Empirical research consolidation: a generic overview and a classification scheme for methods

I define research consolidation as comparing and combining (amalgamating or, at least, juxtaposing) results or other output from multiple previously conducted research activities, relevant to a goal or topic of interest. The concept, not limited to empirical research or any specific method, is similar to and subsumes what is often referred to as research synthesis or research integration; I explain the concept and my rationale for the new term. After introducing the broader concept, I focus on consolidation of empirical research. As background for this, I offer a brief introduction to empirical research. Then I provide a generic overview of empirical research consolidation, abstracted from several of its specific methods, such as quantitative meta-analysis and qualitative meta-synthesis; this sort of overview—method agnostic and capturing the commonality—is not readily available in the literature. At the core of the paper, I propose a scheme to classify methods for empirical research consolidation followed by a review and classification of selected methods, illustrating the scheme. I also discuss and clarify related terminology. The classification scheme differentiates between two major attributes of methods—consolidation technique and type of content to be consolidated—that may reflect the positivist or constructivist research paradigm. Consolidation techniques could be aggregative, interpretive, or a combination thereof. Content consolidated, from empirical research reports, could be empirical or not and could be from quantitative research, qualitative research, other kinds of empirical research, or a combination thereof.     

The use of biodata for employee selection: Past research and future directions

Although biodata has been shown to be one of the best predictors of employee performance and turnover, a number of important issues remain unresolved (e.g., how broadly or narrowly should biodata be defined?). This paper has three main objectives. The first objective is to provide a selective but representative review of the research that has been conducted on the use of biodata for employee selection. The second objective is to constructively critique this research. This critique is intended to highlight deficiencies of this research that may limit the conclusions that should be drawn. The paper's third objective is to stimulate important future research on biodata that avoids the limitations of past research.     

再论会计研究方法的选择——一个关于西瓜拍卖的模型

本文认为，会计研究方法要遵循学科研究规律，并受制于研究本体和研究问题的性质，数据统计研究方法不等于科学研究方法，也不能完全反映科学研究精神，以描述为主的规范研究并不意味着低科学含量、低质量的研究。科学精神高于研究形式并且居于学科研究的前提，研究工具同研究质量和研究效果相关，但并非最终决定因素。研究是有成本的，研究成果作为信息也同样会导致“经济后果”，理性认识研究方法，科学合理的运用研究方法，是包括会计在内的社会科学研究提高研究效率、强化研究效果、最小化研究成本的现实问题。     

Retroduction: an alternative research strategy?

In this essay it is argued that the dualism between pure inductive and deductive research processes can be overcome by introducing retroduction. Retroduction makes possible a research process that is characterized by the linking of evidence (induction) and social theory (deduction) in a continually evolving, dynamic process. It will be argued that research processes characterized by retroduction have a potential that can be utilized within research on the greening of industry. This research is typically carried out as case studies, with some links to theory. These links can be made more explicit through retroduction and in turn increase our understanding of the contradicting relations between industry and the social and environmental context it is operating within. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.     

A classification and evaluation of research in operations management

It is important that the first issue of a new journal devoted to research in a given subject area examine the general nature of research in the field at present, and indicate what type of research might be beneficially undertaken in the field in the future. It is also desirable for a new journal to consider the ways in which it will judge the general quality of its articles in the aggregate, relative to established journals in similar disciplines. That is, what criteria can and should be used, say five years hence to determine if the journal is a strong one? It is the purpose of this paper to consider these distinct, but interrelated questions. This will be done by classifying some recent OM research, commenting on what appear to be broad areas where more work might be done, and then suggesting some measures we might want to think about for evaluating papers published by the JOM in the future.     

