Chapter 2 Scientific Investigation and the Research Process

2. Chapter 2 Scientific Investigation and the Research Process

3. Chapter Objectives • Explain what is meant by scientific investigation • Explain the eight hallmarks of science • Briefly explain why research in the organisational behaviour and management areas cannot be completely scientific • Compare and contrast quantitative and qualitative research. • Discuss the eleven steps of the research process

4. Scientific Investigation • The need for an honest, truthful, accurate and complete investigation • Focused on the goals of problem-solving • Pursues a step-by-step, logical, organised and rigorous method

5. The Hallmarks of Scientific Research • Purposiveness • Rigour • Testability • Replicability

6. The Hallmarks of Scientific Research (cont.) • Accuracy • Objectivity • Generalisability • Parsimony

7. Limitations to Scientific Research in Management • Difficulties in measurement and collection of data • Obtaining a representative sample

8. Some Basic Definitions • Observations – perceptions of reality and can be expressed in the form of ‘facts’ or ‘opinions’ • Concepts – an idea expressed as a symbol or in words • Constructs – abstract representation of a phenomenon

9. Approaches to Research • Quantitative research • Qualitative research • Deduction • Induction

12. Deductive and Inductive Reasoning in Business Research

13. The Business Research Process Insert figure 2.2

14. The Research Process • Catalyst for research • Preliminary information gathering and literature search • Problem definition • Framework development

15. The Research Process (cont.) • Research objectives • Research design • Data collection • Data analysis • Interpretation of findings • Report • Management action