1. www.wiley.com/college/sekaran Scientific Investigation
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

2. Hallmarks of scientific research:
Hallmarks or main distinguishing characteristics of scientific research:
Purposiveness
Rigor
Testability
Replicability
Precision and Confidence
Objectivity
Generalizability
Parsimony
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

3. Hallmarks of scientific research
Purposiveness: Customer complaints were mounting, and letters of complaint regarding the problems they experienced with the residential telephones lines were constantly pouring in at the Friendly Telephone Company. The company wanted to pinpoint the specific problems and take corrective action. The research thus has a purposive focus.
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

4. Hallmarks of scientific research
Rigor: A good theoretical base and a sound methodological design add RIGOR to a purposive study.
Rigor connotes: Carefulness, scrupulousness and the degree of exactness in research investigations.
Research will lack of rigor for the following reasons:
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

5. Hallmarks of scientific research
The conclusions are incorrectly drawn
The manner of framing and addressing the questions which could have introduced bias.
There might be many other important influences.
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

6. Hallmarks of scientific research
Testability: Scientific research thus lends itself to testing logically developed hypotheses to see whether or not the data support the educated conjectures or hypotheses that are developed after a careful study of the problem situation.
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

7. Hallmarks of scientific research
Replicability: The results of the tests of hypotheses should be supported again and again when the same type of research is repeated in other similar circumstances
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

8. Hallmarks of scientific research
Precision: It refers to the closeness of the findings to “reality” based on a sample.
Confidence: It refers to the probability that our estimations are correct.
Objectivity: The conclusions drawn through the interpretation of the results of data analysis should be objective; that is they should be based on the facts of the findings derived from actual data and not on our subjective or emotional values
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

9. Hallmarks of scientific research
Generalizability: it refers to the scope of applicability of the research findings in on organizational setting to other settings.
Parsimony: Simplicity in explaining the phenomena or problems that occur, and in generating solutions for the problems, is always preferred to complex research frameworks that consider an unmanageable number factors.
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

10. Hypothetico-Deductive Research
The hypothetico-deductive method of research helps the researcher to deduce or infer from the results of data analysis and hence is the deductive process.
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

11. Hypothetico-Deductive Research
For example, if as a result of analysis of data collected, one infers that the problem of turnover can be minimized by three important factors: (i) flexible work hours; (ii) recognition of superior performance of workers through suitable merit pay raises; and (iii) enriching certain types of jobs, this is the deductive approach.
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

12. Hypothetico-Deductive Research
Induction is a process of drawing inferences from observed phenomena which may subsequently be put to the test through hypothetico-deductive method of research.
For instance, if a manager observes that people residing at distances beyond 50 miles from the workplace remain absent more frequently than those he knows to reside close by, and infers thereby that distance is a factor in absenteeism, this is an inductive process.
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

13. Deduction and Induction
Deductive reasoning: application of a general theory to a specific case.
Hypothesis testing
Inductive reasoning: a process where we observe specific phenomena and on this basis arrive at general conclusions.
Counting white swans
Both inductive and deductive processes are often used in research.
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

14. Hypothetico-Deductive Research
The Seven-Step Process in the Hypothetico-Deductive Method
Identify a broad problem area
Define the problem statement
Develop hypotheses
Determine measures
Data collection
Data analysis
Interpretation of data
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.