Course Description

Rationale

Many successful firms learn and grow profitably through successful marketing research efforts. Marketing research efforts are geared toward obtaining consumer/customer insights that help guide firms toward new product development, additional or improved product features/benefits, and entry or expansion into new market segments. Therefore, MBA students must have a thorough understanding and competency in marketing research’s framework, quantitative data analysis techniques that transform data into important marketing information, and the management and direction of those efforts. For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Measurable Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Justify a marketing research project in relation to measurable business goals.
2. Use qualitative marketing research techniques in order to define superior customer surplus.
3. Creatively apply quantitative marketing research modeling techniques in developing products and services that outperform the competition.
4. Apply the proper application of SPSS, a statistical analysis tool.
5. Effectively communicate using the practical knowledge and language of marketing research.
6. Make business choices based on the wealth-creating potential of a specified marketing research project.
7. Evaluate all aspects of a proposed marketing research project from a Christian worldview perspective and ensure that all choices are ultimately honoring to Christ through our witness to the world.

Course Assignment Summary

Textbook readings and presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (2)

• The student will complete 2 Discussions consisting of a thread and 1 reply to another classmate’s thread.
• The thread must be at least 500 words with a minimum of 3 citations from academic journals and 2 biblical references in the current APA format.
• The reply must be at least 350 words.
• The instructor is looking for substantial, thoughtful, and critical discussions.

Integration of Faith and Learning (IFL) Assignment

The student will be asked how he/she will integrate his/her faith, coupled with marketing research, within a business world context. The student will write an essay of at least 500 words. The essay must contain at least 2 biblical references, be consistent with current APA guidelines, and be submitted through SafeAssign.

Qualitative Assignments (4)

The student will analyze and respond to 4 Qualitative Assignments. The assignments are based on the marketing research theory found in the textbook readings. Each of these assignments must be written at the graduate level and contain the requested amount of rigor and insights. These qualitative marketing research assignments are designed to broaden the student’s knowledge about providing superior customer value.

SPSS Quantitative Assignments (7)

The student will use SPSS, a statistical analysis software tool, to complete 7 Quantitative Assignments. The data sets will be provided. Using SPSS, the student will run the appropriate statistical procedures and report the results. These quantitative marketing research assignments are designed to broaden the student’s knowledge about providing superior customer value.