Discover the specific knowledge needed to succeed in researching and utilizing the best and most appropriate data for decision making for your work organization.  Get the skills needed to effectively communicate research results to a specific audience for maximum impact and effective decision making.  

For business professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone who needs specific information about a business; or who is in business and needs specific information about a particular topic such as market potential, competitive intelligence, standard industry practice, productivity improvement, etc.  This course will give you the specific knowledge you need to succeed in your research quest.  

Cathy Proffitt Boys, and Mary Dereshiwsky, COI, instructors. Three one month courses. Certificate available for successful completion. $495 total for all 3 courses (only available as a certificate).

Individual Courses

Introduction to Business Research

Business Research will provide the specific knowledge needed to succeed in researching and utilizing the best and most appropriate data for decision making.  It will also provide the skills needed to effectively communicate research results to a specific audience for maximum impact and effective decision making.  The course is broad based and provides a strong foundation for meeting business research needs.  More advanced courses will be available after completion of this foundation course. 

Online, one month; Cathy Proffitt Boys, COI, instructor.

Business Statistics

Numbers are vitally important to all types of business decision-making. From budget projections to inventory tracking, business leaders rely on numbers to help them make sound business decisions.

How can you make these numbers meaningful to you in your day-to-day planning and decision-making? Learn how to apply and interpret numbers in real-world business ideas in our business statistics course.

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


Qualitative Business Research

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.
 

ChecklistWhat You do:

  1. In the online classroom, listen to audio lectures, view slides, even take an optional quiz to test yourself.
  2. Then post comments in the online discussion with your fellow participants and the instructor.  Your instructor logs on once a day to answer questions and join in on the discussion.
  3. You also get a text to read 20 pages a week.
  4. Participate any time of day or night. The ideal is to go online 2-3 times a week, but you decide.

It’s easy! It’s fun.

Mac MiniTechnical requirements:
-Internet access with Internet Explorer; Firefox Mozilla; or Safari web browser.
-Audio software such as Windows Media, Real, or Flash.
-Speakers to listen to audio.

Next offering(s):

Business Statistics
March 5 - 30
May 7 - June 1
July 2 - 27

Introduction to Business Research
February 6 - March 2
April 2 - 27
June 4 - 29

Qualitative Business Research
April 2 - 27
August 6 - 31

Add Certificate To Cart

$495 total for all 3 courses (only available as a certificate).

About Your Instructors

Kathy Profitt Boys

Cathy Proffitt Boys has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, a Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Computer Information Systems. Professionally, she has worked as the training coordinator, quality assurance manager, and plant manager at Dairy Farmers of America, a major dairy cooperative and is currently assistant professor agriculture and entrepreneurship at Missouri State University-West Plains. Awards received include the Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, Who is Who Among American Teachers, and the Business & Professional Women Young Careerist of the Year. Her academic and professional interests include small business, entrepreneurship, and alternative agriculture.

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.
 

Completion Requirements