MARKETING/MANAGEMENT - BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

A Critical Discussion of Research Methods and Approaches

Abstract

This research paper intends to explore research methods and approaches and the justifications of the research design framework. It also describes epistemology and the theoretical perspectives associated with research methods justifying the reasons for adopting the approaches that best associate with the research topic. Furthermore, this research paper briefly explains about inductive, deductive, qualitative, and quantitative data collection methods linked to the research theme. Ultimately, it suggests a research method for this study. The concepts of triangulation, reliability, and validity are also included in this study. In the end, a critical evaluation of the overall research design including limitation in the chosen methods and approaches and probable influence these might have on the research objective.

A Critical Discussion of Research Methods and Approaches

Introduction

This paper intends to explore and analyze the merits and defects of various data sources, using specific examples. The theme for which difference data sources are searched mainly focuses on the impact of teamwork on achieving tasks. It also analyze whether there are any transferrable skills developed from teamwork. Moreover, this paper represents a preliminary research relevant to the data on the theme by using three different data sources. These data sources include online databases, internet sources, and hard copy and journals. The paper further explains relative merits and defects of these data sources in the context of selected theme. It provides examples drawn from the results of the data search. The process involved in the search of data is also described.

Discussion

The model of the theoretical framework integrated in this research is based on an interpretive research approach that engaged ontological arrangement of interpretive is relativism as affirmed by Schwartz-Shea & Yanow (2013, pp. 11). Relativism is defined as the viewpoint that realism is subjective and varies from an individual to another individual. A person's reality is arbitrated by his / her senses. Devoid of realization this globe is pointless.

Data Collection Methods

Data collection method is an imperative factor of research or study on any topic or theme. Incorrect data collection can affect the outcomes of a research and finally direct to unacceptable outcomes. The method of data collection can also be regarded as “data management.” This notion is illustrated in figure 1. This figure provides a better demonstration of the process that I have applied in my data search exercise on the topic of development of the impact of teamwork on achieving tasks. The first and foremost step was to select sources of data and then obtaining the required data. From this initial step, I gained access to the data. The second step was to review the data for its relevancy, reliability, credibility, authenticity, and permissibility. In this step, data was verified for all these attributes and ultimately some of the data was reduced, as well. These two steps are clearly represented in figure 1. One last and third step was also implemented, which included the evaluation of the selected data ...