Doing Research in the Business World

Doing Research in the Business World is well designed, and this plays favourably into its overall readability. Gray is also to be commended for covering a vast array of technical topics with a deft and lucid hand, which is no small feat. Throughout the book an admirable sense of balance is also evident. No needless shots are fired in the yawnful paradigm wars: all sides are represented; all sides fairly handled. Indeed, Gray’s work itself is a maturely self-possessed and reflexive piece of research.

In a nutshell, the book is comprehensive, authoritative, laden with interesting case examples and would make profitable reading for those who wish or need to research the business world. Practitioners especially should make use of this book.

All business students will find a wealth of information in David Gray’s book Doing Research in the Business World. The approach and methodologies used to present the book is very refined with expanded sections and detailed consideration of concepts, techniques and applications of the research process. This book will give both tutors and students the opportunity to think clearly about their research from the start to finish!

David Gray was Professor of Leadership and Organisational Behaviour at the University of Greenwich. His research interests, and publication record, included research methods, management learning (particularly coaching and mentoring), professional identity, action learning, reflective learning, management learning in SMEs and the factors that contribute to SME success. He published books and articles on research methods, organizational learning, and coaching and mentoring.

David led a number of EU-funded research programmes including one examining the impact of coaching on the resilience of unemployed managers in their job-searching behaviours and another on how action learning can sustain unemployed managers in starting their own business. He also completed a global survey into the professional identity of coaches.

Chapter 1. Introduction PART A: PRINCIPLES AND PLANNING FOR RESEARCH Chapter 2. Theoretical Perspectives and Research Methodologies in Business Chapter 3. Selecting and Planning Business Research Proposals and Projects Chapter 4. Business Research Ethics Chapter 5. Searching, Critically Reviewing and Using the Literature in Business PART B: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Chapter 6. Business Research Design: Quantitative Methods Chapter 7. Business Research Design: Qualitative Methods Chapter 8. Business Research Design: Using Mixed Methods Chapter 9. Sampling Strategies in Business Chapter 10. Designing Descriptive and Analytical Surveys for Business Chapter 11. Designing Business Case Studies Chapter 12. Designing Evaluations in Business Chapter 13. Action Research and Change in Business PART C. DATA COLLECTION METHODS Chapter 14. Collecting Primary Data: Questionnaires Chapter 15. Collecting Primary Data: Interviewing Chapter 16. Non Participant Observation Chapter 17. Ethnography and Participant Observation Chapter 18. Focus Groups Chapter 19. Unobtrusive Measures Chapter 20. Visual Methods Chapter 21. Secondary Data Analysis PART D: ANALYSIS AND REPORT WRITING Chapter 22. Getting started using SPSS Chapter 23. Analysing and Presenting Quantitative Data Chapter 24. Getting started with Nvivo Chapter 25. Analysing and Presenting Qualitative Data Chapter 26. Writing up the Research in a Business Report Chapter 27. Planning Presentations and Vivas for Business