L1 - Introduction Flashcards
Ontology
Saunders et al.
The study of the real world. We want to know what is real.
Ex. If you drop a hammer on your toe, you don’t think of why this hurt, you think of real pain.
Epistemology
Saunders et al.
The study on how knowledge is produced/created. How do we know the things we know?
Ex. If someone states that this plant has a pretty leaf, you begin to question how this person knows that this is a pretty leaf? What is a pretty leaf?
Mention the 5 philosophies/Paradigms
Saunders et al.
Positivism
Critical realism
Interpretivism
Postmodernism (Not used)
Pragmatism
Positivism
Saunders et al.
There is only one reality and you mainly work with objects that can be measured. Positivism sets out to predict and control reality.
Ontology view: There is one true reality called universalism. Reality is real, external, independent
Epistemology view: Focus is on discovering observable and measurable facts and regularities. Only phenomena that can be observed and measured will lead to the production of trustworthy data
Critical realism
Saunders et. al
In general: Seeks to explain what we see and experience, in terms of the underlying structures of reality that shape the observable events.
Ontology view: Critical realists see reality as external and independent, but not directly accessible through our observations and knowledge of it.
Epistemology view: Facts are social constructions agreed on by people rather than existing independently
–> Iceberg
Interpretivism
Saunders et. al.
In general: Emphasizes that humans are different from physical phenomena because they create meanings. Intepretivists study these meanings. Acknowledges e.g. cultural backgrounds
Pragmatism
Saunders eet. al.
In general: Concepts are only relevant where they support action. Research starts with a problem and aims to contribute practical solutions that inform future practice.
(problem solving) –> Action research
Action Research
Interventions in organizations and society. Every time you do research that wants to intervene something.
Design Research
Focus on building artefacts e.g. IS, business models etc.
3 domains;
- Environment: practice and people
- Knowledge base: theories and foundation
- Is research: wants to combine the two other domains
The research onion
Focus on the data collection and data analysis
- How is your data going to be gathered? (cross-section or longitudinal)
- Your strategy (survey, case study, action research etc)
- Methodological choice (mixed methods etc.)
- Theory development (deduction, abduction, induction)
- Philosophy/paradigm (positivism, pragmatism etc)
Abduction
When you are collecting data to explore a phenomenon, identify themes and explain patterns, to generate a new or modify an existing theory which you subsequently test through additional data collection, you are using an abductive approach.
Move back and forth from deduction to induction - There need to be a spiral movement