Criteria for Method Selection - Research Paper Example

? Final Research Paper The study aims at identifying the research methodology and other aspects of the research through the given research problem related to virtual project management. In virtual project management the team members work from different location on the same project, so various problems arise while conducting this type of project. The research includes the analysis of those problems. The methodology used for such type of research would be mainly telephonic surveys, observation or mailing questionnaires to the respondents. The appropriate research design would be qualitative because it would include the behavioral aspect of the problem areas in virtual projects management. Various concepts of validity and reliability have been discussed to analyze the extent of accuracy of the measurements in the research. Other than that, the ethical aspects of using human subjects in the research have also been analyzed. Table of Contents Research Methodology 4 Criteria for Research Method Selection 4 Difference between: 4 a)Facts and Theory 4 b)Concepts and Variables 5 Use of Theoretical Perspective in Design Process 5 Validity and Reliability 5 Construct Validity 6 Measurement Reliability 6 Quantitative and Qualitative Research Design 6 Quantitative Research Design 6 Qualitative Research Design 7 Requirement of Ethics in Research 7 Comparative Study between non-experimental, quasi-experimental, and experimental research designs 8 References 9 Research Methodology The process of systematically solving the research problem is called research methodology. It can also be understood as a way to conduct research scientifically. The researchers study the problems and the logic behind them, with the usage of the right research methodology. The researchers not only have to assess the quantitative aspect of any research but also its qualitative dimension too. It is also necessary to analyze the assumptions that have been taken for various techniques and also the criteria by which the techniques could be chosen. In the virtual project management of oil and gas industry, the right methodology for conducting research is by mailing questionnaire to the respondents, conducting telephonic survey or through observation (Kothari, 2008, p. 7-8). Criteria for Research Method Selection As we have already studied, research methodology is the tool for scientifically approaching a research problem. So the success and the failure of the research are mostly depended upon the right research tool selected by the researcher. The criteria for selecting the research tools are not fixed, they vary according to the research problem, the issues behind such situation and the logic behind selecting the method of research. In this study the research is conducted to analyze the various issues that arise when companies utilize virtual project tools in the oil sector. These projects are usually undertaken by teams of people who work from different countries around the world. So in this case telephonic survey or questionnaire sent through mails would be the best method for data collection. Difference between: a) Facts and Theory The things which we can see, feel, touch or hear are facts as it can be verified and its existence is real for us. Even when we do not personally experience something, but the experiences of others are also counted as a fact. In research facts are those which can be tested and verified. For example in virtual projects, the virtual project tools such as the satellites show the picture of the oil wells, pipeline or oil spills to the project managers in their offices. This is also a fact. Theory on the other hand utilizes the fact and put forward the reason behind such occurrence. It is the logic behind the fact that took place. In research it is very important to identify the reason behind the problems; otherwise solutions cannot be formulated for the same. b) Concepts and Variables The point of difference between concepts and variables are the measurability. Concepts are perceptions that are created in minds and it varies from person to person. It is also not measurable and the degree of accuracy is not the same in every case. Concepts are the subjective impression of any issue, whereas, variables can be measured and the degree of accuracy in this case can also be identified. In research it is important to convert the concepts into variables, so that they can be measured and proven for conducting the research (Kumar, 2010, p. 63). Use of Theoretical Perspective in Design Process Theoretical perspective is important in research because it adds a philosophical dimension to the research by providing an analysis of the past studies that are available for those issues. It provides ample data relating to the context, and also grounds them with logic. This study is on the virtual project management, so the theoretical perspective would include the various issues relating to the virtual project tools, project management and also the design process to be utilized for the project (Beriswill, 2007, p. 3). Validity and Reliability Validity and reliability are the two ingredients for determining the quality of the research design. They are explained below: Construct Validity The actual measurement limit of the research study is known as the construct validity. It also assesses the construction of the operational measures, so that any possibility of subjective judgment could be avoided. Construct validity mainly deals with the relationship between the data collected and the conclusion drawn for the research study. Measurement Reliability Reliability means that the research study should be absolutely unbiased and free from any errors. It also includes the degree or extent of producing same results in all the different situations in a study, the conditions being constant. The effectiveness of reliability can be determined by the consistency in the measurement of any research. The type of measurement reliability of different study depends on the research design and the purpose. So it can be said that reliability also includes the number of random errors that occurs in measurement (Rubin, & Babbie, 2009, p. 82). Quantitative and Qualitative Research Design Research methodologies are generally categorized; they are qualitative and quantitative form of research. Quantitative Research Design The quantitative research design would include the numeric analysis of the trends or opinions of the respondents. In the quantitative design the assumptions are variables, which can be easily identified and the relationship can be measured. It includes the primacy of the method and the social facts include the objective reality. Quantitative research starts with hypothesis and manipulation of data collected. The formal instruments are used and a deductive approach in applied for quantitative form of research. Quantitative research design helps the researcher to deduce huge data into numerical indices. The approach of the researcher in this case is mainly based on the calculated results and not on any personal intuitions. Qualitative Research Design In qualitative research the researcher utilizes different approaches to collect data such as through interview or survey or by observation method. In this case the concepts play an important role. The variables are very complex and interrelated and become difficult to measure. The purpose of conducting qualitative research is to understand the perspectives, analyze the issues and interpret the data in term of behavior and not in terms of numbers. The qualitative research design ends with hypothesis and the researcher in this case becomes an instrument for deriving data through personal contact. The nature of qualitative form of research is usually descriptive in nature. It is not always accurate, precise or proven, but it does cover a very important dimension of the research study. The numerical data always does not present the true picture, and qualitative researches help the researcher to view and understand those aspects in the study. Requirement of Ethics in Research It is the duty of the investigator to take into account all the implications and also the psychological consequences for the participants they are including in their research. It is important that the researcher foresee the threats and consider the issues of well-being of the human subject in the research. The researcher should also recognize the cultural differences and the ethnicity of the society. The objective behind conducting the research should be clearly explained to the subjects before conducting the research study. If the researcher fails to fully disclose the information regarding the research then they must take addition protection to safeguard the dignity of the participants. Comparative Study between non-experimental, quasi-experimental, and experimental research designs The basic difference among experimental and quasi-experimental research design and non-experimental research design is the direction of the inferences. In case of experimental and quasi-experimental research the inferences are generated from independent variables as well as dependent variables, but in case of non-experimental research, the inferences are drawn from the opposite directions that are from depended variables. The chances of confusion among depended and independent variables are high in case of non-experimental research than the other two forms. In case of experimental research the comparison is made between the groups because of random and equal selection of variables, except the independent variable. In quasi-experimental research deals with the problems related to the validity of the comparison between those groups. In case of non-experimental research the groups are generally formed on the basis of the dependent variable (Pedhazur, & Schmelkin, 1991, p. 306). References Beriswill, J. E. (2007). Expert Visual Design Processes: A Three-participant Embedded Case Study of Graphical Interface Design for Instructional Products. Michigan: ProQuest. Kothari, C. R. (2008). Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Delhi: New Age International. Kumar, R. (2010). Research Methodology: A Step-By-Step Guide for Beginners. (3rd ed.).London: SAGE Publications Ltd. Pedhazur, E. J., & Schmelkin, L. P. (1991). Measurement, Design, and Analysis: An Integrated Approach. London: Routledge. Rubin, A, & Babbie, E. R. (2009). Essential Research Methods for Social Work. (2nd ed.). Connecticut: Cengage Learning. Read More