Theory Building Humber College RSMT 5001

Chapter 3--Theory Building Student: ___________________________________________________________________________ 1. A theory is an abstract, untestable explanation of some events. True False 2. Knowledge and confirmati ...

Chapter 3--Theory Building Student: ___________________________________________________________________________ 1. A theory is an abstract, untestable explanation of some events. True False 2. Knowledge and confirmation are the two purposes of theory. True False 3. Theories allow researchers to build on previous knowledge. True False 4. A concept is a generalized idea about a class of objects, attributes, or occurrences. True False 5. Risk aversion is an example of a construct. True False 6. The hierarchy of theory organizes concepts in sequence from the most concrete and individual to the most general. True False 7. As concepts become more abstract, the easier it is to measure them. True False 8. The empirical level of the ladder of abstraction is the level of knowledge that is verifiable by experience or observation. True False 9. The basic or scientific business researcher operates at two levels: on the abstract level of concepts (and hypotheses) and on the empirical level of variables ( and propositions). True False 10. The term inherent construct refers to a concept that is not directly observable or measurable. True False 11. In its simplest form, a research hypothesis is a “guess” about the outcome of aresearch study. True False 12. Empirical testing means that something has been examined against reality using data. True False 13. A concept is a formal statement explaining some outcome. True False 14. Statistics can be used to prove that a research hypothesis is true. True False 15. The process of identifying the actual measurement scales to asses the variables of interest is known as operationalizing. True False 16. In most scientific situations there is typically only one theory to explain certain phenomena. True False 17. Theories are derived from deductive reasoning and selective reasoning. True False 18. Deductive reasoning derives a conclusion about a general knowledge based on specific instances. True False 19. The scientific method is a set of prescribed procedures for establishing and connecting theoretical statements about events, for analyzing empirical evidence, and for predicting events yet unknown. True False 20. The first step in the scientific method is to formulate concepts and propositions. True False 21. A formal, logical explanation of some events that includes descriptions of how things relate to one another is called a(n) _____. A. hypothesisB. theoryC. causal statement D. empirical study 22. Psychologists explain that humans’ better recall of information that is presentedvisually compared to information presented verbally is due to the fact that the information is stored both visually and verbally. Because it is stored using this dualcoding process, it is easier to retrieve from memory. This formal logical explanation of this phenomenon is an example of a(n) _____. A. theoryB. constructC. operationalization D. abstraction 23. What are the two goals of theory? A. speculating and confirmingB. understanding and predictingC. deducting and inductingD. abstracting and concretizing 24. A(n) ____ is a generalized idea about a class of objects that has been given a name. A. variableB. theoryC. nodeD. construct 25. Which of the following is considered the basic unit for theory development? A. conceptB. propositionC. hypothesisD. variable 26. Self-efficacy, which is a generalized idea about how humans perceive their own abilities, is an example of a(n) _____. A. hypothesisB. propositionC. conceptD. abstraction 27. The organization of concepts in sequence from the most concrete and individual to the most general is called the _____. A. conceptual hierarchyB. ladder of abstraction C. conceptual progressionD. operationalization of constructs 28. In theory development, which of the following is the level of knowledge expressing a concept that exists only as an idea or a quality apart from an object? A. empirical level B. primary levelC. conceptual levelD. abstract level 29. At what level do we “experience” reality? A. empirical levelB. abstract level C. primary levelD. secondary level 30. A concept that is not directly observable or measurable but can be estimated through proxy measures is called a(n) _____. A. indirect constructB. secondary construct C. higher order constructD. latent construct 31. Empathy is a concept that is not directly observable or measurable but is measured through other measures, such as an individual’s thoughts and behaviors toward others. This is an example of a(n) _____. A. latent constructB. empirical constructC. secondaryconstructD. higher order construct 32. Which of the following is a statement explaining the logical linkage among certain concepts by asserting a universal connection between concepts? A. hypothesis B. propositionC. constructD. theory 33. “Employees dressed professionally will perform better than those dressed casually” is an example of a _____. A. theoryB. propositionC. hypothesisD. variation 34. Which of the following means that something has been examined against reality using data? A. causalityB. manipulationC. empirical testingD. spurious association 35. When a researcher collects data to test the hypothesis that consumers will be more satisfied if a business offers compensation after the consumer complains, we say that _____ testing is being conducted. A. validationB. confirmationC. observationalD. empirical 36. Anything that may assume different numerical values is considered a(n) _____. A. variableB. constructC. itemD. data point 37. Which of the following is an empirical assessment of a concept? A. hypothesis B. variableC. constructD. item 38. When the data from an empirical study