Research Approach and Philosophy
In discussing the research approach and philosophy one must consider the difference between method and methodology. Methodology refers to the approach utilized for the research and the method refers to the procedure used to carry out the research. Epistemology is the philosophical approach broadly adopted in this research as it amid to describe a phenomena within society or in an environment. Hence in in relation to this topic the phenomena is the trend towards sustainability among businesses in the UK. A relativist philosophy has been applied which provides the foundation for this research and can be best explained according to Mark Easterby-Smith et al, “Many truths exist and a single view can only result from a consensus of these multiple viewpoints,” (Mark Easterby-Smith et al : 2008). This philosophical framework has been selected because the aim of the research is to gain a greater understanding of the common consensus of opinions and attitudes held from luxury fashion customers about their views towards luxury fashion and sustainability. The researcher accepts that many opinions exists however those which comprise the majority are the viewpoints the researcher is primarily interested in.
Types of Research
Research can be classed into three perspectives; 1. Application of Research, 2. Objectives in Undertaking Research and 3. Inquiry Mode (Patton : 2002). Regarding the application of research, for the purposes of this paper, Applied Research has been conducted as opposed to Pure Research. Since the nature of the overall study is to be able to take and apply the principles discovered from the research for future benefit, applied research is more suitable. Pure research tends to revolve ...
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...roach to the research process and assists in lessening the weaknesses found in using quantitative and qualitative methods in isolation (Johnson & Onwuegbuzie : 2004). The mixed model research will be implemented by conducting surveys and semi structured interviews. For the purposes of this research it will enable the researcher to obtain a more holistic understanding of what is the impact of corporate and country culture on strategic alliances and why.
Secondary Research
Secondary research was conducted by utilizing both qualitative and quantitative secondary research. Secondary research materials such as business journals and Mintel reports and industry reports provided information surrounding this topic. This secondary research could then be compared and contrasted with the primary research findings to help provide more understanding about the topic overall.
Research philosophies is a framework by which the research problem should be fundamentally approached, there are four major research philosophies positivism, interpretivism/constructivism, realism and pragmatism (Davies, 2007). Positivism is a philosophical trend in the methodology of science, defining the only source of true, actual knowledge of empirical research and denies cognitive value of philosophical inquiry. According to the positivist philosophy, methodology is not related to the essence of knowledge about the real world, but rather has to do with the operations by which knowledge is constructed. The essential reasoning behind positivism is that, all truthful learning depends on the positive data assembled from noticeable experience, and that any thought past this domain of self evident actuality is powerful. Just explanatory proclamations are permitted to be known as valid, through reason alone (Davies 2007).
Different styles of research are employed in research to safeguard that the facts are acquired to permit examiners to find resolution to the principal queries for the study correctly, therefore, evading uncertainty ( ). Acquiring relevant proof encompasses stipulating the type of proof mandatory in answering the query. Methodological designs encompass logical complications; therefore, matters of sampling, information gathering methods, and queries are secondary to the type of method used in research. Strategies are often compared with quantitative and qualitative research methods. Research and collective studies are often observed as principal specimens of quantitative research and are evaluated compared to the flaws and strong point of numerical, examination, and quantitative research methods ( ).
The aim of this paper is to explore and critically analysing two research articles. The critical analysis will explain the importance of the study, evaluate design and research method used in those articles. To identify any gaps it will provide the literature review in those researches and possibility for the new study. The project plan, for the possible research will be developed on a potential gaps and the essay will finish with the conclusion.
When conducting research, when is it conducive to use primary research over secondary research and vice versa? Both research techniques are viable and beneficial. They each have purpose and can be used as a marketing research template when conducting research. Both techniques are equipped with tools that can be used to guide a researcher through the research process. If these tools are properly adhered to, the research process can be seamless and quite effective. Moreover, market research can assist a researcher in making accurate decisions and improve the chance of success. This paper will explain the difference among research tools used in primary and secondary research. It will also depict the differences in primary and secondary research when using qualitative and quantitative approaches. Additionally, it will indicate which tools are used for each approach and why.
