Summary of business research methods
What is business research?
The academic study of different topics that are related to business. It focuses
on social science, unlike subject such as physics, therefore the use of
sociology and psychology is highly relevant. Business research is likely to be
conducted when there is a change in the way organizations or societies either
do or view a certain things.
Why do business research?
When questions concerning organizations and other factors in the business
world start to emerge: To understand a topic or phenomenon better, there is
inconsistency among studies, there are unresolved issues, Gap in literature or
evolution such as social development
What affect business research? (1,2,3)
The theories: By using existing theories one can add new information to these
theories and develop new ones linked to these. Existing knowledge: By being
familiar with what is already known about a specific topic or area of interest,
one can build on it and thereby avoid doing the same research that have
already done. Researchers view: Views on the relationship about theory and
research. Some researcher see theory as a result of research (inductive),
while other view research as the result of the theory (deductive).
What affect business research? (4,5,6 and 7)
Assumption about the nature of social phenomenon: Ontological assumptions
where constructivism: social phenomenon is a product of social interactions
and development. Objectivism: social phenomenon is external and that no
social actors has any control of it. How research should be conducted:
epistemological assumptions Quality criteria, Values in the research
community and practical purpose.
, What type of knowledge/research are there?
Basic knowledge: Knowledge has intrinsic value. attempts to expand the limits
of knowledge though development and evaluation of concepts and theories to
explain phenomena Applied knowledge: Knowledge has instrumental value.
Targets to help make decisions about specific, current real-rife problems. Most
business research is applied research.
How is the process of business research?
1.literature review: Help researchers to understand the topic better and to be
able to build upon what is already known 2.Concept and theories 3.Research
question 4.Smapling 5.Data collection 6.Data analysis 7. writing up
What is philosophical assumptions?
It informs the choice of business research methods, wether to do quantitative
research or qualitative research.
What is concept?
The way we make sense of the social world. Concept are labels we give to
aspect of the social world that seem to have significant features.
What is epistemology?
Refers to theories about what is known or what we know. It is how we try to
know and go about studying that reality.
What is the most common view of epistemology?
Positivism: The reality exist objectively and externally, the only way to gather
data is to observe the phenomenon directly or to measure them by using
surveys or other instruments. Has objectivism as an ontological position and is
typically deductive and mimics experimental research in physical sciences.
Interpretivism: Reality is constituted by human act and meaning-making
instead of objectivism. contrasting to positivism.
What is business research?
The academic study of different topics that are related to business. It focuses
on social science, unlike subject such as physics, therefore the use of
sociology and psychology is highly relevant. Business research is likely to be
conducted when there is a change in the way organizations or societies either
do or view a certain things.
Why do business research?
When questions concerning organizations and other factors in the business
world start to emerge: To understand a topic or phenomenon better, there is
inconsistency among studies, there are unresolved issues, Gap in literature or
evolution such as social development
What affect business research? (1,2,3)
The theories: By using existing theories one can add new information to these
theories and develop new ones linked to these. Existing knowledge: By being
familiar with what is already known about a specific topic or area of interest,
one can build on it and thereby avoid doing the same research that have
already done. Researchers view: Views on the relationship about theory and
research. Some researcher see theory as a result of research (inductive),
while other view research as the result of the theory (deductive).
What affect business research? (4,5,6 and 7)
Assumption about the nature of social phenomenon: Ontological assumptions
where constructivism: social phenomenon is a product of social interactions
and development. Objectivism: social phenomenon is external and that no
social actors has any control of it. How research should be conducted:
epistemological assumptions Quality criteria, Values in the research
community and practical purpose.
, What type of knowledge/research are there?
Basic knowledge: Knowledge has intrinsic value. attempts to expand the limits
of knowledge though development and evaluation of concepts and theories to
explain phenomena Applied knowledge: Knowledge has instrumental value.
Targets to help make decisions about specific, current real-rife problems. Most
business research is applied research.
How is the process of business research?
1.literature review: Help researchers to understand the topic better and to be
able to build upon what is already known 2.Concept and theories 3.Research
question 4.Smapling 5.Data collection 6.Data analysis 7. writing up
What is philosophical assumptions?
It informs the choice of business research methods, wether to do quantitative
research or qualitative research.
What is concept?
The way we make sense of the social world. Concept are labels we give to
aspect of the social world that seem to have significant features.
What is epistemology?
Refers to theories about what is known or what we know. It is how we try to
know and go about studying that reality.
What is the most common view of epistemology?
Positivism: The reality exist objectively and externally, the only way to gather
data is to observe the phenomenon directly or to measure them by using
surveys or other instruments. Has objectivism as an ontological position and is
typically deductive and mimics experimental research in physical sciences.
Interpretivism: Reality is constituted by human act and meaning-making
instead of objectivism. contrasting to positivism.
