RESEARCH METHODS

Research Methods - Reflective Essay

Research Methods- Reflective Essay

Introduction

As kanes stated in his assignment that “research techniques are a bit like fishing flies”, it reflects that every method has its own aspects of implemention in surveys. When undertaking research of this nature, it is important to consider different research paradigms and matters of epistemology. Since these parameters describe perceptions, beliefs, assumptions and the nature of reality and truth (knowledge of that reality), they can influence the way in which the research is undertaken, from design through to conclusions, and it is therefore important to understand and discuss these aspects in order that approaches congruent to the nature and aims of the particular inquiry are adopted, and to ensure that researcher biases are understood, exposed, and minimised. (Saunders, 2009, pp 78-85)

Epistemology and research philosophy

Blaikie (1993) describes epistemology as 'the theory or science of the method or grounds of knowledge' expanding this into a set of claims or assumptions about the ways in which it is possible to gain knowledge of reality, how what exists may be known, what can be known, and what criteria must be satisfied in order to be described as knowledge. Chia (2002) describes epistemology as 'how and what it is possible to know' and the need to reflect on methods and standards through which reliable and verifiable knowledge is produced and Hatch and Cunliffe (2006) summarise epistemology as 'knowing how you can know' and expand this by asking how is knowledge generated, what criteria discriminate good knowledge from bad knowledge, and how should reality be represented or described. They go on to highlight the inter-dependent relationship between epistemology and ontology, and how one both informs, and depends upon, the other.

In considering this link, the need to understand the position of the researcher becomes more obvious. If the researcher holds certain ontological positions or assumptions, these may influence the epistemological choices or conclusions drawn. Hence, as with ontology, both objective and subjective epistemological views exist. Eriksson and Kovalainen (2008) describe an objective epistemology as presuming that a world exists that is external and theory neutral, whereas within a subjective epistemological view no access to the external world beyond our own observations and interpretations is possible. Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2007) discuss this further, highlighting that certain researchers therefore argue that data collected from objects that exist separate to the researcher (an external reality) is less open to bias and therefore more objective, and that if social phenomena are studied, these must be presented in a statistical, rather than narrative, form in order to hold any authority, a position of course that many researchers would challenge and Blaikie (1993) contends that since social research involves so many choices, the opportunity for researchers values and preferences to influence the process makes it difficult to ultimately achieve true objectivity.

Epistemology: Qualitative vs Quantitative

According to Marshall and Rossman (1995),

Qualitative research is evolving, through intellectual, political, and even technological struggles and advances. Critical theorists and feminists demonstrate that openly ideological or value-explicit ...