Summary: Research Skills Lecture + Articles

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• 2 Part A Lecture 2: Types of research

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• What is the difference between conceptual research and empirical research (types of research)?

  • Conceptual research
  – No data; little concern about sampling or choice of
  cases, measurement, analysis methods, etc.
  –Anekdotes or past findings may be used for illustration,
  but no systematic data collection/analysis
  • Empirical research
  – Use data: quantitative, qualitative, or both (mixedmethods
  research, see slide 17)
  – Formal and systematic methods for data collection and
  analysis, regardless of your track!

• Which three aspects are needed for writing your thesis?

  - Theory
  • A theoretical lens may be used to examine various phenomena
  • Examples of theory: TCE, the resource-based view (RBV), equity
  theory, information asymmetry, agency theory, social exchange
  theory, Dunning’s OLI framework…
  – Phenomenon
  • Different theoretical lenses may be used to examine the same
  phenomenon
  • Examples of phenomenon: strategic alliances, M&A,
  crowdfunding, reverse knowledge transfer, supply chain
  integration, closed-loop supply chain…
  – Data (see slides 26-27)

• Example of research question: "How can channel management strategies promote trust and reduce conflict in the franchisor - franchisee relationship in order to improve franchisee performance?". What 1) theory, 2) Phenomenon and 3) Data is used?

  1) Theory: agency theory (contractual governance) and social
  exchange theory (relational governance)
  2) Phenomenon: channel management from a franchisee
  perspective
  3) Data: 9 interviews with franchisees of two franchise chains in
  the Netherlands

• Describe the characteristics of quantitative research

  –Data are in numerical form
  
  –Analyses are some inferential statistics
  • T-test, ANOVA, cluster analysis, discriminant analysis,
  multidimensional scaling, factor analysis, SEM, regression…
  
  –Main purpose: obtain statistical evidence to support or
  reject hypotheses derived from theory 
  
  –A large sample size is a strength
  • What we get from regression or any statistical analysis is
  always some kind of average
  • “Outliers” should be avoided or somehow dealt with
  
  – Define a priori a set of core concepts/constructs and find
  ways to measure them

• Describe the characteristics of qualitative research

  – Data are not in numerical form (text, audio, picture…)
  
  – Analyses are interpretive or rhetorical
  
  –Main purpose
  • Build a new theory [not recommended]
  • Elaborate/extend an existing theory: theory exists, but there are
  important gaps, constraints, ambiguities, or omissions
  • Theory supported inductive research (Lecture 1 slide 19)
  
  – A very small sample size (may even focus on “outliers”)
  
  – Two different approaches (among others)
  • The Gioia approach (Gioia et al. 2013): new concepts/constructs
  emerge from data
  • The Eisenhardt approach (1989: 536): “a priori specification of
  constructs” with the possibility of refining constructs with data

• Romy Denissen started with this (picture) initial framework based on the literature. Was Romy following the Gioia or Eisenhardt approach?

  The Eisenhardt approach, because Romy is using tentative concepts in her conceptual model and she will probably try to refine the constructs with data.

• Romy Denissen arrived at this (picture) extended framework as a result of qualitative data analysis. Is this theory building or theory elaboration/ extension? Is this theory building or "theory supported inductive research"?

  This is theory elaboration/ extension, as it is extending the initial framework she found in previous literature with her research results. 
  
  This is theory building as it is not only supporting the framework she found early in her research, but she is also adding new constructs.

• What's the difference between primary data collection and seondary data collection? Give some examples.

  • Primary data: collected by the researcher
  – Survey (mail/online)
  – Interview (face-to-face/telephone)
  – Experiment (lab/field)
  – Observation (with/without awareness of subjects)
  
  • Secondary data: the researcher uses existing data
  collected by another person or agency
  – Our library (https://libsearch.uvt.nl/en/allgroup.html) has
  COMPUSTAT, Orbis, SDC…
  – Key advantage: non-obtrusive (opdringerig)
  – Key disadvantage: not collected for the purpose of your
  particular study
  
  Primary and secondary data can be quantitative or qualitative.

• 3 Part B Lecture 1: Problem definition

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• What are the 7 steps in a theory supported inductive research project?

  Step 1: Problem definition (What? and Why?)
  Step 2: Research design (How? and Why?)
  Step 3: Building a theoretical framework
  Step 4: Data collection
  Step 5: Data analysis --> results
  Step 6: Solutions (recommendations)
  Step 7: External validity

• Which requirements should you take into account in your research design?

  • Validity:

  
  - Concept validity
  - Internal validity
  - External validity (not required but desirable)

  • Reliability