Reinforcement Theory in Improving the Productivity of Workers - Research Proposal Example

Reinforcement Theory Methodology Section Reinforcement Theory Methodology Section Participants Any one qualitative study consists of multiple components, each affording the researcher with an opportunity to arrive at focused and direct perspectives, related to the theme corresponding to the project, which enables participants to provide their own narrative and opinion about how to best address the research questions to be examined (Leedy & Ormrod, 2010). With that in mind, the main focus on this particular study will be to provide the reader with an in-depth account, providing summaries that are mean to reflect the thoughts and insight of each individual participant, related to the manner in which the reinforcement theory can be useful in improving the productivity levels and efficiency of workers in the modern day workplace (Creswell, 2008). In doing so, it is important to minimize any bias that might on behalf of both the researcher and participants respectively. This will also serve to eliminate any confusion that might exist in terms of why each question is asked, in addition to any assumptions that are made in the end. This qualitative study will employ an epistemological and exploratory design that is focused on attaining descriptive comments from each participant, related to their unique perspective and interpretation of the topic under examination (Willis, 2007). Naturally, the researcher desires to arrive at conclusions that are highly reliable and valid, so this study was constructed with the objective in mind. When considering the research questions themselves, it was a given that gaining the unique insight, perceptions, and experiences of selected participants would be important. This can be determined based upon results attained from the comments, of which are designed to be detailed and exhaustive, according to the ways in which the reinforcement theory could prove useful in the workplace. In an effort to more efficiently address each of the research questions forming the foundation for this study, a focused and detailed report will be prepared that aims to provide a narrative account of the descriptions and experiences related to the respective attitudes towards the reinforcement theory, as expressed by each respective participant in the interview process. The participants that will be invited, and agree, to take part in this study will be asked to complete an in-depth personal interview with the researcher. The population targeted for the project itself will be composed of professionals who have a vested interested in the overall productivity and efficiency levels of employees in the modern workplace environment. In terms of the number of participants to be selected to participate, the number will be between 20 and 50 participants. This is a management number that allows the researcher to have the time necessary to conduct such an exhaustive interview process, compile and code the data that is received, and determine and common themes that exist between participant responses. The individuals that are chosen to participate will be the people who represent the broader population of individuals concerned with the various ways that the reinforcement theory can have a positive impact on the overall level of work produced in a professional environment. Procedures Purposive sampling is often employed strategy within the scope of qualitative studies, as such a sampling technique provides for a clear purpose in selecting the participants that are asked to take part in the study. Purposive sampling does involve a selection of studies or individuals that have a direct frame of reference to the key objectives and questions forming the basis for the study itself (Nick & Ian, 2008). This particular qualitative study will involve a set number of participants who are invited to take part in the interviews based upon a predetermined set of criteria that is designed to specifically meet the aims and objectives of the study. The recruitment of all participants that will be interviewed will take place within the geographical area of the researcher. The reason behind this is logistics. The area needs to be narrow enough that the researcher can accommodate the needs of the interviewees and to meet with them at a schedule of their choosing. There is a factor of time involved, as well, as there is only a limited time frame within which all interviews must be completed and data collected and analyzed. Another reasons behind choosing this particular population is the expense that would be involved were the researcher to feel the need to travel long distances to meet with participants. Video interviews via SKYPE technology was considered as a possibility to alleviate this, but was avoided in order to ensure the personal connection that would be more likely to generate meaningful and thought out responses from each of the participants. This process is also known as convenience sampling, which involves selection a sample population in terms of the ease of accessibility for both the researcher and the possible participants that will be interviewed. There are certainly some critics that argue against the widespread use of convenience sampling owing to the propensity for encountering the problem of generalization, but it was deemed acceptable for this particular study due to the relatively small size of the sample to begin with (Bryman, 2013). There are many different ways that the data for this study could be collected in a way that effectively arrives at sound and reliable conclusions to the research questions. In the end, the in-depth interview was chosen in order to provide the researcher with a mechanism by which follow up questions could be asked of the participants as appropriate. To begin, each potential participant within the sample size was contacted via email to explain the study, what was involved, and to determine if the individual would be willing to participate. The initial letter will contain who is sponsoring the researcher, any risks associated with participating, and include the structure of the study that guarantees each individual participant can be interviewed and be assured of his or her confidentiality. In the end, participants are asked to acknowledge their consent to participate and then a date will be set for the interview. Once a suitable size for the participant panel has been achieved, this portion of the study can begin. Instrumentation and Data Analysis Interviews are to take place at a time and location convenient to the participant, in so far as the researcher is able to make the scheduled appointment as well. The interview itself will consist of 8 open ended and semi-structured questions. If further clarification is needed after any given responses, the researcher is free to ask follow up questions, as long as it will add to the quality of data being assembled for the study. The responses will be digitally recorder for later transcription. This enables the researcher to just focus on the interview itself, and valuable time will not be wasted by having the researcher manually transcribe notes. The confidentiality of responses are assured as no names will be used during the interview or report writing stage of the study, and the researcher will be the only person with access to the digital recording. The recordings will be deleted in accordance to the timetable provided by the university in regard to the deletion of all digital data. In order to ensure that participants understand any such risk associated with their involvement in the project (which in this case is minimal, if at all), each participant will be provided with a stated of informed consent that they will be asked to sign. As mentioned previously, a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 50 participants will ultimately be selected to take part in the in-depth interview process. Each of these responses will be assembled in narrative fashion and will be incorporated into the data collection of the study. This number has been determined previously to be statistically significant within the scope of qualitative studies, as such a number is sufficient enough to reflect the broader population within any given sample size. As the main objective of this qualitative and exploratory study is to determine the various ways that the reinforcement theory could be effective within a workplace environment, it is important to implant a semistructured interview process to elicit the detailed insight and perspectives necessary to establish common themes amongst the participants. These narrative comments will then be coded and related back to information provided in the literature review to determine what, if any, commonalities exist and how this relates back specifically to the formation of conclusions to the research questions. Each of the comments given by the participants will be considered to be reflective of a portion of the overall population. It is through the determination of common themes that develop within the narratives themselves that will enable the researcher to determine how exactly the reinforcement theory can be useful in a professional environment in order to elevate the levels of productivity and efficiency moving forward. References Byman, A. (2012). Social research methods (4th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Cresswell, J. W. (2008). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluation quantitative and qualitative research (3rd ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson Education. Leedy, P. D. and Ormrod, J. E. (2010). Practical research: Planning and design (9th ed). Pearson Education. Read More