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GEM Discussion
(Recovered)
International Business (Liberty
University)
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Running head: Discussion 1 – A GEM of a study
1. What are the independent and dependent variables in this study?
After reading the case study and researching the definition of a dependent variable, which
Schindler (2019) states is “a primary interest to the researcher; it is measurable, predicted or
otherwise monitored”, the dependent variables are the economic standing, jobs and the GDP.
Independent variables are defined the variable the “experimenter manipulates or changes and is
assumed to have a direct effect on the dependent variable”[ CITATION Sau19 \l 1033 ]. This
study contains numerous independent variables, which are on display in Exhibit C-GEM 1-1.
The independent variables are the general national framework conditions, entrepreneurial
opportunities, entrepreneurial framework conditions, entrepreneurial capacity, and business
dynamics.
2. What are some of the intervening, extraneous, and moderating variables that the
study attempted to control with its 10-nation design?
“Intervening variables represent the aspects that are external to assigned variables of the
undertaken study but intervene in the relationship between independent and dependent
variables”[CITATION Pok19 \p 2 \l 1033 ]. An intervening variable could be the relationship or
lack thereof between the government and business start-up rates. In this study, the relationship
(intervening variable) can be explained in the General National Framework Conditions
(government) and the Entrepreneurial Framework Conditions (government programs). Next is
moderating variables, which points to the variable that can significantly affect the independent
and dependent variables by strengthening, diminishing, or negating them. Moderating variables
are useful because they help explain the links between the independent and dependent
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Running head: Discussion 1 – A GEM of a study
variables[ CITATION Mik18 \l 1033 ]. There are multiple moderating variables in this study to
include the promoting of entrepreneurship, making resources available to women, committing to
long-term post-secondary education, and developing individual capacity as these are variables
that the researchers can manipulate and accurately measure. The last type of variable that must
be considered is the extraneous variable. These variables are mostly harmless and will not much
effect on the result on the research, however they are still accounted for due to their propensity
to affect the research. They are any variables that are present but not intentionally studied. “It is
important to note that researchers can and should attempt to control for extraneous variables, as
much as possible”[ CITATION She20 \l 1033 ]. For the GEM study, I would list the time the
interviews were conducted as the extraneous study. The fact the interviews were one hour long
might have had an affect on the study, but not as much as the actually questions in the interview.
3. Can you do a causal study without controlling intervening, extraneous, and
moderating variables?
There are ways to execute a causal study without controlling intervening, extraneous and
moderating variables. The obvious answer is that, without controlling these variables, the results
will not be as accurate or correct as a study that utilized these variables. Controlling variables
gives the researcher the opportunity to see, firsthand, the effect each of these types of variables
will and can have on dependent variable. Research is appropriate when the researcher has a
specific hypothesis about a causal relationship between two variables and the researcher can
manipulate the independent variable and randomly control the other variable. However, when
these conditions cannot be met nonexperimental research will be the method used to conduct the
study[ CITATION Pri15 \l 1033 ]. Proverbs 3: 5-6 (English Standard Version, 2016) states,
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your
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Running head: Discussion 1 – A GEM of a study
ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths”. While we have identified the
fact that you can conduct a causal study without controlling variables, we have also identified
that is will not be as accurate.
4. What is the impact on study results of using national experts (key informants)
to identify and weigh entrepreneurial framework conditions?
Key informant(s) refers to the person or individuals who participant in an interview about a
particular organization, social program, problem, or interest group is conducted[ CITATION
Lav08 \l 1033 ]. The key informant act as a credible reference for a group and have substantial
experience in the field they are by which the interview is being conducted. The national experts
or key informants in this study have been identified as those who have significant experience in
the nine entrepreneurial framework conditions of each country. The best and most accurate ways
to gain results in a field in which you are studying, but do not have the field experience, is to
refer to experts. Utilizing national experts gives you an opportunity to gain a clear understanding
to the research or why a specific outcome was reached, and it only adds validity and credibility
to the results of the study. By using key informants to identify and weigh the entrepreneurial
framework conditions, the results can be trusted and used to make informed decisions.
5. Can you do a causal study when much of the primary data collected is
descriptive opinion and ordinal or interval data?
The answer is yes. Descriptive data may identify areas in need of additional research and
relationships between variables that require future study. Knowledge gained from descriptive
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Running head: Discussion 1 – A GEM of a study
statistics helps investigators learn more about the study sample, make comparisons, and draw
conclusions from the study data. It also allows investigators to make inferences and generalize
beyond their study sample to other groups[ CITATION Sim15 \l 1033 ]. Regardless, if the data
is interval, ordinal or descriptive, researchers can still sift through it and determine which
variables have the most impact on the research and still be able to formulate a good hypothesis.
