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Prelims

Methodological Issues in Management Research: Advances, Challenges, and the Way Ahead

ISBN: 978-1-78973-974-9, eISBN: 978-1-78973-973-2

Publication date: 11 November 2019

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(2019), "Prelims", Subudhi, R.N. and Mishra, S. (Ed.) Methodological Issues in Management Research: Advances, Challenges, and the Way Ahead, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. i-xix. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78973-973-220191020

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020 Emerald Publishing Limited

Half Title

Methodological Issues in Management Research

Title Page

Methodological Issues in Management Research: Advances, Challenges, and the Way Ahead

EDITED BY

RABI N. SUBUDHI

KIIT University Bhubaneswar, India

SUMITA MISHRA

KIIT University Bhubaneswar, India

United Kingdom – North America – Japan – India – Malaysia – China

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Emerald Publishing Limited

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First edition 2020

Copyright © 2020 Emerald Publishing Limited

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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN: 978-1-78973-974-9 (Print)

ISBN: 978-1-78973-973-2 (Online)

ISBN: 978-1-78973-975-6 (Epub)

Dedication Page

Dedicated to

Two lovely daughters,

SRUTI & SHREYA

(daughters of Madhumati & Rabi and Sumita & Susruta, respectively)

Contents

List of Tables, Figures and Exhibits ix
List of Boxes xiii
List of Contributors xv
Foreword: Prof. Rajendra Nargundkar xvii
Acknowledgments xix
Chapter 1 The Methodological Domain in Management Research
Sumita Mishra and Rabi N. Subudhi 1
Chapter 2 Reviewing the Literature
Sumita Mishra 11
Chapter 3 Purpose and Process of Research
Shikta Singh 27
Chapter 4 Research Design
Fakir M. Sahoo 37
Chapter 5 Questionnaire Design
Sudhakar Patra 53
Chapter 6 Qualitative Interviewing
Upasana A. Agarwal 79
Chapter 7 Focus Group Discussions
Vijayalakshmi C. Balasubramaniam 93
Chapter 8 Quantitative Data Analysis
Punyaslok Dhall 109
Chapter 9 Testing of Hypothesis: Concepts and Applications
Rabi N. Subudhi 127
Chapter 10 Nature of Qualitative Research
Richa Awasthy 145
Chapter 11 Case Study Research
Srilata Patnaik and Satyendra C. Pandey 163
Chapter 12 Grounded Theory: A Method of Research Inquiry
Sunil Kumar Sharma, Atri Sengupta and Subhash Chandra Panja 181
Chapter 13 Supplementary Research Methods: DEA, ISM, AHP and Non-Parametric Statistics
Pratap K. J. Mohapatra 203
Chapter 14 Special Section: Sample Research Papers 247
Chapter 14.1 Working with Second-order Construct in Measurement Model: An Illustration Using Empirical Data
Subhra Pattnaik 249
Chapter 14.2 Role of Self-congruity in Predicting Travel Intention
Joydeep Biswas and R. V. Shabbirhusain 261
Chapter 14.3 Structural Equation Modeling: Threshold Criteria for Assessing Model Fit
Malabika Sahoo 269
Chapter 14.4 Socio-economic Development Disparity in India: An Inter-state Analysis
Ayushi Raichoudhury 277
Chapter 14.5 Stages and Methods for Cleaning Large Secondary Data Using R
Manoj Kumar Jena and Brajaballav Kar 285
Appendix: Statistical Tables 305
Index 315

List of Tables, Figures and Exhibits

Chapter 3

Exhibit 3.1. Flowchart of Steps for Framing a Research Question in Form of an Illustration 33

Chapter 4

Exhibit 4.1. A Broad Classification of Designs 38
Exhibit 4.2. Longitudinal versus Cross-sectional Design 39
Exhibit 4.3. Sequential Design 40
Exhibit 4.4. Longitudinal, Cross-section, and Sequential Design 41
Exhibit 4.5. Pretest–Posttest Designs 50

