The purpose of the study

   

Exploratory study Descriptive study Hypothesis testing Case studies

Explanatory study


It is the one that is undertaken when not much is known about the situation at hand, or when no information is available on how similar problems or research issues have been solved in the past. In essence, these studies are undertaken to better comprehend the problem.

Descriptive study


It is undertaken in order to ascertain and be able to describe the characteristics of the variables of interest in a situation. For example, one might want to know and be able to describe the characteristics of the organizations that implement flexible manufacturing system or which have a certain debt to equity ratio.

Hypothesis testing


Studies that engage in hypotheses testing usually explains the nature of certain relationships, or establish the differences among groups or the independence of two or more factors in a situation.

Case studies


These involve in depth, contextual analysis of similar situations in other organizations, where the nature of the problem and the problem definition happen to be the same as the one experienced in the current situations.

Types of Investigation


Causal study
when the researcher wants to delineate the cause of one or more problems

Correlation study
when the researcher is interested in delineating the important variables that are associated with the problem

Examples of causal vs. co relational

 

 

Does smoking cause cancer? Does age effect job satisfaction ? Whereas Are smoking and cancer related? Are age and job satisfaction related?

study setting: contrived and non contrived



Correlational studies are done in non contrived settings whereas Causal studies are done in contrived settings.
Correlational studies done in organization are called field studies whereas field experiment are conducted to establish cause and effect relationship but in natural environment.

Lab experiment

Field study a non contrived setting with minimal

researcher interference.

Field experiment a non contrived setting but with

researcher interference.

Lab experiment a contrived setting with

researcher interference in an excessive degree.

Unit of analysis


    

Unit of analysis refers to the level of aggregation of the data collected during the subsequent data analysis stage. Individual Dyads Groups Organizations cultures