Operational definitions of research methods
| Research method | Operational definition |
|---|---|
| Action research | This category refers to the contribution of knowledge whilst at the same time solving organisational problems through intervention. Action research can be distinguished from consultancy in that the researcher uses particular theoretical tools to solve the organisational problems and uses the results of the interventions to evaluate and improve existing theory |
| Case study | This category refers to the contribution of knowledge through in-depth enquiries into a phenomenon within its real-life context, where the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly apparent |
| Consultancy | This category refers to the provision of an expert service for a client in return for a fee. Hence, it might be argued that this is not research at all; however, it is possible to learn from such projects |
| Critical theory | This category refers to the contribution of knowledge through the articulation of assumptions that keep people from a full understanding of how the world works |
| Design science | This category refers to the contribution to knowledge through the design of novel or innovative artefacts (Hevner et al., 2004). Such research consists of build-and-evaluate loops, and the developed knowledge ranges from design principles, construction methods and tools to basic assumptions about the context in which the artefact is to function (Gregor and Jones, 2007) |
| Ethnography | This category refers to the contribution of knowledge through an understanding of a phenomenon from the perspective of the people involved; in other words, understanding their values, language and practices. Ethnography has its roots in anthropology and the researcher spends a considerable amount of time in a particular (sub)organisation. This category shades into participant observation |
| Experiments | This category refers to the contribution of knowledge through the provision of insights into cause-and-effect. This is carried out by deliberately manipulating certain factors in artificially generated situations. This category includes both laboratory and field experiments |
| Grounded theory | This category refers to the contribution to knowledge through the marking of key points in the collected data with a series of codes. These codes are grouped into similar concepts from which the categories are formed. Finally, a theory can be constructed |
| Interviews | This category refers to the contribution to knowledge through a conversation in which a researcher elicits information from a respondent. Different types of interview techniques are included in this category, ranging from unstructured interviews (open-ended discussions) to structured interviews (a pre-structured set of questions). Moreover, interviews with one or more interviewees can be held at the same time (e.g. focus groups) |
| No method | This category is a placeholder for capturing when researchers have not explicitly stated or described the research method(s) they have used. This does not mean that they have not used any research method; however, the researchers do not give any account of it |
| Participant observation | This category refers to the contribution to knowledge through active participation in a situation. The people in the situation do not need to be aware of the researcher. This category is an extension of ethnography (Mingers, 2003 b). |
| Passive observation and measurement | This category refers to the contribution to knowledge through the direct observation, recording and measurement of phenomena that result in quantitative data. Such knowledge is developed through statistical analysis |
| Qualitative content analysis | This category refers to the contribution to knowledge through the analysis of texts or pictures to identify “the occurrence of specific categories or terms” (Mingers, 2003 b). The analysis can either be carried out using predefined categories or in an “interpretive manner, recognizing the role of the analyst in doing this” (Mingers, 2003 b) |
| Simulation | This category refers to the contribution to knowledge through the recreation of situations and data in such a way that they are, to some extent, representative of a relevant real-world situation. |
| Survey, questionnaire, or instrument | This category refers to the contribution to knowledge through a pre- structured set of questions, regardless of the technique used for the administration and circulation of these questions. Data is collected through the sampling of individual units from a wider population and the analysis includes any type of statistical method |
| Research method | Operational definition |
|---|---|
| Action research | This category refers to the contribution of knowledge whilst at the same time solving organisational problems through intervention. Action research can be distinguished from consultancy in that the researcher uses particular theoretical tools to solve the organisational problems and uses the results of the interventions to evaluate and improve existing theory |
| Case study | This category refers to the contribution of knowledge through in-depth enquiries into a phenomenon within its real-life context, where the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly apparent |
| Consultancy | This category refers to the provision of an expert service for a client in return for a fee. Hence, it might be argued that this is not research at all; however, it is possible to learn from such projects |
| Critical theory | This category refers to the contribution of knowledge through the articulation of assumptions that keep people from a full understanding of how the world works |
| Design science | This category refers to the contribution to knowledge through the design of novel or innovative artefacts ( |
| Ethnography | This category refers to the contribution of knowledge through an understanding of a phenomenon from the perspective of the people involved; in other words, understanding their values, language and practices. Ethnography has its roots in anthropology and the researcher spends a considerable amount of time in a particular (sub)organisation. This category shades into participant observation |
| Experiments | This category refers to the contribution of knowledge through the provision of insights into cause-and-effect. This is carried out by deliberately manipulating certain factors in artificially generated situations. This category includes both laboratory and field experiments |
| Grounded theory | This category refers to the contribution to knowledge through the marking of key points in the collected data with a series of codes. These codes are grouped into similar concepts from which the categories are formed. Finally, a theory can be constructed |
| Interviews | This category refers to the contribution to knowledge through a conversation in which a researcher elicits information from a respondent. Different types of interview techniques are included in this category, ranging from unstructured interviews (open-ended discussions) to structured interviews (a pre-structured set of questions). Moreover, interviews with one or more interviewees can be held at the same time (e.g. focus groups) |
| No method | This category is a placeholder for capturing when researchers have not explicitly stated or described the research method(s) they have used. This does not mean that they have not used any research method; however, the researchers do not give any account of it |
| Participant observation | This category refers to the contribution to knowledge through active participation in a situation. The people in the situation do not need to be aware of the researcher. This category is an extension of ethnography (Mingers, 2003 b). |
| Passive observation and measurement | This category refers to the contribution to knowledge through the direct observation, recording and measurement of phenomena that result in quantitative data. Such knowledge is developed through statistical analysis |
| Qualitative content analysis | This category refers to the contribution to knowledge through the analysis of texts or pictures to identify “the occurrence of specific categories or terms” (Mingers, 2003 b). The analysis can either be carried out using predefined categories or in an “interpretive manner, recognizing the role of the analyst in doing this” (Mingers, 2003 b) |
| Simulation | This category refers to the contribution to knowledge through the recreation of situations and data in such a way that they are, to some extent, representative of a relevant real-world situation. |
| Survey, questionnaire, or instrument | This category refers to the contribution to knowledge through a pre- structured set of questions, regardless of the technique used for the administration and circulation of these questions. Data is collected through the sampling of individual units from a wider population and the analysis includes any type of statistical method |
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