Research Skills
Lecture notes
Lecture 1 - introduction
Research = training process of research is to learn to think systematically and develop analytic
capabilities. Systematic approach is more accurate and reliable for practical and everyday life
Example, if you intend to buy a car then doing some research on models, features, price,
availability will help you to compare and decide which car suits your need
Example, practical problem solving and decision making in companies is based on research. If
a firm experiences declining sales, then through systematic observation and thinking it will be
clear that sales are decreasing because of newly introduced substitute
Example, Hassan and Ghuari (2014) believe that many M&As fail due to the fact that proper
research was not undertaken while evaluating the target company or each other
The production knowledge is thus not restricted to academic research, it involves academics, policy
makers and managers. The purpose of doing research are manifold, such as to describe / explain /
understand / foresee / criticize and analyze already existing knowledge or phenomena in social
sciences
Research is an original investigation leading to the production of new knowledge through systematic
information collection and critical analysis -> work systematically and learn critically to analyze issues
/ matters before believing in them or acting upon them
This systematic research activity contributes to knowledge and understanding in a particular
Originality comes from studying new concepts and thus to create new knowledge – do new
things and do not copy existing research that will provide similar results
Knowledge development = dates back to ancient cultures, differentiating truth from falsehood. You
need training in differentiating false from true. Knowledge should have 3 components;
1) Justification
2) Truth
3) Belief
Knowledge is a justified true belief
Method of acquiring knowledge and explanations get a prominent role in the nature of knowledge
development. It is important to differentiate between knowledge and an opinion of an individual, to
become knowledge it should have proper justification grounds. Research is based on evidence, facts
that contribute to the development of knowledge. You need authentic research for your new
knowledge (preceding papers and studies).
Knowledge development process = epistemology, you develop certain assumptions around
knowledge. While developing your knowledge you develop assumptions. Such an assumption can be
ontology -> ontology delas with nature of reality and reflects how an individual interprets a fact, it
means that you have subjective or objective interest in looking at reality
Epistemology is a development process – how an individual looks at a fact / reality – how do
you look at the physiological assumptions
- Subjective is based on human experiences
- Objective is based on numbers
Epistemological and ontological choices underpin methodological choices. Since quantitative or
qualitative can also be combined in a mixed method
, Knowledge = a claim is accepted because proof of truth or warrant is given.
- Knowledge based on sense is priori knowledge (theoretical knowledge that gives connections
among things)
- Knowledge based on experience is posteriori knowledge (empirical asserts exists)
Faith = a claim is accepted without proof or warrant, yet high strength of conviction
Opinion = personal point of view – varies in conviction
There are different ways to establish what is false and what is true and draw conclusions. These are
induction, deduction and abduction
1) Induction = based on empirical evidence (qualitative type of research). Through induction we
draw general conclusions from empirical observations. Process goes from observations ->
analysis -> findings -> theory building.
o Process goes from assumption to conclusion
o Never be 100% sure about the inductive conclusions, as the conclusions are based on
some empirical observations
2) Deduction = based on logic (quantitative type of research). Researcher builds / deduces
hypotheses from the existing knowledge (literature), which can be subject to empirical
scrutiny (testing) and thus can be accepted or rejected
3) Abduction = not just a combination or induction and deduction. It is a methodology in which
you find some literature and based on this you state hypothesis and go to the field to test it.
A theoretical interpretation of an empirical problem that can lead to development of new
theories. The original framework and theoretical assumptions of the researcher are
continuously modified as a result of empirical findings
o Theory leads to empirics -> develop new critical insights to existing theories
What comes first theory or data? -> often assumed that theory should precede data, thus
observations interactions between theory and data take place. Unexpected findings shows that the
theory can be wrong and thus forces the researcher to rethink prior beliefs
Qualitative research = methods are designed to help researches understand people and what they
say and do. They allow a researcher to see and understand the context within which actions and
decisions take place.
It is the context that helps to explain why someone said something or acted the way they did
Formalized research process, research is often seen as a process
which is a set of activities that evolve over time. A process has
distinct stages which entail different tasks. In reality the process is
not so orderly and sequential
The
starting point of the research process is the research topic, which is the phenomenon or theme to be
studied. The following step is to discuss, a more specific question (= research question / problem).
