Basic Business Research Methods
Written by Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting,
LLC. Copyright 1997-2008.
Adapted from the Field Guide to Nonprofit Program Design, Marketing
and Evaluation and Field Guide to Consulting and Organizational Development.
(NOTE: The following sections of information are included together in one document located at http://www.managementhelp.org/evaluatn/fnl_eval.htm.)
Sections of This Topic Include:
Planning
Your Research
Selecting
Which Business Method to Use
How
to Select From Among Public Data Collection Tools
Method:
Appreciative Inquiry
Method:
Case Study Design
Method:
Focus Groups
Method:
Interview Design
Method:
Listening
Method:
Questioning (face to face)
Method:
Questionnaires
Method:
Surveys
Analyzing,
Interpreting and Reporting Results
General Information and Resources
Ethics and Conducting Research
General Information and Resources
resources
for qualitative researchers
an
online tutorial about social science research methods
complete
online research methods text>
Ethics and Conducting Research
sample
consent form (or sample release-of-information form)
Ethics
(guidelines to ensure ethical behavior)
For the Category of Business Research:
Related Library Topics
Recommended Books
General
The following books are recommended because of their highly practical nature and often because they include a wide range of information about this Library topic. To get more information about each book, just hover your cursor over the image of the book. A "bubble" of information will be displayed. You can click on the title of the book in that bubble to get more information, too.
Nonprofit-Specific
Field
Guide to Nonprofit Program Design, Marketing and Evaluation
- by Carter McNamara, published by Authenticity Consulting, LLC. Well-developed nonprofit programs are based on research to verify unmet community needs, how those needs can be met through programs, how clients can best access the programs, what clients and others are willing to pay for the programs, and potential competitors and collaborators. Funders expect to see this level of research from nonprofits applying for funding. This book provides step-by-step guidelines for conducting relevant -- and especially realistic and flexible -- market research. Includes many online forms that can be downloaded.
