T04 Philosophies Approaches

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TOPIC 04

PHILOSOPHIES & APPROACHESLECTURER: THANG NGUYEN @ FSB HANOI

BASED ON: SAUNDERS ET AL(2012)

RESEARCH METHODS FOR BIZ STUDENTS

Dissertation


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OUTLINE

Research philosophies

Research approaches


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RESEARCH PHILOSOPHIES

RESEARCH ONION

Philosophy

Approach

Methodology

Strategy

Time horizon

Techniques & procedures


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ONION: PHILOSOPHY

Positivism

Realism

Interpretivism

Pragmatism: concepts support actions

Table 4.2 p140


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ONION: APPROACH

Deduction

Induction

Abduction


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ONION: METHODOLOGY

Mono method quantitative

Mono method qualitative

Multi method quantitative

Multi method qualitative

Mixed method simple

Mixed method complex


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ONION: STRATEGY

Experiment

Survey

Archival research

Case study

Ethnography

Action research

Grounded theory

Narrative inquiry


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ONION: TIME HORIZON

Cross-sectional

Longitudinal


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ONION: TECHNIQUES &

PROCEDURES

Data collection

Data analysis


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Pragmatism Positivism Realism Interpretivism

Ontology External,

multiple view

External,

objective

Objective,

realist/critical

realist

Socially

constructed,

subjective

Epistemology Observable &

subjective

Observable Observable Subjective

Axiology Value

important,

objective &subjective

Value-free Value laden Value bound

Data

collection

Quantitative,

qualitative,

mixed

Structured,

large sample

Quantitative or

qualitative

Small samples,

qualitative


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Dimension Continuum

Nature of

reality

External Socially constructed

Objective Subjective

Acceptable

knowledge

Observable phenomena

Subjective meanings

Generalisations

Details

Role of

value

Value free Value bound


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PHILOSOPHY

Essence: assumptions in viewing the world

Ontology: nature of reality

- Objectivism: social phenomena independent of

social actors

- Subjectivism: social phenomena dependent onperceptions and actions of social actors

- Social constructionism: reality socially

constructed


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PHILOSOPHY

Epistemology: acceptable knowledge

Positivism: data, causality, generalisation

Realism: sense => reality

Interpretivism: differences between humans

Role of value:

Axiology: choices reflect values

Research paradigms: Figure 4.2 p141


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RESEARCH APPROACHES

APPROACHES

Reasoning: deductive or inductive

Deduction: premises true => conclusion true

Induction: from premises to conclusion

Abduction: premises => conclusion => tests

Table 4.3 p144


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RESEARCH APPROACHES

DEDUCTION STEPS

Theory: idea, premise, hypothesis

Testable propositions/premises

Literature comparison: new contribution

Testing of premises using data

Tests fail: reject, modify, restart

Tests ok: theory corroborated


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RESEARCH APPROACHES

DEDUCTION CHARACTERISTICS

Normally about what happens

Search for causal relationship

Origination from natural science

Structured methodology: replication

Operationalised concepts

Reductionism

Generalisation

Sample size


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RESEARCH APPROACHES

INDUCTION STEPS

Collection of data from a sample

Data analysis => theory formulation

Results: conceptual framework


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RESEARCH APPROACHES

INDUCTION CHARACTERISTICS

Normally about how things happen

Allowance of human interpretation of world

Causal relationship in social science

Permission of alternative explanations

Less structured approach

Importance of context

Small sample rather than large

Qualitative data rather than quantitative


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RESEARCH APPROACHES

ABDUCTION

Combination of deduction & induction

From data to theory

From theory to data

Go back & forth between 2 approaches


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RESEARCH APPROACHES

MEANING OF APPROACH CHOICE

Informed decision about research design

Choice of strategies/methodology

Adapt to restrictions

COMBINATION OF 3APPROACHES

Often advantageous to combine

Emphasis of research

Nature of research topic

Originality of topic/question

Practicality


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RESEARCH APPROACHES

CHOICE OF APPROACHES

Deduction: wealth of literature & information;

quick to do; lower-risk; more audience

Induction: new issue; more time to do; higher

risk

Abduction: old here; new there; more time todo; higher risk

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T04 Philosophies Approaches