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Oral Presentations Honors Thesis Outline Honors Proposal Format Resource Center Past CBA Honors Theses

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."
[Henry David Thoreau]

"...knowledge is not a mere extrinsic or accidental advantage, which is ours today and another's tomorrow, which may be got up from a book, and easily forgotten again, which we can command or communicate at our pleasure, which we can borrow for the occasion, carry about in our hand, and take into the market; it is an acquired illumination, it is a habit, a personal possession, and an inward endowment."
[John Henry Cardinal Newman]

Classroom, Meeting Times, and Office Hours

CBA 230 [Wednesdays, 4:00-6:45pm]
Office: CBA 348 [Office Hours are after class, and by appointment]

Course Description and Objectives

This course is conducted as a seminar: i.e., it is a mixture of lecture/discussion, faculty/professional visits, and case studies, with a heavy emphasis on outside readings from academic/professional journals, business/professional publications, and other respected sources (depending on the expertise of specific participatory faculty/business professionals and student interests). Most seminar activities are focused around the Honors Thesis (as are subsequent honors seminars, CBA 499). Thus, a key objective is to 'set the stage' for this challenging project by providing all students with the tools required to develop and complete a successful Honors Thesis experience.

The previous (prerequisite) seminar (CBA 397) resembled an advanced course in “Research Methods” covering basic topics such as (1) what is research, (2) literature reviews and secondary data, (3) sampling and research design, (4) qualitative and quantitative research, (5) hypotheses, independent and dependent variables, (6) ethical issues, etc. This course explores data analysis in greater detail, utilizing sophisticated statistical software such as SPSS (after understanding the underlying foundations of such statistical analyses). In addition, a variety of course methods are used to present, illustrate, and investigate important business issues (e.g., guest speaker visits, student presentations, student-directed discussions, in-class debates). Discussion also examines future career plans, including applying for graduate school.

Like all of the CBA Honors Program (CBAHP) seminars, CBA 497 is designed as a non-disciplinary course: i.e., one that is not tied to one area, but one which has broad application/appeal across all business functions. It is suggested that students perform the majority of the data collection and data analysis for their Honors Thesis during this semester. Each student submits the first two chapters of their Honors Project (i.e., Introduction/Literature Review and Methodology) at the end of this (Fall) semester.

A major component in this (and all) CBAHP seminars is visits by faculty and business professionals. The goal is to expose you to concepts and issues not covered in other CBA courses/programs. Emphasis is placed on current business topics, and theoretical/empirical writings in the literature. Participating faculty/business executives submit a “Readings List” to the instructor for distribution to those enrolled in the class. Students are expected to critically review these materials prior to the relevant class in order that they can make a valuable contribution to class discussion.

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Course Materials

Required [and 'Optional'] Textbooks:*

• David, Matthew and Carole D. Sutton (2004), Social Science Research: The Basics, Sage Publications.^R
• Patten, Mildred L. (2007), Understanding Research Methods, 6th edition, Pyrczak Publishing.
• Salkind, Neil J. (2007), Statistics for People Who (Think They) Hate Statistics, 3rd edition, Sage Publications (ISBN # 9781412951500). [Recommended for those with weak statistical skills, but not "required".]
• Trochim, William M. K. and James P. Donnelly (2006), The Research Methods Knowledge Base, 3rd Edition, Atomic Dog Publishing.^R

[* Many of these materials are used in other honors seminars. Thus, all portions of each text will not be assigned this term. Required textbooks are noted with an R superscript.]

Click here to the web site for the primary textbook (Sage Publications). More information on the texts printed by Pyrczak Publishing can be found on their web site.

Additional/Supplemental Required Readings: Reading lists are distributed prior to each visit by a faculty/business professional (i.e., they relate to the content to be presented by the visiting scholar or business executive). Students are expected to read and critically review such materials prior to class in order that they may make a valuable contribution to class discussion.

