HA.E107 - Introduction to Quantitative Business Research Using SPSS* *NOT ESTABLISHED*

Faculty
Evis Sinani

Course Coordinator
Evis Sinani

This course is opened to all undergraduate students that have previous knowledge of introductory business statistics.

This is an applied course of statistical methods offered to undergraduate students. The course is very useful to all students who intent to pursue a future career in business. Hence, it will provide students with powerful tools to apply the theoretical knowledge of business statistics using real world data. Applied quantitative business research is particularly important in nowadays business, given its extensive use in consulting industry to help design business strategies with respect to product design and development, market penetration and consumer satisfaction. Accordingly, students will be introduced to one of the statistical software most commonly used in business, namely SPSS.

At the end of the course the students will know how to use SPSS in reading and manipulating the data; preparing table statistics and different graphs for data exploration; testing hypothesis and performing statistical techniques to explore the relationship among variables; as well as interpreting and presenting the results. Students will also demonstrate the understanding of the applications of research methods discussed in the class through a mini-project.

A preliminary and indicative plan of the topics to be covered is:

1. Getting Started and descriptive Statistics

2. Confidence Intervals and the Test of Hypothesis

3. Analysis of Variance

4. Linear Regression

5. Multiple regression

6. Logistic Analysis

7. Factor Analysis

8. Non-Parametric Tests

9. Formulating and clarifying a research question.

10. Deciding on the research strategy: Writing up and presenting your report.

The teaching methods for this course will employ a combination of lectures, in-class student tutorials on how to use SPSS, which also involves students’ execution of an exercise/task using real world data. Lectures will constitute one third of each session, involve the entire class, and will generally cover core concepts, theories and methods in business statistics. Lectures will involve delivery of the material by the professor as well as interactive discussions. Therefore, students will benefit the most if they read and reflect upon the prescribed chapters, exercises and readings on SiteScape, as well as previous class sessions. Tutorials will constitute two thirds of each session and are designed to provide students with the opportunity to apply and extend the concepts and theoretical knowledge using real world data. Tutorials will involve the ‘hands on software’ examples delivered by the professor, followed by student tutorial activities (execution of an exercise delivered by the professor) that involve testing their knowledge of applying theoretical statistical concepts and methods using SPSS. These activities also involve students discussion of methods used and results obtained.

This course will help the students built upon their personal and interpersonal skills. With respect to their personal skills students will learn to: use SPSS software for data mining; prepare statistical analysis (table statistics, different graphs for data exploration, testing hypothesis and performing statistical regressions/techniques to explore the relationship among variables); interpret and present the results in form of reports.

With regard to their interpersonal skills, both the lectures and tutorials will involve them in class discussions which will be an occasion where everyone has a chance to be heard. Class discussion is intended to tap the creative re-sources of all class members, explore applications of theoretical course content, obtain feedback on degrees of understanding on a topic, help students to present and defend their ideas before the group, and break up long lecture situations by providing a certain entertainment value which may also act as a stimulant for further sessions. Furthermore, their interpersonal skills will be developed by working in groups to prepare the course mini-project. The group work will give them the opportunity to improve their conversational skills. This in turn would provide the students with increased self-confidence. Other obvious but very important considerations are that students would gain experience and pleasure of working with others (and they might even learn about each other) and provide each other with mutual aid and support.

In this course students will learn how to:

· use SPSS in reading and manipulating the data;

· prepare table statistics and different graphs for data exploration;

· test hypothesis and performing statistical techniques to explore the relationship among variables;

· interpret and present the results;

· demonstrate the understanding of the applications of research methods discussed in the class through a mini-project using data that will be collected by groups themselves;

The type of examination will be an oral exam based on a mini project. The project will be a group project prepared by groups of 3-4 students. The project should have a max of 5 pages per student and should demonstrate the understanding of the applications of research methods discussed in the class. Each group will hand in the project 2 weeks after the final class of the course, and the project will then be the basis for discussion at the exam.

Students at the HA programme are able to write their bachelor project in connection with this course: Yes