Reflective Journal: Learning Experience in Business Research HI6008

This document presents a student's reflective journal on their learning experience in a business research course. It covers various topics such as the nature and process of business research, research design and planning, literature review, ethical and legal considerations, qualitative and quantitative research methods, data analysis, and mixed methods research. The journal details the student's understanding of these concepts, their learning process, and how this knowledge will be useful in their future career. It also includes an objective description of the learning activities, an evaluation of what was learned, and an explanation of the learning process, concluding with how the acquired knowledge will be applied in practical scenarios. The student has enhanced their capabilities to know methods which can assist in conducting a research study.

Business research 1
Business research
Name
Student ID
Institutional Affiliation

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The effectiveness of the Learning Experience
Week Topics scheduled Reflection
1
The nature, process and strategy of
business research
I learned that business research serves various
purposes aimed at improving the business
environment. Businesses which are established
use research strategies in the determination of
their success in new geographic regions,
selecting product marketing approaching or
assessing competitors (Qaisar & Khawaja,
2012 p.1325). To achieve this, businesses can
employ various methods of research.
2
Research design and planning the
research process
I learned how to plan for the research by
incorporating all requirements needed
throughout the research process.
3 Literature Review and Writing
Business Research
The study of literature review in writing
business research helped me understand that it
is a type of review article which is a scholarly
paper and includes the methodological and
theoretical contributions to a certain topic and

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the substantive findings brought about by the
current knowledge.
4
Ethics and Legal Consideration in
Business Research
I learned that business research also
implements ethical and legal considerations
during the process of collecting data. For
example, it is ethical to request a formal
permission from authorities before undertaking
the process of interviewing and distributing
questionnaires to target groups.
5 The nature of qualitative research,
sampling and participant observation
I learned that participant observation is a
method of data collection mostly used in
qualitative research. The method is a highly
used methodology in various disciplines
including social psychology, human

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geography, communication studies, sociology,
European ethnology, and cultural
anthropology.
6
Interviewing, Focus Groups and
Language in qualitative research
I learned how I could interact with target
audiences or focus groups and carry out
interviews in an ethical manner. Furthermore, I
learned how to segment customers according to
their needs. Through identification of the focus
groups I learned, it becomes easier to segment
a population on demographic areas, geographic
areas and behaviors (Angulo, Pergelova and
Rialp 2010 p.1).
7 Qualitative Data Analysis Learning about qualitative data analysis
assisted me in understanding that it is the range
of procedures and processes where the

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researcher moves from the collected qualitative
data to explaining, understanding and
interpreting the situations and people being
investigated.
8
Nature and Sampling in Quantitative
Research
This week, I learned how to choose the best
sampling method like random sampling and
stratified sampling for conducting research.
Furthermore, I learned how to carry out a
survey with a high and low population of
respondents.
9 Structured Interviewing and
Questionnaire Design
I understood that questionnaires and
interviewing are a series of questions asked to
respondents and used to obtain information

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about a given topic which is statistically useful
on a given topic. Questionnaires are closed and
open-ended structured used in different
research methods (Griffith, Cavusgil & Xu,
2008 p.1230).
10
Structured Observation and Content
Analysis
The topic was not easy for me but I ended up
learning about observation method that
involves the gathering of data from the
population without directly involving the
participants (Siemsen, Roth and Oliveira, 2010
p.456). I also learned how to analyze the data
collected through observation method for the
conclusion and recommendation.
11 Secondary Analysis and Quantitative
Data Analysis
I learned that secondary analysis is when a
different researcher re-analyzes data collected
in a previous study. Quantitative data analysis

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is an approach which systematically
investigates collected investigations transforms
them into numerical data (Hair et al., 2014
p.117).
12
Mixed methods research: combining
quantitative and qualitative research
I learned how to combine both qualitative and
quantitative data for drawing a conclusion. I
also noted the difference between qualitative
and quantitative data as I learned that
quantitative data exist inform of numeric while
qualitative data is summarized in forms of
tables, graphs and charts (Brannen, 2017 p. 3)
How This Learning Process Will Be Useful To Me
The business research will assist me in getting facts and solutions to business problems
through methodical and systematic investigation. In addition, business research will also assist
me in increasing my knowledge through organized inquiries. Furthermore, I acquired knowledge
which will assist me in solving different issues in my environment including finance, production,
marketing, human relations, health problems and socio-economic issues. Business research

