowledgement of Syllabus Content

I have read and understand the course syllabus for R7103 at Argosy University,

Chicago, which is being taught by Dr. Edward N. Balli I hereby agree to the terms stated in this syllabus.

Signature Date

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Read, sign, and date this form. Return to your professor at the first classroom meeting.

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