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Summary - Research Skills (323075-M-6)
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A summary of the course Research Skills (323075-M-6) including lecture slides, notes, papers, and tutorials.
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Research Skills SMVHC 1
Chapter 2: Research in Business Studies
Managerial problem solving and the role of the teacher
Research in business studies and managerial problem solving are not much
different from each other.
Managers must have the capability to analyze their situations and to use
investigative approaches to decision making and problem solving.
The researcher explains how information is collected, argues for methods
used to obtain results and explains their limitations: they work systematically.
The researcher must explain and convince the reader of the purpose and
methods of observation.
Induction versus Deduction
Induction
Based on empirical evidence draw conclusions from this.
Data Theory
The process goes from observations analysis findings theory building.
Often associated with qualitative research.
Deduction
Based on logic knowledge/ literature is basis for hypothesis test this.
Theory Data
Often associated with quantitative research.
Abduction
Not just a combination of induction and deduction.
A theoretical interpretation of an empirical problem that can lead to
development of new theories.
The original framework and theoretical assumptions of the researcher are
continuously modified as a result of empirical findings.
Translation to master thesis
Deductive studies use quantitative methods and start with the development of
hypotheses, based on theory.
Abductive studies use qualitative methods and use the literature to identify
concepts that might be relevant to the problem and situation under study.
Inductive studies are not used, mainly because of time constraints.
Research never stops
There are always improvements in theory or new observations vicious circle.
The researcher’s moral responsibility
= to deal with social guidelines and constraints upon techniques and measurements.
Findings might lead to action that is against the principles of the researcher or
the funding organization.
Results might influence an important decision to be made by policy makers.
Factors influencing research (tools, procedures and analysis findings):
Public interests and biases
, Company interests and biases
Government rules and regulations
Researcher’s own interests and biases
Peer pressure
Chapter 3 The research process
Research process: a set of activities over time.
It has distinct stages that entail different tasks.
In reality, however, the process is not so orderly and sequential.
Research process
1. Choice of research topic
2. Research problem (question) = small part of research topic.
a. Problem presentation by a set of interrelated concepts, or a ‘model’, implicit
or explicit.
3. Research design: choice of strategy to collect the needed data.
4. Measurement: good measure is a prerequisite for high-quality research.
5. Data: choice of data and how to collect them, from whom, and in what way.
6. Sample/ respondents
7. Report research efforts in analyses
8. Write the report.
9. Take actions
Levels of research
All research requires activities at the conceptual level.
So-called ‘theoretical studies’ deal only with this level (1).
An empirical study requires efforts at the conceptual level (2).
1 = literature review
2 = data collection and analysis
Main purpose of research: to produce insights or knowledge in:
Theories/ models
Concepts
Methods/ techniques
Facts
Definitions of important elements of research
Concept: an abstraction representing an object, a property of an object, or a certain
phenomenon. Concepts…
Are the foundation of communication.
Introduce a perspective.
Are means of classification and generalization.
Serve as components of theories (models).
Are the most critical element in any theory as they direct what is captured.
Definition: clarification and precision of concepts are achieved through definitions.
Conceptual definitions: definitions that describe concepts by using other
concepts.
, Operational definition: a set of procedures that describe the activities to be
performed to establish empirically the existence of what is described by a
concept.
For quantitative research: when we move from the conceptual to the empirical level,
concepts are converted into variables by mapping them into a set of numbers.
Theory: a set of interrelated concepts, definitions, and propositions that present a
systematic view of specifying relations among variables with the purpose of
explaining and predicting phenomena.
Methods: rules and procedures tools to solve problems or ways of proceeding.
Roles of research methods:
‘Logic’ or ways of reasoning to arrive at solutions.
Rules for communication, i.e. to explain how the findings have been achieved.
Rules of intersubjectivity, i.e. outsiders should be able to examine and
evaluate research findings.
Research ideas = the starting point of any research effort that attracts attention and
initiates speculation. Sources of research ideas are:
The real world
Academic literature
Other people
Literature review
It should address your research question(s), but not your arguments/ ideas.
To highlight the importance of your research by showing your contribution.
Show how you agree/ defend other sources or show their limitations.
The literature is consulted to:
Identify a research-problem.
To plan sampling
Formulate questions.
Choose method of analysis
Problem statement and research questions (example)
Problem statement the main research question.
About relationships between the variables.
Theoretical research questions about definitions of variables and
information from literature.
Empirical research questions about relationships/ information that resulted
from empirical research.
Critical reading other sources for your literature review
1. What evidence is used to support the conclusions?
2. What methodology is used? What are the strengths and limitations?
3. Does the author make any assumptions?
4. Is there any explicit or hidden bias?
What is the big picture?
While you are reading the articles, you start to develop ideas for themes.
, Compare the existing literature same/ different perspectives or methods, is
there a change over time, what is relevant for your research.
Create a synthesis table to keep track of the materials: matrix with details of
each article used in the literature review.
Structure of the literature review
Table of contents literature review
A paragraph for each variable/ concept of your research question.
Subparagraphs to explain different themes of your variable.
The conceptual framework.
Conceptual framework
Key characteristics:
Representation: the object or phenomenon is represented by the model.
Simplification: a model simplifies a phenomenon by reducing the number of
factors included.
Relationship(s) between the factors are shown.
Purposes of models
Description
Explanation
Prediction/ forecasting
Guidance of activities
In qualitative research: framework is free/ messy, a lot of words concepts.
In quantitative research: framework is clearer variables and clear arrows.
HC 2
Chapter 5: Research Design
Research design: overall strategy to get the information wanted and solve the
research problem.
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