Research Methods in Business Studies, Fifth Edition
By Pervez Ghauri, Kjell Grønhaug and Roger Strange
Contents:
List of Figures page xii
List of Tables xiv
Preface xv
Acknowledgements xviii
Part I Challenges and Ambiguities of Business Research 1
1 Introduction 3
1.1 Purpose of the Book 3
1.2 Readership 5
1.3 On the Use of the Book 7
2 Research in Business Studies 8
2.1 The Nature of Knowledge Development 9
2.2 Why We Do Research 10
2.3 Research versus Common Sense 12
2.4 Different Research Orientations 16
2.5 Induction, Deduction, and Abduction 18
2.6 What Comes First: Theory or Data? 21
2.7 Knowledge Skills and Research 22
2.8 Why Research Never Stops 23
2.9 Research and Ethics 23
2.10 The Researcher and the Respondent 25
2.11 The Researcher’s Moral Responsibility 27
Further Reading 30
Questions 30
Exercises 30
Part II The Research Process 31
3 The Research Process 33
3.1 The Process Perspective 33
3.2 Levels of Research 36
3.3 Research and Knowledge 37
3.4 What Comes First: Theory or Research? 38
3.5 Some Important Issues 39
3.5.1 Concepts 39
3.5.2 Definitions 39
3.5.3 Theory 41
3.5.4 Methods 42
3.6 Concluding Remarks 43
Further Reading 44
Questions 44
Exercises 44
4 Research Problems 45
4.1 Research Ideas 45
4.2 Wrestling with Research Problems 47
4.3 Research Problem and Research Purpose 50
4.4 Models in Research 52
4.4.1 General Concepts and Specific Use 53
4.4.2 Model Purposes 54
4.5 The Role of Reviewing Past Literature 57
Further Reading 60
Questions 60
Exercises 60
5 Research Design 61
5.1 The Design Problem 61
5.2 Problem Structure and Research Design 62
5.2.1 Exploratory Research 63
5.2.2 Descriptive Research 64
5.2.3 Causal Research 64
5.3 The Classic Experiment 66
5.4 Validity Threats 67
5.5 Other Research Designs 71
5.5.1 Cross-Section Data 71
5.5.2 Time-Series Data 72
5.5.3 Longitudinal Studies 73
5.5.4 Panel Data 73
5.6 Requirements in Research Design 74
5.6.1 Research and Choices 76
Further Reading 77
Questions 77
Exercises 77
6 Measurements 78
6.1 The Operationalization of Variables 78
6.2 Scales of Measurement 81
6.2.1 Nominal Level (Scale) 81
6.2.2 Ordinal Level (Scale) 82
6.2.3 Interval Level (Scale) 82
6.2.4 Ratio Scale 83
6.3 Construct Measurement Using Multi-Item Scales 83
6.4 The Reliability and Validity of Measurements 85
6.5 Improving Your Measurements 87
6.6 Measurements in Qualitative Research 88
Further Reading 91
Questions 91
Exercises 91
Part III Implementation 93
7 Data Collection for Qualitative Research 95
7.1 Qualitative versus Quantitative Methods 96
7.2 Different Qualitative Methods and When to
Use Them 98
7.2.1 Historical Review 99
7.2.2 Grounded Theory 100
7.2.3 Case Studies 101
What Is a Case Study? 101
When to Use a Case Study 103
Preparing for a Case Study 104
How to Select the Cases 106
Sampling in Qualitative Research 108
Theoretical Sampling 110
Different Types of Case Study Design 110
7.3 Observations 111
7.4 Communication 114
7.5 Interviews 115
7.5.1 Preparing for an Interview 117
7.5.2 Pre-Interview 120
7.5.3 The Interview 121
7.5.4 Post-Interview 123
7.6 Focus Groups 124
7.6.1 Advantages and Disadvantages of Focus
Groups 126
7.6.2 Conducting Focus Groups 126
Further Reading 128
Questions 128
Exercises 128
8 Qualitative Data Analysis 129
8.1 Characteristics of Qualitative Research 129
8.2 Qualitative Data 130
8.3 Analytical Procedures 131
8.3.1 Analytical Activities 134
8.3.2 Data Reduction 139
8.4 Interpretation 139
8.5 Strategies for Qualitative Analysis 140
8.5.1 Departure from Theory 140
8.5.2 Departure from Data (Observations) 142
8.5.3 Analysing Case Studies 142
8.6 Quantifying Qualitative Data 143
8.7 Validity in Qualitative Research 146
8.8 The Use of Computers in Qualitative Research 146
8.8.1 A Word of Warning 147
8.9 Case Studies and Triangulation 147
8.10 Case Studies and Generalization 150
Further Reading 152
Questions 152
Exercises 152
9 Data Collection for Quantitative Research 153
9.1 Secondary Data 154
9.1.1 The Advantages of Secondary Data 158
9.1.2 The Disadvantages of Secondary Data 158
9.2 Primary Data 159
