Evaluation of Research Methodologies
Discuss about the Research Methodology for Data Analysis Strategy.
The selected research study for critical evaluation is based on revealing the suitable generic outcome variables and to evaluate if or if not coaching generated the same expected outcomes, as well as to examine whether the leadership coaching can impact the suggested outcome criteria in context with increased LRE and LTS, with the help of research design. The aim of the study was to contribute towards the substantive theory supported on leadership coaching initially. The present study is based on the evaluation of research design and its appropriateness; this will be done by primarily focusing on data analysis strategy, research ethics and critiquing the outcomes of research articles.
The research design can be defined as a complete strategy which is used to incorporate the various elements of the study in a practical and sensible manner. It will ensure the effective addressing of research issue while including the appropriate data analysis and measurement in the same (Marczyk, DeMatteo and Festinger, 2017). The characteristic of the research design is to make sure that the outcomes obtained allow the researcher to address the research issue in the best possible way.
In the selected study, the chosen research design was conducted in various steps by making use of mixed method design wherein there was a combination of components of both qualitative and quantities research methods. The mixed method research methodology in the concerned study involved collection, evaluation and integration of qualitative and quantitative research aspects. The core characteristics of this research design were the collection of qualitative and quantitative data, in terms of research question and problems, while integrating the same and giving preference to these type of data on the bases of research. The study framed the process in theoretical perspectives and combined the same in particular research design intending to satisfy the objectives of the research. This provided a complete comprehensive viewpoint on the core aspects of mixed-methods research. A two-stage examining sequential design was selected to deal with the various research questions, as it allows a detailed account of leadership as a tool for leadership development. In the first segment, researchers conducted a focus group discussion with the help of expert coaches to offer researchers an ideal outcome variable on the basis of theoretical and practical aspects.
In the second part, the researchers conducted a quasi-experimental study with the participated leaders and subordinates. The next aim of the study was to examine whether the leadership coaching can impact the suggested outcome criteria in context with increased LRE and LTS, with the help of research design. The intention was to offer summative analysis and to check the two suggested outcome criteria, and offering an influential evaluation with the explanatory of one means that contribute towards the hypothesized changes within the outcome criteria. Further, the key findings of the conducted quasi-experimental supported the overall five hypotheses rigorously.
Evaluation of Data Analysis Strategy
The selected research design by the Gro Ladegard and Susann Gjerde is viable as justifications are supported by research objectives and hypotheses. Further researchers had considered accurateness of research designs by considering the previous thesis on a similar topic as the study of Grant, Cavanagh, & Parker, (2010) shows the type of research design with suitable for only topics that have been typically selected for various coaching studies, and the results are potentially specious. In addition to this, there is relatively few longitudinal leadership coaching studies using a pre-post and control group designs for conducting their study.
Quantitative method is based on the objective measurement as well as on the data analysis mechanisms of mathematics and numeric by pools, surveys, and questionnaire or by the manipulation of the pre-existing data by making use computational techniques (Brannen, 2017). Further, the Quantitative research emphasizes on a collection of numerical data which generalizing same throughout the group of individuals with explanatory of a specified phenomenon.
In the selected study, researcher acted as a moderator and gathered notes and findings at the time of discussion, meanwhile observations were provided by other researchers with the support of notes, which offered two sets of notes for the comparison of analysis. According to the given a suggestion in literature, the group was bit homogeneous, and on the other side, the moderator was up to date with the similar topic. In light of the suggestion for focus group research, researchers had an informal approach to ease the discussion. The aim was to disclose the influence of coaching in terms of LRE and LTS in comparison with the control group and if or if not the changes in trust had an impact upon the subordinates and to examine whether the supporting coach behaviour would forecast variation held in the two leaders outcome variables. Ultimately, researchers included the three control variables within the leader analysis sample; the delegated coach, gender and the tenure of a leader in the current job. Further, a questionnaire was given to the 195 leaders into two financial institutions, wherein researchers included the developed items meant for the study to evaluate the efficiency and trust in the leader role and subordinates, as well as to the pre-validated means of effectiveness. The researcher obtained 120 filled questionnaires, with a 47% response rate. For testing the differentiate validity among LTS and LRE, researchers conducted factor analysis.
The selected quantitative approach by the researcher is appropriate as it has explained the collected and statistical data in a relevant manner on the basis of the research problem. The viability of the quantitative approach is evidenced with its effective reporting of unpredicted events that took place at the time of data collection. It provided explanatory of the actual analysis with the planned analysis. Furthermore, the approach has properly explained the used techniques in the data set, with the description of the assumptions researchers took to prevent volatility. In the approach, sufficient statistical processes are used to offer best rationale and references. The appropriateness of the approach is also justified by its comprehensive statistics with the proper avoidance of causality. In addition to this, tables and figures are used to offer and interpret exact values and effects.