Chapter 6

Table 6.1. Strengths of Qualitative Research Interviews 80
Table 6.2. Example of a Structured Interview Question 81
Table 6.3. Types of Interviews 82
Table 6.4. Seven Stages of an Interview 83
Table 6.5. Biased and Unbiased Questions 87
Table 6.6. Quality of Questions. Question Options 88
Table 6.7. Active Listening 89
Table 6.8. Effective Probes 90

Chapter 7

Table 7.1. Stages of FGD 97
Fig. 7.1. FGD Process: A Pictogram 100

Chapter 8

Table 8.1. Gender and Elective 115
Table 8.2. Gender by Elective 116
Table 8.3. Doctoral Research abroad by Age 116
Table 8.4. Doctoral Research abroad by Age and Gender 117

Chapter 9

Fig. 9.1. Classification of Tests 129
Table 9.1. Decision Table 130
Table 9.2. ANOVA Table 132
Table 9.3. Type of tests 133
Fig. 9.2. One tailed tests (left and right) and two-tailed tests (of mean difference tests). (a) Right tailed test, (b) left tailed tests, and (c) two-tailed tests 134
Table 9.4. Student performance scores 139

Chapter 10

Fig. 10.1. Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle 147

Chapter 11

Table 11.1. Case Study Elements, Descriptors, and Focus of Researcher 165
Table 11.2. Framework for Assessing Quality in Qualitative Case Study Research 175

Chapter 12

Fig. 12.1. Analytical Process in GT Research 186
Table 12.1. Examples of Glaser’s Coding Families: Concepts and Theoretical Codes 188
Fig. 12.2. Framework for Axial Coding 191

Chapter 13

Table 13.1. Empirical Cumulative Probabilities for the Given Data 210
Table 13.2. Rank Differences for the Subjects 214
Table 13.3. Transformed Form of Presentation of Data on Ranks and Scores 216
Table 13.4. Ranks for Solution Options 218
Fig. 13.1. Two Forms of Structural Self-interaction Matrix 221
Table 13.5. The Initial Reachability Matrix 222
Fig. 13.2. Digraph for the Reachability Matrix 223
Table 13.6. Level 1 Partitioning 224
Table 13.7. Level 2 Partitioning 224
Table 13.8. Level 3 Partitioning 224
Fig. 13.3. The Factor Hierarchy 225
Fig. 13.4. Location of Factors in a Driving Power-dependence Plane 225
Table 13.9. Priority Weights of Criteria and Scores for Alternatives 227
Fig. 13.5. Hierarchy of Goal, Criteria, and Alternatives 228
Table 13.10. The Fundamental Scale 228
Table 13.11. Priority Weights for the Criteria 230
Table 13.12. Weighted Average Scores for the Alternatives 231
Fig. 13.6. Production Functions for Constant and Variable Returns to Scale 235
Fig. 13.7. Production Possibility Set and Efficient Frontiers 236
Table 13.13. Input–Output Data for Five Units 238
Table 13.14. The Optimal Solutions 239
Fig. 13.8. CCR Efficiency for Single-Input–Single-Output Units 240
Table 13.15. Data for Five Single Input-Single Output Units 240
Table 13.16. Input Consumed for Unit Output 240
Fig. 13.9. CCR Efficiency for Two-Input–Single-Output Units 241
Table 13.17. Data for Five Single-Input–Two-Output Units 241
Table 13.18. Output Produced with Unit Input 241
Fig. 13.10. CCR Efficiency for Single-Input–Two-Output Units 242
Fig. 13.11. BCC Efficiency for Single-Input–Single-Output Units 246

Chapter 14.1

Table 14.1.1. Mean, SD, Correlations, and Reliabilities of Study Constructs 251
Table 14.1.2. KMO and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity 252
Table 14.1.3. Final Pattern Matrix Obtained through EFA 253
Table 14.1.4. Model-fit Indices and Thresholds Used for this Analysis 254
Fig. 14.1.1. CFA Model 2: Measurement Model after Deletion of Items 255
Table 14.1.5. Scale Reliabilities, AVE, and Inter-construct Correlations 256
Fig. 14.1.2. CFA Model 5: EmpPerf as a Second-order Construct Drawing on TP, IPF, and JD 258

