Formal Models of Domestic Politics - Assignment Example

Research Methods choice Research Methods choice The choice of a research method, design, and data collection techniques vary with the situation of a given type that requires the use of specified methods to ensure success (Welman, 2005). The suitability of research design and methods depend on the ability to get the required sample and collect data from the information owing to the characteristics of the affected population (JHA, 2008). The objective of this study is to analyze the required research population and sample to be targeted by a researcher, use of either qualitative or quantitative research design, and other facets of research that play a monumental role in the success of the research in three different scenarios. This study analyzes three different scenarios for the formulation of the best research strategy to be used din the data collection and analysis phases of the study. Scenario 1 The target respondents for this scenario are residents of the Lochiel Park as they are the ones affected because they live there and benefit from the sustainable technologies offered at the Park. Sampling will be done through systematic Sampling that relies on arranging the study population according to some ordering scheme and then selecting at regular intervals through that ordered list, starting with the first project then proceeded with the selection of every 4th projects in the project list (Association for Qualitative Research, 2002). Qualitative research approach is the most appropriate research type for this scenario with the use of phenomenological research that aims at identifying the experience of the residents in the area (Hennink, 2011). The main reason or the choice of qualitative research in the study is that the research deals with the opinions, views, and feelings of the residents on living at the park. The choice is also pegged on the fact that the aim of the research is to explore a given phenomena, which is the experience of the residents living at the Lochiel Park and not testing a hypothesis (Gehlbach, 2012). The appropriate data collection method for the use in the study is in-depth interviews and questionnaires for the study the research to get the views of the researchers on the research topic. The sample size has to be a small sample, preferably 40 to allow for the in-depth interviews and questionnaires to be filled by a sample of the residents at Lochiel Park due to high time requirements for the data collection method and to allow the researcher to get all the information for the formation or a required valid conclusion. This will also allow the researcher to reduce the cost requirements, as setting up an interview at the homes of the residents will require travelling commitments as well as use of research assistants, requiring a small sample. Qualitative research with interviews and questionnaires as data collection methods allows the collection of the resident’s opinion, and enables the researcher to solve the problem of non responsiveness through taking other members of the residents into the study sample when the selected resident is not present (Ketchen & Bergh, 2007). Scenario 2 The target population for this study is the users of the services offered by South Australian Ambulance Service allowing the researcher collect the views of this population on the quality and satisfaction. Quantitative research approach will be appropriate for this scenario since a number ranging from one to ten can assigned to the quality and satisfaction rates of the customers and allowing them to chase the points they can give to the services offered (Porte, 2002). The quality and satisfaction rate begin from one, which is the lowest score, and 10, which is the highest quality and satisfaction value. The reasons for the choice is on the ability of ranking the quality and satisfaction rates from a low to high value and the need to ensure a high number of users are included in the study to get a representative sample. The other reason is that the study focuses on an available hypothesis that can be stated as; the users of South Australian Ambulance Service get high quality and are highly satisfied. The purpose of the research where the information collected will be used to track quality service over time requires the representation of a large sample to get the views of many people for the conclusion to be made to reflect the views of most of the users of the ambulance service. The data collection method appropriate for this scenario is questionnaires mailed to the users of the services through information collected during the use of the service or distributed to the current users of the service. The sampling procedure is getting a sample of 220 latest users of the ambulance service whose information is available to the researcher to allow for the sending of questionnaire. Choice of using questionnaires will allow a low cost data collection method but maintains the efficiency and representativeness of the research while augmenting the ability to meet the needs of the research of incorporating non-respondents through sending follow up mails (CRESWELL, 2003). The data collection method also can be done in short time to allow for data analysis and compilation with the use of quantitative research. The ability to make the best conclusion in this scenario is pegged on the research sample that has to be large, which is only possible with the use of quantitative data collection method. Scenario 3 The target population for this scenario is the customers of Smiggle ranging from the occasional buyer to the loyal buyers and with the inclusion of corporate