SOME ARGUMENTS FOR INTEGRATION OF QUALITATIVE METHODS INTO BUSINESS STATISTICS COURSES

The processes which facilitate informed decision-making in business contexts have been gaining in importance in many areas such as business, healthcare, education and government. Consequently, quantitative methods which form the basis of curricula for typical courses on business statistics are finding recognition in the wider business community. In contrast, qualitative methods, although used by management researchers and applied statisticians alike to solve specific research problems, suffer the unjustified exclusion. This paper outlines some of the core assumptions of qualitative research methods and provides three examples illustrating selected types of qualitative methods that are useful in the business context. We argue for the introduction of a balanced mixed method approach early in the process of studying business statistics, as a preferred basis for developing business students’ ability to respond to diverse types of real-life managerial challenges.

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