Optional/Supplemental Materials: Students, especially those interested in graduate studies or more sophisticated statistical analyses/techniques, may also refer to:

• Balnaves, Mark and Peter Caputi (2001), Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods: An Investigative Approach, Sage Publications.
• Galvan, Jose L. (2004), Writing Literature Reviews, 2nd edition, Pryczak Publishing.
• Hair, Joseph F., Jr., Rolph E. Anderson, Ronald L. Tatham, and William C. Black (1998), Multivariate Data Analysis, fifth edition, Prentice Hall.
• Holcomb, Zealure C. (2004), Interpreting Basic Statistics, 4th edition, Pyrczak Publishing.
• Levin, Irwin P. (1999), Relating Statistics and Experimental Design: An Introduction, Sage Publications.
• Lomand, Turner C. (2002), Social Science Research, 3rd edition, Pyrczak Publishing.
• Pyrczak, Fred and Randall R. Bruce (2003), Writing Empirical Research Reports, 4th edition, Pryczak Publishing.
• Statistical software manuals are available from the bookstore and publishers: SPSS.

Supplemental readings (most in PDF format) are available on the Web (see links in the 'Course Schedule' below). More recent readings may be assigned as the term progresses -- these are announced and/or distributed via e-mail. Any assigned readings are required and will serve as exam material. All students are required to have an e-mail account and access to the Internet. Please check your e-mail inbox regularly for course updates/announcements (e.g., additional readings, assignments, changes in the schedule, etc.).

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Attendance and Participation

Everyone is expected to attend class regularly (including all guest speaker and class presentations). Other commitments such as class schedule conflicts and work are not acceptable excuses for missing class. Failure to attend class and participate will be reflected in your (1) assignment evaluations, (2) class participation score, and (3) final letter grade. If you must miss a session, please get class notes, announcements, etc. from a classmate. You are also expected to read the daily assignments PRIOR to class! Your motivation and discipline will help make the class an enjoyable experience.

Anyone who misses a class is responsible for what transpired that day. It is your responsibility to contact a classmate and to log on to this Web site to determine what you missed. Please do NOT contact me via phone or e-mail about missed classes.

Please display proper conduct in class. Plan to arrive to class on time and to stay for the entire class period (or until dismissed) because random arrivals and exits distract the class and show a lack of respect for guests, the instructor, and other classmates.

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Course Evaluation

Grades will be based on the following factors:*

Individual Presentation/Discussion	30%
Written Assignments and Honors Project Proposal [Chapters 1 & 2]	50%
In-class Exercises, Participation, and Attendance	20%
[*NOTE: These percentages may change, depending on class motivation and performance. An exam is 'under consideration'.]

Your final course grade reflects your accomplishments — i.e., grades are not curved. Assume a traditional grading policy (i.e., 'A' = 90%+, 'B' = 80-89.9%, 'C' = 70-79.9%, etc.)

To earn points for "class participation," you must attend class and make an active and valuable contribution to class discussion. Mere attendance is not sufficient. This is an 'Honors Seminar' and will be conducted as such.

The primary requirement is that each student submit a formal 'Honors Thesis Proposal' by the end of the semester. Guidelines are summarized below and in supplemental materials. A secondary assignment is an individual presentation (or other acceptable format) by each student on a 'special' topic.

NOTE: All written assignments must be well organized, using an interesting writing style that is grammatically correct (regardless of what your native language is). Expect a severe grade reduction for poor grammar.

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Assignments

Guest Speaker Projects

Each guest speaker is coming to impart their expertise and to also get you involved in solving an actual case problem. Thus, PRIOR to each visit, you will be asked to read relevant materials and perhaps to prepare a 'solution'. Your preparedness is essential to the success of this seminar and will be 'graded'.

