Mgt 540
Research Methods
Research
Design
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Research Design
FIGURE 6.1
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Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sekaran/RESEARCH 4E
Research Design

Choices are dictated by:




Research Question
Extent of rigor needed
Facility and resources available
Function of:

Purpose of study


Type of study


Exploratory, Descriptive, Hypothesis Testing
Causal, correlational
Setting

Field, Field Experiment, Lab
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Elements of Research Design
FIGURE 6.2
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Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sekaran/RESEARCH 4E
Purpose of Research

Exploratory


Increase general understanding of
context
Descriptive



Broad
Identify variables
Identify relationships
Hypothesis testing

Analytical or Predictive


Focused
Nature of relationships
Nature of (explanation) of variations of the
variables
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Types of Investigation

Correlational (associations)


“Are smoking and cancer related?”
Causal (directional)


“Does smoking cause cancer?”
Usually requires manipulating the
precedent variable
Varying degrees of manipulation
 Controlling the independent variable
 Usually requires longitudinal study

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Research Settings

Natural
Field Studies
 Field Experiment


Contrived

Lab Experiment
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Units of Analysis

Directly related to the research
question
Individual
 Dyads


2 persons


Bi-directional interaction
Groups

More than 2 persons

Multi-directional interactions
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Time

Cross Sectional


Point in time
Longitudinal

Time Series
Continual
 Incremental
 Cross-Sectional

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Scenario #1

A manager is intrigued why some people
seem to derive joy from work and get
energized by it, while others find it
troublesome and frustrating.

Identify the purpose of the study


The type of investigation


Field study
The time horizon for the study


Minimal
The study setting


Hypothesis testing
The extent of researcher interference


Correlational
One-shot (cross-sectional)
The unit of analysis

Individual
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Scenario #2

A foreman things that the low efficiency of the
machine tool operators is directly linked to the
high level of fumes emitted in the workshop.
He would like to prove this to his supervisor
through a research study.

Would this be a causal or correlational study?


Is this exploratory, descriptive, or hypothesis
testing (analytical or predictive) study?


Minimal
What kind of study would this be: Field study,
field experiment, or lab experiment?


Hypothesis testing – analytical (causality)
The extent of researcher interference


Causal
Field experiment (manipulation required)
What will be the unit of analysis?

Individual (operators)
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Exercise 6.2

Many were concerned about the operations of
the infamous BCCI, the international banking
institution. If the Government had desired to
probe into the details, would this investigation
have called for:

A causal or correlational study?


An exploratory, descriptive, or hypothesis
testing (analytical or predictive) study?


Descriptive – describing operations
A field study, field experiment, or lab
experiment?


Correlational – probe into details, not causes
Field study – natural environment
Cross-sectional or longitudinal study?

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Cross-sectional – collected at one point in time
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7C
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7D
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7E
Factors Affecting Internal Validity
P. 156
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History effects
Maturation effects
Testing effects
Instrumentation effects
Selection bias
Statistical regression
Mortality
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History Effect
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Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sekaran/RESEARCH 4E
FIGURE 7.1
Maturation Effects
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Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sekaran/RESEARCH 4E
FIGURE 7.2
External Validity

Generalizability

Applicability to other settings
Control of variables
 Selection
 Interaction with treatment(s)

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Research Designs

Designs are intended to
minimize threats to internal and
external validity
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Treatment Effect
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FIGURE 7.3
Treatment Effect
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FIGURE 7.4
Treatment Effect
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FIGURE 7.5
Treatment Effect
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FIGURE 7.6
Completely Randomized Design
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FIGURE 7.8
Design
Decision
Points
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FIGURE 7.7
Randomized Block Design
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FIGURE 7.9
Latin Square Design
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FIGURE 7.10
3 x 3 Factorial Design
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FIGURE 7.11
Cause-Effect Relationships
after Randomization
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Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sekaran/RESEARCH 4E
TABLE 7.1
Designing for Minimizing
Threats to Validity Table 7.2
Based on random selection of members
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