Research Concepts for Management Studies

This excellent companion volume toResearch Skills for Management Studies(Routledge, 2003) provides students with an in-depth introduction to five key research concepts and the constellation of ideas in which they are situated. These concepts are: knowledge; theory; data; validity; and significance. Uniquely, this book focuses on these central ideas which it is rarely possible to explore in depth in conventional research methods texts, rather than dealing purely with research techniques. It improves the student's appreciation of the subtle and dynamic nature of the meanings of these concepts, which are often taken for granted. An essential text for all those involved in teaching business and management, and an absolute must-buy for researchers and students grappling with the complexity of research methodologies.

Alan Thomas is Visiting Senior Fellow in Sociology and Organizational Behavior at Manchester Business School, University of Manchester.

List of illustrations	p. ix
Acknowledgements	p. xii
Introduction	p. 1
Learning the language of management research	p. 2
Organization of the book	p. 5
What does it all mean? Language, research and management studies	p. 8
Some features of language and discourse	p. 9
The problem of meaning and the vocabulary of research	p. 16
Contexts of meaning	p. 18
Conclusion	p. 25
Further reading	p. 25
Science and management studies	p. 26
The language of science	p. 27
The standard model of science	p. 29
Science and the social	p. 35
The social science disciplines	p. 38
Management studies and the social sciences	p. 44
Conclusion on science	p. 51
Further reading	p. 52
Theory and management studies	p. 54
The language of theory	p. 54
Perspectives on theory	p. 60
Theory in management studies	p. 70
Conclusion on theory	p. 81
Further reading	p. 83
Data and management studies	p. 86
The language of data	p. 88
Data and reality	p. 93
Data and social research	p. 97
Data in management studies	p. 106
Conclusion on data	p. 115
Further reading	p. 116
Validity and management studies	p. 118
The language of validity	p. 119
A brief history of validity in social research	p. 123
Validity in quantitative research	p. 126
Validity in qualitative research	p. 134
Poststructuralism and validity	p. 140
Validity in management studies	p. 142
Conclusion on validity	p. 146
Further reading	p. 148
Significance and management studies	p. 150
The language of significance	p. 151
Values and value-freedom in research	p. 153
Statistical significance: is it significant?	p. 170
Further reading	p. 177
Notes	p. 179
Bibliography	p. 188
Index	p. 205
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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Research Concepts for Management Studies

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

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Research Concepts for Management Studies

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

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