9.2.1 The Advantages of Primary Data 160
9.2.2 The Disadvantages of Primary Data 160
9.3 Why Take Samples? 161
9.4 Probability Sampling 163
9.4.1 Simple Random Sampling 163
9.4.2 Systematic Sampling 164
9.4.3 Stratified Random Sampling 164
9.4.4 Cluster Sampling 164
9.4.5 Non-Response Bias 165
9.5 Non-Probability Sampling 166
9.6 Sample Size 168
9.7 Survey Research 169
9.7.1 Survey Administration 171
9.7.2 Questionnaire Design 172
9.7.3 Guidelines for Constructing Questionnaires 175
9.7.4 Improving Response Rates 178
9.8 Experimental Studies 179
Further Reading 181
Questions 181
Exercises 181
10 Description and Preliminary Analysis of Quantitative Data 182
10.1 How to Describe the Data 183
10.1.1 Bar Charts, Histograms, and Scatter Plots 183
10.1.2 Measures of Central Tendency 187
10.1.3 Measures of Dispersion 188
10.1.4 Measures of Skewness 190
10.2 How to Analyse the Data 191
10.2.1 Hypothesis Testing 191
10.2.2 Comparison of Means (Independent Samples) 195
10.2.3 Comparison of Means (Paired Samples) 197
10.2.4 Correlation Coefficient (Continuous Variables) 199
10.2.5 Correlation Coefficient (Ordinal Variables) 204
10.2.6 Correlations between Nominal and/or Ordinal Variables 206
10.3 The Use of Computers in Quantitative Research 206
Further Reading 208
Questions 208
Exercises 208
11 Multiple Regression 210
11.1 The Determinants of Export Performance 211
11.2 The Regression Model 212
11.2.1 Operationalization of the Variables 213
11.2.2 Functional Form 215
The Linear Relationship 215
The Semi-Logarithmic Relationship 216
The Quadratic Relationship 217
11.2.3 Time Lags 219
11.3 Estimation Methodology 219
11.3.1 OLS Estimation 220
11.3.2 The Coefficient of Determination 221
11.3.3 The Assumptions Underpinning OLS Estimation 223
The Omission of Relevant Explanatory Variables 224
Multicollinearity 226
11.3.4 The Residual Plot 228
11.3.5 Estimation Methodology with Nominal or Ordinal
Dependent Variables 230
11.4 Hypothesis Testing 231
11.4.1 Testing for the Significance of Individual Regression
Coefficients 231
11.4.2 Testing for the Joint Significance of Several
Explanatory Variables 232
11.4.3 Testing for Common Method Variance 234
11.4.4 Statistical Significance and Effect Sizes 234
11.5 The Determinants of Export Performance Redux 236
11.6 What Constitutes a Good Regression Model? 239
Further Reading 241
Questions 241
Exercises 241
12 Additional Methods of Quantitative Analysis 243
12.1 Factor Analysis 243
12.1.1 Exploratory Factor Analysis 244
12.1.2 An Example of Factor Analysis: Burnout on Oil Rigs 246
12.2 Structural Equation Modelling 247
12.2.1 Estimation of Structural Equation Models 250
12.2.2 An Example of Structural Equation Modelling: Green
Innovation 252
12.3 Event Studies 253
12.3.1 The Estimation Procedure 254
12.3.2 The Applicability of Event Studies 256
12.3.3 An Example of an Event Study: Cross-Border
Acquisitions 258
12.4 Final Comments 259
Further Reading 261
Questions 261
Exercises 261
13 Cross-Cultural Research 262
13.1 The International Dimension 262
13.2 Data Collection in Some Cross-Cultural Research 265
13.3 Collecting Cross-Cultural Data 267
13.4 Analysis of Cross-Cultural Data 270
13.5 Enhancing Trustworthiness of Cross-Cultural Research 273
Further Reading 275
Questions 275
Exercises 275
14 Writing the Final Report 276
14.1 Purpose and Importance of a Written Presentation 276
14.2 Guidelines 277
14.2.1 Audience 277
14.2.2 Good Communication 278
14.2.3 Language and Flow 279
14.2.4 Form and Style 280
14.2.5 Headings 281
14.3 Structure of the Report 281
14.3.1 Title Page 282
14.3.2 Table of Contents 282
14.3.3 Executive Summary 282
14.3.4 Introduction and Problem Statement 283
14.3.5 Theoretical Background 283
14.3.6 Methodology 284
14.3.7 Findings 284
14.3.8 Conclusions 285
14.3.9 Footnotes 286
14.3.10 Bibliography and References 287
14.4 Oral Presentation 288
14.5 Writing for Publication 290
Further Reading 292
Questions 292
Exercises 292
Appendix A: Sample of Manufacturing Firms, 2018 293
Appendix B: Simple Comparative Tests 299
Appendix C: Formulae 300
References 302
Index 319