Research Methodology For Successful Realization Of Objectives

The Importance of Research Methodology

The research methodology portion mainly deals with the manner in which a research has been undertaken by the researchers. A research can be conceived and categorised into various types based on the research philosophy subscribed to by the researcher, the research strategy utilised by the researcher and the research tools employed by the researcher to pursue their goals (which in this case is the successful realisation of the research objectives). This essentially helps the researcher to arrive at effective outcomes from their research (Kumar & Phrommathed, 2005).

The research philosophy is a significant component of any research which deals with the approach employed by the researcher regarding collection of research data and arriving at logical conclusions from analysing that data. Research philosophy can be considered to be a belief or school of thought regarding how data and information regarding any phenomenon should be collected and analysed. While dealing with research philosophy, researchers often encounter two differ terms – epistemology (what is known to be true) and doxology (what is believed to be true). Thus, the purpose of any research is to validate the process of transforming things that we believe into things that we know (Vivilaki, 2008). There are two main types of research philosophy as identified by Western scientific traditions and these are categorised as positivism and interpretivism. Positivists are of the opinion that reality is stable and it could be both viewed and explained from an objective viewpoint without interfering with the event being examined. Positivism has a successful association with the physical and natural sciences and this is why it has greater acceptance in the scientific community (Mkansi, 2012). Interpretivists belong to a totally different school of thought and they oppose and challenge the views of the positivists. The interpretivists are of the opinion that the reality can be truly understood only through the process of subjective intervention and interaction with the phenomenon that is being examined. The main aspect of an interpretivist philosophy is the study of a phenomenon within their natural environment and it also acknowledges the fact that while undertaking any research, the researchers unknowingly end up affecting the phenomenon that they are studying, a fact that has been vehemently opposed by the positivists (Blessing & Chakrabarti, 2009).

The researcher has utilised positivism philosophy in this present research and this has allowed them to make use of scientific facts and findings along with common sense reasoning in order to bring forth reliable and accurate findings from the research. By utilising the positivist research philosophy, the researcher has been able to quality of the data collection and data analysis process which are extremely crucial from the context of the research (Flick, 2015).

Research Philosophy

Research approach is a structured plan or procedure which outlines the outlines the different assumptions that needs to be considered for ensuring a thorough and detailed data collection and data analysis process. This eventually helps the researchers to obtain the desired results and findings from their research while providing greater accuracy and reliability to their findings. Research approach is mainly of three types – deductive, abductive and inductive. Selection of the appropriate research approach inherently depends on the research topic that is currently being examined by the researchers (Burney, 2008).     

In a deductive approach, the assumption is that when the premises are true the conclusions are bound to be true. The deductive research undertakes a generalised to specific reasoning and this helps in bringing down the scope of the research by focusing on the research topic that is being currently evaluated. In this process, data collection is mainly utilised to evaluate the validity of the theories or hypothesis that exist regarding any particular event or phenomenon that is presently being researched (Taylor, Bogdan & DeVault, 2015).

In an inductive approach, the premises are known while the conclusions are unknown and their accuracy is put to the test. The inductive approach adopts a specific to general reasoning process which helps researcher to broaden their scope of research by applying their findings to a generalised context. In the inductive approach, the process of data collection is utilised as a means to explore a new phenomenon and understanding the diverse themes and patterns which emerge from the phenomenon. This helps in the creation of a conceptual framework which is critical for the development of new theories and hypothesis about a research subject (Marczyk DeMatteo, & Festinger, 2005).

In an abductive approach, the premises are known and they are mainly utilised to generate testable conclusions. The abductive reasoning takes place from the interaction between the general and the specific and as a result it incorporates aspects of both generalised and specific reasoning process. The aspect of data collection is mainly used to identify the different themes and patters that emerge from the data while locating in within the conceptual framework while testing it accuracy subsequently (Blessing & Chakrabarti, 2009).

In this particular research, the researcher has utilised a deductive approach and the researcher has already considered the research hypothesis the validity and reliability of which that they eventually want to put to the test. By utilising the deductive approach the researcher would be able to evaluate the relationship between the independent and dependent variables that has been selected for the hypothesis. The researcher would be able to verify the accuracy of the theories and findings that have been obtained from past researches and this would eventually help them to justify the purpose of their research (Gomm, 2008).

Research Approach

A data collection method is an important aspect of this research study and aids to researcher to find outcomes in more accurate manner. As studies conducted by Gomm, (2008), said that inappropriate data collection methods can has a significant negative impact on research study and lead to invalid outcomes. The present research study is adopted primary data collection methods. Use of primary data collection methods helps the researcher to provide up to date information. Moreover, primary data collection methods are reliable as the researcher can replicate the methods to evaluate and analyze the outcomes, as they know the method and how data was gathered and analyzed. Primary data is collected from the respondents, so that researcher gain in-depth knowledge and information about the research study, which could not be obtained from secondary data collection methods. In primary data collection methods researcher uses survey questionnaire methods (Blessing & Chakrabarti, 2009).  

Qustioanrries methods are adopted in this study as they are reliable and quick methods to gather information from multiple respondents in timely and effective manner. In this methods researcher use likert scale starting from 1 to 5, where 1 signifies that highly satisfied and 5 signifies that highly dissatisfied. Time methods are especially effective in this study, as the study involves the large population with several complex objectives.

Quantitative data collection methods emphasize research objective monuments and the mathematical, statistical or numerical analysis of data collected through survey, Qustioanrries or by manipulating pre-existing data through computational techniques. A quantitative data collection method is focus on collecting numerical data and generalized it across the group of respondents (Creswell and Creswell, 2017). As the main objective of this study is to find out the impact of spiritual factors on work engagement and key organisational, spiritual and personality impact on well being in ministers over time, therefore the study would adopt quantitative data collection methods. The present research study is descriptive in nature; therefore implementation of quantitiave data collection methods helps the researcher to successful determine the relationship between dependent and independent variables.

Hypothesis Testing

The survey has been designed in such a manner so that it would enable the researcher to obtain the primary quantitative data with relative ease. In the survey, all the respondents would be provided with a survey questionnaire after their selection. The survey questionnaire would comprise of close ended questions about the topic of research and the researcher has tried to make sure that they are in simple English so that it would be easily understood by the respondents. The researcher has been quite thorough while designing the survey questionnaires and this has allowed him to gather in-depth perspectives about the diverse views and opinions that exist among the general population regarding the topic of their research.   

Data Collection Methods

In this study, factor analysis tools and techniques is implemented for investigating variable relationship for complex concepts. In order to conduct factor analysis, Eigenvalue is measured, which helps them to explain factors.  Moreover, study also used regression path analysis that mainly used to describe the dependencies between dependent to independent variables. In regression path analysis, independent variable is known as exogenous and dependent variable is known as endogenous variables. This method is standardized methods because it is estimated from correlations (Beale, et al., 2010).  In this research study path analysis is performed between job demands to Burnout, spiritual resources to Burnout etc. Path analysis always performed in unidirectional.

In given diagram job demands, job resources, Burnout, Work engagement, Emotional ill health and turnover intentions represents latent variables. Whereas workload, interpersonal conflicts, work home interference and role ambiguity are measured variables, manifest variables and observed variables. In this example, job demands are measured by these attributes.

Single arrow represents from one latent variable to other depict hypothetical cause relationship whereas double arrow represents correlation between independent variables (latent exogenous variables) in present given example.                   

In order to obtain outcomes in successful manner, structural equation modelling techniques is adopted that helps to analyze the structural relationship in a better manner. This techniques is mainly involves the combination of multiple regression analysis and factors analysis and used to evaluate the relationship between latent constructs and measured variables.     

As studies conducted by Williams, Onsman, & Brown, (2010), said that confirmatory factor analysis is multivariate statistical method that is mainly used to verify how well the measured variables show the number of construct. With help of this methods, researcher can identify the number of factors needed in the data and measured variable associated to the latent variables.  It is mainly used to reject or conforms the measurement theory.  Covariance variable used to find out the relationship between two variables and if both variables tend to decrease or tend to increase then coefficient is positive otherwise coefficient is negative. It is same to correlation but when covariance is computed then information or data is not standardized. 

The quantity and quality of data has a great significant on research study. Sampling techniques is done and sleeted on the basis of population of the respondents for the purpose of survey. In research study, sampling methods is characterized as either non probability or probability methods. In probability sampling techniques, each members of the respondents has known non-zero probability of being chosen. Probabilistic sampling techniques include systematic sampling, random sampling and stratified sampling. In non-probability sampling techniques members are not selected from the respondents in a random manner (Creswell and Creswell, 2017). A non-probability technique includes the convenience sampling and snowball sampling techniques. Snowball sampling methods is commonly used in social science when analyzing or investing hard to reach groups. This method is effective when a sampling frame is not easy for researcher to identify.  The present study has utilised both convenience sampling and snowball sampling techniques which has enabled the researcher to conduct the research in a smooth manner by helping them to collect the data with greater ease. As convenience sampling techniques is utilised to whenever there is not a huge number of respondents to consider. It provides greater convenience and ease to the researcher for the identification and selection the respondents who would eventually participate in the research study. On the other hand, it is an economy way of sampling methods. In order to find outcomes in successful manner 150 workers are selected.                            

Deductive Research Approach

Data analysis methods provide the researcher to an effective tools and techniques, which aids them to evaluate and analyze the gathered information in successful manner. As the present research study is descriptive in nature and finds outcomes through hypothesis techniques, so that the researcher used SPSS tools and techniques. The present study also used graph, chart, bar diagram, MS excel sheet and many more techniques in this study. The present study used correlation, regression analysis through T-test and ANOVAs testing methods. Correlation analysis techniques is computed the data including both dependent and independent variable through Pearson Correlation techniques. In addition to this, regression analysis techniques help the researcher to measure the relationship between independent and dependent variables in successful manner. Statistical hypothesis testing methods is also adopted in this study, which helps the researcher to make statistical decision using experimental data.  In regression analysis techniques, researcher analyzed the collected data through linear and multiple regression analysis techniques by making utilize of all discrete variable (i.e. independent and dependent variables) available in the database.    

Budget and time period are considered the main research limitation of this study. Any research study needs to substantial capital to be spending on successfully satisfying all aspects on research study (Jones, 2009).  Financial constrain plays the vital role in undermining the overall realbiltiy and effectiveness of research study. Time was also considered the main factors which undermining the accuracy of the research objective.

References

Blessing, L. T., & Chakrabarti, A. (2009). DRM, a design research methodology. Springer Science & Business Media.

Burney, A. (2008). Inductive and deductive research approach. Retrieved, 12, 2013.

Flick, U. (2015). Introducing research methodology: A beginner’s guide to doing a research project. Sage.

Gomm, R. (2008). Social research methodology: A critical introduction. Macmillan International Higher Education.

Koul, L. (2009). Methodology Of Educational Research, 4Enew E. Vikas publishing house PVT Ltd.

Kumar, S., & Phrommathed, P. (2005). Research methodology (pp. 43-50). Springer US.

Marczyk, G., DeMatteo, D., & Festinger, D. (2005). Essentials of research design and methodology. John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Mkansi, M. (2012). Research philosophy debates and classifications: students’ dilemma.

Resnik, D. B. (2011). What is ethics in research & why is it important. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 1-10.

Savin-Baden, M., & Major, C. H. (2013). Qualitative research: The essential guide to theory and practice.

Taylor, S. J., Bogdan, R., & DeVault, M. (2015). Introduction to qualitative research methods: A guidebook and resource. John Wiley & Sons.

Vivilaki, V. (2008). Research philosophy and Socrates: rediscovering the birth of phenomenology. Nurse researcher, 16(1).

Creswell, J. W., and Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.

Harris, R., Holmes, H. M., and Mertens, D. M. (2009). Research ethics in sign language communities. Sign Language Studies, 9(2), 104-131.

Jones, J. W. (2009). Selection of Grounded Theory as an Appropriate Research Methodology for a Dissertation: One Student’s Perspective. Grounded Theory Review, 8(2).

Williams, B., Onsman, A., & Brown, T. (2010). Exploratory factor analysis: A five-step guide for novices. Australasian Journal of Paramedicine, 8(3).

Beale, C. M., Lennon, J. J., Yearsley, J. M., Brewer, M. J., & Elston, D. A. (2010). Regression analysis of spatial data. Ecology letters, 13(2), 246-264.

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