The Rejection of Qualitative Research Methods in Economics

Abstract:

The article analyzes the status quo of qualitative methods in economics. While a majority of economists consider knowledge of empirical research methods to be of considerable importance, it must be noted that qualitative research methods are scarcely implemented in economic publications. Given all the advantages of qualitative research methods, the reasons and processes responsible for the rejection of qualitative research methods in economics must be empirically identified and further discussed. To gain insights into the perception and application of qualitative research methods in economics revealing the status and representational patterns in qualitative social research. I addressed professors, editors of economic journals, and postdocs from Germany to access economists’ functional orientations and interpretative patterns, in order to establish preliminary indicators with regard to the subject-specific perspectives and the underlying scientific conceptions of economists. My findings reveal a fundamental rejection of qualitative research methods in economics due to methodological critique, a nomothetic world view and missing career opportunities. The article intends to initiate a discussion about the missing opportunities of the methodological contraction in the economic profession.     

Assessing supply chain risks with the analytic hierarchy process: Providing decision support for the offshoring decision by a US manufacturing company

This paper reports the process used by a US manufacturing company to assess supply chain risks within the context of an offshore sourcing decision. The case study company was faced with the objective of finding a new supplier for two of its major product lines. Five alternatives were considered: (1) sourcing finished goods from Mexico; (2) sourcing finished goods from China; (3) sourcing parts from China and assembly in the US; (4) sourcing parts from China, assembly in a Maquiladora in Mexico with investment; and (5) sourcing parts from China, assembly in a Maquiladora in Mexico with no investment in the venture. To find the best solution, action research methodology was combined with the application of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Through iterative and structured discussions, 17 risk factors were identified, which were subsequently grouped into main and sub objectives. AHP was then used to evaluate the importance of each risk factor, and to determine the best alternative. This study makes several contributions to the field of purchasing and supply management. First, it provides a comprehensive framework of empirically derived risk factors to be considered in an international sourcing context. Second, it shows how AHP can be used to assess these risk factors and alternatives as part of the framework to facilitate and support the final offshoring decision. And third, it illustrates the successful application of the approach by a US manufacturing company. As such, this paper contributes to the research streams of offshoring and risk management in purchasing and supply, as well as to decision-making under uncertainty and AHP. In addition, it serves as a practical methodology for firms in similar situations.     

研究型中医院科研存在的问题及对策研究

中医文化博大精深,中医院在中医医疗服务中起主导地位和作用,研究型中医院是医院发展过程中的新模式。本文重点从研究型中医院的科研方面阐述目前的发展现状,并给予相应的发展建议。     

分子影像学在药物研发领域的应用进展

越来越多的证据表明,分子影像技术可以帮助解决在药物开发过程中出现的关键问题。例如计算机断层扫描、磁共振成像技术和正电子放射断层造影术可以实现对生物活性灵敏高效的检测,对药代动力学和药物剂量的确定提供佐证,另外对药品的注册申请提供数据支持。本文中将介绍关于分子影像技术应用于药物研发的发展动态。     

利益相关者视角下的公允价值审计研究

正是因为公允价值计量在会计处理中的大量运用,审计工作者在审计工作中,也需要在执行了必要的审计程序、获取充分适当的审计证据基础之上,对资产、负债、权益项目进行公允价值审计,核查其计量、披露是否符合会计准则及相关制度。文章从利益相关者的角度出发,通过了解国家相关政策、市场条件,借鉴国外公允价值计量、审计的相关经验,希望对公允价值计量提出合理的见解及可操作性建议。     

茵栀黄注射液研究进展

本文通过查阅整理近20年有关茵栀黄注射液的文献,总结了茵栀黄注射液的化学成分、药理作用、临床报道及不良反应,以期为茵栀黄注射液的二次开发提供有益借鉴。     

城市住宅和住区代谢的研究框架与指标体系

住宅与住区在城市生态系统中是介于城市与家庭中间的两个层级,其物质能量代谢并非是家庭代谢在不同尺度上的集合,而是有着自身鲜明的层级特点。设计城市住宅和住区代谢分析的研究框架和指标体系,可用于对住宅和住区的代谢过程与代谢特点进行标准化的系统性分析,为定量研究和评价城市住宅与住区的代谢状况提供依据。在明确了现代化住宅和住区代谢研究边界的基础上,阐明了城市住宅和住区代谢的物质能量过程,建构了城市住宅和住区代谢的研究框架,并对划分的"城市住宅物质代谢""城市住宅能源代谢"和"城市住区物质代谢""城市住区能源代谢"四个子框架进行了深入分析,设计了城市住宅和住区代谢的描述性指标体系,并对该指标体系进行了详细说明。最后,针对研究框架和指标体系在未来的迭代更新提出了建议。     

瑞典非营利性机构发展概况及其经验启示

瑞典非营利性机构历史悠久,在社会经济发展中发挥着重要作用。目前,瑞典约有20万个非营利性机构,主要投入在社会保障、文化和娱乐(包括体育)、基金等12个领域。瑞典非营利性机构一般采用理事会制度,其下设有资产委员会、业务委员会和秘书处,在商业化的管理模式下,机构设置倾向于扁平化。瑞典政府对非营利机构给予一定的扶持和优惠,主要资助类型有运行补贴、项目资助等。瑞典科研类非营利机构,如,科研基金会,在瑞典科研体系中发挥了无可替代的作用。通过分析认为:除政府及全社会的广泛支持外,瑞典非营利性机构得以健康发展,还要归功于其机构自身角色定位准确、业务水平高、融资能力强和管理有效等因素。期望瑞典的成功经验能为我国非营利性机构的发展提供借鉴。     

中国固定资产投资实证研究模型综述

在利用中国学术期刊全文数据库(CNKI)进行文献检索的基础上,总结归纳出中国固定资产投资实证研究集中在五个方面:固定资产投资总额预测,宏观经济多部门动态模型,固定资产投资对经济增长影响分析,固定资产投资效果及滞后效应分析,固定资产投资地区差距分析.并对相应的模型和基本结论进行概述.     

煤矿岩巷中深孔爆破技术的研究与应用

为了提高煤矿岩巷掘进工作面爆破作业工效,采用了中深孔钻眼爆破技术,结果表明：按选定的炮眼布置方式和装药结构及参数,循环进尺明显提高了,材料消耗降低了,结论：中深孔爆破技术适合在煤矿岩巷炮掘工作面推广应用。