The second strategy involves creating a rival Explanation framework, in which rival explana-tions are define and tested by the researcher inThe dada analysis process. This strategy is illustrated By mason and slack (2001),who examined six
Types of monitoring activitives aimed at reducingopportunism among agents in professional hockey. The researchers’z anatytic strategy relied on a rival Explanation framework as they presented “asum-Mary of agent monitoring mechanisms identifiedIn this study, the inherent problems specific to Professional hockey that emerged from an analysis Of each mecnanism, the comments and opinions Of stakenolders in the industry, and other industry Dada” (p. 116). As the researchers note in their con-Clusion, “using agency theory as a framework, this Research has shown that all of the availabie moni-
Toring solutions to opportunism in hockey areFlawed, although NHLPA [National Hochey league Players’ Association] regulation appears thevbest Alternative’’ (p.129). Just as Mason and slack did In this study, spost management researchers shouidAddress and reject as many rival explanations as Possidle. Potential rival explanations may be related To the study’s desing (e.g., null hypotheses, theats To validity. Researcher biases) or to actul situa- Tions in the form of direct rivals (where another Reason accounts for the outcome),commingled Rivals (where other reason help account for the Outcome), rival theories (whers another theory Explains the results), and societal rivals (where Other social trends are involved).