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HYPOTHESIS TESTING WITH QUALITATIVE RESEARCH: NEGATIVE CASE ANALYSIS 109

situations using the deductive and the inductive processes, we add to the total
body of knowledge in the area.

HYPOTHESIS TESTING WITH QUALITATIVE RESEARCH:
NEGATIVE CASE ANALYSIS

Hypotheses can also be tested with qualitative data. For example, let us say that
a researcher has developed the theoretical framework after extensive interviews,
that unethical practices by employees are a function of their inability to discrim-
inate between right and wrong, or due to a dire need for more money, or the
organization’s indifference to such practices. To test the hypothesis that these
three factors are the primary ones that influence unethical practices, the
researcher would look for data that would refute the hypothesis. When even a
single case does not support the hypothesis, the theory would be revised. Let us
say that the researcher finds one case where an individual is deliberately
engaged in the unethical practice of accepting kickbacks (despite the fact that he
was knowledgeable enough to discriminate right from wrong, was not in need
of money, and knew that the organization would not be indifferent to his behav-
ior), simply because he wanted to “get back” at the system, which “would not
listen to his advice.” This new discovery through disconfirmation of the original
hypothesis, known as the negative case method, enables the researcher to revise
the theory and the hypothesis until such time as the theory becomes robust.
We have thus far seen how a literature review is done, theoretical frameworks
are formulated, and hypotheses developed. Let us now illustrate this logical
sequence through a mini example where a researcher wants to examine the
organizational factors influencing women’s progress to top management posi-
tions. The literature survey and the number of variables are deliberately kept
small since the purpose is merely to illustrate how a theoretical framework is
developed from the literature survey, and how hypotheses are developed based
on the theoretical framework.

Example 5.21 EXAMPLE OF LITERATURE REVIEW, THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK, AND HYPOTHE-
SES DEVELOPMENT

Introduction
Despite the dramatic increase in the number of managerial women during the
current decade, the number of women in top management positions continues
to be very small and static, suggesting a glass ceiling effect that women currently
face (Morrison, White, & Vura, 1999; Van Velsor, 2000). Given the projected
demographics of the workplace, which forecasts that for every six or seven
women entering the workforce in the future, there will be about only three
white males joining the labor market, it becomes important to examine the orga-
nizational factors that would facilitate the early advancement of women to top