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Problem definition

4 important questions on Problem definition

In the problem identification (step 1 inductive research) you have to consider what your topic of your research is - what is the problem of the organization, why the topic is interesting (theoretical and empirical relevance/ urgency), what the main objective is to achieve and what the connection is to theory. Which 2 steps are needed?

Step 1: Description of the empirical problem: write down in easy words what the company told you the problem is in their language.
Step 2: Conceptualization (= connection to the theory) --> Result: conceptual model

Why are there no moderator/ mediators in the conceptual model in the beginning?

There is no moderator/ mediator because we don’t know what these mediators and moderators are yet. We hardly know anything yet. We have first to find out what our problem is and what our current situation is (qualitative) and then we measure this relationship by quantitative analysis methods.

How do you test if a conceptual model is good?

Conceptual model describes the relevant concepts to study. (quantitative study: the constructs)
The empirical problem and the conceptual model have to fit together: concept validity
The conceptual model is the basis for your theoretical framework
The conceptual model strongly influences your data collection and data analysis.

A good conceptual model: