Business Management Course Work
Action Research as Method: Reflections from a Program for Developing Methods and Competence
In the article titled Action Research as Method: Reflections from a Program for Developing Methods and Competence, Jan Irgens Karlsen reflects on an emerging research model whereby researchers participate in implementing the actions they recommend in their research. Jan explains that this research model has been tested in many different fields and has proven to be effective. He however advises researchers to be cautious when using it.
In the first part of the article, Jan explains how this approach is different from the conventional approaches to research. He points out that the person conducting research does not only study a problem and make recommendations, but also is involved in the process of implementing his recommendations. Moreover, the people affected by the problem being investigated are also actively engaged in the research process from the beginning of the study to the implementation stage. As such, the investigator is able to gain post-research knowledge. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
In the next sections, Jan attempts to clarify the misgivings that could be associated with this particular strategy. For example, he explains that since the researcher is the one in charge of the entire process, the participants need not be as knowledgeable. Likewise, he asserts that by controlling the critical parts of the study, the researcher will not be undermining their input.
In the last part of the article, Jan compares this method to other types and discusses its shortcomings. For instance, he elaborate that in the clinical perspective method, the researcher-system association is complicated. Further, he argues that the action research model is also limited in that the influence of participants affects the results. Thus he advises researchers to employ caution when using the method and invites more study to improve on it.
Case-based Research
In the article titled Case-based Research, the writer discusses case-study research model. The writer presents this type of research as the best approach in managerial marketing but asserts that its principles can be extrapolated to other areas. The author presents his arguments in three stages.
Firstly, he discusses concepts that touch on how the theoretical frame-work for case-based studies is developed. To begin with, he explains how the interpretivist paradigm associated with this kind of research differs from the positivist paradigm. According to the author, case studies usually investigate how or why something is the way it is rather than what is happening. Next, he explains that the theory testing part of case studies employs both inductive and deductive strategies so as to avoid the get-all or lose-all situation when the researcher hits a cross-road.
In the part, the article details the process that one has to follow when carrying out a case-study. The author guides the readers through the steps of building quality interview questions and topics that would guarantee the best results. Afterwards, he elaborates on the principles that the researcher should follow in selecting the cases he or she will be focusing on, whereby he states that at least two cases are enough. Moreover, he affirms that at least thirty interviews are necessary to ensure the credibility of the study.
Finally, he takes the reader through the process of analyzing data. Here, he advises them to use prior theoretical framework to make meaning out of the data. Additionally, demonstrates why it is important for the researcher to keep clear record of all information sources they use during the study, as this would facilitate evaluation of the findings of the study. At the very end, he affirms the importance of creating an interview protocol for the entire project.
Choosing a Survey Method in Management Research
In the article titled Choosing a survey method in management research, David Jobber highlights the advantages and disadvantages of each of the three most common survey methods. In particular, he analyzes face-to-face, telephone, and mail surveys.
Firstly, David discusses face-to-face surveys. David identifies advantages of this method such, its ability to allow flexibility and probing of the responses given. Also, since they work well with open-ended questions, David argues that face-to-face surveys are the most suited for studying complex issues. He however notes they are mostly hampered by the need for more material resources. The researcher’s presence may also influence the answers respondents give.
Next, David details the merits and demerits of mail surveys. On the merits side, he says that they are effective for respondents who are distributed over a wide area. Mail surveys also encourage the respondents to answer embarrassing or sensitive questions that they would not have answered if they were being interviewed directly. Even then, such surveys are limited in that they require few, simple, and clear questions so as to encourage the participants are to give complete answers. Moreover, the response rates when using mail-surveys is significantly low.
Lastly, he highlights pros and cons of telephone surveys. He notes that though telephone surveys are rarely used, they enable the researcher to probe the response given and are also quite economical. Besides, David argues that with telephone-surveys one can achieve higher response rates than with mail-surveys. On the other hand, these surveys cannot be exhaustive because they are time-limited.
In conclusion, David argues that none of the three methods he discusses is the best. Rather, a researcher needs to evaluate each of them to see which method best suits his current project. He also advises researchers to use the three methods complementarily.
Ethics in Human Research
The article titled Ethics and human research expounds on the importance of observing ethical guidelines when carrying out research activities and outlines the principles that any research project should follow. The article begins with a discussion on ethical considerations in research before detailing some of the ethical principles that researchers must adhere to.
In the first paragraphs of the article, the author explains some of the concerns that arise when a research activity involves human beings. When dealing with human beings, it is important to be sensitive about their thoughts and emotions. As the author notes, this is crucial if the research is to protect the privacy and dignity of the people being investigated.
Furthermore, the author notes that treating people with respect during research is beneficial to the research process. For one, it enables the researcher to establish rapport with the participants and thus he is able to achieve greater cooperation from them. Besides, the respondents would give more accurate answers when they feel that the project is not threatening their privacy or any of their rights.
In the proceeding sections, the article elaborates on the protocol researchers have developed to ensure ethics are observed in research activities. First it highlights the importance of and the format of an introduction letter in investigative studies. Next, the author explains the five basic principles of research ethics one at a time, emphasizing the need for investigators to remain considerate of the interviewees throughout the entire project.
In conclusion, the article outlines the importance of social scientists observing ethics when carrying out their activities. Moreover, it explains the relationship between treating participants respectively and the quality of the results obtained. Finally, the author discusses the principles and the framework that researchers should follow to ensure ethical studies.
Inductive Theory Generation: a Grounded Approach to Business Inquiry
In the article titled Inductive Theory Generation: a Grounded Approach to Business Inquiry, David Douglas discusses the grounded theory methodology of in business research theory generation. In this article, David gives a step by step guide on the process that one goes through in generating grounded theory. More specifically, he explains how the theory applies to business-oriented research.
Firstly, David defines what generating grounded theory means. He explains that this approach to theory generation involves collecting data, analyzing it and then developing a theory from the analysis of the data, rather than beginning with a theory and then conducting investigations to test its validity. Moreover, he compares the views of two great scholars, Glaser and Strauss, regarding theory generation whereby he prefers Strauss’ approach over that of Glaser as it is clearer about the steps to be followed in coding and analyzing data.
Next, David elaborates the concepts pertaining to coding. In doing this, he explains the three main types of coding, namely open coding, axial coding and selective coding. He also explains the association between coding and memoing. Moreover, he guides the readers on how the sampling criteria. He adds that creativity is crucial in sampling is to be effective.
Finally, the author details the process of generating grounded theories. Here he explains that proper data analysis is vital in order to ensure that the researcher derives strong theories from the research project. He also gives a checklist against which the theories can be examined to determine their quality.
In conclusion, the article discusses the process of generating grounded theories. The author pays Particular attention to data collection and analysis as theory-quality depends on the quality of data collected and how the researcher analysis it.