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Day 2-2 Theoretical Frameworks

The document discusses developing a theoretical framework for research, including defining variables, developing models and hypotheses, and operationalizing variables. It provides examples of different types of variables like independent, dependent, moderating and mediating variables. The document also discusses measuring variables, developing research designs, and using existing theories and frameworks to strengthen research.

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62 views19 pages

Day 2-2 Theoretical Frameworks

The document discusses developing a theoretical framework for research, including defining variables, developing models and hypotheses, and operationalizing variables. It provides examples of different types of variables like independent, dependent, moderating and mediating variables. The document also discusses measuring variables, developing research designs, and using existing theories and frameworks to strengthen research.

Uploaded by

Shan r
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Research Methods

Chapter 5 Theoretical Frameworks


Learning Objectives
 What is a theoretical framework?
 Distinguish between the different types of variables?
 Write different types of hypotheses.
 Understand the elements of research design
 Explain various research strategies and when they would be used.
 Understand how to operationalize variables.
Theories, Models and Frameworks
 Reflect previous study and analysis that has been conducted in your
field. These evolve over time as new evidence is obtained
 Provide the concepts, and assumptions that help researchers make sense of the
phenomenon that they are studying. It enables researchers to connect the
issues they are investigating to the existing body of knowledge in the area.
 Help researchers make predictions about the phenomena they are setting out to
study. They can help in determining what variables should be observed, as well
as how data should be collected, analyzed, and interpreted on the way to
presenting and justifying conclusions. 

Be conscious of the fundamental concepts that have guided scholars in your area,


and be aware of emerging perspectives and trends. Try to identify a theoretical
base from which you can develop your arguments. This will greatly strengthen your
positions when the time comes to present your thesis.
Theories, Models and Frameworks
Don’t reinvent the wheel….

Think back to the EMBA courses you have studied, what are some possible
theories, models and frameworks that you might use?
Some ideas about frameworks
These are some easy reading ideas for frameworks. If you choose to use any of
these, you should search for published peer-reviewed articles or books about them.
General management
 https://
entrepreneurshandbook.co/8-famous-theories-every-ceo-should-know-about-how
-to-manage-a-company-c4e3eda1192
Marketing
 https://www.professionalacademy.com/professional-qualifications/cim-marketi
ng-qualifications/marketing-theories
/
Technology
 http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/Technology_acceptance_model

Feasibility studies
 https://bsaccountancy.com/feasibility-study/?gclid=CjwKCAjwjtOTBhAvEiwASG4
bCNTYrFs8-FXw5hbuazCQ-o5SJmhE3SzCvkane9X5b1k-3dmPppZkqBoCvtkQAvD_Bw
E
Used to represent your beliefs on how
certain phenomena (variables) are related
to each other (model) and an explanation
of why you believe that these are
Theoretical associated with each other (theory).

Framework

3 steps:

Develop a model (can Develop a theory that


Define concepts or be an existing model, explains the
variables an adapted model or a relationships between
novel one) the variables
Building your own research model
 Dependent variable
 the key item of interest
 Can be more than one (but is often only one)

 Independent variables - The factors that influence the dependent variable


(either positively or negatively)
 The independent and dependent variables should co-vary (if one changes, the other
changes)
 The independent variable should have a possible effect on the dependent variable
and should precede it
 A logical explanation is needed for the effect
Moderating Variables
A moderator influences the level, direction, or presence of a relationship between
variables. It shows you for whom, when, or under what circumstances a relationship will
hold.
Moderators usually help you judge the external validity of your study by identifying the
limitations of when the relationship between variables holds. For example, while social
media use can predict levels of loneliness, this relationship may be stronger for
adolescents than for older adults. Age is a moderator here.
Moderators can be:
 Categorical variables such as ethnicity, race, gender, favorite colors, health status
 Quantitative variables such as age, weight, height, income

Example:
A manager finds that online training has a great impact on the productivity of
employees in her department. However, she also notices that employees over 60 years
old do not seem to improve with such training. In this case, age is a moderating
variable.
Mediating variables

Mediating variable – explains how or why there is a relation between two variables. A mediator
can be a potential mechanism by which an independent variable can produce changes on a
dependent variable. When you fully account for the effect of the mediator, the relation
between independent and dependent variables may go away.
For instance, imagine that you find a positive association between note-taking and performance
on an exam. This association may be explained by number of hours studying, which would be
the mediating variable.

Exam
Note taking Hours of performanc
study e
Example 1 of a framework
Example 2 of a framework
Mediating or Moderating - example
Assume that you are studying the factors that affect weight loss.
Which of the following are dependent, independent, mediating and moderating?
a. Calories burned
b. Age
c. Weight loss
d. Gender
e. Hours of exercise
f. Amount of food consumed
You must be able to measure your
variables
 Operationalizing a variable means translating an abstract concept into a
measurable form
 There are many existing measurement scales that can be used – these save
researchers time and energy and also allows the researcher to build on the
research of others. (the use of existing scales should be clearly documented
and acknowledged in the research report, in some cases, permission needs to
be obtained from the creator of the scale)
 Examples: Motivation, employee engagement, satisfaction level, productivity
Activity 1 Measuring Variables

For each of the following, suggest how you could measure this?
1. Male employees are more motivated than female employees
2. Higher salaries motivate employees to work harder.
3. Millennials and Baby boomers have the same online shopping habits.
4. Implementation of AI will increase productivity of the SP Jain program staff
by more than 10%
Activity 2 – Variables and Hypotheses

Imagine that you want to study customer satisfaction with the


online shopping portal for a new electronics retailer in Dubai.

a. What sort of secondary research would you start with?


What theories could you use?
b. Define a dependent variable, several independent
variables, at least one moderating variable and one
mediating variable.
c. What sort of research design could you use to conduct
this research?
Activity 3 Theoretical Models Practice
You have just been hired as an external research consultant by the First Class
Hotel. Recently they have seen an increase in the number of guest
complaints. The management is very concerned about this and have hired you
to conduct some research to help them solve the problem.
You are required to design a research study for First class Hotel.
Please answer the following:
a) Write a specific research question for the study.
b) Design a model for this research including the dependent variable, at
least three possible independent variables and three moderating variables.
c) What challenges might you as the external researcher face in conducting
this research?
Assigned Reading

For practice in defining variables, you can refer to this reading and identify the
variables that they used.

AN INTEGRATED MODEL OF SERVICE QUALITY, PRICE


FAIRNESS, ETHICAL PRACTICE AND CUSTOMER
PERCEIVED VALUES FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
OF SHARING ECONOMY PLATFORM
An EMBA project that was published

 https://www.academia.edu/52118653/THE_EFFECT_OF_INTERNA
L_FACTORS_WITHIN_THE_GOVERNMENT_ENTITIES_ON_THE_IMPLE
MENTATION_OF_E_GOV_PROJECTS_BY_EXTERNAL_IT_SERVICE_PRO
VIDERS_AN_EMPIRICAL_STUDY_ON_GCC_AREA

Notes:
 Since this paper was published, the formatting of the citations and
references were changed to meet the needs of the journal (so it
does not follow APA).
 If you choose to publish your paper, it is good practice to include
the name of your academic mentor as the second author. You
could also include your industry mentor as the third author if they
were very helpful.

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