Research Methodology for Integrative Industry Project - Assignment Example

Integrative Industry Project: Part 3 (Methodology) Part 3: Methodology Research methodology in any particular study is regarded as one of the vital aspects. From a theoretical perspective, the notion of research methodology is described as a mechanism of gathering valuable information and relevant data pertaining to a specific subject matter of a research study with the intention of making effective decisions about how to conduct a particular study by maintaining generalizability of the same. In precise, it can be affirmed that research methodology denotes studying about how a research is conducted in a scientific manner for the fulfillment of the desired research results and also solving the potential research problems. It is worth mentioning that a researcher undertaking a specific study must acquire a comprehensive idea about the sort of research methodology undertaken for reaping several significant benefits. These benefits include ensuring that the reliability as well as the validity of the study is maintained at the optimum level and also attaining the predetermined research objectives within a definite timeframe. Specially mentioning, the quality facets of research methodology pertaining to any study irrespective of different fields generally entail defining along with redefining any sort of persisting research problem, formulating relevant as well as appropriate hypothesis and collecting valuable information. Apart from these, the other major characteristics include evaluating the potential data, making effective decisions, finding out suitable solutions, reaching into a valid conclusion and most vitally testing such conclusion among others. It is projected that the formulation of a quality and an effective research methodology eventually enables a study to derive varied positive results and also ensures attaining the postulated research objectives as per the desired level. It will be vital to mention in this similar context that by the help of preparing a quality based research methodology, any specific study is deemed to generate varied positive outcomes. This could be made possible by following the practices of research methodology while attaining the desired research objectives within a definite period. In this regard, such practices could be measured in the form of research design or process and determination of an appropriate methodology (New Age Publishers, n.d.). 3.1 Research Design For this particular research study, which is concerned about finding out the possible issues that affect the performance of Samsung and also the probable improvement approaches, a descriptive research design has been used. From a conceptual standpoint, a descriptive research design denotes portraying the involved participants in a precise manner. In this context, it can be affirmed that a descriptive research design majorly encompass describing the nature of the individuals who are participating in a specific study (Kothari, 2004). There exist certain potential reasons for which the descriptive research design has been used in the above stated research study. In this similar context, one of such reasons could be ascertained as that the nature of the data to be collected relevant to the stated research study would ultimately require the respondents to explain the existing conditions in a much detailed way. Apart from this, the other reason is reckoned to be collecting relevant data in a much organized manner as compared to other research design methods. It is projected that the use of descriptive research design would eventually support in gaining a detailed understanding about the subject matter of the stated research study and likewise, derive appropriate strategies for generating varied positive as well as favorable outcomes (Kothari, 2004). 3.2 Primary and Secondary Data Collection Methods The different methods pertaining to data collection are important part for any research study. This is majorly owing to the reason that imprecise gathering of relevant and valuable data has the potentiality to impose considerable level of impact on the overall results of the study, leading towards generating unacceptable results in future. Apart from this, improper data collection also contributes into failure towards answering the prepared research questions, inability in validating the research study and also causing harm to the involved participants. These are certain potential reasons for which data collection is deemed to be a significant process in any specific research study dealing with varied topics (ORI, n.d.). Similarly, in relation to the stated research study, which mainly dealt with identifying the possible issues affecting the performance of Samsung and the probable improvement approaches, the valuable as well as relevant data has been gathered from the utilization of qualitative as well as quantitative research methods. In terms of rationale, it can be affirmed that these methods have been selected in the aforesaid study while collecting data, as the research design under the dimension of a cross-sectional study approach will require the use of both questionnaires and interviews, which are deemed to be regarded as effective research instruments. It is worth mentioning in this context that the aforesaid mechanisms of data collection have been duly considered for certain other potential purposes. These purposes include obtaining