are consistent with a research hypothesis, we say that the hypothesis is _____. A. confirmedB. conclusiveC. supportedD. true 39. The process of identifying the actual measurement scales to assess the variables of interest is called _____. A. operationalizingB. synthesizingC. verifyingD. conceptualizing 40. _____ is the logical process of deriving a conclusion about a specific instance based on a known general premise or something known to be true. A. Deductive reasoning B. Inductive reasoningC. Latent reasoningD. Abstract reasoning 41. The logical process of establishing a general proposition on the basis of observation of particular facts is known as _____. A. deductive reasoningB. generalized reasoningC. inductive reasoningD. conceptual reasoning 42. If all the trees a person has seen in his life have been green and therefore he concludes that all trees are green, which type of reasoning is he using? A. deductive reasoningB. inductive reasoningC. generalized reasoningD. conceptual reasoning 43. A researcher is testing the hypothesis stating a positive relationship between business owners’ level of risk tolerance and the insurance coverage for the business. To test this, the researcher uses a set of prescribed procedures for establishing and connecting theoretical statements about these two constructs, for analyzing empirical evidence gathered through surveys, and for predicting future behavior. This researcher is following the _____. A. hypothetical methodB. scientific methodC. deductive method D. inductive method 44. Which of the following is a step involved in the application of the scientific method? A. statement of hypothesesB. formulation of concepts and propositionsC. analysis and evaluation of dataD. all of these choices 45. What is the LAST step in the application of the scientific method? A. assessment of relevant existing knowledge of a phenomenonB. proposal of an explanation of the phenomenon and statement of new problems raised by the researchC. design of research to test the hypothesisD. acquisition of meaningful empirical data 46. A formal, logical explanation of some events that includes predictions of how things relate to one another is known as a(n) _____. ________________________________________ 47. The two purpose of theory are understanding and _____. ________________________________________ 48. _____ are the building blocks of theory. ________________________________________ 49. The organization of concepts in sequence from the most concrete and individual to the most general is called the _____. ________________________________________ 50. In theory development, the level of knowledge expressing a concept that exists only as an idea or a quality apart from an object is the ____ level.________________________________________ 51. A concept that is not directly observable or measurable, but can be estimated through a proxy measure is known as a(n) _____ construct. ________________________________________ 52. Statements explaining the logical linkage among certain concepts by asserting a universal connection between concepts are called _____. ________________________________________ 53. A(n) _____ is a formal statement explaining some outcome and is testable. ________________________________________ 54. _____ involves applying statistics to data to test hypotheses. ________________________________________ 55. When the data are inconsistent with a hypothesis, we say the hypothesis is _____, ________________________________________ 56. If it is hypothesized that higher levels of compensation will positively influence workers’ intention to stay with a company, level of compensation measured in dollars and intentions to stay using a scale are examples of _____. ________________________________________ 57. A researcher is using income, education, and zip code as an indication of social class. This process of identifying the actual measurement scales to assess social class is called _____. ________________________________________ 58. Going from the general to the specific is done in _____ reasoning. ________________________________________ 59. _____ reasoning establishes a general proposition on the basis of observation of particular facts. ________________________________________60. A set of prescribed procedures for establishing and connecting theoretical statements about events, for analyzing empirical evidence, and for predicting events yet unknown is called the _____. ________________________________________ 61. What is a theory and a hypothesis, and what role do they play in marketing research? 62. Explain the difference between aconcept and a variable and give an example of each. 63. How does a hypothesis differ from a proposition? Give an example of each. 64. Discuss the types of reasoning researchers use to build theories. 65. List the steps a researcher will likely follow when applying the scientific method to develop and test theories Chapter 3--Theory Building Key 1. A theory is an abstract, untestable explanation of some events. FALSE2. Knowledge and confirmation are the two purposes of theory. FALSE 3. Theories allow researchers to build on previous knowledge. TRUE 4. A concept is a generalized idea about a class of objects, attributes, or occurrences. TRUE 5. Risk aversion is an example of a construct. TRUE 6. The hierarchy of theory organizes concepts in sequence from the most concrete and individual to the most general. FALSE 7. As concepts become more abstract, the easier it is to measure them. FALSE 8. The empirical level of the ladder of abstraction is the level of knowledge that is verifiable by experience or observation. TRUE 9. The basic or scientific business researcher operates at two levels: on the abstract level of concepts (and hypotheses) and on the empirical level of variables ( and propositions). FALSE 10. The term inherent construct refers to a concept that is not