Research Methods Week 4 Research Design

Review – types of research studies Descriptive Diagnostic (correlational) Hypothesis testing

Review: Components of Research Design Sampling design -- the method of selecting items to be observed for the given study; Observational design -- the conditions under which the observations are to be made; Statistical design -- how many items are to be observed and how the information and data gathered are to be analyzed; Operational design -- the techniques by which the procedures specified in the sampling, statistical and observational designs can be carried out.

Review: Fundamental Concepts Independent variables Dependent variables Causation Correlation Extraneous variable Control Treatment

Fundamental Concepts - Application I want to know if increasing my advertising budget will help my business. Is that study – descriptive, diagnostic, or hypothesis-testing? Write a good research question – (remember scope, clarity, resources)

Primary Research Designs Descriptive Study Literature Summary – what have other studies already shown? Experience survey - what can we learn from people who have experience? What do they see as the main variables? Example – you want to know how advertising usually impacts sales. Research literature gives you formal information – if available. Experienced people give you the main impacts they believe occur. They may be wrong.

Primary Research Designs Descriptive Study Experience survey - what can we learn from people who have experience? What do they see as the main variables? Example – Your organization is experiencing problems with computer systems. Who should you survey to learn more about the problems? What questions would you ask?

Primary Research Designs Descriptive Study Experience survey - what can we do with their answers? Example – Your organization is experiencing problems with computer systems. Is there data in the survey that seems to answer a diagnostic question? How can you turn survey answers into a testable hypothesis?

Primary Research Designs Descriptive Study - specific predictions, with narration of facts and characteristics concerning individual, group or situation Diagnostic Study - the frequency with which something occurs or its association with something else. The studies concerning whether certain variables are associated are examples of diagnostic research studies. Data collection - observation, questionnaires, interviewing, examination of records

Primary Research Designs Descriptive Study - specific predictions, with narration of facts and characteristics concerning individual, group or situation. Example – Observation can be counting – how many? Evaluating – how fast? Questionnaires and interviews can reveal attitudes, satisfaction levels Examination of records can show complaints filed, violations found.

Primary Research Designs Descriptive Study - specific predictions, with narration of facts and characteristics concerning individual, group or situation. What observations, interviews, and records could we use to study – Educational web sites Successful ERP project teams ERP project success HR outsourcing success

Primary Research Designs Diagnostic Study - the frequency with which something occurs or is associated with something else – i.e. if we see X, how often do we also see Y? Data collection – Observation – count X and Y Questionnaires / interviews – ask about X & Y (but be careful of bias) Examination of records – count X & Y

Primary Research Designs Diagnostic Study - the frequency with which something occurs or is associated with something else – i.e. if we see X, how often do we also see Y? Example – Are men more likely to speak at a group meeting? Observation – count comments and gender Questionnaires / interviews – ask about comment frequencies and gender (but be careful of bias) Examination of records – count motions made in meeting minutes

Primary Research Designs Diagnostic Study - the frequency with which something occurs or is associated with something else – i.e. if we see X, how often do we also see Y? What associations might see for Educational web sites Successful ERP project teams ERP project success HR outsourcing success Could we have multiple associations?

Primary Research Designs Diagnostic Study - if we see X, how often do we also see Y? Practice – Do people in white cars leave campus earlier than people in non-white cars? Observation – count cars and car color every five minutes – 3:30 – 4:15