Introduction%20to%20Research

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Introduction to Research

• Dr. Pendharkar

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Research

• Systematic and organized effort to investigate
  specific problem.
• Research process involves well-thought-out and
  carefully executed activities.

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Management Info. Sys. Research

• Involves study of employee attitudes and
  behaviors towards IT.
• Involves impact of IT on management practices,
  employee lifestyle, strategy formulation, and
  decision making.

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Types of Research

• Problem Solving Research/Applied Research
  (specific to a particular problem)
• Theoritical Research/Fundamental Research (adds
  to the general body of knowledge in a particular
  area).

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Fundamental Research

• The fundamental research relates to understanding
  phenomena and problems that occur in several
  organizations and how they can be solved.
• To understand the phenomena and build theories
  based on research results.

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Hallmarks of Research

• Purposiveness
• Rigor
• Testability (Hypothesis)
• Replicability
• Precision and Confidence
• Objectivity, Generalizability and Parsimony

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Hypothetico-Deductive Method

• This approach involves starting with a
  theoritical framework, formulating hypotheses,
  gathering data and analyzing it to test the
  hypotheses.

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Hypothetico-Deductive Method

• Observation (new behaviors, attitudes, and
  feelings surfacing in an environment).
• Preliminary information gathering (unstructured,
  structured interviews and library search)
• Theory formulation, Hypothesizing
• Data collection, analysis and deduction

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Research Process

• Identify a research problem either through
  literature review or through interviews
• Identify factors that have been known to have
  impact on the problem
• Ensure that all factors impacting the problem are
  considered

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Research Process

• Identify the dependent variable (variable of
  primary interest)
• Identify the independent variable
• Identify moderating variable (if any)
• Develop hypotheses

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Exploratory Study

• Used to comprehend the nature of the problem
• Conduct extensive unstructured and structured
  interviews to understand the problem
• Develop theories and test hypotheses as a follow
  up

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Hypotheses Testing

• Try to explain the nature of certain
  relationships and differences among the groups
• Causal study When a researcher attempts to find
  the cause of a problem
• Correlational Study Identify important variables
  associated with the problem (study variance)

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Study Setting

• Non-contrived Setting Research done in natural
  environment where events happen naturally
• Contrived Setting Research is done in lab
  setting

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Unit of Analysis

• Individual
• Dyads (boss-subordinate)
• Groups (Group performance)
• Organizations
• Cultures

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Time Horizon

• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Longitudinal Studies

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Sampling

• In order to increase validity of the research, a
  random sample of subjects is chosen
• Internal Validity vs. External Validity

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Factors Affecting Internal Validity

• History
• Maturation Effects
• Testing Effects (pre-test post-test)
• Instrumentation Effects
• Selection Bias
• Mortality

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Experimental Designs

• Pretest Posttest experimental design (OXO)
• Post test only Experimental and Control Groups (X
  O) ( O)
• Pre-test Post-test Experimental and Control
  Groups (O X O) (O O)