Week 1 Summary: Introduction to Research
Methods and Scientific Thinking
Week 1 covers the foundational aspects of research methodology, focusing on why we conduct
research, how to formulate good research questions, and the structure of the research process.
Below is a comprehensive summary of the key concepts from the Research Skills Reader and Week 1
lecture slides.
Key Concepts from Week 1
,Why Science? (Chapter I - Research Skills Reader)
o Business research is conducted as a form of systematic empiricism, meaning it relies
on planned, structured observations of the world. Science is characterized by three
key features:
Systematic Empiricism: Involves learning through careful observation. This
approach helps ensure that findings are grounded in reality.
Empirical Questions: These are questions about the way the world actually
is. These are questions that can be answered through systematic
observations, such as "Does a particular investment strategy yield higher
returns than others?".
Public Knowledge: Science demands that findings are shared, allowing others
to replicate and validate the results, enhancing our collective knowledge.
2. Goals of Business Research (Chapter I - Research Skills Reader)
o There are three main goals in business research:
Describe: This goal is achieved by making careful observations. Carefully
document observations about the subject matter.
Explain: This goal involves determining the causes of behavior. Understand
why phenomena occur, such as what factors make managers effective.
Predict: Use observed relationships to make predictions, for example,
predicting whether customers will switch to a competitor based on observed
behaviors.
o Basic vs. Applied Research: Research can be basic, aiming to expand fundamental
understanding, or applied, intended to address specific practical problems. Often,
studies contribute to both domains.
o Basic research is conducted primarily for the sake of achieving a more detailed and
accurate understanding of human behavior, without necessarily trying to address any
particular practical problem. In contrast, Applied research is conducted primarily to
address some practical problem.
1.AB Notes Lecture 1 Research skills (Live)
Preparation for research paper and thesis off the Master.
Main goals of business research:
- Describe
- Explain
,- predict
Research questions could be:
- Fact oriented
- Literature-search
- Key factor
Good research questions are:
- Interesting (Doubt, unknown answer)
- Relevant (Theoretical or/and practical)
- Feasible = uitvoerbaar/haalbaar
Meta-analysis: are analysis which uses results from former research to analyse
more specific.
Dependent variable: Afhankelijke variabele is de variabele die gemeten of
geobserveerd wordt om haar relatie met andere factoren of variabelen te
bepalen.
Independent variable: Een onafhankelijke variabele is een variabele die wordt
gemanipuleerd of gevarieerd in een experimenteel onderzoek om de effecten
ervan te onderzoeken. De onafhankelijke variabele vertegenwoordigt de oorzaak
of reden voor een uitkomst.
Moderater: variable inbetween two variables who can change, strength or weak
the other variables.
1.C The research process/writing a research paper
Research is creative and systematic work undertaken in order to increase the
tock of knowledge and to devise new applications of available knowledge.
John Creswell defines research as = a process of steps used to collect and
analyse information to increase our understanding of a topic or issue. These 3
steps are:
- Pose a question
- Collect data to answer the question
- Present an answer to the question
, 3 forms of research:
- Exploratory research = Helps to identify and define a question or problem.
- Constructive research = Test theories and proposes solutions to a question
or problem.
- Empirical research = Tests the feasibility (haalbaarheid) of a solution using
empirical evidence (verifieerbaar bewijs).
Qualitative research = examines social phenomena from an individual’s
perspective, usually involving participant intervieuws and observations.
Quantitative research = examines facts and trends in measurable ways,
involving statistical analyses such as surveys or assessments.
Structure of the research paper:
In the introduction section of a research paper you need to arouse (opwekken)
the reader’s interest by using:
- Quotations
- Interesting new items
- Assertions (Stellingen)
- Shocking figures
- Counter-intuitive reports
In the body section of the research paper you write the:
- Presents all information in answering the central research question.
Methods and Scientific Thinking
Week 1 covers the foundational aspects of research methodology, focusing on why we conduct
research, how to formulate good research questions, and the structure of the research process.
Below is a comprehensive summary of the key concepts from the Research Skills Reader and Week 1
lecture slides.
Key Concepts from Week 1
,Why Science? (Chapter I - Research Skills Reader)
o Business research is conducted as a form of systematic empiricism, meaning it relies
on planned, structured observations of the world. Science is characterized by three
key features:
Systematic Empiricism: Involves learning through careful observation. This
approach helps ensure that findings are grounded in reality.
Empirical Questions: These are questions about the way the world actually
is. These are questions that can be answered through systematic
observations, such as "Does a particular investment strategy yield higher
returns than others?".
Public Knowledge: Science demands that findings are shared, allowing others
to replicate and validate the results, enhancing our collective knowledge.
2. Goals of Business Research (Chapter I - Research Skills Reader)
o There are three main goals in business research:
Describe: This goal is achieved by making careful observations. Carefully
document observations about the subject matter.
Explain: This goal involves determining the causes of behavior. Understand
why phenomena occur, such as what factors make managers effective.
Predict: Use observed relationships to make predictions, for example,
predicting whether customers will switch to a competitor based on observed
behaviors.
o Basic vs. Applied Research: Research can be basic, aiming to expand fundamental
understanding, or applied, intended to address specific practical problems. Often,
studies contribute to both domains.
o Basic research is conducted primarily for the sake of achieving a more detailed and
accurate understanding of human behavior, without necessarily trying to address any
particular practical problem. In contrast, Applied research is conducted primarily to
address some practical problem.
1.AB Notes Lecture 1 Research skills (Live)
Preparation for research paper and thesis off the Master.
Main goals of business research:
- Describe
- Explain
,- predict
Research questions could be:
- Fact oriented
- Literature-search
- Key factor
Good research questions are:
- Interesting (Doubt, unknown answer)
- Relevant (Theoretical or/and practical)
- Feasible = uitvoerbaar/haalbaar
Meta-analysis: are analysis which uses results from former research to analyse
more specific.
Dependent variable: Afhankelijke variabele is de variabele die gemeten of
geobserveerd wordt om haar relatie met andere factoren of variabelen te
bepalen.
Independent variable: Een onafhankelijke variabele is een variabele die wordt
gemanipuleerd of gevarieerd in een experimenteel onderzoek om de effecten
ervan te onderzoeken. De onafhankelijke variabele vertegenwoordigt de oorzaak
of reden voor een uitkomst.
Moderater: variable inbetween two variables who can change, strength or weak
the other variables.
1.C The research process/writing a research paper
Research is creative and systematic work undertaken in order to increase the
tock of knowledge and to devise new applications of available knowledge.
John Creswell defines research as = a process of steps used to collect and
analyse information to increase our understanding of a topic or issue. These 3
steps are:
- Pose a question
- Collect data to answer the question
- Present an answer to the question
, 3 forms of research:
- Exploratory research = Helps to identify and define a question or problem.
- Constructive research = Test theories and proposes solutions to a question
or problem.
- Empirical research = Tests the feasibility (haalbaarheid) of a solution using
empirical evidence (verifieerbaar bewijs).
Qualitative research = examines social phenomena from an individual’s
perspective, usually involving participant intervieuws and observations.
Quantitative research = examines facts and trends in measurable ways,
involving statistical analyses such as surveys or assessments.
Structure of the research paper:
In the introduction section of a research paper you need to arouse (opwekken)
the reader’s interest by using:
- Quotations
- Interesting new items
- Assertions (Stellingen)
- Shocking figures
- Counter-intuitive reports
In the body section of the research paper you write the:
- Presents all information in answering the central research question.
