Susan Rose is Professor Emerita, Henley Business School, University of Reading, UK.

Nigel Spinks is Lecturer in Systems and Processes, Henley Business School, University of Reading, UK.

Ana Isabel Canhoto is Professor of Digital Business, University of Sussex Business School, UK.

List of figures

List of tables

Preface

Acknowledgements

Glossary

PART I Define

1 Researching in business and management

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Defining management research

1.3 The relationship between research and practice

1.4 The relationship between research and theory

1.5 Research and philosophy

1.6 Reflexivity and the researcher

2 Formulating your research problem

2.1 Introduction

2.2 A problem-solving view of research

2.3 Choosing a research problem

2.4 Developing your research questions

3 Reviewing the Literature

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Undertaking a critical review

3.3 Search

3.4 Capture

3.5 Synthesize

3.6 Present

PART II Design

4 Designing your research

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Integrating theory into your research

4.3 What are quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods?

4.4 Linking research design to your research questions

4.5 Time horizon

4.6 Primary and secondary data

4.7 Quality in Research

5 Conducting research ethically and inclusively

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Ethics in research

5.3 Avoidance of harm or loss of dignity

5.4 Transparency and honesty

5.5 Right to privacy

5.6 Inclusivity in research

5.7 Ethics in online research

5.8 The role of codes of ethics and gaining ethical approval

5.9 Researcher integrity

5.10 Identifying the ethical dimensions of your own research project

6 Quantitative Research Designs

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Experimental and quasi-experimental designs

6.3 Natural experiments and correlational studies

6.4 Survey studies

6.5 Content analysis

6.6 Data-driven quantitative research

6.7 Choosing a quantitative research design

7 Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research Designs

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Ethnography

7.3 Grounded theory

7.4 Case study research design

7.5 Action research

7.6 Interview studies

7.7 Qualitative approaches to language analysis

7.8 Choosing a qualitative research design

7.9 Mixed method research designs

8 Planning and managing your research project

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Selecting a research design

8.3 Planning your research project

8.4 Managing your research project

8.5 Keeping a research diary

8.6 Preparing a research proposal

PART III Collect

9 Sampling

9.1 Introduction

9.2 What is a sample?

9.3 Sampling methods

9.4 Sampling in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research

9.5 Sample size

9.6 Accessing and recruiting your sample

10 Collecting data using questionnaires

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Why and when to use a questionnaire

10.3 The questionnaire design process

10.4 Identify relevant concepts/variables

10.5 Formulate your questions and decide the level of measurement

10.6 Structure and lay out the questionnaire

10.7 Pre-test and pilot the questionnaire

10.8 Administer and distribute the questionnaire

11 Collecting data using in-depth interviews

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Individual interviews

11.3 Group interviews

11.4 Capturing and storing your interview data

12 Collecting data using diaries and naturally occurring data

12.1 Introduction

12.2 Diaries and other researcher-instigated documents

12.3 Collecting data by observation

12.4 Collecting data through social media

12.5 Collecting documents and other records

12.6 Big data

12.7 Artefacts

PART IV Analyse

13 Analysing quantitative data

13.1 Introduction

13.2 Entering your data

13.3 Preparing your data for analysis

13.4 Exploring and describing your data

13.5 Answering your research questions

13.6 Presenting your findings

13.7 Summary of chart types used in this chapter

13.8 Summary of statistical tests used in this chapter

14 Analysing qualitative data

14.1 Introduction

14.2 Preparing and organizing your data

14.3 Coding your data

14.4 Using computers in qualitative data analysis

14.5 Using visualization to make connections

14.6 Answering your research question

14.7 Drawing and verifying conclusions

14.8 Reporting qualitative data analysis

PART V Communicate

15 Reporting your research

15.1 Introduction

15.2 Writing for an academic qualification

15.3 Writing for an academic journal

15.4 Writing for a practitioner audience

15.5 The process of writing

15.6 Presenting your research project

15.7 Other ways of disseminating your research