1. MM6007
Research Method in Management
Theory Building
Theory

2. Research question
Background research
Hypothesis
Experiment
Conclusion

3. What is a Theory? A B Theory
A formal, logical explanation of some events that includes predictions or how things relate to one another.
Concept A B
Positive (+) / Negative (-)
Types of Relationship
Causal relationship (Direction of Causality)
Positive (+) relationship: If A increases, B will increase
Negative (-) relationship: If A increases, B will decrease

4. Examples of a Theory
Why do people who have self-confidence tend to be more successful than people who don’t have self-confidence?
Self-confidence
Success
Positive (+)

5. Examples of a Theory Self-efficacy theory:
Self efficacy is the belief in one's capabilities to achieve a goal.
People with high self-efficacy tend to:
…believe that difficult tasks are not beyond their capabilities.
…form a stronger sense of commitment to their tasks.
Self-efficacy theory
Self-confidence
Success
Positive (+)

6. Examples of a Theory
Why do some people who come out of jail turn to be worse than when they were going in?
Experience in Jail
Morality
Negative (-)

7. Social learning theory
Examples of a Theory
Social learning theory:
Social learning theory states that “social behavior is learned primarily by observing and imitating the actions of others”.
Social learning theory
Experience in Jail
Morality
Negative(-)

8. Research Concepts Concept (or Construct)
A generalized idea about a class of objects, attributes, occurrences or process that has been given a name.
Examples:
Self confidence
Experience
Success
Motivation
Economic development
Profitability
Customer satisfaction
Facebook

9. Ladder of Abstraction
Concepts can be Abstract and Empirical.

10. Ladder of Abstraction Abstract level Empirical level
Organization of concepts in sequence from the most concrete and individual to the most general.
Abstract Level (General, Cannot be measured easily)
The level of knowledge expressing a concept that exists only as an idea or a quality apart from an object.
Empirical Level (Specific, Can be measured)
The level of knowledge that is verifiable by experience or observation.
Cognitive Intelligence
Intelligence quotient (IQ)
Intelligence
Emotional Quotient (EQ)
Emotional Intelligence
Abstract level
Empirical
level
Ladder of Abstraction

11. Example The role of packaging on consumer attitude Abstract concept

12. Environmental friendly
Example
The role of packaging on consumer attitude
Size
Functionality
Willingness to buy
Environmental friendly
Durability
Less abstract concepts
Less abstract concept

13. Research Propositions and Hypotheses
The terms "proposition" and "hypothesis" both refer to the formulation of a possible answer to a specific scientific question.
They deals with the connection between two existing concepts.
The main difference
Proposition deals with pure concepts for which no laboratory test is currently available.
Hypothesis must be testable and measurable.

14. Research Propositions and Hypotheses
Statements explaining the logical linkage among certain concepts by asserting a universal connection between concepts.
Example: The impact of cars on air pollution
Cars
Air Pollution
Positive (+)
Proposition
Concept
Concept
Proposition: Cars cause more air pollution.

15. Research Propositions and Hypotheses
Hypothesis
Formal statement of an unproven proposition that is empirically testable.

16. Research Propositions and Hypotheses
Example: The impact of cars on air pollution
Cars
Air Pollution
Concept
Proposition
Positive (+)
Operationalization
Operationalization
Number of
Cars
Amount of CO
Positive (+)
Hypothesis
Variable
Variable

17. Research Propositions and Hypotheses
Cars
Air Pollution
Concept
Proposition
Positive (+)
Proposition: Cars cause more air pollution.
Number of
Cars
Amount of CO
Positive (+)
Hypothesis
Variable
Variable
Hypothesis: As the numbers of car increases, the amount of carbon monoxide tends to increase.

18. Empirical Testing Empirical Testing
Examining a research hypothesis against reality using data.

19. Positive relationship
Empirical Testing
Year
Number of cars (million)
CO measurement (ppm)
2007
2.4 1
2008
2.5
1.5
2009
2.6
1.8
2010
2.8 2
2011
3.1
2012
3.7 3
Positive relationship

20. Types of reasoning in research
Reasoning is the process of making inferences from a body of information
Deductive reasoning
Inductive reasoning

21. Deductive reasoning
The logical process of deriving a conclusion about a specific instance based on a known general premise or something known to be true.
This is called the “top-down” approach because the researcher starts at the top with a very broad spectrum of information and they work their way down to a specific conclusion.

22. Deductive Reasoning Thai people can sing Thai national anthem. Since
Ms. Nattaporn is Thai
Ms. Supanee is Thai
Mr. Wichit is Thai
Then…
Ms. Nattaporn, Ms. Supanee, and Mr. Wichit can sing Thai national anthem.

23. Deductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning is normally used in quantitative research.
It is usually used for theory testing.

24. Deductive Reasoning (example)
The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is an information systems theory that models how users come to accept and use a technology.
Perceived
Usefulness +
Attitude towards
Using a Technology
Perceived
Ease of use +

25. Deductive Reasoning (example)
Theory of TAM (general information)
Perceived Usefulness and Perceive ease of use will lead to Intention to use “technology”.
Specific information
Facebook is related to technology.
Hypothesis
Perceived Usefulness and Perceive ease of use will lead to Intention to use Facebook.

26. Deductive Reasoning Since Facebook is related to technology…….
Perceived Usefulness and Perceive ease of use
will lead to Intention to use “technology”
Since Facebook is related to technology…….
Perceived Usefulness and Perceive ease of use will lead to Intention to use “Facebook”
Collect data to test the hypothesis
If the data support the hypothesis, you can conclude that the theory is verified.

27. Inductive reasoning
The logical process of establishing a general proposition on the basis of observation of particular facts.
This is sometimes called a “bottom up” approach.

28. Inductive Reasoning
Inductive reasoning is normally used in scientific and qualitative research.
It is usually used for theory building.

29. The process of theory development and theory testing
Inductive process
Deductive process

30. Can we always trust a theory?
The validity of the theory is
context-specific
time-specific

31. Presentation Assignment
Teamwork: no more than 3 members in a group.
Pick one “Quantitative paper” that contain the hypotheses.
Make sure the hypotheses mention about the “relationship between concepts”.
Additional requirement for Ph.D. students
The paper must contains the analysis of the “Moderating effect” or “Mediating effect”.

32. Presentation Assignment
What must be covered in the presentation?
Research problem
The objective(s) of the study.
Provide the definition of the main concepts in the hypothesis. For example, if the hypothesis mentions that A positively relates to B, you have to provide the definition of A and B.
Provide the logical reasons that the paper uses to support the hypotheses. If the paper use the theory to support the hypothesis, please also mention about the theory.

33. Presentation Assignment
Presentation date: June 11, 2016
Please send me the paper that you will use for the presentation by June
You can send me up to 3 papers so that I can help you pick the most suitable one.
Make sure you pick the paper that everyone in your team can understand.

34. Presentation Assignment
The PowerPoint presentation should be about 5-8 minutes.
Do not read from note or slides.
Stop at the hypothesis part. (do not present the research methods and results)
Everyone in the team have to present

35. Ph.D. Assignment week 2
Pick 1 theory in any field (that is not mentioned in the lecture and class note).
Write 1 page summary about:
Who introduce the theory?
What the theory is about?
Provide 3 examples of how the theory is applied to explain any phenomenon in research.
Due date: June 4, 2016