Assessment of Research Ethics
A core ethical principle in research is said to be when research attendants have complete knowledge of uncertainty and advantages of their attendance and are independently opt to be participants. This principle is known as informed consent (Resnik, 2015). Excluding the modest public locations observing or the test of accessible documents, research participants are required to interpret the nature of the process, the expectancy, sponsorship, involved uncertainty advantages , provided confidentiality level, the right to refuse participation, and the right to draw out from the study.
The researcher uses two methods to secure participants in behavioural studies which are confidentiality and anonymity. In confidentiality, the identity of the respondent is known only to the investigator but is hidden from the public to safeguard their identity. Further, the researcher maintains known information out of the reach of publishes reports and public. Confidentiality is considered as very important while the statements and actions of the individuals would lead to certain embarrassment if they are identified. It is said to be good for the researcher to maintain a higher level of confidentiality as it is hard to forecast how the individual respond and answer might be used or understood by others.
In the selected study, no research ethics has been covered by the researchers. There is no disclosures and description of the research ethics in the selected study. The researchers have missed the most significant aspect of conducting research; they did not disclose any ethical aspects of the study, which has come up as a limitation.
It is not moral to dismiss research ethics, as the researcher is responsible for maintaining privacy, confidentiality regarding the responses provided by the same population. The study only includes how the data is collected, but there are no descriptions regarding the ethics, this fact shows that researcher has ignored the aspects of ethical consideration. In a situation like this where respondents are by intention or accidental deceived, they must be debriefed once with the completion of research.
Further, the researcher is required to follow the debriefing process; it is engaged in with various activities with the data collection. It must consider the explanatory of any deception, depiction of the intention, objective and hypothesis of the study, post-study sharing outcomes, post-study outcomes and post-study notes of medical attention.
Initially, the researchers share the deception truth with the research participants and by making use of deception in terms of the goals of the study. In a situation where strict reactions take place, there be consideration of follow-up medical or psychological attention to ensure the safety of participants of the research. When the research does not do deception with the respondents, it is the best practice to provide them information on follow-up. This holds the goodwill of the respondents, offering an incentive to do participate in the upcoming research projects. For the interviews, the respondents can be provided with a descriptive notes of the findings.
The outcomes of the study are in accordance with the research objectives, as the overall objectives of the study were to make a contribution towards the leadership coaching theory development as the leadership development tool. Along with this in respond to calls such as less attention to be given to the new practices of coaching provided by HRD scholars and no contributions for the support of the theory and future research. The study integrates with the knowledge base of evaluation based on formative and summative, and it is argued that the leadership coaching is an ideal leadership development tool. The major strength of the study is based on the usage of mixed method integrating both qualitative and quantitative research methods, and opportunities are provided by the same to the researcher for more development. The integration of used method and sources of data has been provided to offer a comprehensive detail of the impacts of the leadership coaching as a leadership development tool.
On the other hand, there are certain limitations combined with the research. Initially, the sample size shows a significant and distinctive challenge that the coaching studies fulfils while evaluating the coaching procedure with the use of multivariate statistics as it is hard to generate adequate statistical power. Although regardless of the small size of the sample, the various analyses that the researchers conducted in a summative and formative manner and from various source have indicated that the key findings are quite strong. One more limitation is that there is the likelihood of selection biases. In light of the pre-studies of coaching, the study is based on the voluntary participation which has placed a certain restriction on the findings by researchers. The study must only be given generalization to leaders encouraged for the development of leadership. On the other hand, as the random allocation to direct is
The intention of the work that is the overall aim of the study should be clarified and defined precisely. The wide statements of expected results or general aims of the research make sense of the research project. The researcher has achieved the stated the research objectives, however, have ignored the research ethics which was a very significant aspect to be considered. The researchers have emphasized on the overall accomplishments, and the objectives have been linked with the hypothesis and the purpose statement.
Conclusion
The present study depicts that the research design selected by the Gro Ladegard and Susann Gjerde is viable and appropriately justified. The research designs best suit the criteria and objectives of the study. Moreover, the research design sufficiently addresses the research objectives, and it is supported by key findings and great insights which help in gaining a better understanding of the concerned topic. Hence, the methods, design and overall study adequately describes and justifies the cited objectives thereby evidenced to achieve the stated objective of the research. However, the study does not consider ethical aspect which is seen as major loophole of the research.
References
Brannen, J. ed., 2017. Mixing methods: Qualitative and quantitative research. Routledge.
Grant, A. M., Cavanagh, M. J., and Parker, H. M. 2010. The state of play in coaching today: A comprehensive review of the field. International Review of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 25, 125–167.
Marczyk, G., DeMatteo, D. and Festinger, D., 2017. Essentials of research design and methodology. John Wiley.
Resnik, D.B., 2015, December. What is ethics in research & why is it important. In ideas.