Chapter 1-3 Flashcards
Evidence-based management
The systematic use of the best available evidence to improve management practice
Four sources of information that contribute to evidence-based management (Briner, 2009)
1) Practitioner expertise and judgment
2) Evidence from the local context
3) critical evaluation of best research evidence
4) Perspectives of those who may be affected by the decision
Gibbons types/categories of knowledge production
Mode 1: Traditional, university-based model, academic agenda driven knowledge production and is built upon existing knowledge.
Mode 2: Trans-disciplinary in research (SBM style). Use of skills and experience of groups outside of academic institution to achieve practical advantage and is context related.
Research classifications
Descriptive: understand phenomena by observing
Explanatory: to show a causal relationship
Exploratory: To provide better understanding
Applied: To produce recommendations or solution to a specific group
Business Applied: To produce recommendations for a specific business
Grand theories
Multi-domain methods of theories that are limited in use in connection with social research. e.g. Maslow theory
Theories of the middle range (Merton, 1967)
Theories that operate in limited domains and vary in purpose or application. It represents attempts to understand and explain limited aspects of social life.
Ex. Labor process theory
Deduction
Theory -> observation/findings with hypothesis
An approach to the relationship between theory and research in which the latter is conducted in reference to the hypothesis.
Induction
Observation/findings -> theory
An approach to the relationship between theory and research where the former is generated out of the latter
Epistemological orientation
The theory of knowledge. What passes as acceptable knowledge
Objectivism
(Role descriptions)
Social phenomena and their meanings have an existence that is independent of social actors (independent of people)
Positivism
The study of social reality.
Predict how people behave in a particular context
Ontological orientation
(Pre-given roles)
Theory of the nature of social entities
Ontology
Nature of being/ reality or an external reality.
The study of things outside ourselves, an external reality.
Constructionism
(How we personalize the role)
Assert that social phenomena and their meanings are continually being accomplished by social actors
Interpretivism
(Gaining insight into perspective/ more understanding)
Subjective meaning of social action (Weber’s Verstehen)
Empiricism
Approach to the study of reality that suggests that only knowledge is gained through experience and the senses is viable
Functionalist
The dominant framework for the study of organizations. A problem-solving orientation which leads to rational explanation
Interpretative
Questions whether organizations exist beyond the conceptions of social actors.
Based on experiences of those who work within them
Radical structuralist
Organization as a product of structural power relationships which results in conflict
Radical Humanist
Sees organizations as a social arrangement which individuals need to be emancipated and research as guided by the need for change
Research design
Framework for every stage of the collection and analysis of data (Blueprint)
Research method
Procedure for collecting data
Reliability
Are the results of the study repeatable (Are measures consistent)
Validity
Are conclusions well founded? Do they really show what they want to show (systematic errors)
Quantitative Assessment
1) Measurement validity: measures reflect concepts
2) Internal validity: Are causal relationships between variable real?
3) External validity: can results be generalized beyond the research setting?
4) Ecological validity: are the findings applicable to the natural setting
Criteria of social research
1) Reliability
2) Validity
3) Replicability
Qualitative assessment
Trustworthiness criteria:
1) Credibility: parallels internal validity: how believable are the findings.
2) Transferability: parallels external validity: do the findings apply to other contexts?
3) Dependability: parallels reliability: are the findings likely to apply at other times?
Confirmability: parallels objectivity: has the investigator allowed his values to intrude to a high degree?
Authenticity criteria
1) Fairness: represent different viewpoints among members
2) Ontological authenticity: research helps members arrive at a better understanding of social milieu
3) Educative authenticity: Appreciate better perspectives of members
4) Catalytic authenticity: an impetus to members to engage inaction to change their circumstance
5) Tactical authenticity: empower members to engage action
Types of research design
1) Experimental design (dependent/independent or not manipulated/manipulated)
2) Cross-sectional (more cases at given point in time)
3) Longitudinal (same sample over time) through Cohort (each year different students) or Panel study (follow same students)
4) Case study (detailed and intensive analysis)