directly observable or measurable. FALSE 11. In its simplest form, a research hypothesis is a “guess” about the outcome of a research study. TRUE 12. Empirical testing means that something has been examined against reality using data. TRUE13. A concept is a formal statement explaining some outcome. FALSE 14. Statistics can be used to prove that a research hypothesis is true. FALSE 15. The process of identifying the actual measurement scales to asses the variables of interest is known as operationalizing. TRUE 16. In most scientific situations there is typically only one theory to explain certain phenomena. FALSE 17. Theories are derived from deductive reasoning and selective reasoning. FALSE 18. Deductive reasoning derives a conclusion about a general knowledge based on specific instances. FALSE 19. The scientific method is a set of prescribed procedures for establishing and connecting theoretical statements about events, for analyzing empirical evidence, and for predicting events yet unknown. TRUE 20. The first step in the scientific method is to formulate concepts and propositions. FALSE 21. A formal, logical explanation of some events that includes descriptions of how things relate to one another is called a(n) _____. A. hypothesisB. theoryC. causal statement D. empirical study 22. Psychologists explain that humans’ better recall of information that is presented visually compared to information presented verbally is due to the fact that the information is stored both visually and verbally. Because it is stored using this dualcoding process, it is easier to retrieve from memory. This formal logical explanation of this phenomenon is an example of a(n) _____. A. theoryB. constructC. operationalization D. abstraction 23. What are the two goals of theory? A. speculating and confirmingB. understandingand predictingC. deducting and inductingD. abstracting and concretizing 24. A(n) ____ is a generalized idea about a class of objects that has been given a name. A. variableB. theoryC. nodeD. construct 25. Which of the following is considered the basic unit for theory development? A. conceptB. propositionC. hypothesisD. variable 26. Self-efficacy, which is a generalized idea about how humans perceive their own abilities, is an example of a(n) _____. A. hypothesisB. propositionC. conceptD. abstraction 27. The organization of concepts in sequence from the most concrete and individual to the most general is called the _____. A. conceptual hierarchyB. ladder of abstraction C. conceptual progressionD. operationalization of constructs 28. In theory development, which of the following is the level of knowledge expressing a concept that exists only as an idea or a quality apart from an object? A. empirical level B. primary levelC. conceptual levelD. abstract level 29. At what level do we “experience” reality? A. empirical levelB. abstract level C. primary levelD. secondary level 30. A concept that is not directly observable or measurable but can be estimated through proxy measures is called a(n) _____. A. indirect constructB. secondary construct C. higher order constructD. latent construct 31. Empathy is a concept that is not directly observable or measurable but is measured through other measures, such as an individual’s thoughts and behaviors toward others. This is an example of a(n) _____. A. latent constructB. empirical constructC. secondary constructD. higher order construct 32. Which of the following is a statement explaining the logical linkage among certain concepts by asserting a universal connection between concepts? A. hypothesis B. propositionC. constructD. theory33. “Employees dressed professionally will perform better than those dressed casually” is an example of a _____. A. theoryB. propositionC. hypothesisD. variation 34. Which of the following means that something has been examined against reality using data? A. causalityB. manipulationC. empirical testingD. spurious association 35. When a researcher collects data to test the hypothesis that consumers will be more satisfied if a business offers compensation after the consumer complains, we say that _____ testing is being conducted. A. validationB. confirmationC. observationalD. empirical 36. Anything that may assume different numerical values is considered a(n) _____. A. variableB. constructC. itemD. data point 37. Which of the following is an empirical assessment of a concept? A. hypothesis B. variableC. constructD. item 38. When the data from an empirical study are consistent with a research hypothesis, we say that the hypothesis is _____. A. confirmedB. conclusiveC. supportedD. true 39. The process of identifying the actual measurement scales to assess the variables of interest is called _____. A. operationalizingB. synthesizingC. verifyingD. conceptualizing 40. _____ is the logical process of deriving a conclusion about a specific instance based on a known general premise or something known to be true. A. Deductive reasoning B. Inductive reasoningC. Latent reasoningD. Abstract reasoning 41. The logical process of establishing a general proposition on the basis of observation of particular facts is known as _____. A. deductive reasoningB. generalized reasoning C. inductive reasoningD. conceptual reasoning 42. If all the trees a person has seen in his life have been green and therefore he concludes that all trees are green, which type of reasoning is he using? A. deductive reasoningB. inductive reasoningC. generalized reasoningD. conceptual reasoning43. A researcher is testing the hypothesis stating a positive relationship between business owners’ level of risk tolerance and the insurance coverage for the business. To test this, the researcher uses a set of prescribed procedures for establishing and connecting theoretical statements about these two constructs, for analyzing empirical evidence gathered through surveys, and for predicting future behavior. This