Words are powerful information sources for sound business decisions. As a business leader, you talk to others when you have a question or need to solve a business problem. They provide a richness of information that numbers alone cannot.

How can you effectively harness the power of words when you have a need to know something? Learn how to use qualitative methods (information in words) to make the best possible business decisions in our course.

One month online course, Mary Dereshwisky, COI, instructor.

The Business Research Certificate is $495 which includes: Introduction to Business Research, Business Statistics, and Qualitative Business Research.  Only available as a certificate.

 

 outlineCourse Outline

 

Unit 1
How Can Qualitative Information (in Words) Help You Make Better Business Decisions?
What are some ways we can collect business information (qualitative data) in words?
How do business decision makers use qualitative data?
How to be a good consumer of qualitative data

Unit 2
Individual Interviews in a Business Context
How do business leaders use individual interview results?
Let’s practice planning and conducting an individual interview
Let’s practice writing up the individual interview results
Let’s discuss what these results mean for business decision making

Unit 3
Focus Group Interviews in a Business Context
How do business leaders use focus group results?
Let’s practice planning and conducting a focus group interview
Let’s practice writing up the focus group interview results
Let’s discuss what these results mean for business decision making

Unit 4
Open-Ended Surveys in a Business Context
How do business leaders use open-ended surveys?
Let’s practice planning and conducting an open-ended survey
Let’s practice writing up the open-ended survey results
Let’s discuss what these results mean for business decision making 

Question MarkAbout online learning

Online learning is a fun, enjoyable and very productive way to learn. Millions of people are learning online each year. You will engage with the instructor and other participants. You will get to know your instructor and other participants. You may make friends.  It’s easy. It’s fun. 

GearsHow the Course Works

It is easy to participate in your online course. After you register, you will be given a web address to go to get into your online classroom.  You will have a password and use your email address and password to gain access.

Once inside the online classroom, here’s what you can expect.

CalendarParticipate when you want

Participants can participate as little or as much as you want.
You can participate any time of day or evening. The online classroom is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are no live real-time requirements or meetings. You decide when you participate.
For the best learning, participants should log into the course on 2-3 different days of the week.

ChecklistWhat you will do

For each Unit, you will:

  • Read the print readings (about 20 pages a week)
  • Have the option of accessing the online readings
  • Listen to the audio presentation for the Unit and view the slides
  • Have the option of taking a self-quiz to see how much you have learned
  • Engage in written online discussion with your instructor and other participants

For best learning, you should make one or more comments at 2-3 different times each week.
The content (readings, audio lectures, slides) and self quizzes are accessible for the entire course, so you can work ahead, or go back and review again, at your convenience.

DiscussionDiscussion

The Discussion for each Unit lasts one week. All comments are made in writing and can be made at any time of the day or night.

Your instructor will log into the Discussion area at least once a day and answer questions, make comments, and respond to comments by you and the other participants.

We encourage you to make 2-3 comments each week to maximize your learning and enjoyment of the course.

It’s easy. It’s fun.

Next offering(s):

Business Statistics
July 2 - 27
October 1 - 26

Introduction to Business Research
June 4 - 29
September 4 - 28

Qualitative Business Research
August 6 - 31
November 5 - 30

The Business Research Certificate is $495 which includes: Introduction to Business Research, Business Statistics, and Qualitative Business Research.  Only available as a certificate.


About Your Instructor

Mary I. Dereshiwsky, Ph.D., COI, is a Professor of Educational Leadership and Research at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. She also serves as Chair of the Faculty Club for the Learning Resources Network (LERN).  In addition, she serves as online instructional evaluator for LERN’s Certified Online Instructor (COI) candidates.

Mary has been developing and teaching online courses in research methods and statistics since 1994. She holds a doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She is the author of two chapters in the recently published book Technology Leadership for School Improvement edited by Dr. Rosemary Papa. Her two chapters deal with design of creative online learning spaces and how to evaluate online instructors. Her other research and publication interests include understanding student perceptions of the online classroom and preparing students to succeed in online courses.

Directional ArrowsCourse Objectives

  • To provide business leaders with an understanding of how qualitative information provides benefits that numbers alone cannot.
  • To provide business leaders with effective strategies for conducting interviews.
  • To provide business leaders with practice in interpreting interview results.
  • To provide business leaders with practice in doing surveys that have open-ended questions.
  • To provide business leaders with practice in summarizing open-ended survey results to address real-world business decisions.

Puzzle PiecesCourse Outcomes

At the end of the course, you will:

  • Understand how words give us helpful decision-making information that numbers alone cannot.
  • Understand how to plan individual and focus group interviews for business decision-making.
  • Understand how to interpret the results of such interviews to help answer a business question or make a decision.
  • Understand how to create surveys that have open-ended questions for business decision-making.
  • Understand how to interpret the results of such open-ended surveys to help answer a business question or make a decision.
Completion Requirements