389 G L O S S A R Y A Action research: A research strategy aimed at initiatingchange processes, with an incremental focus, for narrowingthe gap between the desired and actual states. Alternate hyp othesis: An educated conjecture that setsthe parameters one expects to find. The alternate hypothesisi...
BUSINESS 4500 Business Research Terms definitions | University of Cambridge
389
GLOSSARY
A
Action research:
A research strategy aimed at initiatingchange processes, with an incremental focus, for narrowingthe gap
between the desired and actual states.
Alternate hypothesis:
An educated conjecture that setsthe parameters one expects to find. The alternate hypothesisis tested
to see whether or not the null is to be rejected.
Ambiguous questions:
Questionsthatare notclearlywordedand arelikely tobeinterpreted byrespondentsindifferent ways.
ANOVA:
Stands for analysis of variance, which tests forsignificant mean differences in variables among
multiplegroups.
Applied research:
Research conducted in a particularsetting with the specific objective of solving an existing prob-lem in
the situation.
Area sampling:
Cluster sampling within a specified area orregion; a probability sampling design.
B
Basic research:
Research conducted to generate knowledgeand understanding of phenomena (in the work setting)that
adds to the existing body of knowledge (about organiza-tions and management theory).
Bias:
Any error that creeps into the data. Biases can beintroduced bytheresearcher, the respondent, the
measuringinstrument, the sample, and so on.
Bibliography:
A listing of books, articles, and other relevantmaterials, alphabetized according to the last name of
theauthors, referencing the titles of their works, and indicatingwhere they can be located.
Big data:
Term commonly used to describe the exponentialgrowth and availability of data from digital sources
insideand outside the organization.
C
Canonical correlation:
A statistical technique that exam-ines the relationship between two or more dependent vari-ables and
several independent variables.
Case study:
Focuses on collecting information about a spe-cific object, event or activity, such as a particular
businessunit or organization.
Categorization:
The process of organizing, arranging, andclassifying coding units (in qualitative data analysis).
Category (in qualitative data analysis):
A group of codingunitsthatsharesome commonality.
Category reliability:
The extent towhich judgesare able touse category definitions to classify qualitative data.
Category scale:
, BUSINESS 4500 Business Research Terms definitions | University of Cambridge
A scale that uses multiple items to seek asingle response.
Causal study:
A research study conducted to establishcause‐and‐effect relationships amongvariables.
Chi‐square test:
A nonparametric test that establishes theindependence or otherwise between two nominal variables.
Classification data:
Personal information ordemographicdetails of the respondents such as age, marital status, andeducationallevel.
Closed questions:
Questions with a clearly delineated set ofalternatives thatconfine the respondents’ choicetoone ofthem.
Cluster sampling:
A probability sampling design in whichthe sample comprises groups or chunks of elements
withintragroup heterogeneity and intergroup homogeneity.
Coding:
The analytic process through which the qualitativedata that youhave gatheredarereduced,rearranged,
andintegrated to form theory (compare Data coding).
Coding scheme:
Containspredetermined categories forrecording what is observed. Such schemes come in manyforms and
shapes.
Comparative scale:
A scalethatprovidesa benchmarkorpointof referencetoassessattitudes, opinions, and the like.
Complex probability sampling:
Several probability sam-pling designs (such as systematic and stratified random),which offer an
alternative to the cumbersome, simple ran-dom sampling design.
Computer‐assistedtelephoneinterviews (CATI):
Interviewsinwhich questionsare promptedontoa PC monitorthat isnetworkedintothe telephone system,towhich
respondentsprovide their answers.
390
✔
Concealed observation:
Members of a social group understudy are not told that they are being observed.
Concealment of observation:
Relates to whether the mem-bers of the social group under study are told that they arebeing observed.
Conceptual analysis:
Establishesthe existenceand frequencyofconcepts (suchaswords, themes,or characters)in atext.
Concurrent validity:
Relatestocriterion‐relatedvalidity,whichis establishedat the sametime the test is administered.
Confidence:
The probability estimate of how muchreliancecan be placed on the findings; the usual accepted level
ofconfidence in social science research is 95%.
Conjointanalysis:
Amultivariatestatisticaltechniqueusedtodeterminetherelativeimportancerespondentsattachtoattrib-utesandtheutilitiestheyattachtospecificlevelsof
attributes.
Consensus scale:
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