Research Skills for Management Studies

Front Cover
Psychology Press, 2004 - Business & Economics - 269 pages

The recent growth of interest in the systematic study of management has transformed a once neglected area of research into one that now attracts a huge number of postgraduate students. Despite this, there has been a distinct lack of research guides tailored specifically for management studies.

Designed as a comprehensive introduction to the main phases of a research project, this textbook fills that void. It leads students from the very first stage of initiation through to final publication, considering the nature of research skills and the fundamental elements of the research process, whilst exploring the institutional context in which management research is carried out.

Taking current debates and the surrounding philosophical and strategic issues in hand, this book combines the key theories with the best practical advice to offer a completely rounded introduction to the topic. It includes guidance and specific reference to real management research projects, as well as case examples, activities and further reading lists, and is essential reading for anyone undertaking a management studies research project.

 

Contents

Activities
4
What is research?
14
Ways of knowing
34
Problem fields
53
Problem identification
70
Research ethics
89
the experiment and survey
105
the case study ethnography
127
Data construction by asking questions
150
Data construction by making observations
172
Data construction by using documents and records
188
Data analysis and interpretation
204
Writing and publication
229
14
263
89
266
Copyright

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About the author (2004)

Alan Thomas is Visiting Senior Fellow in Sociology and Organizational Behaviour at Manchester Business School, University of Manchester.

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