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Well Research Methods for Business: Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Methods has been a journey. As for me when I started this course it seems as if it was the only course I was doing. Hearing about qualitative and quantitative my reaction was like statistics again. Then moving on to do a research proposal, research report I know this course has groom in into a researcher. (smiles) I must say it was very informative and keep my brain very active.

I have learnt a lot even though I have faced challenges and missed out on some graded discussions. Also I do appreciate the Course Coordinator to keep us abreast of every little details and due dates and upcoming events and thanks to the e-tutor also. Great journey and hoping for great success.

Best regards,
Keneisha

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For me presentation week is somewhat exciting, hectic and tiresome. It was excited for me because it was my first time using the screencast-O-matic recording and during my recording I had to redo it about ten (10) times to get it to 5 minutes or as close to 5 minutes. hectic because I am experiencing terrible internet problems and computer trouble. I first tried to download the screencast-o-matic on my tablet but  was indicated that it was not compatible with my device. Then I had to seek out ways to get a computer to use; since I was not able to attend an internet cafe due to the hours I leave work. However I have succeeded with the help of God and overcome my challenge. Tiresome because after work and not verse on powerpoint it takes a lot out of me. Also we were instructed to ask two (2) of our peers question regarding their presentation and to replied to questions directed to us.
Overall it was a great experience, an adventure somewhat and very informative. Even though we were limited to view two of our peers I took the initiative and view others just to have an idea of what others presented and the topic they choose for their Research.

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As I continued with unit 8, it also tells us about quantitative analysis is another way of analyzing. This is the systematic analysis of numerical data that is converted to numerical form. Quantitative data can be analyzed using statistics, which is the collection, analysis and interpretation of numerical data.
I have learnt that there are two branches of statistics and they are: descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics yield information about the immediate group of data while inferential statistics can be invaluable in making generalizations about the population. Inferential statistics can be broken down. Estimation statistics which involves confidence intervals and parameter estimation. Then there is hypothesis testing this involves a lot of test such as T-Test, Z-test. chi-square test and few more. The estimated statistics are used to make statistical inferences about a population based on sample data while hypothesis testing is used to make statistical inferences about whether or not data support a particular hypothesis.
Completing my research report the use of hypothesis testing was used in the findings. There are five steps to be followed when using the hypothesis testing, they are as follow:
1. you must state the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis
2. select the appropriate test statistic
3. determine p-value associated with the test statistic
4. decide between the null and alternative hypothesis
5. interpret the decision (state the conclusion).
This unit educates me to analyse qualitative data and also how to analyse quantitative data; which helps me to complete my research study and and research report.

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Unit 8 distinguish qualitative and quantitative data analysis. This was useful for gathering information for our debate session. It tells the meaning of qualitative data analysis. Qualitative data analysis is the "non-numerical examination and interpretation of observations for the purpose of discovering underlying meanings and patterns of relationships" (as cited Babbie, 2014 p.463). Qualitative data analysis allows researchers to interpret, understand and explains the case of study. For example a business place might want to find out how well is their customer service, so they conduct a research on groups or individually interviews to gather qualitative data. That is when qualitative data would come in. The data collected will now have to be analysed so to make sense of what customers think about their service, why they come back, how they themselves are better than other business places. With the analysis it can reveal greater depth of description and understanding of how and why customers make the choices they make. From the analysis business owners can make necessary improvements to their business. I also learnt about the processes of qualitative data analysis which includes: the transcription, organizing data, familiarization, coding and finding themes

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During this week I went through the process of preparing for a debate. The debate was based on quantitative data versus qualitative data. We argue about quantitative data provides for a more sound analysis and interpretation of research problem as well as less subjectivity in comparison to qualitative data.
We were placed in groups and allowed to give ourselves a preferred name. The group that I was placed in is called the Overcomers and our opponents were the Quick Thinkers. We were to agree with the moot and given three different dates to post our arguements.During our preparation for the debate it was hectic but we managed to meet on Skype and What's App to put our information together.
Preparing our information I have learnt that quantitative data is statistical and takes places in the form of tabulations, while qualitative data is typically descriptive data. Also quantitative data collection methods are much more structured than qualitative data collection methods. Even though we agreed with the moot it was proven through our research that quantitative data is less subjective in comparison to qualitative data and that it provides for a more sound analysis and interpretation of research problem.
Overall this week was interesting and informative. I also enjoyed working with my group members.

