Week1 Flashcards
5 steps to go rom a business problem to a research question
- Formulate a knowledge question.
- Gather relevant knowledge that’s already available.
- Gather new, additional data.
- Analyze and interpret
- Formulate answer to the question.
4 Principles of scientific research
- Based on testable hypotheses and proof. Not on trust and faith.
- Research doesn’t happen in a vacuum. There is always knowledge that you can use
- Don’t assume other research is right. Be critical.
- The more research supports the theory, the more likely it is that the theory is true.
Scientific knowledge is created by 4 main components
-> order is not fixed!
Theory, Expectations, Studies, Observations
3 main logics in scientific reasoning
Inductive reasoning (pond of white swans -> all swans are white)
Deductive reasoning (all men are mortal, Socrates is a man -> socrates is mortal)
Abductive reasoning (Engine doesn’t start but can be explained by multiple theories -> The mechanic considers various possible explanations, such as a dead battery, an empty fuel tank, or a faulty starter, and selects the most plausible cause based on available evidence.)
From specific to general
Induction
From general to specific
Deduction
From interactions between specific and general
Abduction
Theory building
Induction
Theory testing
Deduction
Theory building or modification (elaboration)
Abduction
Research onion
The Research Onion, developed by Saunders, Lewis, and Thornhill (2007), is a model that outlines the different layers of research methodology. It helps researchers systematically choose their philosophy, approach, strategy, time horizon, and data collection techniques based on their research objectives.
Layers of the Research Onion
Philosophy (Outer Layer)
Determines the worldview that guides the research.
Examples: Positivism, Interpretivism, Pragmatism, Postmodernism.
Approach to Theory Development
Defines how theories are developed or tested.
Deduction (testing an existing theory), Induction (creating a new theory), or Abduction (choosing the most plausible explanation).
Methodological Choice
Determines whether the research is qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method.
Strategy (Research Design)
The approach used to conduct the study, such as:
Experiment, Survey, Case Study, Grounded Theory, Ethnography, Action Research.
Time Horizon
Defines how data is collected over time:
Cross-sectional (at one point in time) or Longitudinal (over a longer period).
Data Collection & Data Analysis (Core Layer)
The specific techniques and procedures used to collect and analyze data.
Examples: Interviews, Questionnaires, Statistical Analysis, Observations, Textual Analysis.
Why is the Research Onion Useful?
It structures the research process systematically.
Helps in choosing appropriate research methods.
Ensures alignment between philosophy, methodology, and data collection.
Avoids methodological mistakes that could weaken research validity.
The research cycle
Managerial problem
Knowledge question -> A knowledge question refines the managerial problem into a researchable question that can be investigated scientifically.
Review of evidence
Research design
Data collection
Data analysis
Research outcomes
Recommendation to management
Different questions generate different knowledge
4 types of questions:
Descriptive knowledge (how things are)
Explanatory (why things are that way)
Predictive (how things will be)
Prescriptive (how things should be done)
Discussion has 5 typical elements
Conclusion
Contribution
Contribution to practice
Limitations
Suggestions
CIMO statement
How the outcomes of the research support decision making by managers.
C - Context
I - Intervention
M - Mechanism
O - Outcome
From this research we learn that in context … , if you do intervention…., Mechanism …. will help to achieve outcome ….
Different classifications of data
Primary vs Secondary
Qualitative (what, why and how?) vs Quantitative (how much and how often)
Empirical vs Simulated
Types of research
Exploratory, Theory-building, Theory-testing, Decision science
