Understanding Business and Management Research Methods - Term Paper Example

Understanding Business and Management Research Methods By: Executive Summary A research is going beyond personal experience, thoughts, feelings, and opinions that do not refer to other sources of information. Some subjects require one to go beyond personal knowledge and experience. People conduct research to explore an idea, probe an issue, and solve a problem. Additionally, people often make arguments that compel them to turn to outside help. To explore an idea, there is a need for research methods. These methods are used to reveal the existence of semantic relationships between the concepts identified in a model used to make statements. When choosing a model, it is critical to know the theory being applied. Studies indicate that, behind every method, there is always a theory. This paper will discuss the three business and management research methods. The paper will start with the introduction, and then literature review, then analysis and evaluation of different methodological approaches, and finally highlight the main findings. Introduction In any research, it is always recommended to choose a single paradigm (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed) for a research work (Anderson, 2009). The selection is based on the pragmatic choices which are time, skills, and overall size of the project. The research methods are based on differences in the nature of reality, relationships to that being researched, role of values, use of language, and overall process of research (Bellamy, 2012). Research methodology is what constitutes a research activity. Bowerman (2013) distinguishes the three research designs as follows Quantitative research: This design is useful for exploring and understanding the meaning behind problems. Data is collected on the participants setting, and the researcher makes interpretation of the data collected (Bowerman, 2013). Quantitative research: The researcher tests theories by examining the relationship amongst variables that can be measured on an instrument to allow numbered data to be analysed using statistical procedures (Bowerman, 2013). Mixed methods: This design combines both qualitative and quantitative forms of research. It concerns the application of qualitative and quantitative methods in tandem, to allow the strength of the study to be greater than either a qualitative and quantitative approach (Bowerman, 2013). When undertaking a business research, a combination of different types and sources of data is required to derive strong findings. The types of data are qualitative and quantitative, and the types of sources are primary and secondary sources (Harwell, 2014). The literature review will further examine the types of data, collection techniques, and sources of information. Literature review According to Lapan (2011), a researcher’s approach, research design, and research question are all connected. ‘Approach’ refers to the researcher’s overall orientation to research. Studies in business can be based on either qualitative, quantitative, or a combination of both. How a researcher chooses this may depend on their preferences and abilities, and the suitability of particular approaches to ones topic (Lapan, 2011). A study by Yin (2008) noted the need for justifying the reason for choosing a study design. For instance, quantitative data is useful if the researcher wishes to discover how a common particular form of business behaviours such as an increase in demand affects the consumer attitudes. Qualitative data is useful when the researcher wishes to find out why the business environment causes increase in demand (Yin, 2008). A study by Walliman (2011) noted the reasons for a researcher choosing qualitative, quantitative, or mixed analysis. The author noted the following things: The researcher’s preferred philosophical approach. Either realistic, phenomenologist, or constructionist. The researcher’s skills and abilities with methods of data collection. The topic or issue the researcher is interested in. How the researcher has framed his research question. Moreover, another study by Vogt (2007) noted the ways in which qualitative and quantitative data and analysis can be combined. He gave the following example: The researcher may be interested in doing a quantitative research, studying the social trends in the business field. However, the researcher wants to introduce the ‘human touch,’ that is, conducting interviews to ask businesspersons what these trends mean to them. The researcher will use qualitative data to help explain the various patterns in the quantitative analysis (Vogt, 2007). The researcher may be interested in doing a evaluative case study of a business process. The researcher will triangulate methods, that is, collect data in several ways. Some of this data may be quantitative (Vogt, 2007). That said, mixed methods are the combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. A study by Thomas (2003) noted the difference between quantitative and qualitative research. According to the author, quantitative research addresses research objectives through empirical assessments that involve numerical measurement and analysis. Qualitative research addresses business objectives through techniques that allow the researcher to provide elaborate interpretations of phenomena without depending on numerical measurement (Thomas, 2003). In other words, its focus is on discovering true inner meanings and new insights. The table below notes the difference between qualitative and quantitative research methods. Table one: Difference between qualitative and quantitative research methods in Thomas 2003. Quantitative Qualitative Principal orientation to the role of theory in relation to research Deductive Testing of the theory Inductive Generation of the theory Epistemological orientation Natural science model Positivism Interpretivism Ontological orientation Objectivism Constructionism Additionally, a study by Teddlie (2009) noted the difference between qualitative and quantitative research strategies. The difference is in the table below: Table two: Difference between qualitative and quantitative research strategies in Teddlie, 2009. Research Aspect Quantitative Qualitative Common Purpose Test Hypotheses of Specific Research Questions Discover Ideas, used in Exploratory Research with General Research Objects Approach Measure and Test Observe and Interpret Data Collection Approach Structured Response Categories Provided Unstructured, Free-Form Research Independence Researcher Uninvolved Results are objective Researcher is involved Results are subjective Samples Large Samples to Produce Generalizable Results Small Samples. Always in Natural Settings Most used Descriptive and Causal Research Designs Exploratory Research Designs A study by Tashakkori (2010) noted the strengths and weaknesses of quantitative research. The most significant advantage of quantitative data, in which data has been collected rigorously, is its reliability. It has the best reliability, provided the researcher has used appropriate methods and has been analysed critically (Tashakkori, 2010). However, quantitative data fails to provide an in-depth description of an occurrence of a phenomenon (Tashakkori, 2010). For example, the quantitative data collection may state categorically that the government