Abstract
We combine after-action review and needs-assessment frameworks to describe the four most pervasive contemporary methodological challenges faced by international business (IB) researchers, as identified by authors of Journal of International Business Studies articles: Psychometrically deficient measures (mentioned in 73% of articles), idiosyncratic samples or contexts (mentioned in 62.2% of articles), less-than-ideal research designs (mentioned in 62.2% of articles), and insufficient evidence about causal relations (mentioned in 8.1% of articles). Then, we offer solutions to address these challenges: demonstrating why and how the conceptualization of a construct is accurate given a particular context, specifying whether constructs are reflective or formative, taking advantage of the existence of multiple indicators to measure multi-dimensional constructs, using particular samples and contexts as vehicles for theorizing and further theory development, seeking out particular samples or contexts where hypotheses are more or less likely to be supported empirically, using Big Data techniques to take advantage of untapped sources of information and to re-analyze currently available data, implementing quasi-experiments, and conducting necessary-condition analysis. Our article aims to advance IB theory by tackling the most typical methodological challenges and is intended for researchers, reviewers and editors, research consumers, and instructors who are training the next generation of scholars.
Highlights
Several recently published reviews and reflections have highlighted the increasing diversity of international business (IB) research in terms of its disciplinary bases, theoretical and conceptual underpinnings, topics, and methodologies (e.g., Aguinis, Cascio & Ramani, 2017; Cantwell & Brannen, 2016; Griffith, Cavusgil & Xu, 2008; Liesch, Hakanson, McGaughey, Middleton & Cretchley, 2011; Shenkar, 2004; Verbeke & Calma, 2017)
Our article complements and goes beyond these efforts by identifying contemporary methodological challenges faced by IB researchers, as described by Journal of International Business Studies (JIBS) authors themselves, and offering solutions to each of these challenges
Our proposed solutions extend current knowledge by identifying new insights and opportunities. In their chapters in Eden et al.’s (2020) edited volume, Doty & Astakhova (2020) and van Witteloostuijn, Eden & Chang (2020) referred to challenges posed by the use of psychometrically deficient constructs, and suggested traditional solutions such as the use of multisource data and observable constructs. We extend these suggestions by identifying additional solutions that offer new avenues for IB researchers facing this challenge
Summary
Several recently published reviews and reflections have highlighted the increasing diversity of international business (IB) research in terms of its disciplinary bases, theoretical and conceptual underpinnings, topics, and methodologies (e.g., Aguinis, Cascio & Ramani, 2017; Cantwell & Brannen, 2016; Griffith, Cavusgil & Xu, 2008; Liesch, Hakanson, McGaughey, Middleton & Cretchley, 2011; Shenkar, 2004; Verbeke & Calma, 2017). In their chapters in Eden et al.’s (2020) edited volume, Doty & Astakhova (2020) and van Witteloostuijn, Eden & Chang (2020) referred to challenges posed by the use of psychometrically deficient constructs, and suggested traditional solutions such as the use of multisource data and observable constructs. We extend these suggestions by identifying additional solutions (i.e., using reflective versus formative indicators; using Big Data) that offer new avenues for IB researchers facing this challenge. Our article is intended for researchers with the typical methodological training offered by IB doctoral programs, journal reviewers and editors, research consumers, and instructors who are training the generation of scholars
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