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This week is the continuation of preparing and presenting data. I have learnt how to prepare thr data; which was explained in week 7. Now in week 8 I have actually learnt how to display the data collected.
So after preparing the data for analysis, the researcher first engage in exploratory data anaylsis to visualize the data when dealing with statistical data. There are more than one techniques that researchers can use to visualize and graphically represent the data to facilitate preliminary analysis for patterns in data. The use of tables and different types of graphs and charts can be used.
When speaks of tables we think about the frequency table, this is used to present numerical data and is useful for showing where no observations occur within the range which cannot be captured in a bar chart or pie chart.
Other devices are graphs and charts. There are a wide variety of graphs and charts that researchers can use to analyze data but the most common ones used are; the bar chart, which is used to display number and frequency for discrete categories or groups and is useful for ungrouped data. Another is histogram, this is used to represent continuous random variables and allows for the researcher to easily identify the most popular class in the data and simple patterns in data. Pie charts are used to display categorical or grouped data. They represent the total distribution of data across categories. There is also line graph which is used to show how one or more variables vary over a continuous period of time. Another common one is the scatter plots which is used to display the relationship betwern two variables and can be used to determine systematic or causal relationships. Ĺastly the stem and leaf plots, which are used for presenting discrete and continuous data and are a quick way to represent large amount of data graphically.
In this week we were asked to construct a frequency table and a histogram to test our skills in displaying data.

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During this course I have learnt how to collect data, how important data is in a research. Now unit 7 tells us how to prepare and present the data.
First I rwad about editing and coding. In this stage of data analysis the researcher is able to transform raw data (responses of respondents that are unedited) collected during data collection into usable data. Therefore after finish collecting data the researcher needs to understand the data that have been collected then present it to the decision makers. It is important to edit data collected because field work often produces data that contains errors which ought to be removed so to ensure the integrity of the data. When data is checked for omissions, consistency and legibility in preparation for coding the process is called data editing.
I also learnt about coding data. After editing the data it is assigned codes to simplify analysis. Coding can be numerical score or a clasifying symbol, this allows for edited data to be grouped into categories. A code book is constructed to give details on all the codes used in the research. In the code book the following information can be found: the variable, the variable number, the coding scheme, code and codes for missing data.
I also learnt about working with data bases and that it is structured based on field, records and files. Field is a single data such as name, age and occupation, which is answer to a specific question. Record is a set of data field that are related to case such as all responses of one participant in study. File, this is a set of ŕecords, such as responses of all respondents in a study.
I have discovered that there is a data dictionary. A data dictionary is a collection of descriptions of data objects or items in a database. The data dictionary is used for clarification purposes, programmers and other persons involved ï the analytic process. The dictionary normally consist of eight columns which includes:1. Variable name, 2. Variable label-2 to 3 words, 3. Value label-labeĺs for values eg. Actusl sex of ŕespondents 4. Field type 5. Decimal- numder of decimal places 6. Field width 7. Start-where the field starts 8. End-where the field end. This follows by data entry; it is the process of inputting data ģathered into a database for manipulation, storage and analysis. This is done once coding had been completed. Aftet there is data clearing which is verý important step to be taken before any data processing can be undrr taken.
There is also data modification; this is alteration of data which is donefor some of these reasons; to rearrange yhe numerical order of categories, the researcher can combine several indicators to create an index just to name a few. Data can be displayed by using tables, charts and graphs, stem and leaf and

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When conducting a research the selection of the research instrument is important because it determines the out come of the study. This unit tells us about the modes of communicating with respondents who participates in research when using the questionnaire as a data collection insrument.

I have learnt that questionnaire can be administered in different modes such as interviews and self administered. Interviewer administered modes includes telephone interview where the interviewer asks respondents questions from the questionnaire via telephone and face to face which is also called personal interview, this is when the interviewer asks respondents questions using the questionnaire face to face. Self administered moďes include mail and internet. Mail is when the questionnaire is mailed to the respondent for self completion. Internet is the respondent receives/accesses and completes the questionnaire online eg., Monkey Survey.
The way a questionnaire is design is important. The construction of the questionnaire is important, so it will allow for the collection of data that is both relevant and accurate. The mention of five (5) questions that must be consider when constructing questionnaire.
1. What should be asked?
2. How should question be pharsed?
3. How should the questionnaire be presented and revised?
4. What questionnaire layout will best serve the reseaŕch objectives?
5. In what sequence should be the questions be arranged?
Errors can be made in questionnaire design, some of these errors are interviewers error and respondent error.
The unit also tells how to minimize errors. I have learnt about ways increasing response rate by provide motivation such as gift vouchers.
Overall I have learnt to design a questionnsire, the different errors that can be made and how to minimized the errors.

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What I really understand from unit 2 is that when doing a research there are many ways of doing so and there is a process. According to Jackson, (2011, November 18) the research process is a systematic approach to acquiring, analyzing, interpreting and diseminating data and information to decision makers.

Also I have learnt that not every research project will follow the same sequence of steps but they normally follows a general process. Further in the reading of unit 2 it tells what is a literature review, what isnthe purpose, how to conduct a literature review and how to source data to carry out a literature review. The literature review is a summary of the results.

Unit 2 also talks about how to select a research problem, identifying the research objectives and writing research questions and hypothesis. Over the unit was very informative.