BRT – Samenvatting Research Methods for Business
Table of Contents
BRT – Samenvatting Research Methods for Business...........................................................1
Chapter 1. Introduction to Research.............................................................................................4
Business research..........................................................................................................................4
The role of theory and information in research............................................................................4
Types of business research: Applied and Basic..............................................................................5
Why managers need to know about research...............................................................................5
The manager and the consultant researcher.................................................................................5
Internal versus external consultants/researchers..........................................................................6
Ethics and business research.........................................................................................................7
Chapter 2. The scientific approach and alternative approaches to investigation...........................7
Hallmarks of scientific research.....................................................................................................7
Hypothetico-deductive method....................................................................................................8
Review of the hypothetico-deductive method..............................................................................9
Chapter 3: Defining and refining the problem.............................................................................10
Preliminary research...................................................................................................................11
Defining the problem statement.................................................................................................12
What makes a good problem statement?...................................................................................12
Basic types of questions: Exploratory and descriptive.................................................................12
The research proposal.................................................................................................................13
Chapter 5. Theoretical framework and hypothesis development................................................14
The need for a theoretical framework.........................................................................................14
Variables......................................................................................................................................15
How theory is generated.............................................................................................................15
Components of the theoretical framework.................................................................................16
Hypothesis development............................................................................................................17
Definition of a hypothesis...........................................................................................................17
Statement of hypotheses: Formats.............................................................................................17
Directional and nondirectional hypotheses.................................................................................17
Null and alternate hypotheses....................................................................................................17
Chapter 6. Elements of research design......................................................................................18
Research design..........................................................................................................................18
Experiments................................................................................................................................18
Survey research...........................................................................................................................18
Extent of researcher interference with the study........................................................................18
Study setting: Contrived and noncontrived.................................................................................19
Unit of analysis: Individuals, dyads, groups, organizations, cultures...........................................19
Time horizon: Cross-sectional versus longitudinal studies..........................................................20
Mixed methods...........................................................................................................................20
Chapter 11. Measurement of variables: Operational definition..................................................21
Operational definition (operationalization).................................................................................21
Chapter 12. Measurement: Scaling, reliability and validity.........................................................22
Four types of scales.....................................................................................................................22
Nominal scale..............................................................................................................................22
Ordinal scale................................................................................................................................22
Interval scale...............................................................................................................................23
, Ratio scale...................................................................................................................................23
Likert scale: Ordinal or interval?..................................................................................................23
Rating scales................................................................................................................................25
Ranking scales.............................................................................................................................26
Goodness of measures................................................................................................................28
Reflective versus formative measurement scales........................................................................28
Chapter 13. Sampling..................................................................................................................29
Sample data and population values............................................................................................29
Sampling process.........................................................................................................................31
Probability sampling....................................................................................................................32
Systematic sampling....................................................................................................................32
Stratified random sampling.........................................................................................................32
Cluster sampling..........................................................................................................................33
Double sampling.........................................................................................................................33
Nonprobability sampling.............................................................................................................33
Convenience sampling................................................................................................................33
Purposive sampling.....................................................................................................................34
Judgement sampling (purposive sampling).................................................................................34
Quota sampling (purposive sampling).........................................................................................34
Snowball sampling......................................................................................................................34
Issues of precision and confidence in determining sample size..................................................34
Rules of thumb for sample size...................................................................................................34
Sampling as related to qualitative studies...................................................................................36
Chapter 7. Interviews..................................................................................................................36
Interviews....................................................................................................................................36
Unstructured and structured interviews.....................................................................................37
How to prevent bias?..................................................................................................................38
Face-to-face and telephone interviews.......................................................................................38
Face to face interviews: Advantages and disadvantages.............................................................38
Telephone interviews: Advantages and disadvantages................................................................38
Computer-assisted interviewing..................................................................................................39
CATI and CAPI..............................................................................................................................39
Group interviews.........................................................................................................................39
Advantages and disadvantages of interviews..............................................................................40
Chapter 8. Data collection methods: Observation.......................................................................41
Two important approaches to observation.................................................................................42
Participant observation...............................................................................................................42
Structured observation...............................................................................................................43
Chapter 9. Administering questionnaires....................................................................................45
Personally administered questionnaires.....................................................................................45
Mail questionnaires.....................................................................................................................45
Electronic and online questionnaires..........................................................................................45
Guidelines for questionnaire design............................................................................................46
Sequencing of questions.............................................................................................................47
Principles of measurement.........................................................................................................48
Multimethods of data collection.................................................................................................49
Chapter 10. Experimental designs...............................................................................................49
Increasing internal validity: Controlling for extraneous variables................................................51
The experiment terminology.......................................................................................................52
Archival research........................................................................................................................55
Big data lecture...........................................................................................................................57
,Artikel 1. The use of archival proxies in strategic management studies: Castles made of sand?..59
The diverse use of three archival proxies....................................................................................59
Toward stronger proxies..............................................................................................................60
Artikel 2. A guideline for designing experimental studies in marketing research and a critical
discussion of selected problem areas.........................................................................................61
Central decision and problem areas in the design of experimental studies................................61
Designing the experimental study...............................................................................................62
Artikel 3. The parable of Google Flue: Traps in Big Data Analysis................................................70
, Chapter 1. Introduction to Research
Business research
Business research can be described as a systematic and organized effort to investigate a
specific problem encountered in a work setting, which needs a solution.
