Structured Questionnaires and Research on Workplace Bullying - Essay Example

1. "Critically evaluate the role that structured questionnaires play in research on workplace bullying 0 Introduction: The researchers usually employ different techniques for data collection for their studies in the field of social sciences. The study of workplace bullying research being in the nature of a special work needs specific techniques of data collection to arrive at realistic results. Since workplace bullying research involves the investigation of the attitude and feeling of employees as individuals, the researchers may choose to employ different methods to uncover the facts so that they can form a meaningful idea about the workplace bullying phenomenon. According to the website 'bullying at work' although bullying often lacks a focus, bullies are deeply prejudiced but at the same time sufficiently devious to not reveal their prejudices to the extent that they contravene laws on harassment and discrimination. The workplace bullying is defined as "a person is bullied or harassed when they feel repeatedly subject to negative acts in the workplace, acts against which the victim may find it difficult to defend themselves" Einarsen et al (1994) cited in Lewis et al (2005). The choice of the technique by which data is gathered depends upon the choice of the researcher and the requirements of the research or investigation. Although there is no particular data collection technique which can symbolized as ideal for every situation, there are a variety of data collection techniques that can be considered for being used. Data in social sciences are attained in either formal or informal settings and evolves verbal (oral and written) or non-verbal acts or responses. The combination of the two types of responses results in the four major forms of data collection. These being: observational methods; survey research; secondary data analysis; qualitative research, Punch (2005). 2.0 Data Collection Techniques in Social Researches: Different methodologies like surveys, field observations, interviews are being used in Social research studies. Such studies are often conducted through a combination of data collection techniques to ensure a maximum validity of the data collected. The method selected depends on the resources available and the nature of the phenomenon under investigation. However, there had never been a consensus on the best technique or method that can be termed as scientific. Malcolm (1996) In this respect, the motive behind the concern with the attempt to identify the scientific method is that as Malcolm points out "most philosophers of science have argued that method used is the only guarantee that knowledge obtained is valid, reliable and thus scientific. By employing the correct method[s], the scientist may be sure that their findings are true, repeatable and generalisable." Social research is defined by Malcolm (1996) as "the process of investigation that defines something as being research, rather than being driven by more abstract concerns." While he describes research as a "methodical investigations into a subject or problem. To research is to seek answers that involve understanding and explanation, whereas the credibility of its outcomes will rest heavily upon the conduct of the investigation." In this respect, Frazer (1995) argues that "careful research delivers valuable findings." 3.0 Research Methodology: Hammersley (2006) highlights two areas where philosophy can make an important contribution to social science. These areas are methodology and value relevance. Methodology is concerned with clarifying both the aims and means of research. While value relevance is related to values that frame social science inquiries so as to make them relevant to human concerns. In terms of methodology, Hammersly draws a basic distinction between methodology as technique and methodology as philosophy. Methodology as a technique, on one hand, portrays research as the deployment of particular methods and procedures, those that are taken to be scientific. On the other hand, methodology as a philosophy highlights the role of philosophical assumptions in research. With regard to the second area which is about the value relevance, Max Weber cited in Hummersley (2006) that "social research had to strive to be value-neutral but also to be value-relevant." While, Rickert cited in Hummersley (2006) thought that the value by which social scientists should select particular phenomena for study could be objective. Although the scope of the paper is limited to the subject of structured questionnaire this paper still attempts to exemplify the different survey methods and their methodological concepts as the structured questionnaire usually involves a combination of the quantitative and qualitative techniques in the form of questionnaire and interviews. This is so because any evaluation of information in respect of the bullying at work place to be authentic and meaningful should contain both quantitative and qualitative information in the form of experiences of the victims themselves. In doing so, the reminder of this assignment is divided as follows. The following part is devoted to explore the quantitative approach. It is mainly to highlight the concept of quantitative method and to underline the strengths and weaknesses of the questionnaire technique. The subsequent section is to highlight the qualitative approach. Then the role that structured questionnaires play in research on workplace bullying is outlined. The final section concludes the assignment. 