1. www.handels.gu.se Johan Brink November 7th Research Methods 2015-10-08

2. www.handels.gu.se Research methods Johan Brink Evangelos Bourelos Wajda Wikhamn 2015-10-08

3. www.handels.gu.se Why do business research? Choices for researchers Dos and Don’ts Understanding of the process 2015-10-08

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6. www.handels.gu.se Tasks & Grading Task 1 10% Task 2 10% Task 3 60% Take Home 20% 2015-10-08

7. www.handels.gu.se Task 1: Review of a thesis Write 2 pages where you answer the following questions: What is the main problem or research question? What ‘techniques’ or methods have the author(s) used to gather empirical material? Is the analysis correctly performed? What well does the empirical information and analysis ‘correspond’ or answer, the main problem/research question? Why or why not? Then write 2-3 pages to compare and reflect about the thesis Do you think the thesis succeeds in answering its questions? Why or why not? (This may be linked to the following question:) What are the strengths and weaknesses of the thesis? Propose an alternative method to answer its chosen research questions. Argue why this method would likely lead to different results. Argue whether your results would likely be better, worse or equivalent to answer that particular research questions. 2015-10-08

8. www.handels.gu.se Task 3: Research proposal You should write a 2-4 page description of the project, followed by a 2-4 page analysis. Define the Masters thesis (e.g. what you will do, the overall topic, strategy) as well as explain why you do so. Explain the relationship between key aspects of research design, research methods, and data analysis from the perspective of different research strategies. Identify researchable questions and estimate or delineate data needs depending on the purpose, models and frameworks of an empirical investigation Explain how you plan to gather qualitative evidence, including how to conduct interviews and/or gather quantitative data Relate to the book, and how you can use common techniques to acquire and analyse data. Describe your scientific paradigms and explain how these affect research strategies What will you do when the planned research strategy ‘all goes wrong’? what problems might arise, and how can you solve them? 2015-10-08

9. www.handels.gu.se Task 3: Research proposal Title Research problem Key literature/theory Methodology – with suggested analysis! Research project /Gantt References 2015-10-08

10. www.handels.gu.se Task 3: Research proposal Motivation: lack of knowledge + impact! Achievable/ realistic Specific/defined Interesting/motivating to you! 2015-10-08

11. www.handels.gu.se Evidence based management 1980ties – Relevance of management research? 1990ties – Health sector, New public management – Policy management – Private management 2015-10-08

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13. www.handels.gu.se Knowledge Justified true belief? 2015-10-08 Truth Belief

14. www.handels.gu.se Knowledge Positivism Interpretation 2015-10-08

15. www.handels.gu.se Ontology Objectivism Constructionism 2015-10-08

16. www.handels.gu.se Theory Explanation of regularities, understanding Relationships What: which factors are relevant, comprehensiveness should some be deleted/added? Parsimony Why: their relationship – the assumptions Grand theories - Middle range theories 2015-10-08

17. www.handels.gu.se Deductive & Inductive 2015-10-08 1. Theory 2. Hypothesis 3. Data collection 4. Findings 5. Hypothesis confirmed/rejected 6. Revision of theory

18. www.handels.gu.se Deductive & Inductive 2015-10-08 1. Empirics 2. Interpretations/analysis 3. Theoretical comparison /synthesis 4. Findings 5. Revision of theory

19. www.handels.gu.se Qualitative & Quantitative 2015-10-08 A &1

20. www.handels.gu.se Research Design The design is an activity and time based plan The design is always based on the Research question (RQ) Guides the selection of information Specifies the relationships among variables Outlines, procedures for activities Levels of analysis & units of analysis Normative (should be – ‘better than’) Descriptive (is like..) 2015-10-08

21. www.handels.gu.se Research Design Normative (should be – ‘better than’) Descriptive (is like..) 2015-10-08

22. www.handels.gu.se2015-10-08 CategoryOptions The degree to which the RQ has been crystallizedExploratory Formal Method of data collectionMonitoring Interrogation/communication - Response Archival sources The power of the research to influence the variables under study Experimental Ex-post facto The purpose of the studyDescriptive Causal Predictive The time dimensionCross sectional Longitudinal The topical scope – breadth and depth of the studyCase Statistical analysis (sample or census) The research environmentField setting Laboratory research - manipulated Simulation - artificial The participants’ perceptions of research activityActual routine (don’t know) Modified routine (know)