- Series of steps that are designed and executed with the goal of finding answers.
- Entire process by which we attempt to solve problems is called research
o Research involves a series of well-thought-out and carefully executed
activities that enable the manager to know how organization problems can be
solved, or at least considerably minimized.
o Research encompasses the following processes.
Inquiry
Investigation
Examination
Experimentation
These processes can be carried out
o Systematically
o Diligently
o Critically
o Objectively
o Logically
o Decision making = Process choosing among alternative solutions to solve a
problem
o Research helps to generate viable alternatives for decision making
Business research can now be defined as;
- An organized, systematic, data-based, critical, objective, inquiry or investigation
into a specific problem, undertaken with the purpose of finding answers or
solutions to it.
Research provides the necessary information that guides managers to make informed
decisions to successfully deal with problems.
- This information provided could be the result of a careful analysis of primary data
gathered first-hand or secondary data that are already available.
- Data can be quantitative (numbers, structured questions) or qualitative (data in form
of words, broad answers (open ended) or from available information)
The role of theory and information in research
Some research is aimed at building theory, other research designed to TEST a theory or to
describe what’s going on, using an existing framework, instrument or model.
- A theory (according to a scientist) explains a certain phenomenon, and the idea is
that this explanation will hold in a wide range of settings.
- A theory may vary in the extent to which it has been conceptually developed and
empirically tested.
Table of Contents
BRT – Samenvatting Research Methods for Business...........................................................1
Chapter 1. Introduction to Research.............................................................................................4
Business research..........................................................................................................................4
The role of theory and information in research............................................................................4
Types of business research: Applied and Basic..............................................................................5
Why managers need to know about research...............................................................................5
The manager and the consultant researcher.................................................................................5
Internal versus external consultants/researchers..........................................................................6
Ethics and business research.........................................................................................................7
Chapter 2. The scientific approach and alternative approaches to investigation...........................7
Hallmarks of scientific research.....................................................................................................7
Hypothetico-deductive method....................................................................................................8
Review of the hypothetico-deductive method..............................................................................9
Chapter 3: Defining and refining the problem.............................................................................10
Preliminary research...................................................................................................................11
Defining the problem statement.................................................................................................12
What makes a good problem statement?...................................................................................12
Basic types of questions: Exploratory and descriptive.................................................................12
The research proposal.................................................................................................................13
Chapter 5. Theoretical framework and hypothesis development................................................14
The need for a theoretical framework.........................................................................................14
Variables......................................................................................................................................15
How theory is generated.............................................................................................................15
Components of the theoretical framework.................................................................................16
Hypothesis development............................................................................................................17
Definition of a hypothesis...........................................................................................................17
Statement of hypotheses: Formats.............................................................................................17
Directional and nondirectional hypotheses.................................................................................17
Null and alternate hypotheses....................................................................................................17
Chapter 6. Elements of research design......................................................................................18
Research design..........................................................................................................................18
Experiments................................................................................................................................18
Survey research...........................................................................................................................18
Extent of researcher interference with the study........................................................................18
Study setting: Contrived and noncontrived.................................................................................19
Unit of analysis: Individuals, dyads, groups, organizations, cultures...........................................19
Time horizon: Cross-sectional versus longitudinal studies..........................................................20
Mixed methods...........................................................................................................................20
Chapter 11. Measurement of variables: Operational definition..................................................21
Operational definition (operationalization).................................................................................21
Chapter 12. Measurement: Scaling, reliability and validity.........................................................22
Four types of scales.....................................................................................................................22
Nominal scale..............................................................................................................................22
Ordinal scale................................................................................................................................22
Interval scale...............................................................................................................................23
, Ratio scale...................................................................................................................................23
Likert scale: Ordinal or interval?..................................................................................................23
Rating scales................................................................................................................................25
Ranking scales.............................................................................................................................26
Goodness of measures................................................................................................................28
Reflective versus formative measurement scales........................................................................28
Chapter 13. Sampling..................................................................................................................29
Sample data and population values............................................................................................29