Action Research is Similar to Design Science

In management information systems (MIS) action research is long considered as promising but low-level research approach. It has an utmost relevance because action researchers are working with practitioners to solve the important practical problem. Design science outlined some years ago is just winning a wider audience. Action research was traditionally classified into qualitative research methods. But it seems to be the “wrong” home of action research. We shall show that after comparison of the seven aspects: concrete results of the study, knowledge produced, activities, the intent and the nature of a study, the division of labor in a study and generation, use and test of knowledge, the concordance between the characteristics of action research on the one hand and of design science on the other hand is very good. Hence, action research and design science should next be considered as similar research approaches, and this is a turning point in the history of both action research and design science.     

The role of theory in gender and information systems research

In response to claims emanating from recent assessments of the status of gender and IS research about insufficient theorizing of gender, a critical literature analysis of research papers on the topic of gender and IS that appeared in information systems journals between 1992 and 2012 was undertaken. While some research about gender and IS explicitly employs or develops gender theory, other research that claims to be about gender does not explicitly employ any gender theory to interpret research findings, relying, instead, on implicit gender essentialism as a theory-in-use. Research papers about gender and IS that do not explicitly employ gender theory typically use another IS or management theory as the sensitizing device to interpret the data. Still other research papers are gender atheoretical insofar as neither explicit nor implicit gender theorizing is evident in the papers. In gender and IS research, as in all research, gender theory can be used as a lens to guide the collection, analysis and interpretation of data — whether conducted with a positivist, interpretive or critical epistemology. Alternatively, gender theory can be used to interpret findings when gender is a factor that (expectedly or unexpectedly) results from a larger analysis. Finally, gender theory can result, inductively, from the data by means of grounded theory methods. In any case, the use of theory is to be directed toward understanding the phenomenon of gender in the context of IS (analyzing, explaining), establishing causality (predicting) or guiding action (design and action). This analysis of the role of theory in gender and IS research offers recommendations about the conduct of gender and IS research going forward.     

Some reflection on research ‘Schools’ and geographies

Reflecting on real and perceived differences between European and North American research cultures, I challenge views that ‘European’ research is under appreciated or discriminated against, and caution against isolationist European positions. Instead, I argue that although no distinctive and coherent European tradition or culture really exists, there may be elements of the prevalent research culture that can be turned into an advantage for Europe-based and/or European-trained researchers in helping to influence and improve one, global research conversation. Of course, a range of sub-communities and sub-conversations will and should exist, but there is no reason for these to be based on geography.     

Sexual harassment training: Recommendations to address gaps between the practitioner and research literatures

Sexual harassment training is a common human resource activity, and the practitioner literature is replete with advice about how to implement it. Little research, however, has specifically explored what makes sexual harassment training effective. This paper uses what we know from general training research and theory and sexual harassment research to assess the extent to which the practitioner literature is making relevant and reasonable recommendations for sexual harassment training. We identify practitioner‐research gaps in the literature, including areas that academic research and theory suggest are important for training effectiveness but where the practitioner literature falls short. The practitioner literature may be silent, offer incomplete advice, make recommendations that do not directly link to research findings, or present recommendations that are inconsistent with research findings. We recommend that these gaps be bridged and we provide specific suggestions for how human resource managers can improve the quality of the sexual harassment training they provide. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

新形势下加强科研经费管理的思考

随着国家加强对科研项目经费的管理,科研经费的管理模式需要从核算型向管理型过渡。文章针对目前科研经费管理中存在的问题,探讨了在新形势下如何加强科研经费管理以完善科研经费监管体制。     

A Framework for Making Quantitative Educational Research Articles More Reader-Friendly for Practitioners

The purpose of the present article is to demonstrate how quantitative research articles can be made much more reader-friendly. In particular, we illustrate how statistical language and research terminology can be simplified in reports. Moreover, using a published article, we demonstrate how quantitative reports could be re-structured to make them more reader-friendly, without sacrificing any important statistical information. We contend that by restructuring these reports, practitioners and stakeholders would be in a much better position to read quantitative research articles, whose findings could then be utilized to improve the quality of education. As such, not only would the divide between researchers and practitioners be reduced, but also educational research studies would have a much bigger impact on schools.     

