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Course Description: A
basic understanding of research will be emphasized followed by a detailed description and comparison of many research mechanisms
available over the Internet. The course will use a hands-on approach, to ensure that students are able to personally
carry out business-related research projects. Course Contents: Includes topics such as the differences
between search engines, online library-based research, and methods of research will be analyzed.
Course Objectives:
The intent of the course is to develop an understanding of internet research methods for business research. The key objectives
are to: Introduce the student to business research
techniques Provide the internet techniques and skills needed to conduct
business research; To introduce and organize the various research capabilities of
the WWW. Provide knowledge and understanding so that students can critically evaluate
the quality of research through the use of the Internet Provide students with an
understanding of ethical implications involved in business research. Using
the internet to locate information; evaluate information from internet sources. Learning Outcomes: This
course will provide students with a working knowledge of doing research for business on the Internet, specifically: Develop practice and confidence in doing research for business
using the Internet Systematically expose students to tools available
in virtual libraries and provide practice in using them to solve real-world issues To
explore search engines, new resources, and Internet Reference Shelves and use them To
develop expertise in using Web Survey tools and interpreting results of research so gained Suggested Texts: Barker,
Donald I, Melissa Barker & Katherine T. Pinard, Internet Research Illustrated (Illustrated Series) ISBN-10: 1133190383
(Available for Kindle)
Randolph Hock, The Extreme Searcher's Internet
Handbook: A Guide for the Serious Searcher 3th (third) edition ISBN-10: 0910214980 (Available for Kindle).
Steve Jones, Doing Internet Research: Critical Issues and Methods, ISBN-10: 0761915958
Eric Popkoff, "The Expert's Guide to Internet Search & Research: The Guide to Superlative Searches
for Both Work & Personal Success!" ISBN-10: 1561718246
Cynthia L. Shamel, Introduction to Online Market & Industry Research. ISBN-10: 0538726849 (Available for Kindle)
Attendance
Policy:
Touro College attendance policies will be enforced.
The class is scheduled to meet weekly MONDAY, 9-11:30 AM. Students are expected to attend all classes, arriving on time and
staying to the end. Regulations of the NY State Department of Education and the regional accreditation agency require
that each session run for the full time for which it is scheduled, regardless of students' personal transportation or
social calendar conflicts. Participation represents 20 % of the course grade. Each absence cuts into your ability
to earn points for participation. Lack of preparation will also affect your participation grade. It is impossible to earn
an A in the course if you are absent excessively. Please see the course website for a complete grading rubric for attendance
and participation.
ACADEMIC AND CLASSROOM MISCONDUCT:
Students are expected to conduct
themselves appropriately at all times. Academic and classroom misconduct will not be tolerated. Cheating and plagiarism will
not be tolerated, and any student found cheating or plagiarizing will receive an "F" for the work in question, and
possibly an "F" for the course, and may be recommended for suspension from the University. Cheating is defined
as not working on exams or assignments alone, and plagiarism is defined as taking the work of someone else's as one's
own.
DISABILITY POLICY: Any student who has a disability that may affect his/her academic performance should
contact the Office of the Dean of Students at the start of the semester to discuss their needs and problems as well as discuss
reasonable accommodations with the instructor.
