This course focuses on basic and advanced concepts for conducting research in the hospitality business using quantitative and qualitative methods. The course includes selecting a research problem and developing it into a specific research question, designing a research proposal, conducting a literature review, selecting research methodology, systematically collecting data, using analytical techniques to interpret data, and drawing appropriate conclusions. The students will also learn the key skills necessary to present research findings in a conference and publishing in a scholarly journal.

Upon completing this course, students will be able to:

• describe of the steps used in conducting academic research
• formulate research questions, select a research sample, and choose appropriate analytical techniques for a complex research problem
• design and develop a research proposal, research rationale, review the related literature and select an appropriate research method (quant, qual or mixed methods)
• interpret research findings and document them with comprehensively

The ultimate objective is to enable students to present research findings in a graduate conference/regular regional or an international conference.

Please review the FIU's Policies webpage. The policies webpage contains essential information regarding guidelines relevant to all courses at FIU, as well as additional information about acceptable netiquette for online courses. For additional information, please visit FIU's Policy and Procedure Library.

As a member of the FIU community you are expected to be knowledgeable about the behavioral expectations set forth in the FIU Student Conduct and Honor Code.

Before starting this course, please review the following pages:

• Accessibility and Accommodation
• Academic Misconduct Statement

The Disability Resource Center collaborates with students, faculty, staff, and community members to create diverse learning environments that are usable, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable. The DRC provides FIU students with disabilities the necessary support to successfully complete their education and participate in activities available to all students. If you have a diagnosed disability and plan to utilize academic accommodations, please contact the Center at 305-348-3532 or visit them at the Graham Center GC 190.

For additional assistance please contact FIU's Disability Resource Center.

Please visit our ADA Compliance webpage for additional information about accessibility involving the tools used in this course.

*The professor reserves the right to change or modify the syllabus at any time during the semester.

Students are required to attend all mandatory classes - except in case of emergencies. An emergency must be corroborated by a note from a doctor or other appropriate person.

Classes may be recorded for teaching purposes.

Late assignments will be deducted 25% from the grade earned. Late assignments must be turned in within 1 week.

One of the greatest barriers to taking an online course is a lack of basic computer literacy. By computer literacy, we mean being able to manage and organize computer files efficiently and learning to use your computer's operating system and software quickly and easily. Keep in mind that this is not a computer literacy course, but students enrolled in online courses are expected to have moderate proficiency using a computer. Please go to the What's Required webpage to find out more information on this subject.

Privacy Policy Statements for Partners and Vendors

• Canvas
• Microsoft
• Adobe
• Google
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• ProctorU
• HonorLock
• Turnitin
• Zoom
• Respondus LockDown Browser

Please visit our Technical Requirements webpage for additional information.

Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas, and community service. All students should respect the right of others to have an equitable opportunity to learn and honestly demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University. All students are deemed by the University to understand that if they are found responsible for academic misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as outlined in the Student Conduct and Honor Code. Academic Misconduct includes:

Cheating

• The unauthorized use of any materials, information, study aids or assistance from another person on any academic assignment or exercise, unless explicitly authorized by the course Instructor; 
• Assisting another student in the unauthorized use of any materials, information, study aids, unless explicitly authorized by the Instructor; and 
• Having a substitute complete any academic assignment or completing an academic assignment for someone else, either paid or unpaid; and

Plagiarism

• The deliberate use and appropriation of another are work without any indication of the source and the representation of such work as the Student's own.
• Assisting another student in the deliberate use and appropriation of another’s work without any indication of the source and the representation of such work as the student’s own. 

Learn more about the academic integrity policies and procedures as well as student resources that can help you prepare for a successful semester.

If you are looking for help for yourself or a fellow classmate, Panthers Care encourages you to express any concerns you may come across as it relates to any personal behavior concerns or worries you have, for the classmate’s well-being or yours; you are encouraged to share your concerns with FIU’s Panthers Care website.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers free and confidential help for anxiety, depression, stress, and other concerns that life brings. Professional counselors are available for same-day appointments. Don’t wait to call (305) 348-2277 to set up a time to talk or visit the online self-help portal.

This course will serve to embrace the diversity and inclusivity found within Florida International University. We appreciate and respect diversity, equality, equity, cooperativeness, community, and sustainability within our online courses. We are committed to the ongoing education of our students and their participation within the course regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, geographical location, religion, and disability. We strive in encouraging collaboration by preparing our students to value the differences in others. At the core of our intentions is the encouragement of acceptance and appreciation of differences within our student population and community.

There is no pre-requisite for this course.

Please note that the information contained in this section applies only if your course requires a proctored exam.

Through a careful examination of this syllabus, it is the student’s responsibility to determine whether this online course requires proctored exams. Please visit our Student Proctored Exam Instructions. webpage for important information concerning proctored exams, proctoring centers, and important forms.

The Learning Objectives (LOs) will be achieved through lectures, class discussions, demonstrations, in-class practice sessions, quizzes, and assignments. Specifically, the following key activities will be carried out. 

Reviewing Scholarly Articles: Students will select articles from journals to review and identify various components of a manuscript. They will summarize the article in a given format. An individual PowerPoint presentation will be conducted, in which each individual will present a peer-reviewed article of their choosing. 

Data Analysis Assignments: Students will be given multiple quantitative data analysis assignments. The students will do exercises interpreting statistical results.

Research Project: Students will raise a critical research question, write a research paper, review related literature, create a research framework, select research methods, create a research questionnaire to collect primary data, and explain how to analyze and interpret the information collected. The Research Project is expected to produce a research paper and a class PowerPoint presentation.

Research Paper: A research paper comprising all required components of a research article should be written and submitted by the due date.

PowerPoint Presentations: A group presentation of the student's research project will be conducted at the end of the semester. It is expected that appropriate audio-visual aids will be used and that the presentation will be of the highest professional standards.

The Research Project (research, paper write-up, and presentation) is a group activity, and all group members are expected to contribute equally. If some group member is not contributing to the satisfaction of the others, they may be dismissed from the group and have to perform their own project. At the end of the course, there will be a peer evaluation of the contribution of each group member, and grades may increase or decrease according to contribution.

Communication in this course will take place via the Canvas Inbox. Check out the Canvas Conversations Tutorial or Canvas Guide to learn how to communicate with your instructor and peers using Announcements, Discussions, and the Inbox. I will respond to all correspondences within 24 hours.

Keep in mind that your discussion forum postings will likely be seen by other members of the course. Care should be taken when determining what to post.

Discussion Forum Expectations:

• Provide clear guidance on the expectations and requirements
• Available dates (unlimited or for an specific time)
• Criteria for evaluating the originality and quality of students' comments and grade credit expected
  (Rubric is highly encouraged)
• The expected turn-around time for feedback or grades.
• If a discussion is graded, rubric will provided.

Student's proficiency of LOs will be evaluated by multiple methods, including mid-term and final exams, class participation, in-class quizzes, and assignments.

Quiz Expectations:

• There will be 4 quizzes during the semester.
• Quizzes will be available for the duration of the weekly module.
• You will have 30 minutes to complete the 10 question quizzes.
• All quizzes will be graded unless announced in the class.

Assignment Expectations:

• There will be 2 types of assignments given during the semester: reading assignments and homework assignments.
• Assignments will be available for the duration of the weekly module.
• All assignments are to be completed on an individual basis.
• Do not email the assignment to your professor
• Evaluation of the assignment will be based on the following:
  • Content, creativity, clarity and reasoning process
  • Rubrics
• The expected turn-around time for feedback and grades will be 7 - 10 days.

The Final Exam This will be a cumulative exam, covering concepts learned throughout the class.