Minor Academic Orientation

Research Methods
Chapter 3 Conceptual
model, RQs,
hypotheses/propositions
Dr. Vera Hartog
v.hartog@fontys.nl
Eindhoven, September 2013

The research process

http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/researchcource/
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Components of a research
problem
There must be an individual/group which has
some difficulty/problem or to whom the
problem can be attributed.
There must be some objective(s) to be
attained. If one wants nothing, there is no
problem.
There must be alternative means/courses of
action for obtaining the objective(s).
There must remain some doubt with regard
to the selection of alternatives (relative
efficiency of the possible alternatives).
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Research questions
help to focus your literature searches, data
collection, analysis and writing
ensure that your research questions are clearly
defined
and researchable
Bad research question
Is advertising copy X better than advertising copy Y?
Good research question
Which advertising copy has a higher day-after recall score?

should be theoretically grounded

should be linked together
should be neither too large nor too small
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Recapitulating:
the literature review allows for:

the researcher to be conversant with existing research,

relevant theories, reports, data and records of the problem

awareness of logical, factual flaws, identification of the

limitations of existing research, detecting missing
perspectives and/or an angle that has not been considered

the consideration of related problems that can help shed

some light on the problem at hand

identification of the variables and their relationships and

subsequent designing a theoretical/conceptual framework

reducing the risk of re-inventing the wheel

confirmation that the problem is perceived as relevant and

significant
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Theoretical Framework
A theoretical framework represents your beliefs on
how certain
phenomena (or variables or concepts) are related to
each other
(a model) and an explanation on why you believe
that these
variables are associated to each other (a theory).
Basic steps:
Identify and label the variables correctly
State the relationships among the variables:
formulate hypotheses
Sekaran, 2009
Explain how or why you expect these

Recapitulating
Concepts:
an image or symbolic representation of an abstract
idea. e.g. intelligence , health, pain, .

Definitions of a concept, particularly its

attributes and associated varieties:
value: for quantitative research, e.g. IQ score
nature: for qualitative research, e.g. good poor
health.

Relationships:
type: chronological, procedural, causal, intentional,..
nature: direct, intervening, moderating, confounding,..

Variable

Any concept or construct that varies or

changes in value

Main types of variables:

Dependent variable
Independent variable
Moderating variable
Mediating variable

(In)dependent Variables
Dependent variable (DV)
Is of primary interest to the researcher. The
goal of the research project is to understand,
predict or explain the variability of this
variable. (CAUSE)
Independent variable (IV)
Influences the DV in either positive or negative
way. The variance in the DV is accounted for by
the IV. (EFFECT)

Example

Education

Independent variable

Renumeration

Dependent variable

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Mediating and moderating

variables
Mediating variable
Enhances understanding of relation between
independent and dependent variable
Moderating variable
Interaction effect (ANOVA)
Elaborates/qualifies conditions under which
independent and dependent are related
Relation between two variables is a function
of the level of a third variable
Sekaran, 2009

Variables
a picture is worth a 1000 words

A mediating or intervening variable surfaces

between the time the independent variables start
operating to influence the dependent variable and
the time their impact on it is felt.
Sekaran,2009

Moderators

A moderating variable is a qualitative (e.g.,

gender, race,
class) or quantitative (e.g., level of reward)
variable that
affects the direction and/or strength of relation
Sekaran, 2009
between

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Moderating and
mediating (intervening)
variables

Sekaran, 2009

Theoretical framework
complexity
direct main and indirect mediating effects

Sekaran, 2009

Recapitulating
One cannot specify independent variables
without specifying dependent variables.
Number of independent and dependent
variables depends on the nature and
complexity of the study
K I S S!
The number and type of variables dictates
which statistical analysis should be used.
All concepts and constructs can be either
independent or dependent variables:
depends of the RQs and hypotheses!

The hypothesis

Hypotheses are empirical statements that translate

research questions into precise formulaic supposition .
(Empirical = the creation of primary data).

Hypothesis state the nature of the relationships between

variables (in the conceptual model and the research
questions).
Hypotheses are always tentative. They are educated
guesses or presumptions based on literature review,
conceptual model/theoretical framework, and research
questions deductive

They often predicts the research outcome/results.

Research hypothesis, not the null hypothesis, is the focus
of the research and presented in the research report
Good hypotheses:

Must be adequate for its purpose

Must be testable
Sekaran,
2009
Are directional or non-directional

(non-)directional
hypotheses
Directional hypothesis

Precise statement indicating the nature

and direction of the relationship/difference
between variables
e.g. The higher the study motivation, the
greater the study success.
Non-directional hypothesis
States only that relationship/difference will
occur
e.g. There is a relationship between study
motivation and study success.

The doctrine of
falsification
Null Hypotheses
States no relationship/difference exists
between variables
Statistical test performed on the null
Assumed to be true until support for the
research hypothesis is demonstrated

Quantitative Research
Hypotheses
simple check-list
Simply stated?
Single sentence?
At least two variables?
Variables clearly stated?
Is the relationship/difference precisely

stated?
Testable?
Courtesy Dr. Noi Kwanjai

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Example
compare and contrast

Give the hypotheses for the following framework:

Service quality
of
utility
companies

Customer
satisfaction

Customer
switching

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Example
compare and contrast

Give the hypotheses for the following framework:

Service
quality utility
companies

Customer
switching

Switching
cost
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Critical review of research

articles
Barrella, E. M., & Buffinton, K. W. (2009). Corporate
Assessment of Strategic Issues in Technology Management.
Engineering Management Journal, 21(1), 27-33.

CHENGYAN, L., LILI, B., & QIANG, J. (2013). LEADERSHIP

STYLES OF ENTREPRENEURIAL WOMEN IN EASTERN CHINA:
CHARACTERISTICS AND DIFFERENCES. Social Behavior &
Personality: An International Journal, 41(3), 421-431.

For lesson 4
Study Part 1 of textbook (Bryman & Bell,
2011)
Draw the theoretical/conceptual model for
the three articles (see assignment 3), map
hypotheses/ propositions and bring these to
class for next weeks workshop

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Thank you for your attention