Research Design

In this class we cover three basic topics: types of research designs, the qual/quant distinction, and the fundamental notions of validity and reliability. Please come to class ready to discuss the following issues:

• strengths and weaknesses of different kinds of studies -- when to use which?

  • especially explain why true experiments are prized so much

  • When should you use simulation?

  • articulate the differences between qual and quant, as well as strengths and weaknesses

  • what are the different kinds of validity? how do you establish validity?

  • what is the relationship between reliability and validity?

• why is it so difficult to establish causality?

• please look up and get a handle on endogeneity. Bring your definition, and an example, to class.

Be prepared to discuss the readings in detail. Also, get cracking on this homework assignment for next week.

Primary Readings (should be read very carefully)

• Sutton, R.I. and A. Rafaeli. 1988. "Untangling the relationship between displayed emotions and organizational sales: The case of convenience stores." Academy of Management Journal. 31(3):461-487. [^pdf]

• March, J. G. (1991). Exploration and exploitation in organizational learning. Organization Science, 2(1), 71-87. [pdf] (focus on pp 71-77, and 88-86).

• design elements [html]

• types of studies [html]

  • design notation [html]

• types of validity [html]

• validity and reliability [html]

• causality [html]

Secondary Readings

• • Kendall, M. G. (1959). Hiawatha designs an experiment. The American Statistician, 13(5), 23-24. [pdf]

• Polanyi, Michael. "The Potential Theory of Adsorption." Science141, no. 3585 (1963): 1010-013. http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.uky.edu/stable/1712330. [^pdf] (this paper quoted from in the March piece)

• the qualquant distinction [pdf]

Exercise

• • You have an exercise due next week. get started ...

Each card has a number on one side, and a patch of color on the other. Which card(s) must be turned over to test the idea that if a card shows an even number on one face, then its opposite face is red?