GRADING/COURSE ASSESSMENT: Course Assessment | Final Examination | 30% | Mid-Term examination | 20% | Term
Project | 30% | Class participation | 20%
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TEACHING METHODOLOGY: (1) Lecture; (2) Group discussion; (3)In-class exercise; CLASS
SCHEDULE SESSION | DATE | TOPIC | 1 | 2/6/2012 | Who, What, Where, How and Why of Internet Research for Business | 2 | 2/12/2012 | Why – Motivations for Business-related Research | 3 | 2/27/2012 | What - Reasons for Using the Internet Primary
and Secondary Sources | 4 | 3/5/2012 | Where – Locating and Evaluating Internet Sources Search Engines Subject Guides Beyond the WWW | 5 | 3/12/2012 | Who – Researchers within the Business Organization Outsourcing
Research | 6 | 3/19/2012 | How
– Tips and Tricks of Internet Research Complex searches (Boolean operators and searching
with filters) | 7 | 3/26/2012 | Mid-term Examination | 8 | 4/2/2012 | Project Stage 1 - Choosing a topic | 9 | 4/16/2012 | Project Stage 2 - Refining the question | 10 | 4/23/2012 | Project Stage
3 – Creating a research plan | 11 | 04/30/12 | Project Stage 4 – Writing a report based on your research. | 12 | 5/7/2012 | First Draft of Project due at the end of this class session | 13 | 5/14/2012 | Final Draft of Project due at the end of this class session | 14 | 5/21/2012 | Review for the Final | 15 | 5/30/2012 | Final
Examination |
Bibliography: 1. Print materials - Dillman,
D. A. (2000). Mail and internet surveys. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Griffis,
S. E., Goldsby, T. J., & Cooper, M. (2003). Web-based and mail surveys: A comparison of response, data, and cost. Journal
of Business Logistics, 24(2), 237-258. Hieva, J., Baron, S., & Healey, N. M. (2002). Online surveys in marketing
research: Pros and cons. International Journal of Marketing Research, 44(3), 361-382. Nardi, P. M. (2003).
Doing survey research. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc. Pallant, J. (2004). SPSS survival manual. Maidenhead,
Berkshire, UK: Open University Press. Schonlau, M., Fricker, R. D., & Elliott, M. (2002). Conducting research
surveys via e-mail and the Web. Santa Monica, CA: RAND. Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2001). Using
Multivariate Statistics. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Truell, A. D. (2003). Use of internet tools for survey research.
Information Technology, Learning, and Performance Journal, 21(1), 31-37. 2. Websites a. Search
engines www.google.com www.incywincy.com www.ez2find.com www.firstgov.gov www.vivisimo.com
b.. Government data sites 1- The Library of Congress
at www.loc.gov is a gateway into the one of the largest collections
of data that varies from historical to governmental and economic material. Another excellent resource is www.fedstats.gov. A portal into over 100 Federal agencies that compile and release statistics
on a variety of topics. Many of the statistics available on this database are unavailable on any other free resource. 2-
The Gateway to the U.S. Department of Commerce at www.commerce.gov
3- The U.S. Census Department at www.census.gov
has a link to American Fact finder which gives the viewer the ability to get micro-based statistics such as demographic data
by zip code. 4- Small Business Administration, www.sba.gov.
5- Central Intelligence Agency at www.cia.gov
. Includes the World Fact book a comprehensive summary of the declassified data on every nation in the world. c.
Sites that help to interpret and supplement generated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission www.secinfo.com 1 - The home site of MSN Money central http://moneycentral.msn.com. 2 - Business Week guide to company research
http://bwnt.businessweek.com/company/search.asp. 3
- Multex Investor Homepage at www.multexinvestor.com.
4 - Hoovers Online at www.hoovers.com.
5 - Brooklyn Public Library - free to all cardholders www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org.
Includes many subscriber-only sites such as Mergent FIS Online, the home of the Moody’s Investment Service d.
Information about searching 1. Text based SocioSite, Research Methodology: http://www2.fmg.uva.nl/sociosite/topics/research.html#METHSocial
Science Information Gateway, Research Methods: http://www.sosig.ac.uk/roads/subject-listing/World-cat/meth.htmlSocial Surveys
Online: The Question Bank: http://qb.soc.surrey.ac.uk/docs/home.htm 2. YouTube BARE Necessities of Evaluating
Websites http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qg8xRfPb80&feature=related boolean
operatorshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tm-sDKCnO4&feature=related Credible Vs. Non-credible Source (Aimee
Screencast)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVsGp1AGWPE&feature=related Determining Website Credibilityhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKVL1ehDQB0&feature=related
Info Literacy 9. Browsing & searching the web http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBJyhu1GrTI Information
Literacy Activities & Quiz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIDaonS0IlI&feature=related Library
Orientation: Credible Internet Sources http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuSuhDJwlaY&feature=related Why
can't I just Google? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N39mnu1Pkgw&feature=related
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