Trends in Attitudes, Events, and Facts in Terms of Their Commonality and Potential for Prediction - Essay Example

A Research is a cumulative effort representative of the entirety of the educational experience. The importance of a Research in the educational experience of a student can never be underestimated. A Research should report the empirical conclusion of a study as well as provide an over view of current literature and current findings on the subject. It should interpret these facts based on a comparative reading of the sources relative to the experimental outcome. The descriptive study must analyse the "trends in attitudes, events, and facts in terms of their commonality and potential for prediction" (Smith, 1997, p. 34), In this Research, ontological and epistemological assumptions will be discussed in relation to positivist and interpretivist approaches to business research. Moreover, two methods of collecting and analyzing qualitative data will be critically compared and contrasted. Principles of Social Survey Research - Ontological belief and epistemological assumptions are always expected to be at complete dissention with each other and influence the positivist and interpretivist approaches to business research. Ontology is the department of metaphysics concerned with the nature of being. Ontological assumptions will therefore be completely influenced by faith. Such assumptions quite naturally form the basis of positivism and positivist approaches to business research. Positivism is the philosophical system recognizing only positive facts and observable phenomena. It naturally accepts. Epistemology is the theory of knowledge or grounds of knowledge. Thus, epistemological assumptions form the basis of interpretivist approach to business research. Epistemological assumptions will challenge every ontological belief and will want to question every positivist approach of business research. While ontological assumptions will naturally believe in the goodness of a product or process, epistemological assumptions will want to interpret every aspect of the same. Ontological assumptions will not question the theoretical basis of a concept or a product or even a research process. Epistemological assumptions will want to get to the bottom of the matter and will raise questions about the theoretical basis of the assumption. Epistemological assumptions begin with an inherent suspicion of the knowledge basis of the concept or product. They want to understand and interpret everything in a framework of methodology Conventional science is based on 'rational positivist' thought. This includes the presumptions that there is a 'real world'. Data can be gathered by observing it This data is factual. It is truthful and unambiguous. The 'post-positivist', 'interpretivist' philosophy, on the other hand, asserts that these assumptions are unwarranted, According to this philosophy 'facts' and 'truth' are a wild supposition and 'objective' observation is impossible, and that the act of observation-and- interpretation is dependent on the perspective adopted by the observer. Interpretivists criticise even the physical scientists for the narrowness of their assumptions. Their criticisms hold some truth particularly strongly in the social sciences, where the objects of study are influenced by so many factors. These factors are extremely difficult to isolate and control in experimental laboratory. This builds up to a requirement that multiple interpretations of the same phenomena must be allowed for, and that no truth is attainable. An organization which depends solely on ontological beliefs has to at some point embrace epistemological assumptions to survive. So it sells faith' - the very basis of the philosophy of being. Evangelistical literature or material is published and marketed to influence people of ontological belief into their way of life. Since ontological assumption is based on positivism, the belief that everything being is good, the positivist approach quite easily gets affected by such marketing ventures. To them pictures of God or human beings in reverence, Biblical stories and incidents hold an incredible position of awe. The epistemological will however, want to understand the background work of such institutions and evaluate their working on a methodology of knowledge procurement. Since this assumption forms the basis of the interpretivist approach, its inherent nature is to question and acquire proof. The epistemologist will not simply read the lines in Evangelistical literature and other printed material, they will go beyond and read between them to arrive at a logical conclusion dispensing the empirical one. To the persons influenced by epistemological way of thought coloured visuals do not hold any meaning. They are redundant. Such people will want to question the authenticity if at all. They may not be atheist. Epistemological assumption is merely their way of analyzing that which they are encountering in their daily life. Qualitative research is typically taken to be exemplified by the social survey and by experimental investigations. Qualitative Research tends to be associated with participant observation and unstructured in depth interviewing. Qualitative data consist of words and observations, not numbers. As with all data, analysis and interpretation are required to bring order and understanding. This requires creativity, discipline and a systematic approach. It is often called content analysis. The aim of Qualitative Data Analysis is that of collating data collected and making it applicable to business research and development. The target audience when intelligently tapped yields a plethora of information which needs to be systematically and logically disseminated, sifted and made into a coherent whole. The entire process is not empirical - but highly logical. This data is primarily narrative. It is derived from a number of sources, individualistic and groups. It comprises either spoken words or written words, sometimes both together. The same methodology applies to group discussions wherein target of focus groups are subject to detailed questionnaires which provide enormous amount of data. Multiple Choice Questions, Frequently Asked Questions, comments, or first hand accounts eliciting information through phrases or textual paragraphs or by way of Group Discussions all form part of the same methodology Jottings, diary entries, notes and sub notes, observations and journalistic writings are also invaluable sources of data collections. Watch and wait methods which provide field notes, and descriptive accounts are indispensable to data collection. Again, the use of the written word from documents, articles, reports, newspaper clippings are of immense help to the data collector. First hand experiences and stories are again of ample help. Lastly, to lend a semblance of realism one relies on case studies to provide that extra flavour of day to day life. Difficulties & Major Problems- A degree of subjectivity creeps in the oral word while the written answers dispense with subjectivity. The data once identified is then analysed to be made attributable to the purpose of collection. Similarly, the data collated in terms of cases individuals or groups runs the risk of the age factor being misrepresented which amounts to a great deal of confusion. In such a scenario greater credence is given to the written word. Inaccuracy, subjectivity, mood swings, circumstances and most importantly the inclination to produce and procure correct useable data are all vagaries with which the spoken word, both for individuals and groups are associated. In general terms larger credibility of existing written, or elicited written data belies the importance of checking and rechecking data collated. Prime Facie all that is collected is not accurate and does not always hold good. But at the same time care should be taken to ensure that bias does not creep in to remove and disregard carefully garnered data. Working with qualitative data is a rich and enlightening experience. It is both a science and art. It involves critical, analytical thinking and creative innovative perspectives (Patton 1990). A Research is essentially a detailed culmination of the research conducted. It is a written testimony of the learning experience of the student. Its comprehensiveness and elaborateness bears witness to the understanding and grasp of the student of the research work done. Most importantly researchers have to remember how ontological and epistemological assumptions affect the positivist approaches and interpretivist approaches. The researcher's findings should be influenced by both ontological assumptions as well as epistemological assumptions. The Research should be a reflection of both positivist approach as well as interpretivist approach irrespective of whether the data collected and analysed is qualitative or quantitative. References - 1. Doing Critical Management Research - Alvesson, M & . A. Deetz 2. Doing Your Research Project - Bell J. 3. Social Research Methods - Bryman A 4. The Discipline and Practice of Qualitative Research - N. Denzin & Y. Lincoln 5. Handbook of Qulaitative Research - N. Denzin & Y. Lincoln 6. Business Research Projects - Jancowiz A 7. Starting Research - R. Preece 8. Researching and Writing Researchs in Business & Management - Riley M. R. Wood Read More