4.0 Quantitative approach: As one of the popular data collection technique quantitative approach takes its approach from the methodological principles of positivism and neo-positivism. Under quantitative technique method the researcher predetermines the research design and develops the standards that may be required for the study. This is being done just before the commencement of the research programme. Once the study commenced the quantitative technique strictly follows the predetermined design and standards. Quantitative techniques encompass the quantitative measurement of the data and their statistical interpretation once collected. The prime method of data collection under quantitative techniques is the use of the questionnaire method. In contrast to the quantitative techniques the purpose of the qualitative research is to explore the social relations and the real experiences as described by the respondents. For this purpose the qualitative technique uses non-quantitative data collection method which will represent mere expression of opinions. Sarantakos (1998) identifies the 'interviewing' as the approach that embodies that qualitative research, It is believed that an effective use of both the techniques can bring out wider perceptions of the sample population towards the issues about which the research is being conducted. As a tool for data collection the questionnaire method can be construed as providing the maximum information required by the researcher. 5.0 The questionnaire Method: Questionnaire method is one of the established way of gathering information or collection of data relating to a research project or other experimental projects by enabling the respondents to react at their own convenience the questionnaire method is considered to be a structured method that is employed to gather or collect the required information about any phenomena under study. Questionnaire is considered to be the efficient way of collecting the data about any study or a survey; de Vuas (1991) defined this tool and stated that "the questionnaire is a highly structured data collection technique whereby each respondent is asked much the same questions". However, the use of questionnaire method as a tool for collection of data has its own merits and demerits that the researcher has to take into account while deciding on the use of this tool as a data collection method. 5.1 Advantages of using Questionnaire: The using of the mail questionnaire has its own strengths that enable the researcher to collect the data more efficiently. The strengths are: 1) Usually the mailed questionnaires are sent to more number of samples and hence have the distinct advantage of covering a wider geographical area. Thus the questionnaire method covers a large population at comparatively lower costs and less efforts Miller (1991) As lesser cost and time is involved in the data collection, the use of the questionnaire method is often preferred by the researchers for data collection. Because of the smaller size of samples to be investigated the study involves less cost and time but still the method proves efficient. 2) Another distinct strength the mail questionnaire has got is that it is quite possible to reach those informants who are otherwise difficult to be located and interviewed. The questionnaire reaches the place of the informant for a prompt response. 3) Because of the wider coverage of samples the method ensures that the researcher gets greater validity in the information collected and the analysis becomes more meaningful through larger representative samples. 4) In situations where the respondents have to check some details at his end before responding to the questions, the questionnaire method is the appropriate one as it allows time for the respondents to react on the questionnaires 5) As opposed to the personal interviews, the questionnaire method offers greater consistency in the manner in which questions are presented to the respondents. This enhances the validity of the information gathered 6) The questionnaire method ensures the respondents a sense of privacy in responding to the questions and 7) The questionnaire method definitely eliminates the loading of the personal opinion of the interviewer on the responses from the samples Miller (1991). 5.2 Disadvantages of using Questionnaire: Despite the strengths the mail questionnaire has also some inherent weaknesses. These are: 1) Normally the researcher cannot expect more than 50 percent of the respondents to return the questionnaire with their comments. This limits the scope of the study and may often lead to misconceptions about the issue. This is due to fact that the response to the questionnaire will be usually low. 2) The questionnaire method often leads to larger generalizations beyond the chosen sample of respondents. This poses a limitations on the results arrived at as a result of the questionnaire within its boundaries. It may so happen that those who have answered would have a totally opposite opinion about the issue than those chose to refrain from answering. 3) The respondents usually do not attach much importance to the questionnaires as they would be receiving a lot of such surveys. The respondent may feel overburdened and choose either not to answer or provide answers which are not their true opinions. Miller (1991) In addition to the above theoretical analysis, there are examples which illustrate research that has already been done on workplace bullying using quantitative approach (questionnaire survey). These examples are given in the following section. 