Question 1

If you were adopting a pragmatistic research approach, to collect your data you would be most likely to choose ________.
A) A quantitative method
B) A qualitative method
C) Experiments
D) It would depend on the study

Accepted Answer

A pragmatistic research approach focuses on using the method that best addresses the research question, which means the choice of method depends on the specific study and its objectives.

Question 2

Where there is already a lot known about your research topic it is usual to take a deductive approach to research.

Accepted Answer

A deductive approach is often used when there is existing theory or knowledge about a topic, as it involves testing hypotheses derived from that theory.

Question 3

"A change in financial accounting procedures will result in higher profits being reported." This statement is a ________.
A) Ontological position
B) Value statement
C) Paradigm
D) Hypothesis

Accepted Answer

This statement is a hypothesis because it proposes a specific outcome (higher profits) resulting from a change in financial accounting procedures, which can be tested or evaluated.

Question 4

Writing a personal statement of values is useful to ________.
A) Increase your awareness of your own opinions
B) Get your research proposal accepted
C) Demonstrate you are being objective
D) Guide your literature search

Accepted Answer

Writing a personal statement of values helps increase your awareness of your own opinions by encouraging self-reflection and clarity about what you believe and prioritize.

Question 5

Carefully study the stages below. Do they refer to Induction or Deduction?
Observations made
Theory developed
Hypothesis worded
Hypothesis tested on data
Theory revised
A) Induction
B) Deduction

Accepted Answer

The stages describe the process of induction, where observations lead to the development of a theory, which is then tested and revised based on data.

Question 6

Defining 'customer loyalty' by the number of visits to a website per month from the same IP address is an example of ________.
A) Choosing your epistemology
B) A structured methodology
C) Operationalising your concepts
D) A flawed methodology

Accepted Answer

Operationalising your concepts involves defining how you will measure abstract concepts, such as customer loyalty, in practical, measurable terms.

Question 7

Which research approach will suit the following research question best? "How does the behaviour of followers affect leadership success?"
A) Induction
B) Deduction
C) Neither
D) Both

Accepted Answer

Induction is suitable as it involves observing specific instances and developing broader generalizations or theories, which aligns with exploring how follower behavior influences leadership success.

Question 8

Which research approach will suit the following research question best? "Does trade union presence have a significantly negative influence on the profits of medium-sized companies?"
A) Induction
B) Deduction
C) Neither
D) Both

Accepted Answer

Deduction is suitable as it involves testing a hypothesis derived from theory, such as the impact of trade union presence on company profits.

Question 9

In the deductive approach it is important to use a structured methodology.

Accepted Answer

The deductive approach involves testing a hypothesis derived from theory, which requires a structured methodology to ensure systematic and logical analysis.

Question 10

"Sayeed decides to conduct an online survey of commuters' means of travel to work so that he will not influence their answers in any way." What is Sayeed trying to ensure here?
A) Value freedom
B) Qualitative data
C) Replication
D) Induction

Accepted Answer

Sayeed is trying to ensure value freedom by conducting an online survey, which minimizes his influence on the respondents' answers, thus reducing bias.

Question 11

Your research approach is the way you negotiate access to an organisation.

Accepted Answer

The research approach refers to the overall strategy and methodology used to conduct research, not specifically how access to an organization is negotiated.

Question 12

Why would followers of induction criticise the deductive approach?
A) It is too complicated
B) It does not allow for alternative explanation
C) It relies on subjective data
D) None of these reasons

Accepted Answer

Deductive reasoning starts with a general theory or hypothesis and tests it through observation, which may not allow for alternative explanations if the initial hypothesis is incorrect.

Question 13

Inductive and deductive approaches should never be combined in the same piece of work.

Accepted Answer

Combining inductive and deductive approaches can be beneficial, as they complement each other by allowing for both theory development and theory testing within the same piece of work.

