Business_Research_Methods,_Part_I

Business Research Methods Team A’s paper focuses on the University of Phoenix Business Methods and the development of different research methods to run a successful organization. We will determine a question arising from an organizational dilemma and different methods that could help with various obstacles. We will also describe how an appropriate research design will be developed for UOP to describe its dependent and independent variables. Our team will also identify a sample design that is effective and helps saves money. Our paper will address different ways to collect and sample data to address different issues that an organization may have and the procedures that will make the business more efficient. Institutions, such as colleges and universities, deal with numerous concerns brought about by a large amount of higher learning supporters. There is a need for the institution to be held responsible for limiting faculty independence, increasing control in the presidential office, and resilient corporate control. Authority in the twentieth century reflects a decrease in the influence of the professor and an increase in the executive branch controls. It appears that leadership is missing within many institutions. Many could question, how this can happen and who can fix it. The defined problem is that the professors lack independence in their classrooms and the executive officers has a great deal of control. This is a problem that is affecting many institutions today. For the University of Phoenix (UOP) to decide on a suitable investigative plan that caters to its base of students they must look at the measurability, collection and the examination of all data that can be presented. By creating a tailor made research design the University of Phoenix will be able to maximize the amount of time needed to distribute its limited number of resources and clarify the suggestion of the business. Exploratory and formal are two categories of a research design. Exploratory is mostly use to create the lines of questioning or theory regarding the set research, while formal is utilized after the assumption or inquiry has been made. The category best fit for UOP, would be to exist under a formal research design due to its pre-existing lines of investigative measures with the other branches within the university system. As UOP begins to delve into this design the power over the variables whether dependent or independent can be influenced by the design being experimental or ex post facto. Experimental determines whether each variable within the research has a direct link to its other components. It is the “only type of study where true "cause and effect" can be claimed.” (Diem, 1999, p 2) Ex post facto exists without any control over what the variables may do. It only reports the actual results of the research and “discover(s) the pre-existing causal conditions between groups.” ( Diem, 1999, p3) Concerning UOP the experimental variable would be regarding the inner foundation of the academic system that the university chooses to operate upon. As for the ex post facto variable, it would exist in response to the outputs of the university, such as jobs that graduates may receive upon completion of a degree or the amount of students who apply for enrollment. In order for University of Phoenix to provide advanced, quality education to millions of Americans busy with work and family, its researchers must define a sample design to select people from a designated population. Sampling saves time and money, and if used properly the sample accuracy and representativeness can be measured. Probability sampling and non-probability sampling are the two widely used methods in a research. “With probability sampling, every member of the chosen population has an equal probability of being selected for analysis. With non-probability members of the population are chosen on the basis of convenience” (Evans & Berman, 2007, p. 103). A probability sample is more accurate when the right sample size set. Additionally, a large sample will yield greater accuracy and will cost more than a small sample. As a result, most researchers use a probability sampling to collect data. Bluman (2008) maintains that data can be collected in a wide variety of methods. The most effective way is through the use of such surveys as telephone survey, the mailed questionnaire, and the personal interview. With any organization, it is important to collect data and to do research into any problem areas that exist. Surveys, sampling and questionnaires can be a start into helping address where improvements can be made. If a company is failing, employees will look onto leaders of the company to make a change and to getting problems solved. There are always new methods that can be inexpensive and less time consuming so actions can be taken immediately. To have a successful organization, innovative steps have to be taken to be able to compete with competition and to stay consistent. References Bluman, A. (2008). Elementary Statistics (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Diem, K. (1999). Choosing appropriate research methods to evaluate educational programs. Rutgers Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet #FS943. New Brunswick, NJ. Evans, J., & Berman, B. (2007). Marketing in the 21st Century (10th ed.). Ohio: Thomson Corporation.