A note on research methods terms for MBA Students

 A note on research methods terms for MBA Students

 

Briefly describe the following terms, with an example on each of them, in the subject of MBA dissertation project: 1. Construct 2. Conceptual definition 3. Operational definition 4. conceptualization 5. Operationalization 6. Variable 7. Abstraction 8. Universal model.

 

Here are concise, MBA-level explanations with clear examples tied to dissertation research:

1. Construct

A construct is an abstract concept that cannot be directly observed but is important for explaining phenomena.

• Example: “Employee engagement” is a construct because it represents a psychological state, not something directly measurable.

2. Conceptual Definition

A conceptual definition explains what a construct means in theoretical terms.

• Example: Employee engagement is conceptually defined as “the level of emotional and cognitive commitment an employee has toward their organization.”

3. Operational Definition

An operational definition specifies how a construct will be measured in practice.

• Example: Employee engagement is measured using a 10-item Likert-scale survey (e.g., Utrecht Work Engagement Scale), where respondents rate agreement from 1 to 7.

4. Conceptualization

Conceptualization is the process of clarifying and defining what a construct means within a study.

• Example: A researcher conceptualizes “service quality” as consisting of dimensions such as reliability, responsiveness, and assurance (e.g., SERVQUAL framework).

5. Operationalization

Operationalization is the process of translating a conceptualized construct into measurable variables and indicators.

• Example: Service quality is operationalized by designing survey items for each SERVQUAL dimension and collecting customer ratings.

6. Variable

A variable is a measurable representation of a construct that can take different values.

• Example: “Monthly sales revenue” or “employee engagement score” are variables; engagement score varies across respondents.

7. Abstraction

Abstraction is the process of simplifying reality by focusing on essential features while ignoring less relevant details.

• Example: In studying firm performance, a researcher abstracts complex business operations into key indicators like ROI or profit margin.

8. Universal Model

A universal model is a generalized framework that explains relationships between constructs across different contexts.

• Example: The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which posits that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use influence technology adoption across industries.