valid data for reaching into a precise conclusion of the stated research study and keeping records of such information for improvising the generalizability of the study. On a further note, the other purposes entail making varied important decisions regarding certain critical issues pertaining to the study and also passing information to others for conducting similar kind of study in future. In this respect, in order to eliminate any sort of quality based issue that might arise at the time of conducting the stated study, the above discussed tools of data collection have been taken into concern. This is also applicable during the circumstance of ascertaining the overall research findings (Panneerselvam, 2014). From a theoretical perspective, primary data collection methods are regarded as the approaches of disseminating first-hand information to a researcher involved in any specific research study, which is gathered from the conduct of experiments, interviews, questionnaires, observations and surveys among others. In precise, it can be affirmed that primary data signifies the original facts that have been duly considered for the fulfillment of any specific purpose. This sort of data collection method is found to be much useful specifically for the current as well as the future research studies in the form of collecting current data for the initial time. With this concern, for the stated research study concerning the identification of the possible issues affecting the performance of Samsung and the probable improvement approaches, various tools of primary data collection method including questionnaires and interviews have been taken into consideration (Hamilton, 2005). On the other hand, secondary method of data collection implies second-hand information that has been obtained from others for serving a specific purpose or conducting a particular research study. There exist certain reasons for which this sort of method concerning data collection is duly considered in the aforementioned research study. In this regard, one of such reasons is identified as that this method involves less time, effort as well as cost while undergoing a research study as compared to other data collection methods (Hamilton, 2005). Accordingly, for the stated research study, secondary data has been retrieved from varied sources that encompass company reports i.e. of Samsung, past journals relating to the subject matter of the study, annual performance report of Samsung, progress reports and financial statements of the same. Thus, the results derived from the above stated tools of primary as well as secondary data collection methods have been thoroughly analyzed and likewise, conclusive recommendations have been made for reaching into a valid conclusion for the research study. 3.3 Quantitative and Qualitative Data Collection Tools Apart from the consideration of primary along with secondary sources, an attempt has also been made of analyzing different quantitative as well as qualitative tools of data collection. From a conceptual standpoint, it could be ascertained that the qualitative data collection tool plays an imperative part in any specific research study in the form of various ways. These ways entail comprehending the procedures that remain underlying the observed results and examining the changes of the perceptions amid the involved participants among others. Apart from these, the varied quantitative data collection based tools prove to be much beneficial for any specific study in enhancing the quality level of survey-based quantitative assessments by generating valid propositions, expanding the findings and most vitally reinforcing the structural design of survey questionnaires (University of Wisconsin, n.d.). With this concern, for the stated research study of identifying the possible issues affecting the performance of Samsung and the probable improvement approaches, the design of questionnaires has been duly considered as the potential tool of qualitative data. Observably, questionnaires are often viewed as forms that are completed as well as returned by the participants involved in any study. Fundamentally, a questionnaire is described as an effective research instrument, which comprises a sequence of questions with the intention of collecting valuable and relevant information from the involved participants. Specially mentioning, such questionnaires could be duly administered by utilizing the approaches or the methods of face-to-face interviews, mail, handouts and telephone among others (CDC, 2008). On the other hand, quantitative data collection tool of any particular research study represents testing the framed hypothesis for making a detailed assessment of the phenomenon of interest. It can be apparently observed that there lay certain typical strategies of collecting quantitative data pertaining to the subject matter of any research study. In this regard, such strategies could be ascertained as observing as well as recording the well-defined events, assessing the experiments or clinical trials and most vitally supervising surveys with the inclusion of close-ended questions (University of Wisconsin, n.d.). In relation to the stated research study concerning the identification of the possible issues affecting the performance of Samsung and the probable improvement approaches, interviews have been duly considered as a representation of quantitative based tool of data collection. It will be vital to mention in this similar concern that interviews serve as an effective quantitative based research instrument in any specific study, as this leads towards posing questions and urging the need for answering such questions on behalf of the involved participants. It is projected that the use of interviews in the aforesaid research study would be found to be much beneficial in collecting relevant and purposeful data by listing out suitable research questions and also obtaining the answers from such questions on behalf of the respondents engaged with the study (Blackstone, 2015). Therefore, it can be inferred that the use of the above discussed quantitative as well as qualitative tools of data collection is likely to improve the generalizability of the stated research study by a considerable level. 