Connex Horror Run: 200 Train Cancellations in Australia - Research Proposal Example

Research Proposal Submitted by: XXXXXX XXXXX Number: XXXXXXX of XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX Date of Submission: XX – XX – 2009 Number of Words: 1529 (Excluding Bibliography) Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction: 3 Main Issue / Problem: 3 Research Objectives: 3 Research Methodology 4 Analysis and Conclusions: 7 Bibliography 9 Introduction: Local transport of any country is like the blood of the country, without which a majority of the population would come to a standstill. This research aims at focussing on the Connox Cancellation case and to provide recommendations to help find a solution for this issue. The main issue has been described below. Further which a research methodology has been included to help resolve this issue. Main Issue / Problem: The cancellations of the trains have led the customer to be faced with a number of issues and the commute for most people between work and home has been disrupted. There is a strong ‘blame game’ that is currently happening within the transport department. This research aims at gaining the perspective of the commuters, and finding out the root cause of the issue and making possible recommendations to the transportation department to help resolve this issue at the earliest and allow for complete transportation for the public. Research Objectives: 1. To gain complete commuter’s views on this train cancellation and how much they have been affected by it. 2. To find out the root cause of the issue and to examine any possible solutions. Research Methodology This part of the proposal describes the research approaches and methodology which will be utilised in the proposed research. It also provides an overview of the data collection methods, the type of data to be used and the method of data analysis. These will be linked to the issues and problems that have been discussed. Research Paradigm A paradigm can have various meanings. It refers to “your basic beliefs” and your approach to the world which affects the way you define your research and how you collect and analyse data (Collis & Hussey, 2003, p. 47). The research approaches used in the study comprises a mixture of both the “phenomenological paradigm” which is also referred to as a “qualitative” approach, and the “positivistic paradigm” also known as the “quantitative” approach (Collis & Hussey, 2003, p. 47). “Phenomenological” is based on the word “phenomenon” which means a fact that happened or an event that was witnessed. With the phenomenological approach the focus is on “understanding the human behaviour from the participant’s own frame of reference” (Collis & Hussey, 2003, p. 53). As this approach is related to an event within a context of time and place, the aim is to investigate an event by carrying out your own research to “construct new theory to explain the phenomenon” (Collis & Hussey, 2003, pp. 56-57) or use existing theory. The aim and focus with this approach is “on the quality and depth of data” (Collis & Hussey, 2003, pp. 56-57). With the positivistic paradigm, the emphasis is on using measurement to find out the relationships between facts and causes of the phenomenon. This is “an essential element of the research process under this paradigm” (Collis & Hussey, 2003, p. 57). This approach is useful when there is a need to conduct statistical analysis (Collis & Hussey, 2003, p. 56). A positivistic approach will be used and the researcher will be independent, will not be influenced by the subject of research, and will take “the role of an objective analyst” (Saunders & Lewis & Thornhill, 2000, p. 85). According to Denzin & Lincoln (cited in Silverman 2005), “qualitative investigators think they can get closer to the actor’s perspective through detailed interviewing and observation” (p. 10). With qualitative researchers, the emphasis is on the close relationship between the subject of research and the researcher where the value is in the social reality and the meaning of the social event or phenomenon. However, in comparison, quantitative researchers focus on the measurement and analysis of facts and causes. The qualitative approach relies on the quality and depth of data and does not focus on the “measured (if measured at all) in terms of quantity, amount, intensity, or frequency” (Denzin & Lincoln, 2000, p. 8). In addition, as Waters (2001) explains, the quantitative approach is based on “simplified representations of reality where real features are depicted by symbols” (p. 8). As the research will utilise interviews to collect data, it would be advantageous to use both the qualitative and quantitative approaches. This will be useful when conducting interviews, as the phenomenological paradigm helps the researcher to “get a feel for the key issues” and provides “confidence” in the accuracy and depth of the data collected as the main issues have been covered (Saunders & Lewis & Thornhill, 2000, p. 98). Furthermore, working within the positivistic paradigm will assist in measuring the data and the correlation between the variables. Using a mixture of approaches and techniques has advantages, as all methods have pros and cons. This means using a triangulation approach, which as Denzin & Lincoln (2000) explain “has been generally considered