Session 1: Course introduction and researcher vs. consultant Flashcards
(13 cards)
What do we mean by ‘business research’?
academic research on topics relating to questions that are relevant to the field of business and management and have a social science orientation
Why do business research?
questions that arise during research, e.g. gaps or inconsistencies
development in an organization that provides an interesting departure for research
aspect of understanding what goes on in organizations that is to some extent unresolved
external challenges (e.g. digitalization)
to understand a topic or phenomena better (e.g. open innovation)
Why is it important to study methods?
awareness of possible choices in regard to research methods
awareness of dos and don’ts
insights into overall research process
insights into what constitutes good and poor research
transferable skill to other settings
Why learn about business research?
avoid pitfalls when doing research yourself
beneficial when consuming published research
satisfy your curiosity by being able to undertake research projects
What are key considerations in business research methods?
role of theory
values and ethical considerations
relevance vs. rigour
political considerations
What is meant by ‘mode 1’ and ‘mode 2’ in regard to knowledge production?
Mode 1: Traditional, university-based, academic, linear, other academics the primary audience
Mode 2: Interdisciplinary, context-specific, less linear, involves broad set of stakeholders
What are the elements of the research process?
Literature review
- discover what has already been written about the subject
Concepts and theories
- identify key concept and theories, or develop key concepts and theories through the research
Research questions
- what is it that we want to know?
Sampling
- selection of sample relevant to the research question(s)
Data collection
- gathering data from sample so that research question(s) can be answered
Data analysis
- management, analysis, and interpretation of data
Writing up
- dissemination of research and findings
What is meant by ‘the messiness of business research’?
research often does not conform to neat, linear processes - unexpected contingencies and difficulties often arise
research is full of false starts, blind alleys, mistakes, and enforced changes
important to remain flexible and adapt in response to opportunities and problems
general advice presented in the book, needs to be adapted to your circumstances
Why is it important to be aware of confirmation bias when doing research (answer very shortly in one paragraph)?
Being aware of confirmation bias is important when doing research because it helps prevent the unintentional favoring of information that supports preexisting beliefs while ignoring evidence that contradicts them. This bias can lead to flawed conclusions, reduced objectivity, and unreliable results, ultimately compromising the integrity and validity of the research.
Describe these terms:
inductive approach
abductive approach
deductive approach
Inductive approach: Starts with observations and uses them to develop general theories or patterns.
Abductive approach: Interaction between theory and empirical data/observation
Deductive approach: Starts with a general theory or hypothesis and tests it through specific observations or data.
Concepts
Concepts are the way that we make sense of the social world
Concepts are labels that we give to aspects of the social world that seem to have significant common features
What types of research questions are there?
- Predicting an outcome
- Explaining causes and consequences of a phenomenon
- Evaluating a pheonomenon
- Describing a phenomenon
- Developing good practice
- Empowerment
Describe the consulting process.
- Initial contact
- Decision to work together
- Preliminary analysis
- Formal proposal
- Project charter
- In-depth analysis
- Implementation
- Delivery
- Follow-up