Lecture notes
Lecture 1 - introduction
Research = training process of research is to learn to think systematically and develop analytic
capabilities. Systematic approach is more accurate and reliable for practical and everyday life
Example, if you intend to buy a car then doing some research on models, features, price,
availability will help you to compare and decide which car suits your need
Example, practical problem solving and decision making in companies is based on research. If
a firm experiences declining sales, then through systematic observation and thinking it will be
clear that sales are decreasing because of newly introduced substitute
Example, Hassan and Ghuari (2014) believe that many M&As fail due to the fact that proper
research was not undertaken while evaluating the target company or each other
The production knowledge is thus not restricted to academic research, it involves academics, policy
makers and managers. The purpose of doing research are manifold, such as to describe / explain /
understand / foresee / criticize and analyze already existing knowledge or phenomena in social
sciences
Research is an original investigation leading to the production of new knowledge through systematic
information collection and critical analysis -> work systematically and learn critically to analyze issues
/ matters before believing in them or acting upon them
This systematic research activity contributes to knowledge and understanding in a particular
Originality comes from studying new concepts and thus to create new knowledge – do new
things and do not copy existing research that will provide similar results
Knowledge development = dates back to ancient cultures, differentiating truth from falsehood. You
need training in differentiating false from true. Knowledge should have 3 components;
1) Justification
2) Truth
3) Belief
Knowledge is a justified true belief
Method of acquiring knowledge and explanations get a prominent role in the nature of knowledge
development. It is important to differentiate between knowledge and an opinion of an individual, to
become knowledge it should have proper justification grounds. Research is based on evidence, facts
that contribute to the development of knowledge. You need authentic research for your new
knowledge (preceding papers and studies).
Knowledge development process = epistemology, you develop certain assumptions around
knowledge. While developing your knowledge you develop assumptions. Such an assumption can be
ontology -> ontology delas with nature of reality and reflects how an individual interprets a fact, it
means that you have subjective or objective interest in looking at reality
Epistemology is a development process – how an individual looks at a fact / reality – how do
you look at the physiological assumptions
- Subjective is based on human experiences
- Objective is based on numbers
Epistemological and ontological choices underpin methodological choices. Since quantitative or
qualitative can also be combined in a mixed method
, Knowledge = a claim is accepted because proof of truth or warrant is given.
- Knowledge based on sense is priori knowledge (theoretical knowledge that gives connections
among things)
- Knowledge based on experience is posteriori knowledge (empirical asserts exists)
Faith = a claim is accepted without proof or warrant, yet high strength of conviction
Opinion = personal point of view – varies in conviction
There are different ways to establish what is false and what is true and draw conclusions. These are
induction, deduction and abduction
1) Induction = based on empirical evidence (qualitative type of research). Through induction we
draw general conclusions from empirical observations. Process goes from observations ->
analysis -> findings -> theory building.
o Process goes from assumption to conclusion
o Never be 100% sure about the inductive conclusions, as the conclusions are based on
some empirical observations
2) Deduction = based on logic (quantitative type of research). Researcher builds / deduces
hypotheses from the existing knowledge (literature), which can be subject to empirical
scrutiny (testing) and thus can be accepted or rejected
3) Abduction = not just a combination or induction and deduction. It is a methodology in which
you find some literature and based on this you state hypothesis and go to the field to test it.
A theoretical interpretation of an empirical problem that can lead to development of new
theories. The original framework and theoretical assumptions of the researcher are
continuously modified as a result of empirical findings
o Theory leads to empirics -> develop new critical insights to existing theories
What comes first theory or data? -> often assumed that theory should precede data, thus
observations interactions between theory and data take place. Unexpected findings shows that the
theory can be wrong and thus forces the researcher to rethink prior beliefs
Qualitative research = methods are designed to help researches understand people and what they
say and do. They allow a researcher to see and understand the context within which actions and
decisions take place.
It is the context that helps to explain why someone said something or acted the way they did
Formalized research process, research is often seen as a process
which is a set of activities that evolve over time. A process has
distinct stages which entail different tasks. In reality the process is
not so orderly and sequential
The
starting point of the research process is the research topic, which is the phenomenon or theme to be
studied. The following step is to discuss, a more specific question (= research question / problem).
