Course Code BRM221 Business Research Methods II Task Brief

Course Code Brm221 Business Research Methods Ii Task Brief Rubrics

The assignment aims to enable learners to develop effective interview and survey questions that facilitate the collection of qualitative and quantitative data for their research. Students are required to create a structured interview with 9 to 12 questions aligned with their research objectives and questions. Additionally, they must develop a well-structured survey or questionnaire designed to gather valuable data pertinent to their research topic. The tasks should demonstrate understanding of research concepts, application of relevant knowledge from class, critical thinking in question design, and clear, concise communication. The submission deadline is Sunday, 23 August, 23:59 CET, via Moodle (Turnitin). The assignment accounts for 40% of the total grade and is marked based on understanding, application, critical thinking, and communication as outlined in the rubrics. The deliverables exclude cover pages, table of contents, references, and appendices from the word count, with specific formatting requirements including Arial 12.5 pt font, justified text, and Harvard referencing style.

Paper For Above instruction

In the realm of business research, formulating effective interview and survey questions is critical for gathering reliable and insightful data. Properly designed questions serve as the foundation of qualitative and quantitative data collection, facilitating the validation of research objectives and the elucidation of research questions. This paper discusses the importance of developing structured, relevant, and critically assessed questions aligned with research aims, highlighting best practices in questionnaire design and interview techniques.

Firstly, developing an effective interview requires understanding the research objectives thoroughly. For instance, if the research pertains to employee satisfaction within an organization, interview questions should aim to uncover perceptions, experiences, and attitudes that influence satisfaction levels. Questions should be open-ended to encourage elaboration, such as, "Can you describe your experience working in this organization?" and semi-structured to allow probing into specific areas like management support or work-life balance. To ensure relevance, questions must directly relate to the research questions and objectives, avoiding ambiguity and leading language.

The development of interview questions entails critical assessment to avoid bias and ensure clarity. Utilizing a mix of open and closed questions can maximize data richness. Open questions invite detailed responses, enabling deep insights, while closed questions facilitate quantification and comparison. For example, a closed question such as "On a scale of 1-5, how satisfied are you with your job?" provides measurable data, complementing open-ended inquiries like "What factors contribute most to your job satisfaction?"

In parallel, survey questions must likewise be pertinent, clear, and unbiased. Structuring a questionnaire involves deciding on question types—multiple-choice, Likert scales, or open-ended—based on the data required. For example, Likert scale questions like "Rate your agreement with the statement: 'My manager provides adequate support'" enable the assessment of perceptions across respondents. Open-ended questions like "What improvements would you suggest for workplace communication?" enhance qualitative insights.

Ensuring effective questionnaire design also involves logical sequencing, starting with less sensitive, easier questions to build respondent comfort, then progressing toward more sensitive or complex issues. Pilot testing the questionnaire with a small sample allows detection of ambiguities and assessment of question clarity and relevance, which are crucial for data validity. Questions should be free from double-barreled wording and jargon to facilitate clear understanding.

Critical thinking in question design goes beyond mere compliance with guidelines; it involves reflective analysis of potential biases, cultural sensitivities, and respondent perspectives. For instance, avoiding leading questions like "Don't you agree that management is unhelpful?" and substituting with neutral language prevents influencing responses. Additionally, including demographic questions aids in segmenting data for comparative analysis.

The use of tools such as Likert scales and dichotomous questions must be justified in relation to research objectives. For example, if assessing perception levels, a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "Strongly disagree" to "Strongly agree" provides nuanced data (Joshi et al., 2015). When designing questions, employing validated instruments or scales ensures reliability. Furthermore, coding responses systematically facilitates data analysis, enhancing overall research validity.

Effective communication of questions requires clarity, conciseness, and proper language use. Ambiguous wording can lead to misinterpretations, undermining data integrity. Thus, questions should be straightforward, avoiding technical jargon unless targeting a specialized audience. Employing proper formatting, ordering, and instructions improves respondent engagement and data quality.

In conclusion, developing interview and survey questions necessitates a combination of theoretical knowledge, practical application, critical analysis, and clear communication. Well-crafted questions aligned with research objectives will produce high-quality data capable of supporting meaningful insights. Overall, meticulous design, pilot testing, and ethical considerations are vital to successful data collection efforts in business research.

References

• Joshi, A., Kale, S., Chandel, S., & Pal, D. K. (2015). Likert scale: Explored and modified. International Journal of Applied Research, 1(7), 1-5.
• Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods. Oxford university press.
• Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.
• Fink, A. (2013). How to conduct surveys: A step-by-step guide. Sage Publications.
• O’Connell, A., & Friedman, B. (2014). Principles and practice of survey research. In Handbook of survey research (pp. 3-36). Emerald Group Publishing.
• Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D., & Christian, L. M. (2014). Internet, phone, mail, and mixed-mode surveys: The tailored design method. John Wiley & Sons.
• Fitzgerald, L. F. (2010). Ethical issues in research. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 3(1), 99-104.
• Vogt, W. P. (2011). Quantitative research methods. Routledge.
• Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods. Sage.
• Malhotra, N., & Birks, D. (2017). Marketing research: An applied approach. Pearson Higher Ed.