Prof Robin Matthews robindcmatthews.com Research Methods Prof Robin Matthews robindcmatthews.com 1/3/2019 robindcmatthews.com

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Qualitative v Quantitative: an artificial distinction All qualitative data can be coded quantitatively. All quantitative data is based on qualitative judgment. They (TEND TO) start from different assumptions Epistemological Ontological FALSE all Quantitative research is confirmatory and deductive all Qualitative research is exploratory and inductive 1/3/2019 robindcmatthews.com

assumes an objective reality independent of the observer. POSITIVISM AND POST-POSITIVISM methods of the natural sciences used in the human sciences POSITIVISM assumes an objective reality independent of the observer. Task: to discover reality Deterministic Focus on experimental and quantitative methods POST POSITIVISM Assumes an objective reality; independent of the observer Probabalistic Task to discover reality Use qualitative methods to broaden range of discovery 1/3/2019 robindcmatthews.com

Positivistic and post positivistic methods SURVEYS EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES LONGITUDINAL STUDIES  CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDIES   1/3/2019 robindcmatthews.com

Phenomenological (Interpretivist) CASE STUDIES ACTION RESEARCH ETHNOGRAPHY (PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION) ; PARTICIPATIVE ENQUIRY GROUNDED THEORY   1/3/2019 robindcmatthews.com

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1/3/2019 robindcmatthews.com Title Approach (Think of a title that describes succinctly the nature of your proposed research) Approach (i.e. positivistic/ phenomenological) Methodology The ‘tools’ or e.g. case, study, methods to collect survey, cross- primary data, e.g. sectional studies etc questionnaire, autobiography, interviews etc 1/3/2019 robindcmatthews.com

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SURVEYS Surveys try to select a representative and unbiased sample of subjects from population. Main methods of interviewing: face-to-face telephone questionnaires or mixture of the three descriptive surveys: identify & count frequency of responses of sample/group analytical surveys: analyse relationships between variables   1/3/2019 robindcmatthews.com

TIME LONGITUDINAL STUDIES CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDIES an extended period of observation; the effect of time on the situation collect primary data or secondary data on effects over time. eg. Changes in IT skills of managers in organisation(s) over time    CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDIES different organisations/groups of people to discover similarities/differences at a particular time. eg. a survey of the IT skills of managers in one or a number of organisations at any particular time.   1/3/2019 robindcmatthews.com

CASE STUDIES   opportunity to study a particular subject/organisation,/group in depth, involves gathering and analysing information; may be both qualitative/quantitative/both. Explanatory used to formulate theories as a basis for understanding and explaining practices/policies/strategies/procedures  Descriptive (e.g. current practice is described in detail) Illustrative (e.g. to illustrate new practices adopted by an organisation Experimental (e.g. difficulties in adopting new practices or procedures are examined) Researchers increasingly using stories to collect information; seeking patterns, underlying issues and concerns. 1/3/2019 robindcmatthews.com

ETHNOGRAPHY PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION Came from anthropology and the close study of societies. Usually described as participant observation, the researcher is part member of the group/situation observed. Aim understanding the viewpoints of the people involved. The researcher shares experiences effective for study of small groups/firms. Can be overt or covert 1/3/2019 robindcmatthews.com

ACTION RESEARCH intervention by a researcher   intervention by a researcher to influence change in situation(s) and monitor and evaluate result(s) Identify an objective, ways of improving telephone responses to clients, How to achieve improvement  The researcher is part of the situation introducing new techniques, and monitoring results. Requires active co-operation between and adaptation of both researcher and client. 1/3/2019 robindcmatthews.com

PARTICIPATIVE ENQUIRY Research in own group/organisation active involvement and co-operation. Emphasis is on sharing, agreeing, co- operating and making the research process as open and equal as possible. Suitable for part-time employed students in their own workplaces. 1/3/2019 robindcmatthews.com

GROUNDED THEORY   Reverses approaches in research that collected data in order to test the validity of theoretical propositions, in favour of an approach that emphasises the generation of theory from data. Theory is generated from observations rather than being decided before the study. Challenges research approaches andestablished theories/practices/paradigms. Approach research with few preconceptions Or awareness of preconceptions 1/3/2019 robindcmatthews.com

GROUNDED THEORY Silverman (1993) main features and stages of grounded theory: develop categories which derive from the data; Provide examples in the categories to demonstrate their importance Generalise; Develop categories into more general broader analytical frameworks/ theories 1/3/2019 robindcmatthews.com

GENDER STUDIES grounded in experiences business/cultural context, for example, organisations, roles, influence and concerns qualia lived experiences, emotions 1/3/2019 robindcmatthews.com

reliability and validity TRUSTWORTHY; researchers and users of findings can be reasonably confident that findings reflect research question NOT the bias of the researcher 1/3/2019 robindcmatthews.com

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