26:010:557 / 26:620:557 Social Science Research Methods Dr. Peter R. Gillett Associate Professor Department of Accounting & Information Systems Rutgers Business School – Newark & New Brunswick Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 1
Overview I Philosophy? I The Game Plan . . . I Syllabus Timetable I The Big Picture I What is Philosophy? I Why does any of this concern us? I Philosophy of Science I Some Questions to Ponder Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 2
Philosophy? I What do the robes of a Ph.D. mean? I What does Ph.D. mean? � Philosophiae Doctor I What is philosophy? � Φιλο−σοφια � Love of wisdom I Why is it important ? Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 3
Philosophy ? I “All generalizations are false” � Why is this relevant? � Why is it humorous? Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 4
Introductions I Name I Major I Year I Nationality I Hobbies Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 5
The Game Plan . . . I A little background on philosophy and its branches I Consideration of the relationship between science and the philosophy of science I Consideration of the special nature (if any) of social science and its philosophy I Discussion of the relationships among research, science, and scientific method Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 6
The Game Plan . . . I Framing business research as a social science endeavor I The role of theory and theory development I Theory and models I Constructs and hypotheses I Operationalization, measurement and reliability I Validity issues Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 7
The Game Plan . . . I Empirical investigation: experiment, quasi- experiment and non-experiment I Statistical methods for analysis I Mediation, moderation, suppression I Qualitative methods as alternatives I Social science research methods as applied in business research � We will look at specific papers! I Practicing the skills we have learned . . . Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 8
Syllabus I Memorandum I Contact Information I Textbooks I Objectives I Background I Grading I Assignments I Participation I Examinations I Academic Integrity I Withdrawal Policy I University Closings I About the Instructor Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 9
Timetable I Class I Date I Topic I Readings I Assignments Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 10
Timetable I Philosophy of Science I Social Science Methods I Accounting & Organization Management / International Business Research Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 11
The Big Picture I Class participation counts! I Each week you must submit a list of questions on the readings I There will be an Essay instead of a Mid-Term I You will prepare a Research Proposal I The final class will include Proposal presentations I The point of the Final Examination is to practice for the Qualifying Examination I My role is to facilitate your learning I You should be learning from each other not just from me, and not just by yourself – nor just in class Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 12
The Big Picture I Clearly the class is designed round the twin assumptions that you will all come to class prepared, and that you will all participate actively I Trust me, there is no alternative! I As well as learning new material we will be developing and practicing the professional skills of academic researchers Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 13
What is Philosophy? I An intellectual activity I A conceptual discipline I It looks at every aspect of life and asks the ‘big’ questions I Conceptual analysis I Method of doubt I Phenomenology Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 14
What is Philosophy? I Philosophical questions I ‘First order’ and ‘second order’ language � “A caused B” � “What do we mean when we say ‘A caused B’”? I Two fundamental styles of questions: � What is the nature of reality and the structure of the world? � What can we know for certain and what makes sound evidence? Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 15
Branches of Philosophy I Metaphysics I Epistemology (Theory of Knowledge) I Logic I Philosophy of Science I Philosophy of Mind I Philosophy of Language I Moral Philosophy (Ethics) I Social and Political Philosophy I Philosophy of Religion I Aesthetics Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 16
Metaphysics I ‘After physics’ – Aristotle I Categories I Substance and accident I Platonism I Dualism � Mind/body I Ontology I Causation I Mereology (?) Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 17
Epistemology I Knowledge � Justified true belief? I Knowing that / knowing how I Gettier counterexamples Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 18
Epistemology I Belief I Truth � “No theory” theory – disquotation theory � Correspondence theory � Coherence theory � Pragmatic theory � Assertability theory I Justification � Evidence � Argument Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 19
A Preview of Philosophy of Science I A second order criteriology I Largely concerned with metaphysics and epistemology I Is social science different? � Explanation v. prediction � Choice � Folk psychology � Reasons and causes � Reduction � Emergent properties � Supervenient properties � Are all emergent properties supervenient? Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 20
A Preview of Philosophy of Science I A property of an object is emergent if it is possessed by no part of the object I Supervenience is a dependence of one set of properties on another � Property A is supervenient on Property B if a difference in property A implies a difference in property B � The chemical properties of water (e.g., freezing at 0° C) are supervenient on the physical properties of hydrogen and oxygen I Chemicals cannot be ‘committed’, yet doctoral students, though composed entirely of chemicals, can; is the emergent property ‘committed’ supervenient on chemical properties of students? Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 21
Why does any of this concern us? I As business researchers � We seek the truth � We look for explanations � Often we look for causes I Many of the ‘preferred’ methods we use for these investigations are scientific ; i.e., we practice science I How can we expect success if we do not understand what we mean by truth, explanation, cause, nor know what methods are effective for their discovery? I Reflecting on such questions is the task of the philosophy of science Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 22
Why does any of this concern us? I Did low interest rates really ameliorate the recent economic melt-down? � What does it mean to pose this question? � How can we investigate it? I Similarly, does excessive abuse of discretionary accruals increase or decrease stock prices? � What are the difficulties with articulating and investigating questions like this? Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 23
Why does any of this concern us? I As academic researchers it is our responsibility � Not to take things at face value � Not to take anything for granted � To sharpen and clarify the ideas used to frame and formulate the questions we investigate � To demand, and to supply, reasons for claims made N Theoretical N Empirical Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 24
Why does any of this concern us? � To require evidence not anecdote � To develop inquiring attitudes � To use our experience of the business world to inform, not to subvert, true research � To understand that research is a discipline requiring skill, methods, application . . . and good fortune � To hypothesize . . . and to test . . . � . . . and sometimes, to explain, to predict, and to control � To develop a philosophical attitude Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 25
Why does any of this concern us? I Be aware that, commonly, different researchers, at different times, may use the same terms and expressions to mean different things . . . and reach different conclusions I When you read, be demanding as to what key terms mean I When you write research papers, be clear as to what key terms mean I Beware, words are tricky . . . Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 26
Why does any of this concern us? I Consider the meaning of: � Scientific methods � Philosophical methods � Historical methods I Are the adjectives here analogues? I Consider: � Jewish science � Jewish philosophy � Jewish history ? Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 27
Philosophy of Science I The philosophy of science is an important and valuable place for us to begin I Nevertheless, we can only afford to spend a little less than 1/3 of our time studying it I There are numerous alternative approaches that one might take � Historical � Topical � Systematic Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 28
Philosophy of Science I Historical � Following the development of ideas over time � Noting that different philosophers re-frame and re-formulate familiar problems in new forms I Topical � Studying alternative views on certain key topics N Causality N Laws of nature N Etc. I Systematic � Developing a particular ‘position’ from which problems are considered N Sir Karl Popper and falsificationism Dr. Peter R Gillett January 19, 2006 29
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