a process of using multiple perceptions to clarify meaning, verifying the repeatability of an observation or interpretation” (p. 443). Using both methods will help ensure that the research outcome is accurate and this “will lead to greater confidence being placed in your conclusions” (Saunders & Lewis & Thornhill, 2000, p. 99). It also reduces the “possibility of getting the answer wrong” (Saunders & Lewis & Thornhill, 2000, p. 100). The study will use exploratory and applied research approach that will use cross-sectional studies, a positivistic methodology, “designed to obtain information on variables in different contexts” (Collis & Hussey, 2003, p. 61). This study takes a sample of what the situation is, the social phenomenon. According to Collis & Hussey (2003, p. 61) cross-sectional studies only indicate whether there is a correlation or not, and does not tell you why it is there. Data Sources For the research, data will be collected from two types of sources, which are primary and secondary (Sekaran, 2000, p. 221). This is referred to as “data triangulation, where data is collected at different times or from different sources in the study of a phenomenon” (Collis & Hussey, 2003, p. 78). Primary data is information gathered from direct observation, conducting interviews, surveys, and questionnaires, from “individuals, focus groups, and a panel of respondents specifically set up by the researcher whose opinions may be sought on specific issues from time to time” (Sekaran, 2000, p. 221). Data collection Methods The data will be collected from three main sources, namely, manual survey of the commuters, online survey of the general public and interviews of the experts. Collection methods will involve conducting structured face-to-face and telephone interviews. The subject of the interview will be to gain an understanding of the actual cause of the issue and this will be possible by speaking to a number of people in the department. A list of set questions will be asked in all of the interviews and these will not vary from one person to another. This primary data will then be analysed. The advantage of using a structured interview is that it will help to “clarify doubts, and ensure that the responses are properly understood, by repeating or rephrasing the questions” (Sekaran, 2000, p. 230). It is also an opportunity to request “more in-depth information about specific variables of interest” (Sekaran, 2000, p. 233). In addition, the interview questions will be “open-ended” to allow participants to respond as they wish. They may feel uneasy if the questions are restrictive to yes or no responses, and this is especially applicable in face-to-face interviews. (Sekaran, 2000, p. 237). A set of survey questions will be developed which be used for both the online survey as well as the manual survey. This survey will target the commuters and the general public to gain an understanding of their issues and problems being faced due to the transport cancellation. The manual surveys will be collected by going to the commuters at the railways stations, bus stops and tram stops. The information gained from this will provide a basis of understanding of the issues and will answer the objective one of this research. Analysis and Conclusions: As the study used a mixture of the phenomenological and positivistic approaches to research, both qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods will be utilised. The data collected will be studied using “inductive” and “deductive” approaches to develop and theoretical framework. First of all, with the inductive approach information is put together from the data that has been collected. Then using the deductive approach allows the researcher to “turn away from the data and think rationally about the missing information and form conclusions based on logic” (Collis & Hussey, 2003, p. 73). The research questions will be answered on the basis of “an informed academic judgement, adopting the conceptual world-view of a perspective or theory and evaluating competing perspectives and theories through the ‘lens’ of this world-view” (Redman, 2006, p. 29). Collins & Hussey (2003) confirm that a study “illuminates the area under investigation” (p. 73). They also define grounded theory as “one of the interpretive methods that share the common philosophy of phenomenology” (Collis & Hussey, 2003, p. 73). The main objective of the study is to deduce recommendations and policies which can be useful by the transportation department to help the customers and avoid such issues in the future. Bibliography Collis, J. & Hussey, R. (2003) Business Research: A practical guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students. 2nd edn. London: Macmillan Press Ltd. Denzin, N. K. & Lincoln, Y. S. (eds.) (2000) Handbook of Qualitative Research. 2nd edn. London: Sage Publications, Inc. Redman, P. (2006) Good Essay Writing. 3rd edn. London: Sage Publications. Saunders, M. & Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2000) Research Methods for Business Students. 2nd edn. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Sekaran, U. (2000) Research Methods for Business, A Skill-Building Approach. 3rd edn. New York: John Wiley & Sons Inc. Waters, D. (2001) 3rd edn. Quantitative Methods for Business. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Read More