Collecting Evidence Flashcards
What is evidence-based management?
A decision-making approach involving using the best available evidence from multiple sources to make informed and effective managerial decisions.
Define epistemology
The philosophy of knowledge and what is viewed as appropriate knowledge
What is the positivist view of social science?
Scientific methods should be used in social sciences.
What is the interpretivist view of social science?
The study of the social world requires research methods that reflect human distinctiveness.
Describe the positivist approach to research
-Purpose is to generate testable hypotheses
-Research must be conducted in an objective manner
-There is a clear distinction between scientific and normative statments
What is the cycle of deduction?
Theory, hypothesis, data collection, findings, hypothesis confirmed or rejected, revision of theory
What is the interpretivist approach to research?
-Human beings behave differently to inanimate objects so positivist research is inaporopriuate
-Social action is the product of subjective conception and interpretation
-Inductive approach used in exploratory studies where there is no pre-existing theory
What is the cycle of induction?
Gather information, ask questions, form categories, look for patterns, develop theory, compare theory
What are research paradigms?
Principles and assumptions that influence what should be studied, how research should be done, and how results should be interpreted.
Characteristics of the positivist paradigm
-Starts form existing theory
-Test ypotheses
-Measures response to extenral stimuli
Advantages of the positivist/deductive approach
-Large amounts of data
-Clear theoretical focus at outset
-Researcher in control throughout
Disadvantages of the positivist/deductive approach
-Weak in understanding social processes
-Never meets subject
-Focus on individuals
Characteristics of the interpretivist/inductive approach
-Starts from observation
-contextual research questions
-Develops interpretations
Advantages of the interpretivist/inductive approach
-Facilitates understanding of ‘how’ and ‘why’
-Can change focus during research
-Includes non-quantifiable factors
Disadvantages of the interpretivist/inductive approach
-Uncertainty: clear patterns may not emerge
-Subjective and percieved to be ‘less credible’
-Cannot generalise or replicate
Define Multi-methods approach
Combining different techniques to study different aspects
Define triangluation
Using different techniques as a cross-check on findings
