1. Foundations of Research Methods
1.1 Research Enterprise
Research
a type of systematic investigation that is empirical in nature and designed to contribute
to public knowledge and should there for be public so that everyone can access it.
Social research: research which has to do with our society and our lives.
Research project: project that addresses specific questions, collects specific data,
involves conducting analyses.
● Every research project based on another research.
● No single research gives a complete answer to the research
Research enterprise
The macro-level effort to accumulate knowledge across multiple empirical systematic
public research projects.
We accumulate knowledge with the idea that it may contribute someday to something
we can use. It contributes to instrumental knowledge.
Translational research
the systematic effort to move research from initial discovery to practice and ultimately to
impacts on our lives. (<- translating research into practice)
● “bench to bedside”,“bench to behaviour”,“mind to the market place”
● To move research from discovery to impact in the research enterprise
Research-practice continuum
the process of moving from an initial research idea or discovery to practice, and the
potential for the idea to influence our lives or world.
Basic research
research that is designed to generate discoveries and to understand how the discoveries
work.
Applied research
research where a discovery is tested under increasingly controlled conditions in real-
world contexts (with humans).
Implementation and dissemination research
research that assesses how well an innovation or discovery can be distributed in and
carried out in a broad range of contexts that extend beyond the original controlled
studies.
,Impact research
research that assesses the broader effects of a discovery or innovation on society.
Policy research
research that is designed to investigate existing policies or develop and test new ones.
Research synthesis
a systematic study of multiple prior research projects that address the same research
question or topic and that summarize the results in a manner that can be used by
practitioners. It can be divided in:
1. Systematic Review
Focuses on a specific question or issue and uses preplanned methods to
identify, select, assess and summarize findings of multiple research
studies.
Panel of experts will scour the extent of existing literature for
articles on a particular phenomenon. They read the articles and try
to make sense on the conclusions that the articles have drawn
2. Meta-analysis (type of systematic review)
uses statistical methods to combine the results of similar studies
quantitatively in order to allow for general conclusions.
Process whereby we use statistical techniques to average
correlation coefficients allow to generate a general conlcusion. To
make a best estimate of the true relationship.
Both types can be technical and are written in a scientific style that typically is cautious
about making formal recommendations for action.
To help address problem, research enterprise developed practice guideline:
● A guideline is the result of a systematic process that leads to a specific
set of research-based recommendations for practice that usually includes
some estimates of how strong the evidence is for each recommendation.
,Evidence Based Practice (EBP)
A movement designed to encourage or require practitioners to employ practices that are
based on research evidence as reflected in research syntheses or practice guidelines.
● Movement represents a major attempt of a research enterprise to achieve better
integration of research and practice.
● Discussions: some only allow studies based on randomized experimental or
strong quasi-experimental designs into the evidence base, others allow broader
range studies as evidence.
● Should not only be evidence that drives practice, practice should help drive
development of evidence.
Evolutionary perspective on research enterprise
Increasingly we view research as an evolutionary system. Based upon the idea of
evolutionary epistemology: a branch of philosophy that holds that ideas evolve
through process of natural selection.
● Competes with other established and emerging discoveries and survival value
1.2 Conceptualizing Research
Business and Management research is transdisciplinary
Where research topics come from:
● Practical problems in the field
● Literature in the specific field
○ A type of literature that acts as a source of good research ideas is the
requests for proposals (RFP): a document issued by a government
agency that typically describes the problem that needs addressing, the
approach and the amount of money the agency wants to pay.
● Think up a research topic
, The literature review
a systematic compilation and written summary of all literature published in scientific
journals related to a research topic of interest. typically included in the introduction
section of a research write-up.
Tips for writing a literature review
● Concentrate your efforts on the research literature
○ Peer review
a system reviewing potential research papers where authors submit
potential articles to a journal editor who solicits several reviewers who
agree to give a critical review of the paper. The paper is sent to these
reviewers with no identification of the author so that there will be no
personal bias. Based on the reviewers’ recommendations, the editor can
accept or reject the article or recommend that the author revise and
resubmit it.
● Do the review early in the process
● The literature review might help you to find and select appropriate measurement
instruments
Feasibility issues
Make trade-offs between rigor and practicality. Also think about how long the research
will take, needed cooperation and ethical constraints.
● Considerations come into play. Many involve making trade-offs between rigor and
practicality
○ Ideal circumstances for research seldom exist and always forced to look
for best trade- offs to get rigor they desire.
Several considerations in mind regarding feasibility:
● Research time
● Ethical Constraints
● Cooperation needed
● Cost management
1.3 The Language of Research
Research is purposeful systematic, empirical, public, cumulative and critical of itself
Basic Research VS Applied Research
1.1 Research Enterprise
Research
a type of systematic investigation that is empirical in nature and designed to contribute
to public knowledge and should there for be public so that everyone can access it.