5.3 Examples of Questionnaire being used for Previous Researches: There are a number of literatures available that have used the quantitative approaches in the field of workplace bullying. One of the several such studies is conducted by Salin (2001) who employed a cross sectional survey and attempted to send a 1000 questionnaires to Finnish professionals with a university degree in business studies. Another one in the series is done by Thomas (2005) where a combination of both a self-reporting questionnaire as well as personal interviews was conducted to enhance the effectiveness of the information collected. Thus it has been proved that the questionnaire method is being predominantly used in large scale studies. Most researchers had used the questionnaire method in the form of self-report questionnaire which has been proved effective for a meaningful collection of data. Cowie et al (2002). Nevertheless, researchers also make use of the qualitative approach also in the matter of collecting information about workplace bullying which is considered in the next section. 6.0 Qualitative Approach: The qualitative approach is also an effective method of data collection being used along with the questionnaire for arriving at conclusions concerning the experiences of the victims of the bullying at the work place. It can be said that the qualitative approach also goes along with the questionnaire method in augmenting the strength of the information and data collected on bullying. According to Sarantakos (1998) who stated that "there are at least two major ways of doing research, and actual investigations fall into one of them. These are qualitative and quantitative research." This signifies the presence of the two research approaches namely; "the positivism" and "the phenomenology" in the methodological field. Phenomenology or qualitative approach concentrates on the people's experiences and their involvements with one another. The essence of phenomenology is brought about by the "reality" that is experienced by the people rather than assumptions on objective and external factors. This aspect of the research enhances the validity of the findings. Therefore, the research on workplace bullying can be also be conducted qualitatively by employing several techniques such as interviews and focus groups which techniques are sue to enhance the quality of the findings. 6.1 Examples of Qualitative Approaches being used by Previous Researchers: In the literature there are instance where there are some empirical studies which adopted a qualitative approach. For instance, "the use of Critical Incident Technique in focus groups allowed participants to make their implicit thoughts and feelings about bullying explicit", Liefooghe et al (1999). The participants of Liefooghe et al study were invited to discuss their experience of interpersonal relationships at work in small groups or between three and six participants. Lewis et al (2005) also employed in-depth interviews with 10 British women professionals. These women were targets of workplace bullying. Lewis (2006) also adopted a quantitative approach (in-depth interviews) to get in depth understanding about the issue of workplace bullying. Thus a structured questionnaire method draws the advantage of both questionnaire and interview research methods to derive the best inferences in the matter relating to the work place harassment and bullying. Drawing from the discussion of both research methods (questionnaire and interviews), it is possible to evaluate the role that structured questionnaire play in research on workplace harassment as effective in gathering the required information. 7.0 The role structured questionnaires play in research on workplace bullying: From the above discussion, it can be argued, in one hand that questionnaires can play an important role in research on workplace bullying. In addition, the questionnaire method is considered as the predominant approach. This is according to Cowie et al (2002) who pointed out that questionnaires most likely take the form of self-report questionnaires. On the other hand, there are different studies which illustrate the other strategy of conducting a research, which is namely qualitative method. Thus, the qualitative approach used in research on workplace bullying is also crucial. This brings both approaches into question. Therefore, it is believed that adopting a combination of both approaches would yield appropriate results. For example, in the field of workplace bullying, the study conducted by Thomas (2005) in which a combination of questionnaire and interviews were employed. This would provide stronger evidence which makes the results more valid and generalisable. 8.0 Conclusion: To sum up, getting reliable data is the most important part of the research in the field of social science and business. Selection of consistent and reliable data collection techniques is the most important decision researchers make to complete the research. Questionnaire and Interview are two most reliable and useful data collection techniques available in social science and business research. However it is depending on the research requirements which determine which data collection technique is more suitable for particular research. This is because both the techniques have their own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore in light of the above discussion, it can be argued that there is no particular research method that can be used and considered as the ideal tool in research on workplace bullying. Consequently adopting both techniques, which are a questionnaire and interview, would be the most suitable strategy that can be adopted for research in the field of workplace bullying. This is to overcome the weaknesses of each technique by the use of both methods. Word count: 2581 References Cowie, H & Naylor, P & rivers, I & Smith, P.K & Pereira, B (2002) 'Measuring workplace bullying', Aggression and Violent Behaviour, Vol. 7, pp.33-51. Delanty, G & Strydom, P (2003) 'Philosophies of Social Science: The classic and contemporary readings', Open University Press. England. Frazer, E (1995) 'What's New in the Philosophy of Social Science', Oxford Review of Education, Vol. 21.3, pp. 267-281. 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