researcher is following the _____. A. hypothetical methodB. scientific methodC. deductive method D. inductive method 44. Which of the following is a step involved in the application of the scientific method? A. statement of hypothesesB. formulation of concepts and propositionsC. analysis and evaluation of dataD. all of these choices 45. What is the LAST step in the application of the scientific method? A. assessment of relevant existing knowledge of a phenomenonB. proposal of an explanation of the phenomenon and statement of new problems raised by the researchC. design of research to test the hypothesisD. acquisition of meaningful empirical data 46. A formal, logical explanation of some events that includes predictions of how things relate to one another is known as a(n) _____. theory 47. The two purpose of theory are understanding and _____. predicting 48. _____ are the building blocks of theory. Concepts 49. The organization of concepts in sequence from the most concrete and individual to the most general is called the _____. ladder of abstraction 50. In theory development, the level of knowledge expressing a concept that exists only as an idea or a quality apart from an object is the ____ level. abstract 51. A concept that is not directly observable or measurable, but can be estimated through a proxy measure is known as a(n) _____ construct. latent 52. Statements explaining the logical linkage among certain concepts by asserting a universal connection between concepts are called _____. propositions53. A(n) _____ is a formal statement explaining some outcome and is testable. hypothesis 54. _____ involves applying statistics to data to test hypotheses. Empirical testing 55. When the data are inconsistent with a hypothesis, we say the hypothesis is _____, not supported 56. If it is hypothesized that higher levels of compensation will positively influence workers’ intention to stay with a company, level of compensation measured in dollars and intentions to stay using a scale are examples of _____. variables 57. A researcher is using income, education, and zip code as an indication of social class. This process of identifying the actual measurement scales to assess social class is called _____. operationalizing 58. Going from the general to the specific is done in _____ reasoning. deductive 59. _____ reasoning establishes a general proposition on the basis of observation of particular facts. Inductive 60. A set of prescribed procedures for establishing and connecting theoretical statements about events, for analyzing empirical evidence, and for predicting events yet unknown is called the _____. scientific method 61. What is a theory and a hypothesis, and what role do they play in marketing research? A theory is a formal, logical explanation of some events that includes predictions of how things relate to one another. The two purposes of theory are understanding and predicting. Accomplishing the first goal allows the theorist to gain an understanding of the relationship among various phenomena. Thus a theory enables us to predict the behavior or characteristics of one phenomenon from the knowledge of another phenomenon.A hypothesis is a formal statement explaining some outcome. Hypotheses must be testable and should be written as propositions. We often apply statistics to data to empirically test hypotheses. When the data are consistent with ahypothesis, we say the hypothesis is supported. When the data are inconsistent with the hypothesis, we say the hypothesis is not supported. Because our results are based on statistics, there is always the possibility that our conclusion is wrong, so from an absolute perspective, statistics cannot prove a hypothesis is true. 62. Explain the difference between aconcept and a variable and give an example of each. A concept (or construct) is a generalized idea about a class of objects, attributes, occurrences, or processes that has been given a name. Supervisory behavior or risk aversion are examples of concepts. A variable is anything that may assume different numerical values and is the empirical assessment of a concept. For example, supervisory behavior may be assessed through variables such as amount of time spent training employees, number of employees supervised, and degree to which employees are involved in decision-making. 63. How does a hypothesis differ from a proposition? Give an example of each. Propositions are statements explaining the logical linkage among certain concepts by asserting a universal connection between concepts. An example of a proposition might be: Changes in tax law will influence individuals’ charitable giving. A hypothesis is a formal statement of an unproven proposition that is empirically testable. An example of a hypothesis might be: Tax laws limiting the deductibility of charitable contributions will decrease charitable giving. 64. Discuss the types of reasoning researchers use to build theories. At the abstract, conceptual level, a theory may be developed with deductive reasoning by going from a general statement to a specific assertion. Deductive reasoning is the logical process of deriving a conclusion about a specific instance, based on a known general premise or something known to be true. At the empirical level, a theory may be developed with inductive reasoning, which is the logical process of establishing a general proposition on the basis of observation of particular facts. 65. List the steps a researcher will likely follow when applying the scientific method to develop and test theories 1. Assessment of relevant existing knowledge of a phenomenon2. Formulation of concepts and propositions3. Statement of hypotheses4. Design of research to test the hypotheses5. Acquisition of meaningful empirical data6. Analysis and evaluation of data 7. Proposal of an explanation of the phenomenon and statement of new problems raised by the research