Analysis of the Choice of Methodology - Research Paper Example

? EXPLORATORY RESEARCH of the of the Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Question 6 3 Question 7 5 Question 8 6 References 8 Question 6 Aastrup & Halldorsson (2008) stated that researchers should consider multi-methodological perspective when selecting particular research methodology might not help to address the research problems in precise manner. Aastrup and Halldorsson (2008) pointed out that researchers show the tendency to view the research problem through their own paradigmatic lens while doing exploratory research. The researcher duo suggested that researchers could overcome the limitations regarding paradigmatic subjectivity by taking help of case study approach. In such context, Naslund (2008) defined case study approach as contraction of positivistic perspectives where researchers try to formulate case by analyzing secondary data or generate assumptions from small no of observations. Naslund (2008) defined four conditions for which, researchers should select case study approach over other exploratory methods and these three criteria can be defined in the following manner; When the research problem needs to be addressed through qualitative research. When researchers cannot access the primary data from respondents due endogenous and exogenous constraints. When aim of the researcher is to generate new knowledge regarding the research topic rather than validating previous claims. Researcher has the aim to address the research problem in comprehensive manner by comparing the examples of different subject matters. It is evident from the argument of Aastrup & Halldorsson (2008); researchers use summary findings of particular phenomenon as the case and use it to compare the phenomenon. In most of the cases, researchers use secondary sources such as company data, previous research works, academic journals etc to formulate the case while in exceptional cases, researchers might go for primary data based case formation approach (Naslund, 2008). There are some advantages associated with case study based exploratory research such as, 1- cost efficient, 2- requires less time than primary survey and 3- provides holistic view on the subject matter. But, Aastrup & Halldorsson (2008) pointed out that some disadvantages are associated with case study based research approaches such as, 1- researchers might indulge in incorporating subjective view on the research problem in the name of exploration and 2- scope of case study approach decreases with non availability of data. Despite these limitations, Naslund (2008) supported case study based approach as one of the fundamental aspect of exploratory research. Cozby (2012) and Campbell (2012) defined psychobiography as an important aspect of exploratory research which focuses on analyzing the lives of individuals who are historically important. In case of psychobiography, researchers take help of psychological theory and concepts in order to understand the lives of the very individual. Key objective of psychobiography is to understand the personality of the historically important figure and their motive behind taking any action. For example, Campbell (2012) did psychobiography of Jacques Derrida (one of the renowned thinker of twentieth century) while political leaders like Gandhi, Hitler, Stalin are some famous subjects among researchers to conduct psychobiography. Campbell (2012) also pointed out that psychobiography is not commentary like traditional biography rather psychobiography is intended to find self-identity of the historically important figure. Question 7 Jimerson (2003) stressed on the importance of archive as knowledge repository which stores historical data, criminal records, litigation papers etc in the course of exploratory research. Jimerson (2003, p. 91) stated that “representation in archives has privileged the stories of these groups, since it is their voices that are most often recorded and thus most frequently heard in historical accounts.” According to Jimerson (2003), archival research is alternative version of historical research where researchers or better to say Archivists visit archives (building designed for storing historically important documents, criminal records, archeological survey reports, litigation files etc and generally museum and archeological division classify as archive) in order to collect data and then analyze the data. Jimerson (2003) pointed out every document has not the historical value enough to be stored rather archives store only those documents which reflect shared vision of history. Suppose, one researcher is doing research on criminal history in particular state of USA then the researcher should access the criminology department to gather documents regarding crimes rather than visiting museum while a historian doing research on civil war should visit museum gather information (Jimerson, 2003). Hence, the proper definition of archive is relative in nature and varies with the nature of stored document and intention of the researcher. It is evident from the research works of research scholars that archival research is form of primary research where physical movement of researcher is being done in order to gather historic data. Jimerson (2003) pointed out that there are some unique benefits associated with archival research such as, 1- collected data are valid and valuable, 2- researchers get the scope of gathering knowledge about vast amount historically valid data and 3- researchers can compare the data with historical reference points. However, there are some minor limitations associated with archival research such as, 1- researchers find it difficult to put importance on available archival reports, 2- archival research is time and cost intensive process rather than other secondary data based research. Despite such deficiencies, archival research is considered as one of the core academic research methods which can precisely address research problems. In modern days, there are online archives which contain historical data hence online archives can be considered as major sources of archival data. In other cases, Museum, national crime bureau, central office of statistics, National Archives and Records Administration, secret archives of Church etc can be classified as major source for archival data. Question 8 It is evident from the research work of Toth and Nagy (2011) that content analysis is scientific exploration of content of communication. Content analysis is study of textual messages with reference to the meanings and then analyzes the textual messages. Careful consideration of research work of Toth and Nagy (2011) reveals the fact that main objective of content analysis is to analyze the hidden meaning contained in a message. Content analysis is located at the juncture point of document analysis and observation. Toth and Nagy (2011) pointed out that researchers should not use primary sources while doing content analysis and the research method is pretty much unobtrusive or non-reactive in nature. Modern research scholars like Toth and Nagy (2011) viewed content analysis as the quantitative measurement technique for analyzing communication in objective driven and systematic manner. In most of the cases, researchers use content analysis as the research method generates and replicate valid references. It is evident from the research works on content analysis methodology that factors like system, validity objectivity and quantification are basic criteria for content analysis. Considering the content analysis techniques of Toth and Nagy (2011) reveals the fact that the content material can be collected from sources like letters, diaries, messages from Radio, messages from TV, newspaper content, folk songs, symbols, voice recording etc. There can be three scientific fundamentals of content analysis and these fundamentals can be briefed in the following manner; Content analysis should be done by following particular explicit rules in order to get the similar result for different researchers while analyzing the same document. Content analysts should include or exclude content on the basis of some systematic rules in order to create a set standard for content analysis. Content analysis should produce a generic research result which can be applied to other contexts in similar situation. References Aastrup, J., & Halldorsson, A. (2008). Epistemological role of case studies in logistics: A critical realist perspective. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 38(10), 746-63. Campbell, N. (2012). Regarding Derrida: the tasks of visual deconstruction. Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management: An International Journal, 7(1), 105-124. Cozby, P. C. (2012). Methods in behavioral research. (11th ed.). New York City, NY: McGraw Hill Higher. Jimerson, R. C. (2003). Archives and memory. OCLC Systems and Services, 19(3), 89-95. Naslund, D. (2008). Action research: Rigorous research approach or Scandinavian excuse for consulting? in Arlbjorn, J. S., Halldorsson, A., Jahre, M., & Spens, K. M. (Eds). Northern lights in logistics & supply chain management. Copenhagen: Copenhagen Business School, 99-116. Toth, A. H., & Nagy, P. (2011). The content analysis of advergames in Hungary. 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