By Daniel G Szabo, Postdoctoral researcher Department of Law School of Business and Social Sciences Aarhus University PhD seminar on Companies and Markets December 8-10, 2014
SLIDE 2 About me Daniel Gergely Szabo Postdoctoral researcher Department of Law, Aarhus University PhD project about CSR and sustainability reporting for listed companies
SLIDE 3 Introduction Lawyers and research methods Sources Research methods Qualitative quantitative legal research What is quantitative research in law? Use of statistical/econometrics methodology for legal research It s only a supplement to traditional legal research
Why should we do quantitative research? SLIDE 4 Advantages Objective knowledge can be gained Value-free Based on quantitative data Propositions can be founded on these facts and hypothesis tested against these facts Which legal areas may be interested in quantitative research? All of them But some areas especially! e.g. financial markets law, competition law, etc. + It may be very useful in comparative law
SLIDE 5 Before starting quantitative research How many disciplines am I dealing with and to what extent am I involved in them? How many can I manage (to an academic depth)? Need for much better understanding of both theory and method What is the theory I m using? What are my variables and what is my method? Are they connected? Are they supporting my research goals?
SLIDE 6 Types of quantitative research in law Exploratory Initial ideas about research problems Identify categories and variables Descriptive Cross-sectional Longitudinal Explanatory The connection between different variables When choosing See if there is similar research out there Do not try to invent a completely new, difficult quantitative research design If you choose a more complicated design, an course in statistics is a must!
SLIDE 7 Data basis data collection Primary data or secondary data New data Collected by the researcher for the purpose of this research Old data Collected by other researchers or authorities for the purpose of another research Has to be used in a new way If you choose to collect new data, think of Possibility Feasibility
SLIDE 8 Data basis data collection Ways of collecting new data Content analysis Survey Experiment Structured observation Population and sample size Most important features Representativeness Randomness Types of sampling Simple random sample Systematic sampling Stratified sample
Quantitative research on nonquantifyable legal issues SLIDE 9 If you decide to do quantitative research on topics that are not easily quantifiable How do the academics in econometrics do it? Assigning value to the variables Problems with coding Dummy variables 9
Stakeholders in corporate governance statements SLIDE 10 country / issue Stakeholders Stakeholder definition or clarification Stakeholder-related transparency recommendations Recommendations on integrating stakeholder interests Stakeholder involvement recommendations Stakeholder policy recommendations Other stakeholder-related recommendations Austria 1 1 2 Belgium 1 1 Bulgaria 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7 Cyprus 0 Czech Republic 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 Denmark 1 1 1 1 1 5 Estonia 1 1 2 Finnland 0 France 0 Germany 1 1 2 Greece 1 1 1 1 1 5 Hungary 1 1 1 3 Iceland 1 1 1 1 4 Ireland 0 Italy 1 1 Latvia 0 Lithuania 1 1 1 1 4 Luxembourg 1 1 2 Malta 1 1 1 1 1 5 Netherlands 1 1 1 3 Noway 1 1 2 Poland 0 Portugal 0 Romania 1 1 1 3 Slovakia 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 Slovenia 1 1 1 1 1 5 Spain 1 1 1 3 Sweden 1 1 Switzerland 0 UK 0 OECD Principles 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 22 13 11 13 10 4 5
SLIDE 11 In conclusion Think more strategically about methodology Don t be afraid to experiment and use also quantitative methods But be humble and be very aware of The topic you are researching whether it gives itself easily for using quantitative method Which are the variables and which methodology and research design you use Whether you can get the data Our limits with non-legal methods! Maybe it s enough to refer to previous quantitative research! Rather cooperate than do it alone
Thank you for the attention! 12