Title: Introduction to Business Research at the Marshall School of Business
1Introduction to Business Research at the
Marshall School of Business
- Julie Kwan, Crocker Business Library
- FIM Technology Orientation
- January 24, 2001
2MarVEL is Marshalls Virtual Electronic Library
- Marshalls information gateway - linked from the
Marshall home page - Provides access to business information systems
to which Marshall subscribes - Provides access to freely available sites (e.g.
government sites) useful for classes and research - Access to services reference, interlibrary
loan, library catalog, etc. - MarVEL is evolving
3Access restrictions to MarVELs subscription
resources
- MarVELs subscription resources require
verification of your USC status - This verification is done through TCP/IP number
in most cases only one of our major resources
uses passwords (OneSource Business Browser) - Most government sites can be accessed from any
location (they are not subscription based)
4How to get to MarVEL resources
- Use a machine on-campus
- Register your laptop and plug in at Popovich, the
Marshall libraries, or any plug in a Marshall
building - Dial direct to USC and use PPP access
- MarVEL includes instructions for getting access
from off-campus (go to the Show Me! Box)
5Primary vs. Secondary Research
- Primary data is collected for a specific purpose.
It can take a long time to collect, and it can be
very expensive. - Secondary research is research done by others. It
was probably collected for a different purpose. - You can get secondary research from libraries,
information companies, the internet, other
peoples files, etc.
6Advantages of Secondary Research
- It already exists -- if you can find it.
- It is less expensive than conducting your own
research. - It helps you avoid re-inventing the wheel.
7Disadvantages of Secondary Research
- It may not be exactly what you want.
- It may reflect someone elses interpretation of
the data. - It may not be as up-to-date as you would like.
8Thinking About Your Question
- People use the most accessible information, even
if its not the best information. - You can be more competitive by getting the best
information you can get. - We want to make that information accessible to
you through MarVEL. - Use an iterative process to look for answers.
9Questions about your Question
- What do you already know about the topic? About
related material? - Who else cares about this topic?
- Who would know or need to know about this?
10The Role of Newspapers
- Who, what, where, when, why, how
- Dont count on their analysis use them for the
facts - Dow Jones Interactive is a key resource -- 6,000
sources including full-text of the Wall Street
Journal
11The Role of Government Agencies
- Government agencies have legal mandates to
collect data and provide analyses. - Their efforts are on-going you can expect them
to gather this data into the future. - The U.S. government, in particular, has made
major strides in getting data and information on
the Web. - State local governments and foreign governments
are now coming online.
12The Role of Trade Associations
- Their purpose is to support the work of the
people and companies in their industry. - Sometimes they restrict their data so that only
members have access. - More associations are putting industry data on
the Web. - The quality and quantity of data can vary from
one association to another.
13The Role of Commercial Information Providers
- This industry is evolving -- many more companies
are providing information over the web direct to
subscribers. - Market dominance is changing -- the systems you
know while you are in school will change in the
future. - New products/services are appearing -- and are
likely to be directed to individuals in the
future as well as to companies/organizations.
14Common Types of Secondary Research Questions
- Company Information
- Industry Information
- Getting Good Numbers
- Getting News and Analysis
15Company Information Preliminary Questions
- Is the company public or private?
- Is it a U.S. company?
- Do I want to know what the company says about
itself? -- or, - Do I want to know what others say about the
company?
16Key Resources for Company Information
- FIS Online (Moodys Manuals)
- Hoovers Online
- Million Dollar Database
- OneSource U.S. Business Browser
- Other resources on MarVELs Company Research page
17Industry Information Methodology
- Get an overview of the industry.
- Look for articles on trends and see if you can
find forecasts. - Gather statistics from government agencies and
trade associations. - Go to trade associations for additional
information about the industry.
18Common Problems in Finding Industry Information
- Each information tool uses its own industry
groupings and covers different industries. - Small industries are often reported as part of
larger industries in government data. - Quality, availability, and cost of trade
association information varies widely. - Emerging industries are difficult to research in
government and other sources.
19Industry Information Sources
- OneSource U.S. Business Browser
- Standard Poors Industry Surveys
- Trade association publications (included in
OneSource Business Browser, ABI/Inform, and other
resources) - Gartner IntraWeb if you are doing anything in
e-commerce - Other sites on the Industry Research page
20OneSource Business Browser Industry Profiler
- SIC Overviews
- Industry Overviews
- Industry Norms
- Newswires and trade articles
- Custom search
- Links to related organizations
21Where Can I Get Good Numbers?
- Census Bureau includes critical population,
business, and economic data - FEDSTATS -- go to the Agencies section and select
the agency, or go to Programs and get an idea of
whats available for your subject - STAT-USA -- includes domestic and international
economic information - TableBase -- 25,000 tables from trade
associations are added every year
22Where can I get articles?
- Trade association publications OneSource,
ABI/Inform on Proquest Direct, Lexis-Nexis,
Business Source Premier - Newswires OneSource, Dow Jones Interactive,
Lexis-Nexis - Newspaper articles ABI/Inform on Proquest
Direct, Dow Jones Interactive, Lexis-Nexis - Academic articles ABI/Inform on Proquest Direct,
Web of Science, Business Source Premier
23International Resources
- EIU Country Reports
- FIS online
- ISI Emerging Markets
- STAT-USA
24When You Have It, Dont Lose It -- Cite Your Data
Correctly!
- Citing your data correctly adds validity and
weight to your position. - Guidelines for citing your sources are available
on MarVEL. - Go to MarVELs Show Me! box for guides on citing
resources