Chapter 14.2

Fig. 14.2.1. The Hypothesized Model 263
Table 14.2.1. Demographic Profile of Respondents 265
Table 14.2.2. List of Removed Items 265
Table 14.2.3. Regression Results 266

Chapter 14.3

Fig. 14.3.1. Types of Fit Evaluation 271
Table 14.3.1. Recommended Values of Different GOF Indices 273
Table 14.3.2. Test of Convergent and Discriminant Validity 274
Table 14.3.3. GOF Measures of the Research Data 275

Chapter 14.4

Table 14.4.1. Socio-economic Development Indices (SEDI) of India 280
Table 14.4.2. Socio-economic Development of Major States of India 281
Table 14.4.3. Socio-economic Development Indices across Rural–Urban Divide 282

Chapter 14.5

Fig. 14.5.1. Descriptive Statistics from R Output 290
Fig. 14.5.2. Scatter Plot of Data and Possible Outliers 291
Fig. 14.5.3. Displaying the Relationship between Different Variables under a Data Set 292
Fig. 14.5.4. Density Plot to Check Normality of Average Income Data for All the Companies 292
Fig. 14.5.5. Distribution of Residuals from Regression Analysis and Checking Normality 293
Fig. 14.5.6. Schematic Representation of Data Cleaning and Transformation Steps 294

List of Boxes

Box 2.1 Meta-analysis in Training Motivation by Colquitt, Lepine, and Noe (2000). 15
Box 2.2 Integrative Literature Review on Job Crafting and Performance by Lee and Lee (2018). 17
Box 2.3 Reference Management Software. 21
Box 3.1 XYZ Industries Limited Case. 29
Box 3.2 Example of Descriptive Research. 30
Box 3.3 Case Example – Explanatory Research. 31
Box 3.4 A Few Examples of Research Topics on Globalization. 32
Box 9.1 Sampling Methods. 143
Box 10.1 Definitions of Qualitative Research. 149
Box 12.1 Memo Writings. 194
Box 12.2 Category Card. 196

List of Contributors

Atri Sengupta IIM Sambalpur, Sambalpur
Ayushi Raichoudhury KIIT University, India
Brajaballav Kar KIIT University, India
Fakir M. Sahoo XIM Xavier University, India
Joydeep Biswas KIIT University, India
Malabika Sahoo KIIT University, India
Manoj K. Jena KIIT University, India
Pratap K. J. Mohapatra IIT India
Punyaslok Dhall XIMB, India
Rabi N. Subudhi KIIT University, India
Richa Awasthy Ambedkar University, Delhi
R. V. Shabbirhusain IIM Raipur, India
Satyendra C. Pandey Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA)
Shikta Singh KIIT University, India
Srilata Patnaik KSRM KIIT University, India
Subhash Chandra Panja Jadavpur University, India
Subhra Pattnaik Xavier School of HRM Xavier University, India
Sudhakar Patra PG Dept of Economics Berhampur University, Brahmapur, India
Sumita Mishra KIIT University, India
Sunil Sharma Jadavpur University, India
Upasana A. Agarwal NITIE, India
Vijayalakshmi C. Balasubramaniam IFMR Graduate School of Business, Krea University, India

Foreword

Prof. Rajendra Nargundkar

I have had the pleasure of knowing the editors for a decade now, and their enthusiasm toward Research Methods training has been remarkable. I have also been a small contributor at one of the workshops organized by the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) School of Management, KIIT-Bhubaneswar, for faculty members.

In a way, this enthusiasm toward research methods is also a hallmark of what a doctoral student or a research-oriented faculty member needs. These are the two major segments that this book will serve the most, I believe.