Individual Presentation/Class Discussion

Each student selects a topic that interests them that is not typically addressed in academic business programs. This must be a topic that has been covered conceptually and empirically in the academic literature. Presenters identify 1-2 articles as the primary focus of their discussion. All students will read these articles and be prepared to critically discuss (debate) them in class. It is the role of the presenter to make a formal presentation of the topic, but also to get their classmates INVOLVED! Bottom line, you should do as guest speakers have done: provide background information and lead a class discussion focusing on assigned readings. Be creative here and have some fun! [Topics must be approved by the instructor.]

Students may consider alternative types of presentations/discussion topics (with the approval of the instructor). For example, one may conduct a thorough analysis of an industry that includes (1) a historical analysis of critical events, financial data, relevant governmental acts/regulation, etc., (2) profiles of the major players in the industry, (3) empirical comparisons of the major and minor competitors (e.g., using the Bloomberg data bases), and (4) forecasts for industry performance, future trends, etc., etc., etc.

Academic Journal Article Reviews/Critiques

It is vitally important that you become familiar with some of the important academic journal publications. Thus, for all assigned readings from academic journals, students must critically evaluate them. More specifically, ask yourself the following when reading such research endeavors:

1. What is the main purpose of the research -- its value to science, etc.?
2. Are the objectives clear and important?
3. Did the authors accomplish their objectives?
4. Critique the research design.
5. If hypothesis testing was performed, was it accurate? [Evaluate analyses, manipulations, dependent measures, etc. as appropriate.]
6. Were all conclusions accurate, i.e., supported by the data? Did authors neglect plausible alternative explanations?

It is vitally must be prepared to address these questions in class when specific articles are discussed. You are evaluated on the basis of the quality of your comments and your overall insight.

Honors Project Proposal and Status Reports

The major requirement of the Honors Program is completion of the Honors Thesis which must meet strict University guidelines. This seminar focuses on the first stages of that project, i.e., the 'Honors Project Proposal' and completion of Chapters 1 and 2. Basic guidelines are summarized below and in supplemental materials. Topics must be approved by the instructor (and/or CBAHP Director), but may be primarily supervised by other CBA faculty. [Students must secure commitment from a CBA [tenured or tenure-track] faculty member to remain in the program.]

At the end of the semester, each student presents their proposal and initial research (e.g., 'Situation Analysis') and findings to the class. Individual proposal grades are assigned based on the written effort (most important), as well as the presentation performance. 

There are two Honors Project 'Status Reports' due this semester. Students merely need to summarize their progress [to date] in a one-page single-spaced memo. Additional details (e.g., data collection instruments, stimulus materials, etc.) can be submitted for review at this time - or as appropriate. HAVE FUN with this!

Basic Format of the Honors Project Proposal*

1. Introduction (why is this important and how will it benefit the discipline and/or practitioners?), including a clear statement of the objectives. "Set up" the paper for the reader as you also attempt to attract the audience's attention and interest.
2. The "body" of the paper must include a Critical Review of the Relevant Literature based on a THOROUGH search of the available resources. The various secondary sources should be discussed and interrelated in a coherent, well-organized fashion (i.e., do NOT merely list or summarize each article in a "bibliographic" format).
   1. Take care to "connect" the various subsections of the paper, using headings/subheadings as appropriate.
   2. If appropriate, include business examples to illustrate key points.
3. Conclusions & Summary -- give closure to your paper (do not merely stop). End on a high note.
4. Complete list of references [follow the reference style inThe Chicago Manual of Style (e.g., Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing)]. Do not use footnotes except in rare instances to explain something you do not want in the main body of the paper.
5. Tables and/or Appendices (if appropriate). Be sure to reference each table and/or appendix in the body of the paper and provide sufficient interpretation of the content: i.e., do not ask or expect the reader to do the "work."
6. Revise, revise, revise, revise. For more guidelines as to what that entails, click here.
   * When in doubt about format, style, content, etc., please ask me. Better safe than sorry.
   [Please review the comments below.]

