Summary
Research Skills
2021-2022
Tilburg University
, Table of Contents
LECTURE 1: INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 3
LECTURE 2: PROBLEM DEFINITION…. ............................................................................................. 5
LECTURE 2: RESEARCH DESIGN……................................................................................................. 7
LECTURE 2: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK…… .................................................................................. 7
LECTURE 3: DATA COLLECTION……................................................................................................. 8
LECTURE 4: DATA ANALYSIS….. ................................................................................................... 13
LECTURE 6: QUANTITATIVE METHODS (PART I)............................................................................ 18
LECTURE 7: QUANTITATIVE METHODS (PART II)........................................................................... 21
2
, LECTURE 1: INTRODUCTION
• Define an adequate and relevant research problem and devise the accompanying problem
identification, problem statement and research questions.
• Devise a conceptual model that indicates the relevant concepts to study and serves as a guideline
for literature study and data analysis.
• Develop a research design taking into account scientific criteria such as validity and reliability.
• Choose a suitable sampling method to perform data collection.
• Analyze the data so that an in depth understanding of the company problem is achieved.
• Discuss findings and use these findings to develop an adequate solution for the business problem.
Deductive vs. inductive research
Deductive: testing of a theory theory → hypothesis → observation → confirmation
Inductive: developing a theory observation → pattern → proposition → theory
Deductive research: mostly commonly associated with quantitative research of the following type:
1. Use academic literature to define a problem (relation between variables) and to define hypotheses.
2. Collect the data to test the hypotheses (quantitative data: survey, datasets)
3. Test the hypotheses
→ You study the average behaviour of a large population (e.g. companies in a certain industry).
Theory supported inductive research
Most commonly associated with case study research.
1. Define a practical problem (e.g. company problem)
2. Study literature about similar problems already investigated
3. Use the literature to collect relevant data (qualitative + quantitative data: observations, interviews)
4. Data collection + analysis
5. Data + literature is used to understand the problem, draw conclusions and give recommendations
→ You study a specific situation (no average behaviour)
Steps in a theory supported inductive research project:
Step 1: Problem definition
Step 2: Research design
Step 3: Building a theoretical framework
Step 4: Data collection
Step 5: Data analysis → results
Step 6: Solutions (recommendations)
Step 7: External validity
Requirements:
Validity:
- Concept validity: a good match between the theory and the practical problem.
- Internal validity: the outcome of the research should solve the problem.
- External validity: usefulness of the research out of the case setting.
Reliability: robustness and consistency of the research.
3
Research Skills
2021-2022
Tilburg University
, Table of Contents
LECTURE 1: INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 3
LECTURE 2: PROBLEM DEFINITION…. ............................................................................................. 5
LECTURE 2: RESEARCH DESIGN……................................................................................................. 7
LECTURE 2: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK…… .................................................................................. 7
LECTURE 3: DATA COLLECTION……................................................................................................. 8
LECTURE 4: DATA ANALYSIS….. ................................................................................................... 13
LECTURE 6: QUANTITATIVE METHODS (PART I)............................................................................ 18
LECTURE 7: QUANTITATIVE METHODS (PART II)........................................................................... 21
2
, LECTURE 1: INTRODUCTION
• Define an adequate and relevant research problem and devise the accompanying problem
identification, problem statement and research questions.
• Devise a conceptual model that indicates the relevant concepts to study and serves as a guideline
for literature study and data analysis.
• Develop a research design taking into account scientific criteria such as validity and reliability.
• Choose a suitable sampling method to perform data collection.
• Analyze the data so that an in depth understanding of the company problem is achieved.
• Discuss findings and use these findings to develop an adequate solution for the business problem.
Deductive vs. inductive research
Deductive: testing of a theory theory → hypothesis → observation → confirmation
Inductive: developing a theory observation → pattern → proposition → theory
Deductive research: mostly commonly associated with quantitative research of the following type:
1. Use academic literature to define a problem (relation between variables) and to define hypotheses.
2. Collect the data to test the hypotheses (quantitative data: survey, datasets)
3. Test the hypotheses
→ You study the average behaviour of a large population (e.g. companies in a certain industry).
Theory supported inductive research
Most commonly associated with case study research.
1. Define a practical problem (e.g. company problem)
2. Study literature about similar problems already investigated
3. Use the literature to collect relevant data (qualitative + quantitative data: observations, interviews)
4. Data collection + analysis
5. Data + literature is used to understand the problem, draw conclusions and give recommendations
→ You study a specific situation (no average behaviour)
Steps in a theory supported inductive research project:
Step 1: Problem definition
Step 2: Research design
Step 3: Building a theoretical framework
Step 4: Data collection
Step 5: Data analysis → results
Step 6: Solutions (recommendations)
Step 7: External validity
Requirements:
Validity:
- Concept validity: a good match between the theory and the practical problem.
- Internal validity: the outcome of the research should solve the problem.
- External validity: usefulness of the research out of the case setting.
Reliability: robustness and consistency of the research.
3