businesses and organizations. The need to be all inclusive is that the retail market is wide and includes different segments due to the different ages’ needs for the stationary from Smiggle giving different age brackets as market segments, the market segment consisting of businesses and other organizations in form of business to business marketing, and the market segments depending on client’s income. Use of mixed methods research approach will be appropriate for Smiggle owing to the need to collect and analyze both qualitative and quantitative data for the generation of a valid and representative conclusion of the users of Smiggle’s products. Quantitative research will allow the analysis of the customers to realize who actually buy at the stores and collect information on the number and frequency of shopping at Smigglle with high emphasis on products that are frequently purchased. This will be achieved through collecting data from the point of sale system on the frequently purchased items and distributing a questionnaire to be filled by the customers during a visit to the stores. Qualitative method will allow the collection of data that has to do with the opinions, feelings, and opinions of the clients on the products purchased from Smiggle (Tracy, 2013). This will include the reasons for their liking of a specific product, the use of the products purchased be it them or for use by other people allowing for the categorization of the client to either individual, corporate, institution, or government or nongovernmental organization. This market segmenting will allow for marketing strategies focusing a specific segment considering that business to business market differs with business o customer marketing and allow the choice of either standardization of products for the whole market or differentiation to capture the needs of a certain market segment. The sample to be for analysis will be structured into two segments with the quantitative aspect of the study taking a large sample of 300 to allow for the collection of data on the products most frequently purchased and the different types of clients to Smiggle. The qualitative study will involve 50 clients a smaller sample compared to size in the quantitative research to allow for in-depth interviews to get more information on the reasons for the choice of the product mostly purchased, and if they use the products personally or for other people. The choice of mixed research method is to allow for both depth and coverage in the study and allow for all the essential elements of a quality research to be incorporated in the research. Mixed research also allows for increased representation in the study to ensure the findings are extrapolated for the customers at Smiggle as using either qualitative or quantitative research method on its own could lead to a deficiency in coming up with a conclusive comprehensive report. The sample for the quantitative research will be selected through systematic sampling from a list of the most recent customers to Smiggle with every fourth customer selected from the list to be included in the sample. Stratified sampling will be used for the selection of a sample of 50 customers for participation in the qualitative aspect from the 300 customer included in the quantitative study (Balnaves & Caputi, 2001). The 50 customers’ sample will include 10 business customers, 10 customers of ages above 40, 10 customers who do not use the products personally, 10 customers with high income, and 10 customers with low income levels. This will allow low cost use and use of less time. Questionnaires and interviews are the main data collection methods to be used in the study for fewer costs, collection of high data amounts, and accessibility of the clients who may not have enough time for other data collection techniques like focus groups. The use of a mixed research method allows for the meeting of the objectives of the research comprehensively. In conclusion, the type of research sampling and data collection techniques change with the need of a researcher, the type of data to be collected, the use of the information to be collected, and the characteristic of the research. This has been explained in the paper where the three different scenarios have necessitated for the use of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research respectively due to the difference in the scenarios and purpose of the research. References ASSOCIATION FOR QUALITATIVE RESEARCH. (2002). Qualitative research journal. Australia, Association for Qualitative Research. BALNAVES, M., & CAPUTI, P. (2001). Introduction to quantitative research methods: an investigative approach. London, SAGE. CRESWELL, J. W. (2003). Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches. Thousand Oaks, Calif, Sage Publications. GEHLBACH, S. (2012). Formal models of domestic politics: analytical methods for social research. Cambridge, Cambridge Univ. press. HENNINK, M. M., HUTTER, I., & BAILEY, A. (2011). Qualitative research methods. London, SAGE. JHA, N. K. (2008). Research methodology. Chandigarh, Abhishek Publications. KETCHEN, D. J., & BERGH, D. D. (2007). Research methodology in strategy and management. Amsterdam, Elsevier/JAI. PORTE, G. K. (2002). Appraising research in second language learning a practical approach to critical analysis of quantitative research. Amsterdam, John Benjamins Pub. TRACY, S. J. (2013). Qualitative research methods: collecting evidence, crafting analysis, communicating impact. Chichester, West Sussex, UK, Wiley-Blackwell. WELMAN, C., KRUGER, F., MITCHELL, B., & HUYSAMEN, G. K. (2005). Research methodology. Cape Town, Oxford University Press. Read More