Presentation 6- Objective and writing the research

Question 1

Purpose of the research in measurable terms

Answer 1

This is the researcher’s version of the business problem.
Objectives explain the purpose of the research in measurable terms and defines standards of what the research should accomplish.
Outlining the objectives ensure that the project will be manageable in size.
Objectives must specify the information needed to make a decision.
Specific objectives influence the research design because they indicate the type of information needed.

Question 2

Methodology

Answer 2

Methodology refers to the overall approach to the research process from the theoretical underpinning to the collection and analysis of the data. Like theories methodologies cannot be true or false only more or less useful.
Methodology is concerned with the following main issues. Why you collected certain data
What data you collected. When you collected it
How you collected it – eg. Using questionnaires – (one open ended question) How you will analyse it. The paradigm you adopted has great importance for the methodology you use.
Regardless of what paradigm you use it is important that you pay attention to all the features and ensure that there are no contradictions or deficiencies in the methodology. Because of the need to conduct statistical analysis a positivistic paradigm is used. However, to get in depth information a phenomenological paradigm is used.

Question 3

QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DATA

Answer 3

The term positivist can be used instead of quantitative and phenomenological rather than qualitative (descriptive). It is possible for a positivistic paradigm to produce qualitative data and quantitative data.
However, it is useful to associate a positivistic approach with measurement

Question 4

Types of Data

Answer 4

If you adopt a positivist paradigm it is essential that the data you see, is highly specific and precise. Therefore, the data you collect will be mainly quantitative data. Because measurement is an essential element of the research process under this paradigm you must apply considerable rigour to ensure that there is accuracy of your measurement. Under a phenomenological paradigm, the emphasis is on the quality and depth of the data. The data is often described as rich since it captures the richness of detail. It is perfectly possible and even advantageous to use both qualitative and quantitative methods for collecting data. For example, a questionnaire survey providing quantitative data could be accompanied by a few in-depth interviews to provide qualitative insight.