Sampling process.........................................................................................................................31
Probability sampling....................................................................................................................32
Systematic sampling....................................................................................................................32
Stratified random sampling.........................................................................................................32
Cluster sampling..........................................................................................................................33
Double sampling.........................................................................................................................33
Nonprobability sampling.............................................................................................................33
Convenience sampling................................................................................................................33
Purposive sampling.....................................................................................................................34
Judgement sampling (purposive sampling).................................................................................34
Quota sampling (purposive sampling).........................................................................................34
Snowball sampling......................................................................................................................34
Issues of precision and confidence in determining sample size..................................................34
Rules of thumb for sample size...................................................................................................34
Sampling as related to qualitative studies...................................................................................36
Chapter 7. Interviews..................................................................................................................36
Interviews....................................................................................................................................36
Unstructured and structured interviews.....................................................................................37
How to prevent bias?..................................................................................................................38
Face-to-face and telephone interviews.......................................................................................38
Face to face interviews: Advantages and disadvantages.............................................................38
Telephone interviews: Advantages and disadvantages................................................................38
Computer-assisted interviewing..................................................................................................39
CATI and CAPI..............................................................................................................................39
Group interviews.........................................................................................................................39
Advantages and disadvantages of interviews..............................................................................40
Chapter 8. Data collection methods: Observation.......................................................................41
Two important approaches to observation.................................................................................42
Participant observation...............................................................................................................42
Structured observation...............................................................................................................43
Chapter 9. Administering questionnaires....................................................................................45
Personally administered questionnaires.....................................................................................45
Mail questionnaires.....................................................................................................................45
Electronic and online questionnaires..........................................................................................45
Guidelines for questionnaire design............................................................................................46
Sequencing of questions.............................................................................................................47
Principles of measurement.........................................................................................................48
Multimethods of data collection.................................................................................................49
Chapter 10. Experimental designs...............................................................................................49
Increasing internal validity: Controlling for extraneous variables................................................51
The experiment terminology.......................................................................................................52
Archival research........................................................................................................................55
Big data lecture...........................................................................................................................57
,Artikel 1. The use of archival proxies in strategic management studies: Castles made of sand?..59
The diverse use of three archival proxies....................................................................................59
Toward stronger proxies..............................................................................................................60
Artikel 2. A guideline for designing experimental studies in marketing research and a critical
discussion of selected problem areas.........................................................................................61
Central decision and problem areas in the design of experimental studies................................61
Designing the experimental study...............................................................................................62
Artikel 3. The parable of Google Flue: Traps in Big Data Analysis................................................70
, Chapter 1. Introduction to Research
Business research
Business research can be described as a systematic and organized effort to investigate a
specific problem encountered in a work setting, which needs a solution.
- Series of steps that are designed and executed with the goal of finding answers.
- Entire process by which we attempt to solve problems is called research
o Research involves a series of well-thought-out and carefully executed
activities that enable the manager to know how organization problems can be
solved, or at least considerably minimized.
o Research encompasses the following processes.
Inquiry
Investigation
Examination
Experimentation
These processes can be carried out
o Systematically
o Diligently
o Critically
o Objectively
o Logically
o Decision making = Process choosing among alternative solutions to solve a
problem
o Research helps to generate viable alternatives for decision making
Business research can now be defined as;
- An organized, systematic, data-based, critical, objective, inquiry or investigation
into a specific problem, undertaken with the purpose of finding answers or
solutions to it.
Research provides the necessary information that guides managers to make informed
decisions to successfully deal with problems.
- This information provided could be the result of a careful analysis of primary data
gathered first-hand or secondary data that are already available.
- Data can be quantitative (numbers, structured questions) or qualitative (data in form
of words, broad answers (open ended) or from available information)
The role of theory and information in research
Some research is aimed at building theory, other research designed to TEST a theory or to
describe what’s going on, using an existing framework, instrument or model.
- A theory (according to a scientist) explains a certain phenomenon, and the idea is
that this explanation will hold in a wide range of settings.
- A theory may vary in the extent to which it has been conceptually developed and
empirically tested.
