The process of scientific study is rather difficult and time-consuming. A scientist has to know numerous terms and skillfully operate with them to complete the study. Such terms as observations, facts, concepts, constructs, variables, hypotheses, laws, theories, and models, constitute the process of scientific study and are closely interrelated; Davis believes that knowing these terms will help managers to understand the interaction of business variables.
To begin with, all the terms under consideration are integral components of the process of scientific study. Observation is the basis of any study. Using observations the scientist notes facts or phenomena which, as he/she believes, are true. (Davis, 2005) When trying to prove the truth of these facts, the scientist starts a scientific investigation and operates with several concepts, or “abstract ideas generalized from particular facts.” (Davis, 2005)
In the course of the investigation, the scientist invents separate types of concepts, constructs, which are used for the theoretical purpose. Another concept he/she operates with is a variable that is important in measurement, because “it sets the limits on the range of values a measurement may make.” (Davis, 2005) The relationships between two or more variables are called hypotheses which serve to define the research problems of a study.
When the association among the variables is invariable, the statement of the relationship between them can be defined as law. Facts, concepts, constructs, laws, and hypotheses are united by a theory, “an interrelated set of statements of relationship whose purpose is to explain and predict.” (Davis, 2005) Finally, theories are arranged into theoretical systems which are represented by models, “simplified versions of phenomena that are of interest to the scientist.” (Davis, 2005) Therefore, all these terms interweave in a coherent process of scientific study.
Moreover, all the abovementioned terms are closely interrelated. For instance, variables and concepts are components of the hypothesis with the latter being “a statement about the relationship between two or more variables.” (Cargan, 2007) At this, the variables which are composed of different attributes “add the attributes (building blocks) of concepts” the definition of which leads to “developing the specific procedures that … result in observations representing the concepts.” (Cargan, 2007)
Observations, in their turn, are values of the variables which can be “numeric, verbal, or even visual.” (Landman, 2003) Further, variables, first dependent and then independent, are used as the basis for the classification of theories (Cote, 2002) The well-tested theories can be referred to as laws, and laws can be incorporated into models, which, eventually, help to “illustrate working hypotheses.” (Collinson & Thompson, 2000) Thus, all these terms are interrelated and cannot be used without each other.
Lastly, Davis 2005 believes that understanding the basic building blocks of scientific study is extremely important for managers. This author states that the relationship between science, research, and effective business is … close in modern times” (Davis, 2005) and managers, together with businessmen, should not only know that business variables interact, but should understand how and why they do so. Thus, David keeps to an idea that understanding the building blocks of science may help to identify how and why the business variables interact.
In sum, the process of scientific study can be defined as intertwinement and interrelation of such terms as observations, facts, concepts, constructs, variables, hypotheses, laws, theories, and models. Understanding these terms is necessary for managers because they help in comprehending the business process and interaction of business variables.
References
Cargan, L. (2007). Doing Social Research. New York: Rowman and Littlefield.
Collinson, J.D. & Thompson, D.B. (2000). Sedimentary Structures. New York: Routledge.
Cote, S. (2002). Criminological Theories: Bridging the Past to the Future. London: SAGE.
Davis, D. (2005). Business Research for Decision Making. Stamford: Cengage Learning.
Landman, T. (2003). Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics. New York: Routledge.