Texas A&M University-Texarkana MKT 436
Marketing Research
http://www.tamut.edu/~bowen/

Fall 2010

• CONTACT INFO • MEETING TIME & PLACE • TEXTBOOK • COURSE INFO • COURSE OBJECTIVES • SCHEDULE • TERM PROJECTS • ATTENDANCE • EVALUATION METHODS • GRADING SYSTEM • ACADEMIC HONESTY • ACCOMMODATIONS •  
ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  1. FACULTY :

    Instructor : Dr. Robert S. Owen
    Office : 215 Academic Building
    Office phone : (903) 223-3010
    Department phone : (903) 223-3020 (Sue Hughes)
    Fax : (903) 223-3121
    Email : robert(dot)owen(at)tamut(dot)edu
    Web site : www.tamut.edu/~bowen/
    Office Hours : TW 1:00 - 5:00, R 3:00 - 5:00
    check twitter.com/robertowenphd for availability

  2. COURSE :

    1. Meeting Time and Place :
      Wednesday, 6:00-8:45, UC 232

    2. Course Material :
      Textbook : Hair, Wolfingarger, Ortinau, & Bush (2010), Essentials of Marketing Research, Second Edition, ISBN 9780073404820.  McGraw-Hill.
      Other   
      Materials :       		Access to the World Wide Web is required.

    3. Catalog Description :
      "Techniques of marketing research, research design, analysis and interpretation of marketing data, questionnaire building, and sampling methods.  Emphasis given to selected applications of marketing research.  Prequisite: MKT 363."

    4. Course Objectives :
      Throughout this course, students should be able to demonstrate:
      • knowledge of basic marketing research principles and theory
      • the ability to design marketing research projects
      • the ability to analyze marketing data
      • the ability to write/present various types of marketing research reports
      • the ability to work independently
      • the ability to work as a member of a team

    5. Major Topics :
      These are approximate dates. 

      Week 1
      1 SEP
      • Introduction to class and course
      • Introduction to marketing research
      • Competitive intelligence

       
      Week 2
      8 SEP

       
      Week 3
      15 SEP

       
      Week 4
      22 SEP
      • Survey and research scaling

       
      Week 5
      29 SEP
      • Qualitative and observational research
      • Individual depth interviews and focus group research
      • Synchronous and asynchronous online research

       
      Week 6
      6 OCT

       
      Week 7
      13 OCT
      • QUIZ 1
      • Project design
        • Assignments:
          • Read Ch. 11, 12

       
      Week 8
      20 OCT

       
      Week 9
      27 OCT

       
      Week 10
      3 NOV
      • ketchup; finish usability study

       
      Week 11
      10 NOV
      • Finding grants, finding clients, proposal writing, and report writing
        • Assignments:
          • Read Ch. 13

       
      Week 12
      17 NOV

       
      Week 13
      24 NOV
      • Quantitative methods
        • YES, WE HAVE CLASS: Thanksgiving break starts on Thursday

       
      Week 14
      1 DEC

       
      Week 15
      8 DEC
      • PRESENTATION TO CLASS CLIENT

       

    6. Course Projects :
      Students will work as individuals on in-class exams.  Students will work in teams to write a marketing research proposal for a class client.  Students will work as individuals in writing all other projects, but it is expected that students will work collaboratively in developing each project.  For example, the qualitative spreadsheet analysis will require individual work in doing the analysis and writing the report, but the project will be needlessly time consuming if students do not share in the task of developing the grid (spreadsheet) that is used in organizing the raw data.  Note that the final written work that you submit for individual projects must be your own work; written work that appears to be essentially the same as that of another student will be returned with a score of zero for both students.

    7. Attendance :
      The ability to conduct each the projects requires class participation on the day that the topic is discussed.  Private tutoring will not be given for students who miss a class; students will be dropped for excessive absence.  Weekly assignments that are not submitted in class on the day due cannot be accepted later without a very, very good excuse.

    8. Evaluation Methods :
      Students will be evaluated on both individual and team projects and on two brief exams.

    9. Grading System :
      Final grades will be based on the following totals in points:

       A=540-600 points
       B=480-539
       C=420-479
       D=360-419
       E=000-359
      Where:
       120=Quizzes (2)
        30=secondary data study
        30=recruiting screener
        30=survey proposal
        30=IDI/focus group topic guide
        60=qualitative analysis
        30=project management proposal
        60=usability study
        30=quantitative analysis
        90=written client research proposal
        90=client presentation (with written proposal)
       600 TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE

    10. University Academic Honesty Statement :
      "Academic honesty is expected of students enrolled in this course.  Cheating on examinations, unauthorized collaboration, falsification of research data, plagiarism, and copying or undocumented use of materials from any source constitute academic dishonesty and may be grounds for a grade of 'F' in the course and/or disciplinary action.  For additional information see the university rules."

    11. University Accommodations Statement :
      "Students with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations through the A&M-Texarkana Disability Services Office by calling 903-223-3062."

    12. Program Goals :
      "At the completion of the BBA program, a BBA degree recipient should have the following skills and competencies:

      • Goal 1: Our graduates will be competent in the broad business disciplines that underlie the BBA degree.

      • Goal 2: Our graduates will be competent in the discipline of their chosen major or concentration.

      • Goal 3: Our graduates will demonstrate critical thinking skills.

      • Goal 4: Our graduates will be able to communicate effectively in writing and in front of a group.

      • Goal 5: Our graduates will be competent in the use of analytical tools via business software tools.

      • Goal 6: Our graduates will be able to properly integrate business disciplines in developing holistic, multi-functional solutions.

      • Goal 7: Our graduates will be able to correctly analyze financial statements."

    13. "Upon application to Texas A&M University-Texarkana an individual will be assigned an A&M-Texarkana email account.  This email account will be used to deliver official university correspondence.  Each individual is responsible for information sent and received via the university email account and is expected to check the official A&M-Texarkana email account on a frequent and consistent basis.  Faculty and students are required to utilize the university email account when communicating about coursework."