Social research: research which has to do with our society and our lives.
Research project: project that addresses specific questions, collects specific data,
involves conducting analyses.
● Every research project based on another research.
● No single research gives a complete answer to the research
Research enterprise
The macro-level effort to accumulate knowledge across multiple empirical systematic
public research projects.
We accumulate knowledge with the idea that it may contribute someday to something
we can use. It contributes to instrumental knowledge.
Translational research
the systematic effort to move research from initial discovery to practice and ultimately to
impacts on our lives. (<- translating research into practice)
● “bench to bedside”,“bench to behaviour”,“mind to the market place”
● To move research from discovery to impact in the research enterprise
Research-practice continuum
the process of moving from an initial research idea or discovery to practice, and the
potential for the idea to influence our lives or world.
Basic research
research that is designed to generate discoveries and to understand how the discoveries
work.
Applied research
research where a discovery is tested under increasingly controlled conditions in real-
world contexts (with humans).
Implementation and dissemination research
research that assesses how well an innovation or discovery can be distributed in and
carried out in a broad range of contexts that extend beyond the original controlled
studies.
,Impact research
research that assesses the broader effects of a discovery or innovation on society.
Policy research
research that is designed to investigate existing policies or develop and test new ones.
Research synthesis
a systematic study of multiple prior research projects that address the same research
question or topic and that summarize the results in a manner that can be used by
practitioners. It can be divided in:
1. Systematic Review
Focuses on a specific question or issue and uses preplanned methods to
identify, select, assess and summarize findings of multiple research
studies.
Panel of experts will scour the extent of existing literature for
articles on a particular phenomenon. They read the articles and try
to make sense on the conclusions that the articles have drawn
2. Meta-analysis (type of systematic review)
uses statistical methods to combine the results of similar studies
quantitatively in order to allow for general conclusions.
Process whereby we use statistical techniques to average
correlation coefficients allow to generate a general conlcusion. To
make a best estimate of the true relationship.
Both types can be technical and are written in a scientific style that typically is cautious
about making formal recommendations for action.
To help address problem, research enterprise developed practice guideline:
● A guideline is the result of a systematic process that leads to a specific
set of research-based recommendations for practice that usually includes
some estimates of how strong the evidence is for each recommendation.
,Evidence Based Practice (EBP)
A movement designed to encourage or require practitioners to employ practices that are
based on research evidence as reflected in research syntheses or practice guidelines.
● Movement represents a major attempt of a research enterprise to achieve better
integration of research and practice.
● Discussions: some only allow studies based on randomized experimental or
strong quasi-experimental designs into the evidence base, others allow broader
range studies as evidence.
● Should not only be evidence that drives practice, practice should help drive
development of evidence.
Evolutionary perspective on research enterprise
Increasingly we view research as an evolutionary system. Based upon the idea of
evolutionary epistemology: a branch of philosophy that holds that ideas evolve
through process of natural selection.
● Competes with other established and emerging discoveries and survival value
1.2 Conceptualizing Research
Business and Management research is transdisciplinary
Where research topics come from:
● Practical problems in the field
● Literature in the specific field
○ A type of literature that acts as a source of good research ideas is the
requests for proposals (RFP): a document issued by a government
agency that typically describes the problem that needs addressing, the
approach and the amount of money the agency wants to pay.
● Think up a research topic
, The literature review
a systematic compilation and written summary of all literature published in scientific
journals related to a research topic of interest. typically included in the introduction
section of a research write-up.
Tips for writing a literature review
● Concentrate your efforts on the research literature
○ Peer review
a system reviewing potential research papers where authors submit
potential articles to a journal editor who solicits several reviewers who
agree to give a critical review of the paper. The paper is sent to these
reviewers with no identification of the author so that there will be no
personal bias. Based on the reviewers’ recommendations, the editor can
accept or reject the article or recommend that the author revise and
resubmit it.
● Do the review early in the process
● The literature review might help you to find and select appropriate measurement
instruments
Feasibility issues
Make trade-offs between rigor and practicality. Also think about how long the research
will take, needed cooperation and ethical constraints.
● Considerations come into play. Many involve making trade-offs between rigor and
practicality
○ Ideal circumstances for research seldom exist and always forced to look
for best trade- offs to get rigor they desire.
Several considerations in mind regarding feasibility:
● Research time
● Ethical Constraints
● Cooperation needed
● Cost management
1.3 The Language of Research
Research is purposeful systematic, empirical, public, cumulative and critical of itself
Basic Research VS Applied Research