Question 14

"Rebecca conducts some interviews with students to find out their music downloading habits. She then constructs a questionnaire to see if these habits are common across all the students at her university and if there are any cultural differences between UK and Chinese students." What research approach has she adopted here?
A) Deductive
B) Inductive
C) Neither of these
D) Both of these

Accepted Answer

Rebecca's approach involves both inductive and deductive reasoning. She starts with specific observations (interviews) to identify patterns (inductive) and then tests these patterns with a broader questionnaire to see if they hold true across a larger population (deductive).

Question 15

"Values play a large role in interpreting results from both objective and subjective points of view." The axiological beliefs of which research approach are being stated here?
A) Pragmatism
B) Positivism
C) Realism
D) None of these

Accepted Answer

Pragmatism acknowledges the role of values in interpreting research results, considering both objective and subjective perspectives.

Question 16

In-depth qualitative interviewing based on small scale samples is a data collection strategy usually associated with interpretivism.

Accepted Answer

Interpretivism focuses on understanding the meaning and experiences of individuals, often using qualitative methods like in-depth interviews to gather detailed insights from small samples.

Question 17

"The activities performed by managers are now so well established in our society that 'management' can be seen as having a reality independent of individual managers." This statement is ________.
A) True, if you are an interpretivist
B) True, if you are a positivist
C) True, if you are an ontologist
D) None of these

Accepted Answer

A positivist perspective holds that social phenomena, like management, have an objective reality independent of individual perceptions, aligning with the statement.

Question 18

Which of these are depicted in the innermost section of the 'research onion' (Saunders et al 2008: 108)?
A) Research philosophy
B) Choice of methods
C) Research strategies
D) Techniques and procedures

Accepted Answer

The innermost section of the 'research onion' represents techniques and procedures, which are the specific methods used for data collection and analysis.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a research paradigm?
A) Interviewing
B) Realism
C) Interpretivism
D) Positivism

Accepted Answer

Interviewing is a research method, not a paradigm. Realism, interpretivism, and positivism are all research paradigms.

Question 20

"Reality exists independent of humans but is interpreted through social conditioning." Which research paradigm's ontological assumptions are being described here?
A) Direct realism
B) Interpretivism
C) Critical realism
D) Positivism

Accepted Answer

Critical realism posits that reality exists independently of human perceptions but is understood through social and cultural lenses, aligning with the statement provided.

Quiz 4: Understanding Research Philosophies and Approaches

If you were adopting a pragmatistic research approach, to collect your data you would be most likely to choose ________.

Where there is already a lot known about your research topic it is usual to take a deductive approach to research.

"A change in financial accounting procedures will result in higher profits being reported." This statement is a ________.

Writing a personal statement of values is useful to ________.

Carefully study the stages below. Do they refer to Induction or Deduction? Observations made Theory developed Hypothesis worded Hypothesis tested on data Theory revised

Defining 'customer loyalty' by the number of visits to a website per month from the same IP address is an example of ________.

Which research approach will suit the following research question best? "How does the behaviour of followers affect leadership success?"

Which research approach will suit the following research question best? "Does trade union presence have a significantly negative influence on the profits of medium-sized companies?"

In the deductive approach it is important to use a structured methodology.

"Sayeed decides to conduct an online survey of commuters' means of travel to work so that he will not influence their answers in any way." What is Sayeed trying to ensure here?

Your research approach is the way you negotiate access to an organisation.

Why would followers of induction criticise the deductive approach?

Inductive and deductive approaches should never be combined in the same piece of work.

"Values play a large role in interpreting results from both objective and subjective points of view." The axiological beliefs of which research approach are being stated here?

In-depth qualitative interviewing based on small scale samples is a data collection strategy usually associated with interpretivism.

"The activities performed by managers are now so well established in our society that 'management' can be seen as having a reality independent of individual managers." This statement is ________.

Which of these are depicted in the innermost section of the 'research onion' (Saunders et al 2008: 108) ?

Which of the following is NOT a research paradigm?

"Reality exists independent of humans but is interpreted through social conditioning." Which research paradigm's ontological assumptions are being described here?