Many research students are confused, and rightly so, because the most difficult part of research is not the data collection or analysis, but what precedes these – the formulation of a problem, or the conception and operationalization of constructs, variables, relationships, and so on, in a form that is testable.

Our educational system under-emphasizes formulation and thinking about potential hypotheses. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are little – understood for their optimal and adequate use in research – more so, the qualitative methods, after the proliferation of software that addressed quantitative research analysis.

I am glad that the authors have taken up these issues, as a challenge and elaborated on each one of these in a chapter or more. Particularly, the grounded theory approach and mixed methods research has not been covered adequately as options in doing research, and these are fast gaining currency in our changing world.

The purpose of research is also an important topic. In academic research, the purpose may be quite different from that in commercial research (e.g., marketing research). Covering this in detail is, I think, a very good idea.

Similarly, literature review remains one of the least-understood areas in academic research for a novice. Many Ph.D. students struggle to do a literature review. The many facets of why it should be a major component of doctoral research or in general, publishable research, needs elaborate coverage, and I am happy to see a chapter dedicated to the topic.

Hypothesis formulation is another topic that needs different treatment when doing academic research. A testable hypothesis is the heart of empirical research, but formulating it and testing it later, is an art that is hard to learn, and even harder to teach. This is where literature already published comes in, by helping identify gaps in work already done, and helping the reader (better) understand what hypotheses are testable, by using appropriate methods.

Appropriate methods are of course, the crux to solving any research problem, assuming it is formulated correctly. Whether they are qualitative, quantitative, or a mix of the two, they determine the credibility of your research findings.

Given the variety of topics, it is understandable that various people have contributed to the making of this book. I think it is timely that a contextual book is being published. It is my feeling that many doctoral students and faculty members will be thankful to the editors, and all other contributors, of this wonderful book for making this effort.

I wish the publishers and all the authors all success.

Dr Rajendra Nargundkar, who did his Ph.D. in Management from Clemson University, USA, in 1989, is a well-known author in the field of Marketing Research, with some best-selling books, to his credit. He has served many leading b-schools like IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore, XIM Bhubaneswar, IIM Kozhikode, Lander University, SC, USA, and Clemson University, SC, USA.

Acknowledgments

Research Methodology (RM), as a paper, has been our passion, not the core subjects, where we are first known for. RM is the paper, where you mostly interact with very senior people, for their doctoral level course work and subsequent research stages, thereby getting a chance to learn new things, new insights with every single research scholar, with every research topic, which has to be unique, as desired. The passion and challenges often required consulting and taking help from fellow experts in this interesting field of RM, informally and also formally, in the form of “Workshops on Research Methodology,” conducted by us, every year, at our institute. During such interactions and deliberations among scholars and invited experts, there was a common feeling and agreement, on the necessity of having a compilation, like the present book, keeping in view the specific need of Indian scholars in the field of Management. This paved the way for this RM-Book project.

We thank all our fellow colleagues, from the field of RM, and our beloved doctoral scholars, for inspiring us to go for such a book. We both fondly remember many students of our RM-paper, who could successfully convert their mini-projects (of RM-paper) to publish as research articles in reputed journals.

We are highly indebted and thankful to all our chapter contributors, for preparing contents for specific chapters allotted to them, and completing it within stipulated time. They are the main architect of this book.

We are thankful to all the anonymous reviewers of this book (proposal), who were unanimous in accepting the importance and strength of this work.

We are very much thankful to the entire editorial and publication team members of Emerald Publications, and particularly the constant support of Ms. Sophie Darling is really unforgettable.

We, both the editors, are indebted to our respective family members, for their constant support and encouragements, which are the main ingredients for successful completion.

Lastly, despite our best possible efforts, there might be some deficiency or inadvertent errors in this edited book. We shall appreciate and welcome suggestions and feedback, on possible improvement of this book. We sincerely hope to come out with updated and extended version this book, and shall try to incorporate such suggestion.

R. N. Subudhi & Sumita Mishra, Editors
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