Should I take this seriously? A simple checklist for calling bullshit on policy supporting research

We propose a simple checklist for the users of policy supporting research in order to decide whether a piece of research begs further study or can be dismissed right away. The checklist focusses on the quality of the research question (is it a research question, and is the research question answerable); the kind of knowledge along with the order, level and quality of data needed for answering the RQ; the methods of analysis used; the degree to which the research results support the conclusions; and whether the conclusions provide an answer to the research question.     

Ethical considerations during human centred overt and covert research

During the research process, several ethical issues have to be considered in ensuring the safety of the research participants. This is especially true in the case of human centred research designs in which people, not objects are the focus of research. This article reviews several of the issues that researchers should consider before, during and after the planning, implementation and completion of the research process whether it is overt or covert research. The article also functions as a tool that researcher may use in the consideration of the ethical value of their research and research results. The article provides the reader with the opportunity to review their own research related behaviour in ensuring that their research process is ethical in nature, as well as allows for the consideration of the safety and security of the research participant, and final contributing to society as a whole.     

浅析广告质量和广告效果的关系

广告的综合质量主要表现为广告设计质量、广告传播质量、广告促销质量。广告设计质量和广告传播质量影响和决定广告传播效果,广告的促销质量影响决定广告促销效果。因此,为提高广告的效果,文章认为应该重视和提高广告质量,广告效果的研究也应转向过程控制的研究。     

Research Directions

The research that can be done on compensation clearly exceeds the amount that has been and is likely to be done. Dramatic changes in the nature of work organizations and the business environment have created numerous important new reward system research topics that warrant attention. For example, the increased globalization of corporations, the increased use of information technology, and the increased use of contingent workers all raise literally hundreds of interesting researchable questions about the use of and consequences of different pay and reward practices. The articles in this volume raise many critically important questions about both the determinants of pay practices and the consequences of pay practices. Interestingly, in the articles, there is a greater focus on the determinants of pay practices than on their consequences. This is an orientation that is not present in much of the research on compensation. It tends to be more concerned with the consequences of different pay practices rather than on their determinants.Given the enormous number of researchable questions concerning pay in organizations, it is important to ask what issues should be front and center in a research agenda on pay. In short, what do we really need to know about pay systems? Before I answer this question, I need to identify one of my major biases. I believe research should focus on topics where the results are likely to be both theoretically and practically important. Given this bias, I am inclined to identify five areas where research on pay in organizations is particularly likely to yield useful results.     

Entrepreneurship research in service industries: a literature classification and trend analysis

In this paper, the influence of entrepreneurship on service management research is examined. Entrepreneurship research occupies a central place in organizational theory and strategic thinking, but its theories and models have little influence on business management. Entrepreneurship research can have a better integration with other areas of management, but there is still certain isolation. This article reviews the emerging areas in entrepreneurship research that provides complementary theoretical framework to service business models. In order to determine the areas in service management research in which entrepreneurship theories can be useful, a classification of the papers published in the last 2 years in the JCR service management journals is carried out. The study concludes that innovation is the most outstanding priority in service management research that can be enriched by entrepreneurial theories. The entrepreneurial approach to networks and institutional environment are the theoretical frameworks that better suit to introduce entrepreneurship variables as antecedents in business innovation models.     

Calibrating Public Sector Accountability: Translating experimental findings to public sector accountability

Accountability mechanisms are among the most important means with which governments guard and improve the performance of public sector organizations. However, research documents a plethora of accountability-failures. A key issue is: how can public sector accountability become more effective? This paper seeks to answer this question by connecting two largely separated strands of research: public administration research on real-world organizations and experimental research on the effects of different forms of accountability on decision-making. The paper develops the Calibrated Public Accountability-model (CPA-model) from experimental research findings which can be used to investigate how accountability can be calibrated to task requirements of organizations.