Amazing Design Methodology - Research Paper Example

METHODOLOGY The research will be based on amazed design methodology because of the different aspects which will be analysed. The research will be divided into two section sin which qualitative and quantitative data will be collected for purposes of analysis in seeking to answer the fundamental research questions. The adoption of this approach remains mainly because of the nature of information being sought, which will involve a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches(Creswell, 2009). The first phase of the research will involve collecting information regarding the organisational structures within the universities, which will mainly involve collection of quantitative data. The second phase of the research will involve collection of qualitative data seeking to establish the existing barriers in the context of knowledge sharing within the university environment. The research seeks to examine communication barriers and the impact of these barriers on knowledge sharing. Qualitative methods will be utilised in collection of information regarding the impact of the barriers on the information flow. Secondary sources of information will be utilised in the collection of qualitative data. The elements being researched will be effectively understood through collection of both qualitative and quantitative data. This remains the fundamental advantage for the utilisation of mixed methods in conducting research. The utilisation of mixed methods enables researchers to gain pragmatic perspectives towards understanding the elements being researched(Creswell & Clark, 2007). Data Collection Data collection within the research will be conducted through two fundamental approaches, which will enable the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data. The utilisation of interviews will provide the research with a platform for communicating directly with the participants and collect essential information for the research findings. The interviews will be conducted in different locations according to the requirements of the participants. Interviews are essential in providing primary information regarding the qualitative data required within the research(Cozby & Bates, 2012). The interviews will be utilised in the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data, essential for the research. The interviews will follow a structured approach in which the researchers will utilise written questions in data collection. The researchers will also utilise questionnaires in seeking to reach individuals from remote locations, who cannot be reached for interviews. The questionnaires will be distributed to the participants and expected to be returned completed after a specified period. Date Analysis The research will utilise multivariate analysis in enhancing the process of data analysis following collection of the information. This will be essential in ensuring analysis of the various study variables identified within the research. The research seeks to answer various questions and the fundamental focus of the analysis will be based on ensuring effectiveness in providing relevant information to the research questions. The existing associations between the dependent variables within the research will be analysed in seeking to understand the impact of communication barriers upon the knowledge sharing aspects. Exploratory data analysis will be utilised in examining the qualitative data which will be collected within the research. This will be effective in analysing the impact of communication barriers upon the flow of knowledge. Since the research will be testing different variables, the significance level will be adjusted in seeking to reduce the effect of type one error on the findings. After the successful completion of the exploratory analysis, confirmatory analysis for the findings will be undertaken based on the hypothesis established for the research. Validity and Reliability Validity of the findings refers to the aspect of answering the research questions through the data collected during the research. Statistical methods will be utilised in seeking to validate quantitative data which will be collected in relation to the different communication barriers in knowledge flow. This will enable the testing of the hypothesis against the findings of the research in seeking to accept or reject the hypothesis developed during the research design. The statistical validation will involve ensuring effectiveness on the statistical tests and measurement procedures for the various variables being tested. Internal validity will be utilised in the assessment of the qualitative data collected on the impact of communication barriers on knowledge sharing. The validations of this kind of data will be aimed at establishing the existence of a relationship between the variables being studied within the research(McPhail, 2007). This will be utilised to establish the existence of a causal relationship between the barriers and knowledge flow within the universities. The reliability of the results will be established through analysis of other similar research findings available from different journals which will be analysed during the literature review. The comparison of other findings with the findings of this research will be significant in ensuring reliability of the results. Limitation of the methodology Despite the scope presented for the study, the methodology utilised presents various limitations which must be addressed in seeking to ensure relevance in the collected data. These limitations present various challenges to the process of undertaking the research. The limitations of the methodology include the following elements. The utilisation of interviews as data collection method remains relatively time consuming. The inability for the participants to be available during the research presents a significant challenge which would reduce the response rate of participants. This will be effectively addressed through making appointments with the different participants of the research. The information gained from secondary sources cannot be validated in making comparison to this research findings as there are fundamental discrepancies in the setting and methods utilised in the research Suitability of the methodology for this research The research seeks to establish a different set of variables hence it involves the utilisation of both qualitative and quantitative approaches in data collection. The mixed methods research design remains the best applicable approach is providing validated results in answering the fundamental research questions. The data collection approaches utilised remains effective in collecting qualitative and quantitative data for the purposes of the research. This makes these approaches effective and suitable for presenting valid information within the context of the research. Data analysis will be effectively undertaken in seeking to ensure the information becomes presented in a comprehensible manner. This will enable the presentation to be undertaken through approaches which are easy to understand in ensuring different individuals can utilise the findings of the research. References Cozby, P. C., & Bates, S. C. (2012). Methods in Behavioral Research (11th ed., p. 416). New York: McGraw-Hill Education. Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Creswell, J. W., & Clark, V. L. P. (2007). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. : Sage publications. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. McPhail, S. M. (2007). Alternative Validation Strategies: Developing New and Leveraging Existing Validity Evidence. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons.  Read More