Understanding Research Methods in Business

Discover the research process from start to finish

On this four-week course from Sentinel|9, you will explore the principles that underpin good business research. Once you have completed this course, you will understand the entire research process from problem definition through to project conception and finally, publication of the research outcomes.

Learn how to effectively scope and plan your research

This course will introduce you to a range of research processes that will help to inform your choice of research problem, research methodology, research methods, and data analysis.

You’ll start by examining how to define your research problem and build a search strategy to hone your initial scoping research so you don’t get overwhelmed with too many sources and too much information.

Explore quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method research approaches

There are many reasons to conduct either quantitative or qualitative research, with each providing relevant answers to specific types of questions. That’s why a mixed method research approach is often used for business research to benefit from both types of research method.

This course will guide you through the different approaches to these types of research, such as correlation research, questionnaires, and interviews. You’ll then examine the uses, advantages, and limitations of mixed method research.

Develop tools for effective data collection and analysis

During the final week of this course, you’ll delve into the data collection tools that you can use for research, and how to ensure that you collect the highest quality data. Finally, you’ll look at the different theories and techniques to effectively analyse your data and present your findings.

This course is designed for anyone interested in improving their research skills. It will be especially useful for business professionals and line managers looking to conduct effective business research.

This course is designed for anyone interested in improving their research skills. It will be especially useful for business professionals and line managers looking to conduct effective business research.

• Apply the principles underpinning the business research process and make informed decisions about how to undertake research in a given circumstance.
• Explore the key challenges faced by people when undertaking research in a business context and be able to identify and employ techniques for managing these challenges.
• Assess a problem, undertake efficient desk research and write a problem statement.
• Develop research using at least one qualitative or quantitative research technique to collect and analyse data.
• Present and defend your opinions by preparing a research report suitable for submission to a practitioner journal or presentation to business executives.