Lựa chọn lý thuyết nền cho một nghiên cứu

Abstract

Scientific research in business management is mostly based on quantitative hypothetico-deductive methodology, or qualitative inductive research with a theoretical foundation. They generate new knowledge based on existing knowledge that is accepted, or precisely, not yet falsified, by the academic community. Therefore, to generate new knowledge, researchers need to select a suitable theory to serve as the foundation for their research, called the foundational theory (FT). This is really an important but challenging task, especially for young, inexperienced researchers. The purpose of this article is to share some experiences and recommendations on the issue of selecting a suitable FT. The main content includes: (1) Explaining what FT is and why we need FT; (2) How to select an FT; (3) How to evaluate the suitability of an FT for a study. Hopefully, this article will help researchers overcome the challenge, gain more confidence, and produce high-quality research in the future.