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| Introduction to Research | |
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| What Is Research? | |
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| Business Research | |
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| Types of Business Research: Applied and Basic | |
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| Managers and Research | |
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| The Manager and the Consultant-Researcher | |
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| Internal versus External Consultants/Researchers | |
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| Knowledge About Research and Managerial Effectiveness | |
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| Ethics and Business Research | |
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| Summary | |
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| Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder | |
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| Scientific Investigation | |
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| The Hallmarks of Scientific Research | |
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| Some Obstacles to Conducting Scientific Research in the Management Area | |
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| The Building Blocks of Science | |
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| The Hypothetico-Deductive Method | |
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| Summary | |
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| Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder | |
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| Computer Technology and Business Research | |
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| Information Needs in Business | |
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| Computer Technology and Business | |
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| Advantages of Computers | |
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| PC Applications Using Software | |
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| Growth of Core Business Applications of the PC | |
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| Other PC Advances Useful to Business, Research, and Data Presentation | |
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| The Role of Information Systems in Managerial Decision Making | |
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| Data Warehousing, Data Mining, and Decision Support | |
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| Management Information System | |
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| The Future of Computer Technology | |
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| Managerial Implications of Technological Advancements | |
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| Ethics in Handling Information Technology | |
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| Summary | |
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| Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder | |
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| The Research Process: Steps 1 to 3: the Broad Problem Area, Preliminary Data Gathering, Problem Definition | |
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| The Research Process for Applied and Basic Research | |
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| Broad Problem Area | |
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| Preliminary Data Collection | |
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| Literature Survey | |
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| Problem Definition | |
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| Managerial Implications | |
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| Ethical Issues in the Preliminary Stages of Investigation | |
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| Summary | |
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| Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder | |
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| Practice Projects | |
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| Appendix | |
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| Some On-Line Databases Useful for Business Research | |
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| Bibliographical Indexes | |
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| APA Format for Referencing Relevant Articles | |
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| Referencing and Quotation in the Literature Review Section | |
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| Frequently Cited Business Journals | |
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| The Research Process: Steps 4 and 5: Theoretical Framework Hypothesis Development | |
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| The Need for a Theoretical Framework | |
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| Variables | |
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| Theoretical Framework | |
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| Hypotheses Development | |
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| Hypothesis Testing with Qualitative Research: Negative Case Analysis | |
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| Summary | |
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| Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder | |
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| Practice Project | |
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| The Research Process: Step 6: Elements of Research Design | |
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| The Research Design | |
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| The Purpose of the Study: Exploratory, Descriptive, Hypothesis Testing (Analytical and Predictive), Case Study Analysis | |
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| Type of Investigation: Causal versus Correlational | |
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| Extent of Researcher Interference with the Study | |
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| Study Setting: Contrived and Noncontrived | |
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| Unit of Analysis: Individuals, Dyads, Groups, Organizations, Cultures | |
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| Time Horizon: Cross-Sectional versus Longitudinal Studies | |
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| Managerial Implications | |
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| Summary | |
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| Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder | |
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| Exercises | |
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| Experimental Designs | |
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| The Laboratory (Lab) Experiment and the Field Experiment | |
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| Control | |
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| Manipulation of the Independent Variable | |
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| Controlling the Contaminating Exogenous or "Nuisance" Variables | |
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| Internal Validity | |
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| External Validity or Generalizability of Lab Experiments | |
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| The Field Experiment | |
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| External Validity | |
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| Trade-Off between Internal and External Validity | |
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| Factors Affecting Internal Validity | |
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| Identifying Threats to Internal Validity | |
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| Internal Validity in Case Studies | |
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| Factors Affecting External Validity | |
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| Types of Experimental Designs and Internal Validity | |
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| Simulation | |
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| Ethical Issues in Experimental Design Research | |
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| Managerial Implications | |
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| Summary | |
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| Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder | |
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| Further Experimental Designs | |
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| The Completely Randomized Design | |
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| Randomized Block Design | |
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| Latin Square Design | |
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| Factorial Design | |
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| Measurement of Variables: Operational Definition and Scales | |
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| How Variables Are Measured | |
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| Operational Definition: Dimensions and Elements | |
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| Scales | |
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| Summary | |