My research philosophy is driven by informed inquiry to search for answers to questions that can enrich understanding and benefit society. I believe in integrating fundamentals from science with engineering principles in searching for practical answers. This theoretical and empirical approach guides my own research. My current research at Purdue University is focused on the handling issues faced by the corn ethanol industry and specifically on studying the caking behavior of corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). I am using basic and applied research principles to investigate the conditions at which this granular bulk product cakes. Results from this study will be used to develop a quality control management system for DDGS during production and transportation. A model that I developed, to predict the moisture sorption of behavior from the DDGS chemical composition[ ], can be coupled with a near infra-red (NIR) instrument, that is commonly used by the corn ethanol industry for quantifying the chemical composition. My active involvement with a team of researchers who studied the effect of process variables during drying on the physical and chemical variability in DDGS at a commercial corn ethanol plant, gave me valuable insights on validating a hypothesis at an industrial scale.
The research was designed using qualitative model based on exploratory design. This was done to facilitate multi-faceted study with a broader prospective. Basic percentage analysis was done to supplement qualitative analysis. The study was conducted with the help of a Questionnaire. To deepen the understanding data was collected from a variety of books, Internet web pages, and articles of different kinds conducted was descriptive in nature. Descriptive research includes survey and facilitating enquiries of different
The Research Methodology chapter contains a definition of the selected research methodology, description of the research methods and research design, and provides an argumentation for selection of qualitative research methodology over quantitative one. In addition to that, the Chapter describes the models used for analysis of the information, gathered via indicated research methods.
According to Mcnnab (2007) there are three dominant views; positivism, interpretive approach and realism research. These philosophies are about the knowledge that emerges, but considered not to be independent and in other aspects more likely to have common characteristics and clashes with one another.
When overseeing market research, it would be beneficial for a company to use both primary and secondary market research. This paper will cover the different tools necessary to conduct primary and secondary research. Secondary market research is research that has already been prepared by other companies and is available in various types of forms to be used by others, such as graphs, and charts. Primary research is research performed by a specific company and custom-made to that companies wants and needs.
The choice of method was performed considering the problem to be investigated and the objectives to which the study aims. The weighting on these aspects led to the development of an exploratory investigation. Exploratory research aims to approach the researcher of its subject matter, allowing the identification of relevant concepts and variables, set priorities in research or suggest research hypotheses. Thus, the exploratory research is seen in a qualitative approach providing "better view and understanding of the problem context"
In this chapter the background and problem definition is described, that forms the basis for this research. There after the purpose, aim and research questions. Subsequently the literature review and research strategy taken to solve the research questions is given.
There are several methods for conducting research, and one particular quantitative/qualitative method is the case study. This paper tries to expose advantages and disadvantages of using such a method to conduct scientific research. Furthermore, this piece of writing will identify and consider certain characteristics of a case study.
Research philosophy, refers to the development of knowledge adopted by the researchers in their research (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009). In other words, it is the theory that used to direct the researcher for conducting the procedure of research design, research strategy, questionnaire design and sampling (Malhotra, 2009). It is very important to have a clear understanding of the research philosophy so that we could examine the assumptions about the way we view the world, which are contained in the research philosophy we choose, knowing that whether they are appropriate or not (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009). According to Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009), three major ways of thinking about research philosophy are examined: ontology, epistemology and axiology. Each of them carries significant differences which will have an impact on the way we consider the research procedures. Ontology, “is concerned with nature of reality”, while epistemology “concerns what constitutes acceptable knowledge in a field of study and axiology “studies judgements about value” (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009, p110, p112, p116). This study is intent on creating some “facts” from objective evaluations which are made by the subjects. Therefore, epistemology will be chosen for this study as the way of thinking about the research philosophy.
Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem. Research methodology constitutes of research methods, selection criterion of research methods, used in context of research study and explanation of using of a particular method or technique so that research results are capable of being evaluated either by researcher himself or by others. Why a research study has been undertaken, how the research problem has been formulated, why data have been collected and what particular technique of analyzing data has been used and a best of similar other question are usually answered when we talk of Research methodology concerning a research problem or study. The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden and which has not been discovered as yet.
To achieve the research objectives the process of research must be carried out by certain principles and to use appropriate methods. It is very important that the methods used to obtain the desired results, and this starts to clearly define the objectives and what we need to know, and also by choosing the methods and tools to help us and to ease the process. (Kumar, 2008)