Research Methods for Business

Dr. K.V. Kannan M.B.A., M.F.T., Ph.D. Senior Faculty, KSRBS, T’gode.

Theoretical Framework

“A theoretical framework is a conceptual model of how one theorizes or makes

logical sense of the relationships among the several factors that have been identified as important to the

problem “

Variables

“A variable is anything that can take on differing or varying values”

Examples of variables:Production Units Absenteeism Motivation

Types of Variables

• Dependent Variable: is the variable of primary interest to the researcher.

Example: A manager is concerned that the sales of a new product introduced after test marketing did not meet with his expectations. The dependent variable here is sales.

Types of Variables

• Independent Variable: is one that influences the dependent variable in either a positive or negative way.

New Product Success

Stock Price

Dependent Variable

Independent Variable

Types of Variables

Moderating Variable: is one that has a strong contingent effect on the independent variable – dependent variable relationship.

Reference Manuals

No. of Rejects

IV

Interest

DV

MV

Types of Variables

Workforce Diversity

Creative

Synergy

Organizational Effectiveness

Ind. Var.Int. Var. Dep. Var.

t2t1 t3Time:

Intervening Variable: is one that surfaces between the time the independent variables start operating to influence the dependent variable and the time their impact is felt on it.

Workforce Diversity

Creative

Synergy

Organizational Effectiveness

Ind. Var.

Int. Var.Dep. Var.

t2t1 t3Time:

Managerial

Expertise

Mod. Var.

Relationship among the independent, intervening,

moderating, and dependent variables

Features to be incorporated in theoretical framework

The variables considered relevant to the study should be clearly identified and labeled in the discussions.

The discussions should state how two or more variables are related to one another. This should be done for the important relationships that are theorized to exist among the variables.

If the nature and direction of the relationships can be theorized on the basis of the findings of previous research, then there should be an indication in the discussions as to whether the relationships would be positive or negative.

There should be a clear explanation of why we would expect these relationships to exist. The arguments could be drawn from the previous research findings.

A schematic diagram of the theoretical framework should be given so that the reader can see and easily comprehend the theorized relationships.