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| Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder | |
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| Exercises | |
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| Measurement: Scaling, Reliability, Validity | |
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| Rating Scales | |
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| Ranking Scales | |
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| Goodness of Measures | |
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| Item Analysis | |
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| Reliability | |
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| Validity | |
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| Summary | |
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| Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder | |
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| Exercise | |
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| Examples of Some Measures | |
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| Measures from Management Research | |
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| Measures from Marketing Research | |
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| Data Collection Methods | |
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| Data Collection Methods, Settings, and Sources of Data | |
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| Interviewing | |
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| Unstructured and Structured Interviews | |
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| Questionnaires | |
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| Guidelines for Questionnaire Design | |
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| Cross-Cultural Research | |
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| Principles of Measurement | |
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| General Appearance or "Getup" of the Questionnaire | |
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| Important Aspects of Questionnaires | |
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| Electronic Questionnaire and Surveys | |
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| Other Methods of Data Collection | |
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| Data Collection Through Mechanical Observation | |
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| Projective Methods | |
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| Secondary Data | |
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| Some Special Data Sources | |
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| Panels | |
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| Multimethods of Data Collection | |
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| Managerial Advantage | |
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| Ethics in Data Collection | |
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| Summary | |
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| Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder | |
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| Exercises | |
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| Sampling | |
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| Population Element, Population Frame, Sample, and Subject | |
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| Sampling | |
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| Normality of Distributions | |
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| Probability and Nonprobability Sampling | |
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| Probability Sampling | |
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| Nonprobability Sampling | |
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| Sampling in Cross-Cultural Research | |
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| Issues of Precision and Confidence in Determining Sample Size | |
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| Sample Data, Precision, and Confidence in Estimation | |
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| Trade-Off Between Confidence and Precision | |
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| Sample Data and Hypothesis Testing | |
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| Determining the Sample Size | |
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| Importance of Sampling Design and Sample Size | |
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| Efficiency in Sampling | |
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| Sampling as Related to Qualitative Studies | |
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| Summary | |
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| Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder | |
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| Exercises | |
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| Data Analysis and Interpretation | |
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| Getting Data Ready for Analysis | |
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| Data Analysis | |
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| Data Analysis and Interpretation | |
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| Research Done in Excelsior Enterprises | |
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| Use of Expert Systems in Choosing the Appropriate Statistical Tests | |
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| Summary | |
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| Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder | |
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| Data Analysis Using Excel | |
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| Analysis of the Accounting Chair Data Set Using Excel | |
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| Analysis Using Excel | |
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| The Research Report | |
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| The Written Report | |
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| Integral Parts of the Report | |
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| Oral Presentation | |
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| Summary | |
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| Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder | |
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| Exercise | |
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| Appendix | |
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| Sample of a Report Involving a Descriptive Study | |
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| Sample of a Report Where an Idea Has to Be "SOLD" | |
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| Sample of a Report Offering Alternative Solutions and Explaining the Pros and Cons of Each Alternative | |
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| Example of an Abridged Basic Research Report | |
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| Managerial Decision Making and Research | |
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| Scientific Research and Managerial Decision Making | |
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| Case Study of the Cradle of Indian Handcrafts | |
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| The Consulting Team and Its Approach | |
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| Assessment of the Quality of Research Done | |
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| How Scientific Is This Study? | |
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| What Else Could Have Been Done? | |
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| How Has the Research Facilitated the Decision-Making Process for the President of the Cradle of Indian Handcrafts? | |
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| Summary | |
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| Discussion Questions and Points to Ponder | |
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| A Final Note to the Student | |
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| Module a Refresher on Some Statistical Terms and Tests | |
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| Descriptive Statistics | |
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| Inferential Statistics | |
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| Other Tests and Analysis | |
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| Analysis of Qualitative Data | |
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| Managerial Relevance | |
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| Summary | |
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| Discussion Questions | |
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| Glossary of Terms | |
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| Supplementary Readings | |
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| References | |
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| Statistical Tables | |
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| Cumulative Normal Probabilities | |
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| Upper Percentage Points of the t Distribution | |
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| Upper Percentage Points of the X[superscript 2] Distribution | |
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| Percentage Points of the F Distribution | |
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| Index | |