Business_Research

Business Research Methods The purpose of this document is to describe a management dilemma related to the health of men and women and how this issue translates into a research question. Such question helps guide the research team to gather the necessary data using a sample design to collect the data. The collected data organized in a table allows the analyst to identify trends and elements of information that provides the reasons or origin of the issue related to the management dilemma. This information in turn allows the management decides on the appropriate course of action. Research Question Management Dilemma: Defining the management dilemma is a very important part. By discovering the dilemma, it allows the manager to begin the process in formulating the question. The U.S. Department of Health provides data and research of the age demographic that suffers from Systolic Blood pressure. The data is assembled to obtain an overview and give a visual of the ages, weight, etc. The data provides an understanding of the ages and the causes of high blood pressure. The data also provides a breakdown of what may be the cause of high blood pressure. Exploration is the research of public data that will help to formulate the question a manager may have. Define Management Questions: Does Systolic Blood Pressure have anything to do with age' Yes, looking at the data it shows that the majority of Americans over the age of 45 are suffering from high blood pressure. For most Americans, systolic blood pressure increases with age, while diastolic increases until about age 55 and then declines. About 65 percent of hypertensive over age 60 have isolated systolic blood pressure. Define Research Question: At this stage several types of questions will be formulated to get an accurate response to the question. This data will allow you to ask more questions about the individual and determine the ages that each individual started to develop Systolic blood pressure. Before making an accurate decision the manager will focus on categories’ that pertain to this particular question. Doing research and following up with old questions also helps determine which direction a manager or researcher should take. Data Characteristics The data elements of the analysis and research are the age and the systolic measurements of the sample as described on Table 1 below. Given the different ages, the systolic values may vary accordingly, which can then lead accordingly to management decisions to take the appropriate courses of action. Table 1 The analysis of the data presented in Table 2 display central tendency measurements such as the mean and the median, as well as measures of dispersion such as standard variation. The data presents one high extreme value that can distort the sample, along with a total of two high outliers. Further sampling could help determine whether those outliers are normal or very few exceptions. The data shows the results for the complete sample and segments of the sample divided by decades of ages. Table 2 The histogram displayed on graph 1 shows a fairly normal distribution shape, with the stated outliers and extreme values that make the distribution skewed to the right or positively skewed. Graph 1 The research question suggests studying the relationship between the systolic measurements and the ages of the subjects measured. The graph 2 below represents a centered average of measurement grouped by decades, from 10 to 70, according to the data available from the data set. Graph 2 The data presented exuberates how each variable relates to each other. From the chart listed below, from a simple observation it is determined that the older the individual, the higher the blood pressure. As the individual gets older, the systolic and diastolic pressure increases. AGE SYS DIAS 17 109 65 26 116 81 32 126 81 73 153 87 Other data characteristics assist in creating a quick assumption of inference before making calculation to answer your question. Another inference is that the cholesterol level has the ability to alter the blood pressure level. As seen below both individuals are the same age, however the 26 year old with the higher cholesterol level has a systolic and diastolic blood pressure. AGE SYS DIAS CHOL 26 116 81 1252 26 110 70 265 Sample Design The National Center for Health Statistics is the nation's principal health statistics agency. This center provides data to find and report health concerns. The statistical information is used to help and guide health policy decisions. The sampling design is a necessary quantity of data collected for scientifically centered decision making. A good analyzed sampling design partakes in a critical role in guaranteeing that specific data are adequate to conclude what is needed. Receiving exact data consists of the correctness and accurateness of the sample collection and management system, the outcome of measurement miscalculation and the representativeness of the data with respect to the objective of the study. Many factors play a part in creating sample designs to collect data such as lowering cost, developing better accuracy of results, speed of data collection, and the availability of population elements. Sampling is based on two premises. According to Cooper−Schindler, One is that there is sufficient comparison between the fundamentals in a population that few of these elements will effectively represent the characteristics of the total population. The second premise is that although some elements in a sample underestimate a population value, others overestimate this value. The steps involved in sampling design consist of the target population, parameters of interest, sampling frame, the appropriate sampling method, and the sample size needed. This assumes that the sample frame is an accurate list of the population; if not, the number of elements in the sample frame is substituted for population size. k =skip interval = population size sample size The four major types of complex random sampling discussed in this chapter are systematic, stratified, cluster, and double sampling. The sample technique used is Probability, with a random selection of participants to ensure unbiased selection among various diverse populations. The target population is a balanced mix of male and female participants, following a stratified sampling approach. The ages range from the 10’s to 50’s, ensuring to have a balanced number of participants for each decade, around 16 for each group, balanced between male and female. The population should be in well health condition. Using the formula below, the sample size is 80 based on an estimated standard deviation of 14 and with a confidence level of 95% (z=1.96) and a maximum allowable error of 3. Utilizing data characteristics, allows the information designated from the development of the research question to validate any doubts developed by managers during the sample design process. The collaboration of all pieces of the business research process provides for a smooth development process. Reference Cooper, D., & Schindler, P. (2006). Business Research Methods (9th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.