Preparing to Conduct Business Research: Part 3

Preparing to Conduct Business Research: Part 3
Nitasha Johnson
RES/351
August 14, 2012
Belinda Kennon, MBA

Preparing to Conduct Business Research: Part 3
Introduction
In the past five years, there have been reports of illegal toxic waste disposal in surrounding areas. The Red River has been subjected to this epidemic. Concerns about present evidence of harmful toxins such as benzene, toluene and xylene, in wastewater and sludge treated by the company, and serious irregularities in water testing and record keeping have been recorded by the EPA and DEQ. Research and investigation is needed to seek solution in the matter of how much human lives and health and communities have been effected because of the illegal disposal. The company is aware of all concerns of the matter and is dedicated to resolve the matter to prevent future incidents or any similar.
The scope and significance as well as magnitude of deciding whether the expose the company of its illegal and potentially harmful act ivies is to stop the act ivies, find solutions to do so, confirm whether or not the company has taken precaution possible to find other alternatives to illegal waste disposal before coming to its ultimate decision, determine the reason for the illegal waste disposal, and prevent future occurrences. The feasibility of finding a solution to the ethical dilemma has a positive outlook because the company shows genuine remorse despite the acts was initially intentional. The company has worked with the appropriate officials and departments within their sector to find plausible solutions to correct the effects of their illegal activities. The sampling method to be used in this research is the non-probability/purposive method because it has focuses on one main idea.

Research Problem
Team B has recently become aware of critical information concerning the illegal waste disposal at Schleidoscope Waste International. The dilemma that our team has is to remain impartial about the situation or expose this information and raise public awareness of the issue. If we remain silent, many lives will be affected and maybe even loss as a result whereas if we disclose the information we have been made aware of, we will be in jeopardy of losing our jobs. The measure of our personal ethics and morale will play a large role in our decision in this situation.
The research problem is primarily an ethical issue in that it is whether to expose the company’s dumping of illegal toxic waste or remain silent for the sake of personal reasons such as maintaining employment. Another problem that may be a result due to this research is the actual loss of employment. Team B has conducted this survey to find how serious the situation is to determine if it is absolutely necessary to make the matter a public controversy in the community.
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to measure and compare the outcome of potentially thousands of human lives and health and communities saved as a result of exposing the truth about the company’s illegal activities against job loss which may result in financial instability for our own families. The number of employees who may risk employed will not compare to the number of lives and communities saved along with the amount of air and land pollution prevented will not compare. The decision to expose the company’s illegal dumping of toxic waste will prove to be only beneficial for all parties. The company will avoid legal matters and possible imprisonment of acting parties if there are not initial intentions to illegally dispose of the toxic waste improperly and families will not lose loved ones.
Significance
The scope and significance as well as magnitude of deciding whether the expose the company of its illegal and potentially harmful act ivies is to stop the act ivies, find solutions to do so, confirm whether or not the company has taken precaution possible to find other alternatives to illegal waste disposal before coming to its ultimate decision, determine the reason for the illegal waste disposal, and prevent future occurrences.
Magnitude
The magnitude of this research is influenced by the location, direct effect on health and life, and perspective of the problem of the responding participants. These respondents will be able to deliver the most adequate responses for our survey. The problem has to be identified before it can be researched and studied. Understandably, the saving of lives and prevention of air and land pollution has a magnitude of its own, but when there is a current issue “at hand”, research and study will make it more easily to survey and conclude one main feasible hypothesis.
Feasibility
The feasibility of this research is has a positive outlook. It seems to be a variable and highly potential result that the main idea of research will have a proposed outcome. The variables considered will assume that one decision which is to expose truths about the problem is more beneficial to effected parties and the problem as whole. The main idea of the research is that our decision to expose the truth about the company’s illegal waste dumping will have more positive results than remaining silent even though the results of the alternate decision to remain silent will be discussed as well.
Research Question
How many lives and communities will be saved by exposing the truth about the company’s illegal waste disposal?
Hypothesis
The number of lives and communities saved will outweigh the number of jobs lost. The hypotheses in this case are dependent upon several variables. Measurement of the advantages and disadvantages of each variable will be compared and contrasted among each other. It is understood that there were no initial intentions to disobey regulation laws and dispose of the toxic wastes illegally which will be a positive factor in the conflict of emotions for participants. The survey will have the opportunity to be conducted without bias.

Variables
The research problem Team B has is a decision. Therefore, there are “what if” scenarios to consider. There is more than one independent and dependent variable to adhere to. Variables are among the most important factors in this research for outcome influence and prediction purposes. Exposing illegal waste disposal has its own hypotheses as does remaining silent. This Research will focus on the survey results for exposing.
Independent- Exposing illegal waste disposal Remaining Silent
Research Design: Communication Study

Review: Team B conducted a study of 1500 individuals, male and female all over the age of 21. The individuals are individuals whom reside in the Shreveport, Louisiana area. Team B found that individuals living in the Shreveport areas who were directly affected by the illegal waste disposal would have been less upset had the company admitted the mistake rather than hide it. What this study has not examined is the severity of the affect in each individual household.

