1. TOOLS FOR LEARNING ABOUT BEHAVIOR IN ORGANIZATIONS
THEORY AND RESEARCH:
TOOLS FOR LEARNING ABOUT BEHAVIOR IN ORGANIZATIONS

2. Theory in Organizational Research (Pp. 43-45)
Theory - a set of statements about the interrelationships between concepts
that allow us to predict and to explain various processes and events
Theory - serves three important functions
Organize large amounts of data into meaningful
propositions
Hypotheses - logically derived statements that
follow from theory
Summarize knowledge by making sense of bits of
information
Guide scientists to areas needing research
Theory - must be testable
- purpose of research is to test theory

3. Theory Testing: The Research Process
Figure A.1
Theory Testing: The Research Process
Theory proposes
relationships
between concepts
Hypotheses
Confirmed
Confidence
in theory
is increased
Hypotheses
are derived
from the theory
Research is
Conducted to test
the hypotheses
Hypotheses
disconfirmed
Theory is
modified
Confidence
in theory
is decreased
Theory is
rejected

4. Survey Research: The Correlational Method (Pp. 45-47)
Surveys- questionnaires in which people report how they feel about various
aspects of themselves, their jobs, and their organizations
Three Steps in Survey Approach
Identify variables of interest
Measure variables as precisely as possible
Determine how variables are related to one another
Analyzing survey results
Correlation coefficient
- direction of relationship
- strength of relationship
- varies between +1.0 and -1.0
- stronger the relationship, more accurate predictions
Limitations of Survey Research
Correlation does not imply causality
- several viable interpretations of a correlation

5. Positive and Negative Correlations Willingness to Help Co-worker
Figure A.2
Positive and Negative Correlations
Positive correlation
(more of one variable
is associated with
more of another)
Negative correlation
(more of one variable
is associated with
less of another)
(High)
Perceived Fairness of Pay
(Low)
(Low)
(High)
(Low)
(High)
Willingness to Help Co-worker
Interest in Quitting

6. Experimental Research: The Logic of Cause and Effect (Pp. 48-51)
Experimental Method - a research technique used to determine cause-and-
effect relationships between the variables of interest (i.e., the extent
to which one variable causes another)
Experimental Logic - basic elements
Random assignment of participants to experimental conditions
Independent variable - a variable that is systematically manipulated
by the researcher to determine its effects on behavior
Dependent variable - the behavior that is being measured by a
researcher that is dependent on the independent variable
Drawing Valid Conclusions from Experiments - all experimental conditions
other than the independent variable must be kept constant
- differences in the dependent variable may be attributed to the
independent variable

7. Figure A.5 Trade-offs Between Lab and Field Experimentation
(High)
Realism
Control
Amount of Realism and Control
(Low)
Lab
Field
Experimental Setting

8. Qualitative Research Methods (Pp. 51,52)
Qualitative Research - a nonempirical type of research that relies on
preserving the natural qualities of the situation being studied
- two types
Naturalist observation - a research technique in which people are
systematically observed in situations of interest to the
researcher
Participant observation - people systematically observe
what occurs in a setting by becoming an insider
(i.e., part of that setting itself)
- given its strengths and weaknesses, observational research
considered useful in providing basic insights
rather than definitive knowledge
Case method - a research technique in which a particular
organization is thoroughly described and analyzed to
understand what occurred in that setting
- results may have limited generalizability