3.4 Sample Size and Sample Method In any research study irrespective of different topics, sample size is regarded as one of the potent procedures of attaining estimates that are found to be adequately accurate and reliable with the intention of making effective policy decisions and most importantly scientific enquiries. It is worth mentioning that the aspect concerning sample size usually is determined based on the techniques utilized in a study and urging the requirement of generating adequate statistical power. It is strongly believed that larger the same size, better the outcomes of the overall research findings (Henry, 2013). In accordance with the research study concerning the recognition of the possible issues affecting the performance of Samsung and the probable improvement approaches, adequate data relating to the same have been gathered from the workers associated with Samsung for long term and also other external business management experts. With this concern, a sample size of 200 have been duly considered, out of which the questionnaire survey and the interview were conducted with 100 respondents. Thus, the actual sample size considered for the study is 100 from whom an attempt has been made towards gathering valuable data for the fulfillment of the desired research objectives. In terms of determining and explaining the sampling method pertaining to the above mentioned research study, the above depicted 100 respondents have not been chosen on a random basis, but rather they had been selected in terms of having knowledge about the subject matter of the stated research study. Thus, it is evident that the aforementioned research study has largely utilized the judgmental sampling method for reaching into a valid conclusion. On a further note, the perception of judgmental sampling is regarded as a form of non-probability based sampling practice based on which a suitable sample is selected in accordance with their respective knowledge and most vitally professional judgment. It can be apparently observed that this particular sort of sampling technique is also acknowledged as authoritative and purposive sampling. Similar to the above sections, there also exist certain potential reasons for which the judgmental sampling is duly considered in the stated research study, which is about recognizing the possible issues affecting the performance of Samsung and the probable improvement approaches. In this similar context, one of such reasons is identified to be improving the reliability along with the validity of the research study by acquiring an in-depth idea about the original subject matter of the study based on the knowledge as well as the experiences of the involved participants. It is projected that the use of judgmental sampling method in the aforesaid research study would eventually result into eradicating biases, if found to be prevalent amid the involved participants. In other words, it is to be affirmed that the adoption along with the execution of judgmental sampling method has certainly raised the chances of improving the generalizability of the study by a considerable extent (Babbie, 2013). 3.5 Research Activities Related to the Original Decisions Mentioned in the Proposal and the Plan Based on the above stated research, it can be affirmed that there lay certain activities that can be related to the original decisions taken and displayed the same in the proposal as well as the plan prepared for the stated research study, which dealt with identifying the major possible issues affecting the performance of Samsung and the probable improvement approaches. In this regard, one of such activities could be regarded as finding out the need towards selecting a valid along with an appropriate research methodology for ascertaining the overall research findings as well as outcomes. Apart from this, the other activity that can be associated with the original decisions as mentioned in the proposal and the plan is triggering the need for forming, developing as well as preserving an effective research design and process. It is strongly believed that this particular research activity has the potentiality or the ability to enable the study to improve its generalizability, reliability and validity to the maximum probable extent. Though the stated research study has incorporated quantitative as well as qualitative aspects, there lays the need of performing more research activities that are found to be purposeful in ascertaining suitable research findings. It is worth mentioning that apart from the above discussed aspects, there also exist certain other research activities that can be associated with the original decisions as deciphered in the