A complete introduction to business research, Business Research Methods is the ideal guide for students embarking on a research project. Throughout the text, the authors draw on their own extensive experience to give readers tips for success and provide advice to help them avoid common mistakes.
Developed specifically with business and management students in mind, this bestselling textbook explores the nature and purpose of business research and the issues it entails, while also providing students with practical advice on carrying out their research. In addition to a broad range of relevant case studies, the book features a substantial discussion of ethics, a chapter on internet research methods, and a strong emphasis on practical content such as planning a project and writing it up.
Now in its fourth edition, the text featuresnew chapters on the nature of business research and on sampling in qualitative research.
I often argue that wikification and the textbookification have - together - reduced the quality of our research and teaching. Bullet points, basic definitions and dated materials have caused long-term damage in our universities. Indeed the fifth edition of this book notes the death of one of the authors - Alan Bryman - but the revisions to the textbook continue.
As far as textbooks go, this is a solid and clear explanation of research methods. There are strong mechanisms to explain qualitative and quantative research methods, with considered attention to the specificity of business.
Solid. Straight forward. Clear. These are not the words we would hope to find in a scholarly book. But for a textbook - OK.
Well-structured and logical flow of the book provides important essentials on how to make a research in business studies - from which kind of theoretical perspective to choose to the tips on how to write up the final report. Particularly good are discussions on the mix of qualitative and quantitative methods as well as on the mix of different epistemological positions. Somewhat too much attention to feminist position in several places across the book. I didn't find the examples from students' experience very useful - but it may well be very interesting for less experienced researchers.
I was recommended by my MBA dissertation supervisor to read this book prior to starting the literature review. As a first time MBA student researcher, I was able to gain an overall idea of the methods of business researches and how to best apply them in my thesis. The author introduces both qualitative and quantitative methods in a very easy to understand manner while still being comprehensive. As a student, you will be able to read other MBA students experiences throughout the book that will help you gain more clarity and guidance on the way to go. I recommend this book to MBA students as well as other researchers who seek more literature on the topic.
Do not read this book if you want to learn anything about this subject.
Seriously.
The style is straight out of the 1950s and there are no redeeming features, like interesting illustrative stories or anecdotes whatsoever. It's just dry, dry stuff piled on top of other dry stuff. The effect is quite abysmal.
There's a tiny bit of light at the end as the authors talk of different ways that research can be written up, such as treating the paper as a piece of creative non-fiction. But it was too little and too late (last 2 pages) to redeem this sludgy mess of a book.
Only read this if you are a masochist (like me (not really - I just enjoy a challenge)) or you want to lose all interest in business research. If you're looking for a long book then read the Bible instead.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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Some chapters read thoroughly, some as a reference. Easy to grasp, filled with practical examples and wholly pedagogical. Yet, the book has its limitations: only the preferred choices of the authors are included. For example, research designs chapter outlines five designs which is way narrower than the reality of research.