1. Prof Robin Matthews robindcmatthews.com
Research Methods
Prof Robin Matthews
robindcmatthews.com
1/3/2019
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3. 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
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4. 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
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5. Positivistic and post positivistic methods
SURVEYS
EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES
LONGITUDINAL STUDIES 
CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDIES
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6. Phenomenological (Interpretivist)
CASE STUDIES
ACTION RESEARCH
ETHNOGRAPHY (PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION) ;
PARTICIPATIVE ENQUIRY
GROUNDED THEORY
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8. 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
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12. 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
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13. 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.
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14. 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.
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15. 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
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16. 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.
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17. 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.
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18. 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
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19. 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
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20. GENDER STUDIES grounded in experiences
business/cultural context, for example,
organisations, roles, influence and concerns
qualia lived experiences, emotions
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21. reliability and validity
TRUSTWORTHY; researchers and users of findings can be reasonably confident that findings reflect research question
NOT the bias of the researcher
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