business research Flashcards
(26 cards)
What are the characteristics of scientific research?
- Purposiveness
- Rigor
- Testability
- Replicability
- Precision and Confidence
- Objectivity
- Generalizability
- Parsimony
These characteristics guide the conduct of scientific research, ensuring systematic and reliable results.
What are the steps in the hypothetico-deductive method?
- Identify a broad problem area
- Define the problem statement
- Develop hypotheses
- Determine measures
- Data collection
- Data analysis
- Interpretation of data
This process is fundamental in scientific research for testing theories and hypotheses.
Define deductive reasoning.
Application of a general theory to a specific case.
This method often involves hypothesis testing.
Define inductive reasoning.
Observing specific phenomena to arrive at general conclusions.
An example is counting white swans to conclude all swans are white.
What is positivism in scientific research?
The belief that scientific research is the way to get to the truth.
It emphasizes rigor, replicability, reliability, and generalizability.
What does critical realism assert?
There is an external reality, but we cannot always objectively measure it.
Critical realists question our ability to understand the world with certainty.
What is constructionism?
The view that the world is fundamentally mental and aims to understand how people make sense of it.
Research methods are often qualitative in nature.
What does pragmatism in research imply?
No specific position on what constitutes good research; both objective and subjective phenomena are valuable.
It emphasizes the relationship between theory and practice.
List some research strategies.
- Experiments
- Survey Research
- Observation
- Case studies
- Grounded theory
- Action research
- Mixed Methods
These strategies can be used to explore various research questions.
What is the unit of analysis in research?
- Individuals
- Dyads
- Households
- Groups
- Organizations
- Cultures
The unit of analysis defines what is being studied in the research.
What are the types of time horizons in research?
- Cross-sectional studies
- Multiple cross-sectional studies
- Longitudinal studies
These types differ in how data is collected over time.
What is cluster sampling?
- Division of population into clusters
- Random selection of clusters
- Inclusion of all elements from selected clusters
Characterized by inter-cluster homogeneity and intra-cluster heterogeneity.
Define stratified sampling.
- Divide the population into strata
- Include all strata
- Random selection of elements from strata
It ensures representation of all relevant subpopulations.
What is precision in research?
Refers to how close our estimate is to the true population characteristic.
It involves calculating the margin of error.
What does confidence refer to in research?
How certain we can be about our estimates holding true for the population.
Confidence is often expressed as a percentage.
What is the trade-off between precision and confidence?
Increasing sample size can enhance both confidence and precision.
A larger sample size typically leads to more reliable results.
What is a nominal scale?
Allows researchers to assign subjects to categories or groups.
Examples include departments or gender.
Define ordinal scale.
Categorizes variables and rank-orders them meaningfully.
An example is ranking education levels.
What is an interval scale?
Measures the distance between any two points on the scale.
It allows comparison of differences in values.
What is a ratio scale?
Has an absolute zero point, allowing for meaningful measurement.
This scale overcomes the limitations of interval scales.
What is validity in research instruments?
Does the instrument measure the concept intended?
Validity ensures that the research accurately reflects the concept being studied.
What is reliability in research instruments?
Is the instrument consistent in its measure?
This consistency is crucial for the credibility of research findings.
What does positive correlation indicate?
A direct relationship between two variables.
As one variable increases, the other also tends to increase.
What does negative correlation indicate?
An inverse relationship between two variables.
As one variable increases, the other tends to decrease.
