Chapter 2

Business Research
Methods
Donald Cooper
Pamela Schindler

Irwin/McGraw-Hill ©The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2001

 Chapter 2

Addressing
Management
Problems with
Scientific Thinking

Irwin/McGraw-Hill ©The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2001

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to edit Master title style
of Knowledge
Slide 2 - 1

 Empiricists attempt to describe, explain,

and make predictions through observation
 Rationalists believe all knowledge can be
deduced from known laws or basic truths of
nature
 Authorities serve as important sources of
knowledge, but should be judged on
integrity and willingness to present a
balanced case
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The to edit Master
Essential Tenetstitle
of style
Science
Slide 2 - 2

 Direct observation of phenomena

 Clearly defined variables, methods, and
procedures
 Empirically testable hypotheses
 Ability to rule out rival hypotheses
 Statistical justification of conclusions
 Self-correcting process

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 Click to edit
Ways toMaster title style
Communicate
Slide 2 - 3

 Exposition
 descriptive statements that merely state and
do not give reason
 Argument
 allows us to explain, interpret, defend,
challenge, and explore meaning

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 Click to edit
Important Master title
Arguments style
in Research
Slide 2 - 4

 Deduction is a form of inference that

purports to be conclusive
 Induction draws conclusions from one or
more particular facts

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Blockstitle
ofstyle
Theory
Slide 2 - 5

Concepts
Constructs
Definitions
Variables
Propositions and Hypotheses
Theories
Models

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Understanding title style
Slide 2 - 6
 A concept is a bundle of meanings or
characteristics associated with certain
events, objects, conditions, situations,
and behaviors
 Concepts have been developed over
time through shared usage

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 Click to edit MasterConcepts
Understanding title style
Slide 2 - 7
 The success of research hinges on:
 how clearly we conceptualize
 how well others understand the concepts
we use

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 ClickWhat
to editisMaster title style
a Construct?
Slide 2 - 8

 An image or idea specifically invented for

a given research and/or theory-building
purpose

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Types title style
of Variables
Slide 2 - 9

Independent
Dependent
Moderating
Extraneous
Intervening

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Role Master title style
the Hypothesis
Slide 2 - 10

 Guides the direction of the study

 Identifies facts that are relevant
 Suggests which form of research design is
appropriate
 Provides a framework for organizing the
conclusions that result

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 Click
Whattoisedit MasterHypothesis?
a Good title style
Slide 2 - 11

 A good hypothesis should fulfill three

conditions:
 Must be adequate for its purpose
 Must be testable
 Must be better than its rivals

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ValueMaster
of atitle style
Theory
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 Narrows the range of facts we need to

study
 Suggests which research approaches will
yield the greatest meaning
 Summarizes what is known about an object
of study
 Predicts further facts that should be found

Irwin/McGraw-Hill The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2001