Syllabus for MSIS 340 Research Methods in Business
September 5 - December 15, 2009

Welcome to Research Methods in Business. The text is an impressive piece of work, since it explains deep ideas in Statistics without using advanced math. We identify and locate data sources, consider ways to gather primary and secondary data, perform analysis using the computer, and effectively interpret and present findings. We focus on essential tools for the investigation of business phenomena where chance variation is a factor. The design of experiments, sampling, measuring, prediction, and causation are among the topics discussed. We reexamine some of the concepts covered in the prerequisite statistics course from a more critical perspective. Excel is used extensively to illustrate business research principles including simulation.

Text:Statistics: Concepts and Controversies (7th Ed) by David S. Moore and William I. Notz

Instructor: Art DuPre'

Office Hours: 1WP 1015, SAT 8:30-9:00 AM, and by appointment

Class: SAT 9:00 - 11:55 AM 1WP 118

Telephone: 973-353-5156 Extension 7820(Smith 233)

THe correspondence percentages and letter grades is as follows:
0-59 60-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85-89 90-100
F D C C+ B B+ A

There will be two 10-minute quizzes at each class meeting and two tests each lasting 80 minutes.

There will be a final exam lasting three hours.

Homework will be assigned and worked in class the next meeting. You are expected to do this by yourself. The homework is solely for your benefit, and will help you with the quizzes.

The percentage grade for the course will be computed as follows:

c = (100q+80t1+80t2+180f)/440

where c is the course percentage grade, f is the percentage grade on the final exam, t1 is the percentage grade on the first test, and t2 is the percentage grade on the second test, and q is the sum of the highest 10 quizzes.