From the , answer the following questions:A GEM of A Study case
1. What are the independent and dependent variables in this study?
2. What are some of the intervening, extraneous, and moderating variables that the
study attempted to control with its 10-nation design?
3. Can you do a causal study without controlling intervening, extraneous, and
moderating variables?
4. What is the impact on study results of using national experts (key informants) to
identify and weigh entrepreneurial framework conditions?
5. Can you do a causal study when much of the primary data collected is descriptive
opinion and ordinal or interval data?
For any experiment or study, identifying variables and their relationship to each other and
how they affect each other, in order to be measured and controlled correctly, is important
(Leatham, 2012). To better isolate the independent and dependent variables, those conducting the
experiment must fully understand the point of the experiment and the context in which these
variables take place (Leatham, 2012). Additionally, the dependent variable is the primary
variable being studied and measured and is affected in some way by the independent variables
(Schindler, 2019). The independent variables are usually related to the dependent variable and
are used to manipulate the dependent variable in order to study their influence Schindler, 2019). (
In the GEM study, the dependent variable seems to be economic growth, or GDP and jobs, as it
can be measured and tested and is the primary variable to be studied. There are several
independent variables that were manipulated and may have an effect on economic growth. These
were:
Social, cultural, and political context
General national framework conditions
Entrepreneurial framework conditions
Entrepreneurial opportunities
Entrepreneurial capacity
Business dynamics
Some of the intervening, extraneous and moderating variables the study attempted to
control, and of which some were also considered independent variables, were the general
national and entrepreneurial framework conditions, entrepreneurial sectors, business dynamics
and economic growth. These variables were important to the validity of the study because they
relate to the research at hand and have had past research proving a link to each other (Bernerth &
Aguinis, 2016). Also, these variables have strong correlation and may give a different reason for
the study’s results or at least have some effect on the results (Bernerth & Aguinis, 2016). The
correlation between these variables was proven with statistical results showing a positive
correlation between perception of opportunity and entrepreneurial potential with business start-
up rates and this in turn, positively correlated with GDP growth and employment levels
(Schindler, 2019). This also proves that, “In all labor there is profit” and that governments should
encourage entrepreneurial pursuits to improve economic growth and job availability (New King
James Version, 1997, Proverbs 14:23).
The GEM study was a complex study with multiple variables, which can make it difficult
to control some variables. However, the study did attempt to circumvent this by collecting data
from 10 different nations, thus trying to prove a causal relationship. A study that seeks to prove a
