Summary Research Skills
Lecture 1: Research process and literature review
2.3 Managerial problem solving and the role of the researcher
Research in business studies and managerial problem solving are not much different from
each other.
Managers must have the capability to analyse their situations and to use investigate
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 has to explain and convince the reader of the purpose and methods of
observation.
2.4 Originality in research
Originality is a basic condition for a scientific study.
Originality describes studies that create a new dimension to already existing knowledge, for
example
o Some novel twist, fresh perspective
o New hypothesis or assumption
o New and innovative methods of handling an existing topic/knowledge.
2.5 Induction
Induction is based on empirical evidence.
Through induction we draw general conclusions from our empirical observations.
The process goes from observations analysis findings theory building.
This type of research is often associated with qualitative research.
o For the master thesis: Inductive studies are not used, mainly because of time
constraints
2.5 Deduction
Deduction is based on logic.
The researcher builds/deduces hypotheses from the existing knowledge (literature), which can
be subject to empirical scrutiny (testing) and thus can be accepted or rejected.
This type of research is often associated with quantitative research.
o For the master thesis: Deductive studies use quantitative methods and start with the
development of hypotheses, based on theory.
Induction vs. deduction
Deductive reasoning: the logical process of deriving a conclusion from a known premise or
something known as true.
Inductive reasoning: the systematic process of establishing a general proposition on the basis
of observation or particular facts.
, o (1) = deductive reasoning
o (2) = inductive reasoning
2.5 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.
o For the master thesis: Abductive studies use qualitative methods and use the literature
to identify concepts that might be relevant to the problem and situation under study.
2.8 The wheel of research: research never stops
2.11 The researcher’s moral responsibility
The moral responsibility of the researcher deals with social guidelines and constraints upon
research techniques and measurements.
Research findings might lead to action that is against the principles of the researcher or the
funding organization.
The results might influence an important decision to be made by policy makers (e.g.,
regarding mergers and acquisitions, anti-trust measures or standards setting for a particular
industry).
Factors influencing research.
Ethical issues
, Ethical issues arise particularly at the data collection stage.
Reporting your results objectively and honestly is the most important aspect of ethics.
Any misinterpretation of data will lead to misleading results and is ethically wrong.
3.1 Research process
Research is often thought of as a process, that is a set of activities unfolding over time.
A process has a few distinct stages, as different stages entail different tasks.
In reality, however, the process of not so orderly and sequential.
o Step 1 and 2: the starting point is the research topic, that is the phenomenon or the
theme to be studied. In a subsequent step, a more specific question is addressed:
o Step 2a-8
Any problem must be captured or represented. This is done by a set of
interrelated concepts, or a model, implicit or explicit (2a)
Research design relates to the choice of strategy to collect the data needed to
answer the stated research problem (3)
Good measurements are a prerequisite for high-quality empirical research (4)
Choice of data and how to collect them, from whom, and in what way, are
important (5)
Data must be handled analyzed and interpreted (6)
Most research efforts are reported in written form (7)
In business, the outcome of research efforts often results in or influences
actions (8)
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)
Master thesis: a master thesis is an empirical study and requires efforts at the conceptual level
as well as efforts at the empirical level.
o 1 = literature review
o 2 = data collection and analysis
3.3. Research and knowledge
The main purpose of research is to produce insights or knowledge.
New insights can be acquired in:
o Theories/models
o Concepts
o Methods/techniques
o Facts
Any research should have an intended contribution
3.5 Definitions of important elements of research
Concepts
o A concept is an abstraction representing an object, a property of an object, or a certain
phenomenon.
Concepts are the foundation of communication
Concepts introduce a perspective
Concepts are means of classification and generalization
Concepts serve as components of theories (models)
o Concepts are the most critical element in any theory, because they direct what is
captured.
Definitions
o Clarification and precision of concepts are achieved through definitions.
Definitions that describe concepts by using other concepts are conceptual
definitions.
An operational definition is a set of procedures that describe the activities to
be performed to establish empirically the existence or the degree of existence
of what is described by a concept.
o When we move from the conceptual to the empirical level in research, concepts are
converted into variables by mapping them into a set of numbers.
This is not true for qualitative research, as it does not use variables and
numbers.
Theory
o A theory is 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
o Research methods are rules and procedures and can be seen as tools to solve
problems or ways of proceeding.
