Chapter 2: Business Research Strategies Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is a research strategy?
A general orientation to the conduct of research.
Example: Choosing between a quantitative survey or a qualitative interview study.
What is deductive reasoning?
Starting with theory and testing it through data.
Example: Predicting that “job satisfaction increases productivity” and then testing it with a survey.
What is inductive reasoning?
Developing theory from observations or data.
Example: Interviewing employees and discovering a new model of workplace motivation.
What is abductive reasoning?
Moving back and forth between data and theory to find the best explanation.
Example: Observing unexpected behavior and revising your theory to make sense of it.
What is a research paradigm?
A framework of beliefs and practices that guide research.
Example: Using a positivist paradigm to focus on measurable facts.
What is positivism?
A belief that reality can be observed and measured objectively.
Example: Studying job performance through KPIs and numerical data.
What is interpretivism?
A belief that reality is socially constructed and must be interpreted.
Example: Understanding how employees define “a good leader” through interviews.
What is objectivism?
The belief that social phenomena exist independently of individuals.
Example: Viewing organizational culture as something that can be measured.
What is constructionism?
The belief that social reality is created through interactions and meaning-making.
Example: Studying how team members co-create group identity through language.
What is the role of theory in research?
Theory explains phenomena and connects different concepts.
Example: Using Herzberg’s theory to study employee motivation.
What is empirical data?
Data gathered through observation or experience.
Example: Collecting customer feedback from a focus group.
What is a quantitative research strategy?
A strategy focused on numerical data and statistical analysis.
Example: Conducting a survey to analyze trends in consumer behavior.
What is a qualitative research strategy?
A strategy focused on understanding meaning and experience.
Example: Observing workplace behavior to understand team dynamics.
What are values in research?
Researchers’ personal beliefs that can influence their work.
Example: A feminist researcher focusing on gender dynamics in organizations.
What are practicalities in research strategy?
Real-world considerations like time, access, and resources.
Example: Choosing interviews over surveys due to limited participant numbers.