has increased the federal taxes by 10% in eight states because of the boom in business in these areas. This information would answer the questions: The percentage in which the tax has been increased In how many states However, the information does not state where the government will invest these extra funds in, and the primary rationale for raising the taxes. Furthermore, qualitative data could be used to determine the needs of the business community by asking businessmen to rank a list of priority needs. This will not explain why these are the priority needs, and how the government or the authority may respond to them. It will also fail to provide information about priority needs for humanitarian intervention. To gain this information, there is a need for the researcher to ask open-ended questions (Tashakkori, 2010). The strengths of quantitative research are (Rajasekar, 2014): Easy to implement the research. The researcher can use surveys and questionnaires. It is very quick to gather research data. It provides numerical research data. It is useful for large sampling size. It is faster to analyse research data than other research methods. Easier to interpret research data. The weaknesses of quantitative research are (Bhattacherjee, 2012): The research’s theory and hypothesis might not reflect the real situation. Research data collected could be in a general form. Research findings might not be detailed. Research findings could be biased as researcher is verifying his pre-determined theory and hypothesis, instead of building them from the results of research. The strengths of qualitative research are: Useful to conduct a limited detailed case studies or interviews. Very useful in explaining complex phenomena. Useful for specific environment, context, and condition. Includes researcher’s and people’s personal experiences of phenomena. Research is more dynamic and flexible. Research findings in words and narrative could explain the phenomena better and more id-depth. The weaknesses are: Research findings might not be general, and it applies to specific context. Insufficient research data to test hypothesis and build theory. It is time-consuming in collecting and analyzing data. Requires many resources to collect data. The researcher could influence the results because of personal biases. Mixed methods In this approach, the researcher collects, analyses, and integrates both qualitative and quantitative data in the single and multiple studies (Silverman, 2010). The table below included in a study by Bryman (2011) summarizes description of mixed methods. Table 3: Purposes of mixed methods in Bryman, 2011. PURPOSE EXPLANATION Triangulation Complementarity Development Initiation Expansion It seeks convergence, corroboration, and correspondence of results from different models It finds elaboration, enhancement, illustration, and clarification of the results from one method with the results from the other methods It attempts to use the results of one method to help develop or inform the other method, where development is broadly constructed to include sampling and implementation. It seeks the discovery of paradox and contradiction, new perspectives of frameworks, the recasting of questions or results from one method with questions or results from the other method It seeks to extend the breadth and range of inquiry by using different methods for different inquiry components The study by Black (2003) described the strengths and weakness of mixed methods Strengths Because it involves a mixture of words, pictures and narratives, it adds more meaning to research findings. It has a stronger evidence for triangulation. It complements the strengths and weaknesses of the quantitative and qualitative research. It has more generalization of research results. Weaknesses It is more complex to do the research. It is time-consuming. It requires a lot of resources. There is a risk in conflicting research findings from Quantitative and Qualitative methods. Discussion Quantitative data are analysed numerically. The results are presented in statistics, tables, and graphs. The aim of this study is to test pre-determined hypotheses and produce generalizable results. While using statistical methods, the researcher is aiming at confirming or refuting hypotheses tested (Balnaves, 2001). Scientific measurement is essential in this method. Quantitative data is numeric. Therefore, the researcher is required to collect and analyse data from representative samples. Studies indicate that, a representative sample is meaningless unless the data collection instruments used to collect data is appropriate and well designed. In most cases, data from poorly structured questionnaires solicit enormous amount of data. A bigger percentage of this data becomes unusable because of the difficulty in measuring and generalizing the data (Bellamy, 2012). Qualitative information is explanatory. Researchers rely on this method when they do not know what to expect, and how to define the issues. Qualitative data is based on empirical evidence and investigation. Qualitative data often generate case studies and summarizes it (Creswell, 2001). Studies indicate that qualitative data are textual observations that portray intentions. The conclusions in this method take the form of informed assertions about meaning. It provides information about the human aspect (Anderson, 2009; Bellamy, 2012; Blumberg, 2008). When the sample size for qualitative data becomes big, the researcher will spend a lot of time and money analyzing it. Additionally, random sampling of a population is likely to produce a representative sample, only if the research characteristics are evenly distributed within the population (Meriam, 2009). Mixed methods research combines qualitative and quantitative methods. It draws on the strength of both traditions of inquiry. Mixed methodology tests the agreement of findings from different measuring instruments, clarifies and builds on the results from one method with another method. Then it demonstrates how results from one method can impact subsequent methods (Jankowicz, 2004). Studies indicate that mixed methods are firmly rooted in the evaluation of literature. The primary purposes of mixed method are triangulation, complementary, development, initiation, and expansion (OLeary, 2004; Lapan, 2011; Silverman, 2010). Findings Collection of data using the qualitative and quantitative methods calls for specific and agreed upon technical methods. The researcher, in this case, requires specific skills sets for accurate collection and analysis. Qualitative and quantitative data interpretations are inter-changeable. However, the consideration is in how data is collected, analysed, and presented. Qualitative research method is recommended during earlier phases of research. Quantitative research method is recommended during later stages of research. Qualitative data is mainly contextual whereas quantitative data are primarily numerical and categorical values. Mixed method approach requires the researchers to collect, analyse, and integrate both quantitative and qualitative data in a single or multiple studies in a sustained program of inquiry. References Anderson, V. (2009). Research Methods in Human Resource Management. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Balnaves, M. (2001). 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