Additional Preparation Guidelines for the Written Manscript

1. Be sure to include sufficient material based on individual thought (i.e., do not merely regurgitate what you have found in library sources). I expect a THOROUGH analysis of all available sources of information. Do NOT limit yourself to one medium (e.g., the Internet) or to some preset number of resources. Keep searching for data until you exhaust all possibilities and all new sources replicate those you already have..
2. Computer-generated, double-spaced, 11-12 point proportional font, number pages, print on heavy-duty paper (letter quality print). If you bind your paper, use spiral binding.
3. Proofread -- check that your spelling, grammar, and punctuation are correct!!! The paper should read like one person wrote it.
4. Give complete references (as per The Chicago Manual of Style. Follow the guidelines in the Style Sheet for the Journal of Consumer Research.
5. Use headings as appropriate. [See #6 for more on the use of headings.]
6. Pay strict attention to organization. Headings are useful in that regard, but be certain to provide effective transitions between sections (i.e., do not rely on headings alone to accomplish this).
7. Be sure that you verbally interpret information presented in tables. Do not merely refer readers to a table, expecting them to do all the interpretation and to draw all conclusions.
8. Keep a copy for yourselves -- give me the original.
9. Sign the title page.

NOTE: All written assignments must be well-organized using an interesting writing style that is grammatically correct (regardless of what your native language is). Expect a severe grade reduction for poor grammar — I am very serious about this!

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General Policies

• NO late assignments will be accepted.
• NO make-up exams will be given.
• NO incompletes or late drops will be given in this course (as per CBA policy).

The only possibility of an exception will be for a documented illness or documented family emergency. A visit to the student health center or a doctor's appointment is NOT an acceptable excuse for missing class or for delinquent assignments. And, I must be informed of a problem prior to the assignment deadline (i.e., not the day an assignment is due or a test is scheduled). If you anticipate getting sick or having some other debilitating experience (e.g., typing and/or printing problems), I suggest that you start assignments and projects well ahead of the due date.

You are expected to do original work for all assignments, including exams. Students are responsible for their own conduct and all cases of dishonesty will be reported to the proper university officials. Please avoid an embarrassing or unfortunate situation.

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Furloughs: What They Mean to Students

Due to extreme budget cuts, all 23 CSU campuses have cut admissions, classes, and faculty positions. In addition, class enrollments have been increased, thus increasing student/teacher ratios. As mandated by the legislature and administration, class sessions will be canceled on certain days this semester because of budget cuts.

A canceled class does not mean that you get a vacation — it means that CSULB does not have enough money in its budget to offer the services required to give you a high-quality education. You still need to know the material for exams, must complete all assignments, and performance expectations remain unchanged, but there will be less explanation and less class time. Faculty may be less available, Department offices will be closed on a regular basis, the library will have shorter hours, and many campus support services are decreased. The primary consequence of this situation is that all honors students must find a full-time tenured/teneure track faculty member willing to supervise their thesis (with my approval). Before you approach anyone regarding this task, please get my approval! I regret the situation, but it is beyond my control. Please note that the days when I am forced to cancel class because of budget cuts are indicated on the schedule below.

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Course Schedule (or what is happening when)

The tentative (to be revised before classes begin) course outline below indicates the approximate dates when selected topics will be discussed. Note that students are expected to complete the reading assignments prior to coming to class on dates indicated below. This will assist in note taking and will result in more insightful class discussion.

If additional readings are assigned and/or if changes in the schedule are necessary (e.g., to accommodate guest speakers), students are held responsible for such changes as announced in class and on the Internet. Guest speaker engagements will be added and some may change, thus students are expected to check the schedule below and their e-mail inbox for the latest class announcements. [Internet access and an e-mail account are required of all students.] 