Lecture 1: Research process and literature review
2.3 Managerial problem solving and the role of the researcher
Research in business studies and managerial problem solving are not much different from
each other.
Managers must have the capability to analyse their situations and to use investigate
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 has to explain and convince the reader of the purpose and methods of
observation.
2.4 Originality in research
Originality is a basic condition for a scientific study.
Originality describes studies that create a new dimension to already existing knowledge, for
example
o Some novel twist, fresh perspective
o New hypothesis or assumption
o New and innovative methods of handling an existing topic/knowledge.
2.5 Induction
Induction is based on empirical evidence.
Through induction we draw general conclusions from our empirical observations.
The process goes from observations analysis findings theory building.
This type of research is often associated with qualitative research.
o For the master thesis: Inductive studies are not used, mainly because of time
constraints
2.5 Deduction
Deduction is based on logic.
The researcher builds/deduces hypotheses from the existing knowledge (literature), which can
be subject to empirical scrutiny (testing) and thus can be accepted or rejected.
This type of research is often associated with quantitative research.
o For the master thesis: Deductive studies use quantitative methods and start with the
development of hypotheses, based on theory.
Induction vs. deduction
Deductive reasoning: the logical process of deriving a conclusion from a known premise or
something known as true.
Inductive reasoning: the systematic process of establishing a general proposition on the basis
of observation or particular facts.
, o (1) = deductive reasoning
o (2) = inductive reasoning
2.5 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.
o For the master thesis: Abductive studies use qualitative methods and use the literature
to identify concepts that might be relevant to the problem and situation under study.
2.8 The wheel of research: research never stops
2.11 The researcher’s moral responsibility
The moral responsibility of the researcher deals with social guidelines and constraints upon
research techniques and measurements.
Research findings might lead to action that is against the principles of the researcher or the
funding organization.
The results might influence an important decision to be made by policy makers (e.g.,
regarding mergers and acquisitions, anti-trust measures or standards setting for a particular
industry).
Factors influencing research.
Ethical issues
, Ethical issues arise particularly at the data collection stage.
Reporting your results objectively and honestly is the most important aspect of ethics.
Any misinterpretation of data will lead to misleading results and is ethically wrong.
3.1 Research process
Research is often thought of as a process, that is a set of activities unfolding over time.
A process has a few distinct stages, as different stages entail different tasks.
In reality, however, the process of not so orderly and sequential.
o Step 1 and 2: the starting point is the research topic, that is the phenomenon or the
theme to be studied. In a subsequent step, a more specific question is addressed:
o Step 2a-8
Any problem must be captured or represented. This is done by a set of
interrelated concepts, or a model, implicit or explicit (2a)
Research design relates to the choice of strategy to collect the data needed to
answer the stated research problem (3)
Good measurements are a prerequisite for high-quality empirical research (4)
Choice of data and how to collect them, from whom, and in what way, are
important (5)
Data must be handled analyzed and interpreted (6)
Most research efforts are reported in written form (7)
In business, the outcome of research efforts often results in or influences
actions (8)
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)
Master thesis: a master thesis is an empirical study and requires efforts at the conceptual level
as well as efforts at the empirical level.
o 1 = literature review
o 2 = data collection and analysis
3.3. Research and knowledge
The main purpose of research is to produce insights or knowledge.
New insights can be acquired in:
o Theories/models
o Concepts
o Methods/techniques
o Facts
Any research should have an intended contribution
3.5 Definitions of important elements of research
Concepts
o A concept is an abstraction representing an object, a property of an object, or a certain
phenomenon.
Concepts are the foundation of communication
Concepts introduce a perspective
Concepts are means of classification and generalization
Concepts serve as components of theories (models)
o Concepts are the most critical element in any theory, because they direct what is
captured.
Definitions
o Clarification and precision of concepts are achieved through definitions.
Definitions that describe concepts by using other concepts are conceptual
definitions.
An operational definition is a set of procedures that describe the activities to
be performed to establish empirically the existence or the degree of existence
of what is described by a concept.
o When we move from the conceptual to the empirical level in research, concepts are
converted into variables by mapping them into a set of numbers.
This is not true for qualitative research, as it does not use variables and
numbers.
Theory
o A theory is 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
o Research methods are rules and procedures and can be seen as tools to solve
problems or ways of proceeding.