Hypothesis: The number of lives and communities saved will outweigh the number of jobs lost when exposure of illegal toxic waste dumping is made public.

Additional question, will the discharge of storm water into the Red River affect surrounding residents?

Theory: This study suggests that the influence of greed and lack of ethics played a part in the illegal waste disposal scenario. One might argue that if there are significant amounts of unethical individuals in a work environment, rules are more likely to be broken.
One might also state that age plays a factor in these sorts of situations. Younger individuals have less life experience and thus are less certain of what to do is an unethical situation that he or she may feel pressure from an older colleague.

Model:

Unit of Analysis: Individuals living in the Shreveport area

N: 1500

Dependent Variable: Number of lives and communities saved How much air and land pollution prevented How many jobs will be lost? How many families will suffer financially?

Independent Variable: Exposing illegal waste disposal Remaining Silent

Data: The data will be collected by a telephone survey of 1500 individuals that live in the Shreveport area. Given the low cost of such a survey and the likelihood, that individuals will participate by answering non-embarrassing and general questions makes this study highly feasible. The data in the above model will then be analyzed using the stratified method.

Dependent- Number of lives and communities saved How much air and land pollution prevented How many jobs will be lost?
How many families will suffer financially *Note that victims’ families will suffer financially along with potential loss of lives and health affects
Sampling Method: Nonprobability/Purposive Sampling
Nonprobability sampling will work well for Team B survey because they are a random and general process in which each population element does not have a known nonzero chance of being included; no effort is made to create a statistically representative sample.

Practical Considerations:
Team B used nonprobability sampling during this survey because it is a practicable option. Using the nonprobability sampling method meets the sampling intentions. There is no desire or need to generalize to a population limitation; therefore little concern is given if the sample fully reflects the population.
Purposive Sampling:
Nonprobability sampling conforms to certain criteria which becomes purposive sampling. Team B decided to use the purposive sampling because we could reach out to participants by phone. Purposive sampling also has two major types it is judgment, and quota sampling which is what Team B selected for their survey.
Judgment Sampling
A judgment sample is appropriate when a biased group is selected such as Team B selected to use 1500 people over the age of 21. This sampling transpires when a researcher chooses sample members to match up to some decisive factors (Cooper, & Schindler, 2011).
Quota Sampling:
The quota sampling is another type of purposive sampling, it develops representativeness. The quota sampling is purposive sampling in which significant personalities are used to stratify the sample (Cooper, & Schindler, 2011).
Overall Data Analysis Approach
The approach for data analysis is the procedure of cutting and decreasing collected data to a controllable size, developing outlines, looking for examples, and applying statistical methods.
Result Reporting: This result reporting section will include the significance of the result reporting, which will highlight the results obtained from individuals who live or frequent the area of Schledoscope Waste International. The results will be obtained by conducting a survey by phone to individuals over the age of 21. The survey attempts to receive input from 1500 individuals, their status consist of married couples, divorced, widowed and single adults age 21 and beyond. The survey is conducted to receive input of one’s knowledge and personal feelings toward the act of illegal toxic waste dumping. The result reporting will explain the final result and give insight to the problem and individual feelings concerning the waste problem. The intended goal for survey results consist 1500, however a total of 1347 responses are rendered. The responses are obtained from 200 married couples, 803 single people, 300 whom are divorced in addition to 44 widowers The survey results are as follows: Results from Telephone Survey Poll
Illegal Toxic Waste Disposal – Did you know?

Number surveyed: 1500

Number of responses: 1347

Household status:

Married 200 (couples)
Single 803
Divorced 300
Widowed 44

Survey Questions:

Did you know that illegal dumping is an offense that could carry fines of up to $10,000 and jail time?

Yes 1100
No 30
Somewhat aware 217

Was anyone in your household directly affected by the illegal toxic waste disposal?

Yes 2
No 1330
Decline to answer 15

Do you feel greed influences unethical decisions such as the illegal disposal of toxic waste?

Yes 1225
No 20
Maybe 101
Decline to answer 1

Would you have been less upset if the company would have admitted to their mistakes instead of denying them?

Yes 1300
No 40
Unsure 7

Ethical Considerations: The ethical consideration in this situation involves innocent people as well as loyalty. The question lies weather one should be loyal to an employer, or should they have good morals and protect the lives of innocent people as well as save the community from harm that can be done if illegal toxins are disposed of in the surrounding area of Shreveport La. Other ethical considerations that need to be taken into place are the case perspective of those who are affected, but are unable to voice their opinion such as youth and the elderly.
Statistical Tests

References
References
Lipowski, E. E. (2008). Developing great research questions. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 65(17), 1667-1670. doi:10.2146/ajhp070276
Gesheva, M., & Radenkova-Saeva,J. (2010). Chapter 21:Unfavovourable effects of dioxins on environment and human health. Journal of medical, chemical, biological, and radiological defense, 8166-173.
Cooper, D. & Schindler, P. (2011). Business Research Methods (11th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.