lOMoARcPSD|14840171
Research methodology - IB
Lecture 2: Research Process
1. Problem statement:
‘Debtors fail to respond to letters sent by debt collection agency’
2. Research question:
- Fact oriented, information gathering question
‘Which factors influence debtors responses to formal letters’
3. Literature search, expert insights → conduct interviews or other
studies
- Determine key factors (independent variables) influencing dependent variable
- Ex. independent variable: shame and low literacy
4. Out of this a conceptual model follows:
Shame = negative relationship: the higher someone is ashamed, the less likely
they are to respond
Literacy = positive relationship: the more literate you are, the more likely you are to
respond
5. Hypothesis: expectation of how (and in which direction) the IV
influences the DV Conceptual definition: general/broad definition
(theoretical)
, lOMoARcPSD|14840171
Operational definition: applied definition to situation studied (practical/concrete)
, lOMoARcPSD|14840171
First determine indicators (measurement instrument) to
subsequently formulate questions in a survey → test hypothesis
Conceptual definition (Stress): negative cognitive and emotional states elicited when
persons perceive that their demand exceed their ability to cope’
Operational definition (stress): negative cognitive and emotional state employees
report as a result of the deadlines within a company
6. Indicators (Stress):
- Extent to which employees experience negative emotions
- Extent to which employees have impression that deadlines ask too much of
them
- Extent to which employees experience work-related stress
7. Questions:
- How sad/angry/frustrated/fatigues do you feel?
- To what extent do you have the impression that the deadlines within the
company ask too much of you?
- To what extent do you perceive work-related stress?
Research methodology - IB
Lecture 2: Research Process
1. Problem statement:
‘Debtors fail to respond to letters sent by debt collection agency’
2. Research question:
- Fact oriented, information gathering question
‘Which factors influence debtors responses to formal letters’
3. Literature search, expert insights → conduct interviews or other
studies
- Determine key factors (independent variables) influencing dependent variable
- Ex. independent variable: shame and low literacy
4. Out of this a conceptual model follows:
Shame = negative relationship: the higher someone is ashamed, the less likely
they are to respond
Literacy = positive relationship: the more literate you are, the more likely you are to
respond
5. Hypothesis: expectation of how (and in which direction) the IV
influences the DV Conceptual definition: general/broad definition
(theoretical)
, lOMoARcPSD|14840171
Operational definition: applied definition to situation studied (practical/concrete)
, lOMoARcPSD|14840171
First determine indicators (measurement instrument) to
subsequently formulate questions in a survey → test hypothesis
Conceptual definition (Stress): negative cognitive and emotional states elicited when
persons perceive that their demand exceed their ability to cope’
Operational definition (stress): negative cognitive and emotional state employees
report as a result of the deadlines within a company
6. Indicators (Stress):
- Extent to which employees experience negative emotions
- Extent to which employees have impression that deadlines ask too much of
them
- Extent to which employees experience work-related stress
7. Questions:
- How sad/angry/frustrated/fatigues do you feel?
- To what extent do you have the impression that the deadlines within the
company ask too much of you?
- To what extent do you perceive work-related stress?
