STEP FIVE

Check you have accomplished all the major tasks involved in
building the theoretical case for your dissertation

When taking on a quantitative dissertation, it's important to have thoroughly built your theoretical case before moving on to set your research strategy (i.e., STAGE SIX: Setting your research strategy) or starting the data collection process (i.e., STAGE EIGHT: Data collection) because there is little room during these latter stages to make substantial changes to your dissertation (i.e., it's very difficult to change the constructs you are looking at, the research design guiding your dissertation, or measures within the measurement procedure once you've moved past STAGE FIVE: Building the theoretical case). After all, one of the main characteristics of quantitative research is the pre-determined, standardized nature of the research process. Therefore, before moving on, check back through the four major steps set out in STAGE FIVE. Ask yourself:

• STEP ONE
  Do I understand the broader literature within which my main journal article and chosen route fit?

• STEP TWO
  Have I critically evaluated the main journal article and its components parts?

• STEP THREE
  Can I justify the route I have chosen, and the approach within that route?

• STEP FOUR
  Have I set the theoretical model for my dissertation (if relevant)?

When you feel comfortable that you have address each of these questions, move onto STAGE SIX: Setting your research strategy. If you feel that we have missed something in STAGE FIVE, or you feel that something is unclear, feel free to leave feedback. This is an important stage within the dissertation process, and we want to make sure you feel confident in the theoretical case you have built before moving on.

References

Meyer, J. P., Allen, N. J., & Smith, C. (1993). Commitment to organizations and occupations: Extension and test of a three-component conceptualization, Journal of Applied Psychology, 78, 538-551.

Rioux, M. H. (1997). When myths masquerade as science. In L. Barton & M. Oliver. Disability studies: Past, present and future. Leeds: The Disability Press.

Srinivasan, S. S., Anderson, R., & Ponnavolu, K. (2002). Customer loyalty in e-commerce: An exploration of its antecedents and consequences. Journal of Retailing, 78, 41-50.