Dia 1
|1
Research & Skills MSc BA
Quantitative approaches: Theory testing
and meta-analysis
Hans van der Bij
Semester 1.2
Dia 2
|2
Today’s program
• Two important quantitative approaches:
- Theory-testing approach
- Meta-analysis (quantitative literature review)
• For major questions: please contact me by email:
,Dia 3
|3
The empirical world and the world of theories
Translations
Interpretations
Empirical world
World of theories
Individuals
Groups How do individuals,
Firms groups, firms and
Alliances alliances behave and
And their characteristics why is that the case?
Operationalization
. Measurement
. Hypothesis
Between the two worlds we have translations
From left to right that means interpretations, we try to interpret the theories.
And from right to left we have operationalization: meaning that we try to measure the
variables of the world of the theories in the empirical world and also hypothesis has to do with
operationalization.
,Dia 4
|4
Starting point theory testing approach (first
steps)
Theory/ Theories
Already tested in
empirical world
Deduce verifiable Not
(in the empirical tested yet
world) statements
from this part -
Hypotheses
Explain hypotheses with
the help of the theory (why
would it hold)??
The theory testing approach starts in the world of the theories, the majority of ideas in theory
has been tested already in the empirical world, but a small part of these ideas are not tested
yet.
The theory testing approach is focussing on the small not tested part.
The first step is that you try to deduce (af te leiden) verifiable statements from this part and
we call these statements hypotheses.
After this you explain the hypotheses with the help of the theory.
A theory-testing study is possible when you want to re-test existing relationships or those that
are not tested yet.
, Dia 5
Theory testing in the empirical world (next |5
steps in theory testing)
Find measurements of the
variables from the hypotheses
in the empirical world (use past
literature for possible
measurement instruments)
Collect data about the variables in
the empirical world and analyse
these data using statistical
techniques (factor analysis,
regression, structural equation
modeling, ANOVA)
Next steps! Step 1 and 2 on the slide before
Use past literature for possible measurement instruments: why are we do that? Because we
want to build on existing literature.
Factor analysis: is about the relationship between measurement and the variable
Regression, structural equation modelling, ANOVA: has to do with the relationship between
two variables.
|1
Research & Skills MSc BA
Quantitative approaches: Theory testing
and meta-analysis
Hans van der Bij
Semester 1.2
Dia 2
|2
Today’s program
• Two important quantitative approaches:
- Theory-testing approach
- Meta-analysis (quantitative literature review)
• For major questions: please contact me by email:
,Dia 3
|3
The empirical world and the world of theories
Translations
Interpretations
Empirical world
World of theories
Individuals
Groups How do individuals,
Firms groups, firms and
Alliances alliances behave and
And their characteristics why is that the case?
Operationalization
. Measurement
. Hypothesis
Between the two worlds we have translations
From left to right that means interpretations, we try to interpret the theories.
And from right to left we have operationalization: meaning that we try to measure the
variables of the world of the theories in the empirical world and also hypothesis has to do with
operationalization.
,Dia 4
|4
Starting point theory testing approach (first
steps)
Theory/ Theories
Already tested in
empirical world
Deduce verifiable Not
(in the empirical tested yet
world) statements
from this part -
Hypotheses
Explain hypotheses with
the help of the theory (why
would it hold)??
The theory testing approach starts in the world of the theories, the majority of ideas in theory
has been tested already in the empirical world, but a small part of these ideas are not tested
yet.
The theory testing approach is focussing on the small not tested part.
The first step is that you try to deduce (af te leiden) verifiable statements from this part and
we call these statements hypotheses.
After this you explain the hypotheses with the help of the theory.
A theory-testing study is possible when you want to re-test existing relationships or those that
are not tested yet.
, Dia 5
Theory testing in the empirical world (next |5
steps in theory testing)
Find measurements of the
variables from the hypotheses
in the empirical world (use past
literature for possible
measurement instruments)
Collect data about the variables in
the empirical world and analyse
these data using statistical
techniques (factor analysis,
regression, structural equation
modeling, ANOVA)
Next steps! Step 1 and 2 on the slide before
Use past literature for possible measurement instruments: why are we do that? Because we
want to build on existing literature.
Factor analysis: is about the relationship between measurement and the variable
Regression, structural equation modelling, ANOVA: has to do with the relationship between
two variables.
