L2 The research process

Question 1

When does a business problem occur?

Answer 1

When there is a gap between actual state and desired state

Question 2

What makes a good problem statement

Answer 2

• Feasibility

- Relevance

Question 3

Feasibility

Answer 3

• Is it doable? Is it possible?
• is the problem demarcated? (not too big)
• Can the problem be expressed in variables?
• Are you able to gather the required data?

Question 4

Relevance

Answer 4

• Is it important?

- Is it worthwhile?

Question 5

Managerial relevance

Answer 5

Related to a problem that concerns:

• managers
• end-users (consumers)
• public policymakers (government)

Question 6

Academic relevance

Answer 6

• Completely new topic
• New context (prior research, different context)
• Integrate scattered research (different variables/moderators)
• Reconcile contradictory research (more moderators)

Question 7

Preliminary research

Answer 7

Helps to gain a better understanding of the problem and narrows its down

two types of info:

• Organisation/context
• Information on the topic of interest

Question 8

Primary data

Answer 8

Data gathered first hand for the specific purpose of the study:

1. interviews
2. observations
3. administering questionnaires
4. experiments

Question 9

Secondary data

Answer 9

Already available data. Is evaluated for purpose of the study

• government publications
• internet etc.

Question 10

What makes a good problem statement?

Answer 10

• Formulated in terms of variables, and relations
• Open-ended question
• Stated clearly/unambiguously
  [Is managerially and academically relevant]

Question 11

What makes good research questions?

Answer 11

• Should collectively address the problem statement
• First theoretical, then practical research questions (order of research report)
• Stated clearly/unambiguously (not vague)

Question 12

Theoretical research questions

Answer 12

• Context question
• Conceptualisation questions
• Relationship questions

Question 13

Practical research questions

Answer 13

• Relationship questions (x affect y)

- Implication questions (how to implement results)

Question 14

What makes a good variable definition?

Answer 14

• Informative variable name (keep it short if possible)

- No jargon unless very obvious (sales etc)

Question 15

What if many different definitions exist in the literature?

Answer 15

• Acknowledge the major differences

- End with a definition that focuses on the shared meaning across definitions or Pick one definition and justify why

Question 16

Types of variables

Answer 16

1. dependent variable
2. independent variable
3. mediating variable
4. moderating variable

Question 17

Dependent variable

Answer 17

variable of primary interest = criterion variable

Question 18

Independent variable

Answer 18

Influences the dependent variable = predictor variable

Question 19

Mediating variable

Answer 19

• explains the mechanism at work between X and Y

- Why does X has an influence on Y

Question 20

full mediation

Answer 20

X only has an effect on Y through mediation

Question 21

Partial mediation

Answer 21

X has an indirect effect on Y through mediation AND direct effect on Y

Question 22

Moderating variable

Answer 22

Alters the strength and sometimes even the direction (positive ↔ negative) of the relationship between X and Y

Question 23

Pure moderator

Answer 23

moderates relationship between X and Y but no direct effect on Y

Question 24

Quasi moderator

Answer 24

moderates relationship between X and Y AND also has direct effect on Y

Question 25

Control variable

Answer 25

it is a variable that is not the focus of the study but it existence has an influence on the dependent variable, thus it is included

Question 26

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 26

A tentative statement about the coherence between two variables

Question 27

Directional vs. undirectional Hypotheses

Answer 27

diretional = one-sided (lower, higher etc)
undirectional = two-sided ( there is an effect)