1. What are the independent and dependent variables in this study?
According to the Schindler (2022), a variable is “a measurable symbol of an
event, act, characteristic, trait, or attribute” (p. 15). Schindler goes on to say that there are
four different types of variables, but the main two, that are the most known to anyone
who has taken a basic science class, are the independent and dependent variables. An
independent variable is a variable that stands alone and is not affected by any of the other
variables involved in the research process (NCES, 2022). In the case of this study,
according to Schindler (2022), the independent variables would be the General National
Framework Conditions, which include “Government, Financial Marketing, Technology
R&D, Openness, Institutions, Labor Markets, Management (skills), and Infrastructure”
(p.525). These are variables that do not necessarily depend on one another, but they can
be worked to achieve a specific research purpose. As for the dependent variable, they are
the economic standing, GDP, and number of jobs available in the workforce. These
factors are the dependent variable because they are heavily influenced by the outcome of
the independent variables, and they do not stand by themselves.
2. What are some of the intervening, extraneous, and moderating variables that the
study attempted to control with its 10-nation design?
A moderating variable would be, according to Schindler (2022), a “second
independent variable believed to have a significant contributory effect on the original
independent/dependent relationship” (p. 17). In this case study, an example of that could
be something around the lines of making resources available for people to pick up,
promoting entrepreneurship to them, or engaging in long-term education. These are all
variables that can influence the dependent variable like the primary independent variable
can. Another type of variable is an intervening variable, which Schindler (2022) explains
to be as “a factor that can theoretically affect the dependent variable but cannot be
observed or has not been measured” (p. 18). This could be specially found in the General
National Framework Condition as the government position. The last variable is the
extraneous variable, which according to Schindler (2022), it may ‘exist that might
conceivable affect a given relationship” (p.17). This variable does not have as much of an
effect on the outcome of the research process but can still play a small role or confirm
already suspected outcomes. In the GEM study, this could be considered the hour-long
interviews that were conducted.
3. Can you do a causal study without controlling intervening, extraneous, and
moderating variables?
There is a possibility that a researcher could conduct a study without controlling
these variables, but ultimately, that would lead the data to be inaccurate or not as accurate
as the study types that use these variables. Without controlling these variables, the
researcher does not have the opportunity to see, on a first-hand basis, each variable has
on the dependent variable and the result it produces. This can lead to more assumptions in
the analysis stage and cause for more personal bias to be added to the results which is not
what any researcher wants or should strive to have in their study. One study conducted by
Heavey and Simsek (2013) discovered just how important controlling those variables can
be to the outcome and results of a study (p. 849). They found that it provided a whole
new perspective on a topic that was often researched in the world of business, but by
changing their narrative and moderating the discussions, they were able to gather this
entirely new perspective on how top management truly effects corporate entrepreneurship
in a way no other has (Heavey and Simsek, 2013, p. 853).
It is important for us to control these variables as Christians because, like
mentioned earlier, if these variables are not control, the biases of the researcher can, at
most times, creep in even if they were unaware, they were doing so. The Bible calls us to
uphold ourselves with integrity which we see in Proverbs 10:9 saying, “Whoever walks
in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out”
(ESV).
4. What is the impact on study results of using national experts (key informants) to
identify and weigh entrepreneurial framework conditions?
By using resources, like a pool of national experts, when it comes to finding and
analyzing data helps bring out certain information in the data that is often difficult to see
if the research er is not train in research tools and methods. With the use of this method,
the researcher is able to grasp more information from the results and build a better
analytical study surrounding the results that are found throughout the process and ensure
the validity and credibility of the research process that was conducted. By doing this, the
research is able to look into the current standing and framework of the entrepreneurial
condition due to the increase in data and useful information that can give more insight to
the topic, as opposed to the “flat” data that is often collected first-round. According to
Renshaw, Parry, and Dickmann (2018), national experts have been underutilized in the
past and especially in recent years (p. 899). Researchers need to aim to utilize these
resources more often during the analytical part of the process to ensure that they are
uncovering the most information they can with the results that are given to them.
5. Can you do a causal study when much of the primary data collected is descriptive
opinion and ordinal or interval data?
Descriptive data gives a create baseline, even if it makes up most of the data
collect. There is no data that cannot be the slightest bit helpful for your research process
even if that data is telling the researcher to go in a different direction or portraying a
different point of view. According to an article by Aronow and Samii (2016), that data is
still helpful, even if it is heavily opinioned, but that does not mean it can still be your lone
primary data (257). It can be a helpful guide and it can be used as a perspective in the
final presentation of the information, but there still needs to be data that does not have
opinions as the foundation of the information and provide statistical information that
backs us one side or the other to ensure that the integrity of the study is still upheld.
References
Aronow, P.M. and Samii, C. (2016), Does Regression Produce Representative Estimates of
Causal Effects?. American Journal of Political Science. (60) 250-267. https://doi-
org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1111/ajps.12185
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Home Page (2022). Create a graph user
manual. U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved January 21, 2022, from
https://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/help/user_guide/graph/variables.asp
Renshaw, PStJ, Parry, E, Dickmann, M. (2018). Seconded National Experts and global mobility
—Extending the paradigm. Thunderbird International Business Review. (60) p.
897– 909. https://doi-org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1002/tie.21951
Schindler, P. S. (2022). Business Research Methods (14th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. p. 1-
624.
Sproul, R. C. (2015). The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version. Orlando, FL:
Reformation Trust.
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