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knowledge will also assist me in getting answers to industrial and societal problems. As a
student, the knowledge will assist me in applying the theory too and analyzing diverse general
issues. Moreover, knowledge of business research has enabled me to be able to select a research
problem and be able to independently investigate the problem.
Objective Description of What Happened In the Learning Process
During the learning process, various activities took place in which some I saw and heard
while I read others to gain more information. The main objective of the learning process was to
get first-hand information from what I saw being demonstrated from my lecture, keenly paying
attention to what was being taught and later on practice them by undertaking a deep research
study. During the learning process, I read and saw the lecture notes in forms of slides and pdf.
Furthermore, I also read information from websites, research databases, books and peer-reviewed
journals. I saw various YouTube videos on various research process topics and took short notes
of what I saw being important to me for comparison with lecture notes. In addition, it is through
the incorporation of these research information from the different sources that assisted me to
complete assessment 1 and 2 effectively.
Evaluation of What I Learnt
Being involved in business research has assisted me in classifying and identifying
diversity learning methods which are dissimilar. In addition, I am able to recognize unusual
methods of solving problems relating to organizations and the identification of suitable learning
modes and learning styles available for the improvement of the learning experience design. In
addition, the studies of business research have assisted me in gaining statistical power important
for the planning for the size of samples before data gathering for the evaluation of statistical
hypotheses. Statistical power assists in calculating the sample size and statistical testing of

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various hypotheses through the use of analysis of variance and structural equation modeling. A
plan for personal development is fundamental for the career journey of graduates. During my
module study, I acquired thorough knowledge about Business Research and the diversity of skills
needed to be an everyday independent researcher. Furthermore, I have learned various
techniques and social research methods and I can use them in addressing questions in business
settings and management.
Explanation of My Learning Process
My learning process was full of inspiration after completing my lessons. It connected me
with new insights into the research process and acted as my guide. The insights encouraged me
to develop a feeling that I should undertake an assessment activity and reflect what I have
learned in the paper. In order to assess my learning process, I did assessment 1 and 2 which
concluded that I have fully understood the research process.
How I Will Apply the Learning
Environmental research is an important aspect of everyday decision making (Chrisman et
al., 2008 p.927). Learning about business research will assist me in finding out the wrong
information and saving time and money. The application of business research is important in
solving challenges in business and decision-making with profitable or immediate concern. In
business, there is the risk of decision making without data backup. Therefore, I will be in a
position to identify, collect and backup business data or information which will assist me in
understanding how the knowledge of business research has impacted my everyday business
decision making.
Conclusion

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The paper has outlined the research process, key terms and important aspects of business
research that need to be followed when developing a research paper. The information and skills I
gained by conducting a deep research on books, journals and other secondary sources have
enhanced my capabilities to know methods which can assist me in conducting a research study.
Furthermore, the experience has enabled me to find the objectives of the study, conclusion and
recommendation. By determining the research questions, I am able to draw variables and
hypothesis on the study. All the information I have gained in the learning process is essential in
my future career as it will assist me in planning businesses, managing finances, formulating
effective strategies and decisions and evaluating business ideas. Furthermore, the research has
brainstormed me to become familiar with the business process, market trends, opportunities,
threats and compliances that are useful in my career. Generally, the research will help me to
assess my capabilities and skills.
References

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Angulo, F., Pergelova, A. and Rialp, J., 2010. A market segmentation approach for higher
education based on rational and emotional factors. Journal of Marketing for Higher Education.1st
ed. pp.1-17. Newyork: Elsevier Publishers
Brannen, J., 2017. Combining qualitative and quantitative approaches: an overview. In Mixing
methods: Qualitative and quantitative research (pp. 3-37). U.S. A: Routledge.
Chrisman, J.J., Chua, J.H., Kellermanns, F.W., Matherne III, C.F. and Debicki, B.J., 2008.
Management journals as venues for publication of family business research. Entrepreneurship
Theory and Practice. 5th ed. United States: John Wiley & Sons, pp.927-934.
Griffith, D.A., Cavusgil, S.T. and Xu, S., 2008. Emerging themes in international business
research. Journal of International Business Studies, 39(7), pp.1220-1235.
Hair Jr, J. F., Sarstedt, M., Hopkins, L. and G. Kuppelwieser, V., 2014. Partial least squares
structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) An emerging tool in business research. European
Business Review. 2nd ed. United States: emerald Insight, pp.106-121.
Qaisar, S. and Khawaja, K.F., 2012. Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in
Business. Cloud Computing: Network/Security Threats and Countermeasures. 3rd ed. Germany:
Elsevier, pp.1323-1329.
Siemsen, E., Roth, A. and Oliveira, P., 2010. Common method bias in regression models with
linear, quadratic, and interaction effects. Organizational research methods.3rd ed. U.S. A: Sage
publishers pp.456-476.