Course Schedule (Fall 2009)
Date	Topic(s)	Assignment*
September 2	Introduction and Overview Experimental Design: Final Comments Presentations: Ahmed Buholaiqah (CBAHP), Eyad Aljubran (CBAHP)	Syllabus; Decide on in-class debate topic. Read Employment Branding and Expatriate Assignments.
September 8	Furlough Day/Campus Closed	No classes
September 9	An Introduction to Statistics & SPSS Thesis Status Presentations Presentation: Dr. Jonathan Lee [Class meets in CBA 237A.]	Read documents distributed in CBA397 by Dr. Lee Ch. 12 (T); Pp. 255-291, 295-308, 311-315 (D); Chs. 1-4 (S); Sections 6-13 (FP); Topics 43-46 (P). Download Internet & Advertising Patients Survey (1) Data File, (2) Study Description, (3) Codebook, and (4) Related Literature.
September 16	SPSS: An Introduction & More Crosstabulation and Chi-Square Analysis [Class meets in CBA 230.] Presentations: Ian Beavis [Nielsen Media], Parker Chaffee [CBAHP]	Ch. 24 (D); Appendix A & Chs. 7-11 (S); Sections 19-20 (FP); Chs. 12-3e & 14.1 (T); Topics 47-48 (P). Read Playing to Win. Nielsen Media [get informed about Nielsen] Print Data Analysis with SPSS & Statistical Tables Bring a flash disk to save data and output files
September 21	Furlough Day	No work for Dr. Homer
September 23	In-Class Debate: Legalization of Marijuana More on statistics and hypothesis testing. [Class meets in CBA 237A.]	Bring to class: Statistical Tables, Data Analysis with SPSS, and calculator. Introduction to SPSS
September 30	Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) T Test	Pp. 316-319 (D); Section 23 (FP); Ch. 14 (S); Topics 55-56 (P). Data Analysis with SPSS
October 7	More on Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) [Class meets in CBA 240]	Topics 55-56 (P); Ch. 12 (S); Sections 21-22 (FP). Download SPSS files: DVDplayer and On-line Auction.
October 9	Furlough Day/Campus Closed	No classes
October 14	The General Linear Model [Class meets in CBA 240.]	Ch. 14-2 & 14-3 (T). Download Statistical Tables and Transformation of r to Z Table. Download SPSS files: DVDplayer and On-line Auction.
October 21	In Class Debate: Welfare Reform Presentation: Cynthia Bui [CBAHP]
October 28	More Data Analysis Speaker: Dr. Peter Ammermann [Finance Department]	Ch. 12-3d (T). Download Statistical Tables and Transformation of r to Z Table. Download Diversity data.
October 29	Furlough Day	No work for Dr. Homer
November 2	Furlough Day/Campus Closed	No classes
November 4	Thesis Conferences**	CBA 348
November 11	Campus Holiday	No classes
November 12/13	Furlough Days	No work for Dr. Homer
November 18	More on Data Analysis Speaker: Dr. Vicki Scherwin [Management & HRM Department]	Ch. 11 (T); Ch. 15 (S); Chs. 5, 6, & 13 (S); Section 14 & Appendix B (FP). Scan Meta-Analysis and Leadership articles. Data Analysis with SPSS
November 25	Campus Holiday/Furlough Day
December 2	Short talk from Dr. Risto Moisio Exam prep session	Class meets in 237A. [Bring all related handouts to class.]
December 7	Furlough Day	No work for Dr. Homer
December 9	Exam	CBA 237A
December 18	Furlough Day	No work for Dr. Homer
[* 'D' refers to the David et al. text, 'FP' to the F. Pyrczak text, 'P' to the M. Patten text, 'S' to the N. Salkind text, and 'T' to the W. Trochim text. If you prefer, you may use alternative sources to read about the various statistical analysis techniques (i.e., other than the course textbooks). Most of the on-line readings are in PDF format and require Acrobat Reader 5 (or higher).]
[** NOTE: Part of one scheduled class session is for mandatory 'Thesis Conferences.' On that evening, each student will meet with me for a specified time. These meetings are obviously private and confidential. If there is class time remaining, you are expected to use it productively (i.e., working on your project proposal or other course assignments).]