proposal as well as the plan. In this context, the need for selecting potential and quality tools of data collection is deemed to be one of such research activities. It has been earlier mentioned that appropriate selection of data collection tools is deemed to be a vital aspect for any research study, as this tends to derive suitable research findings and facilitates a research to reach into a valid conclusion. Specially mentioning, determining the actual sample size and also selecting an appropriate sampling technique are also the other research activities that could be apparently observed to be associated with the original decisions mentioned in the plan as well as the proposal. With this concern, the stated research study concerning the identification of the major possible issues affecting the performance of Samsung and the probable improvement approaches has duly considered selecting judgmental sampling technique with primary along with secondary sources as the procedures of data collection. On the other hand, by taking into concern the factor of developing the reliability as well as the validity of the research study, decisions regarding the conduct of questionnaire survey and interviews have been adopted and likewise, mentioned in the proposal as well as the plan. The use of questionnaire survey and interviews is regarded as the effective research design instruments that hold the capability of generating appropriate research findings and also facilitating the research study to reach into a valid conclusion. It is worth mentioning that the research activities related to the original decisions mentioned in the proposal and the plan eventually ensure improving the generalizability of the study by an extensive level. Thus, with this concern, there lays the requirement of controlling of such research activities for the purpose of deriving appropriate research findings and also obtaining several significant benefits. References Babbie, E. (2013). The basics of social research. USA: Cengage Learning. Blackstone, A. (2015). Quantitative interview techniques and considerations. Retrieved from http://catalog.flatworldknowledge.com/bookhub/reader/3585?e=blackstone_1.0-ch09_s03 CDC. (2008). Data collection methods for program evaluation: questionnaires. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/evaluation/pdf/brief14.pdf Hamilton, J. (2005). Primary and secondary sources. USA: ABDO. Henry, G. T. (2013). Practical sampling. Retrieved from http://www.uk.sagepub.com/gray3e/study/chapter9/Encyclopaedia%20entries/Sample_Size.pdf Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research methodology: Methods and techniques. USA: New Age International. New Age Publishers. (n.d.). Meaning of research. Retrieved from http://www.newagepublishers.com/samplechapter/000896.pdf ORI. (n.d.). Data collection. Retrieved from http://ori.hhs.gov/education/products/n_illinois_u/datamanagement/dctopic.html Panneerselvam, R. (2014). Research methodology. USA: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. University of Wisconsin. (n.d.). Quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Retrieved from http://people.uwec.edu/piercech/researchmethods/data%20collection%20methods/data%20collection%20methods.htm Appendices Appendix 1: Questionnaire Questions 1. Do you think that the performance of your company (Samsung) is getting affected by any of the business or operational mean? Totally Agree Agree Cannot Say Disagree Totally Disagree 2. Do you strongly believe that the financial aspect is affecting the performance of the company (Samsung)? Totally Agree Agree Cannot Say Disagree Totally Disagree 3. Is social factor is affecting the performance of your company (Samsung)? Totally Agree Agree Cannot Say Disagree Totally Disagree 4. Is your company is losing competitive advantage by the adverse impacts impose by working environment on your company’s (Samsung) performance? Totally Agree Agree Cannot Say Disagree Totally Disagree 5. Do you think that the decreased level of performance would restrict your company (Samsung) to enlarge customer base? Totally Agree Agree Cannot Say Disagree Totally Disagree 6. Do you think that effective measures need to be taken for improving the performance of your company (Samsung)? Totally Agree Agree Cannot Say Disagree Totally Disagree 7. Is taking effective decisions with regards to operational, social and financial factors would help in making possible improvement of your company’s (Samsung) performance? Totally Agree Agree Cannot Say Disagree Totally Disagree 8. What do you think that your company (Samsung) will be able to enhance its overall performance in future? Totally Agree Agree Cannot Say Disagree Totally Disagree Appendices 2: Interview Questions Question 1. Does your company (Samsung) closely observe its business or operational performance? Yes No Question 2. What is the current performance of your company (Samsung)? Question 3. Do you think that your company’s (Samsung) performance is getting affected in this modern day context as compared to the earlier years? Yes No Question 4. If so, what are the issues that affect the performance of your company (Samsung)? Question 5. What are the possible improvement approaches that you would consider to play a vital role in developing the entire performance of your company (Samsung)? Question 6. Are you sure that such possible improvement approaches will develop the performance of your company (Samsung) in future? Read More