need part 4 by using 3 parts of assignment documents uploaded below

Running Head: RESEARCH METHODS 0

Term Paper 3: Research Methods

P. Suresh Kumar

1712000

University Canada West

RSCH 600

Professor: Amanpreet Kang

Date: 30-08-2019

Introduction: Data Methods

Data collection is the process of acquiring and quantifying or evaluating information that is inherent in variables relating to a subject matter in such a manner that is organized systematically in order to provide solutions to a given research problem, to test a hypothesis or assess the end result (Kabir, 2016). The method of data to be used however is dependent on what type of data is needed to answer the research problem.

The methods to be used in this research problem will be both quantitative and qualitative and obtained from primary as well as secondary sources. I would use quantitative methods to ascertain the impact of technology in terms of how much improvement in growth and efficiency it has brought to management and this kind of data may be readily available in secondary sources like case studies and other documents that are readily accessible from a variety of online journals. In spite of that, qualitative data is also necessary in order to ascertain how the human element of management has been impacted because some variables, like the quality of decisions made using technology like management information systems cannot be immediately quantifiable; only the impact of those decisions after they have been implemented can be measured.

In the foregoing I have mentioned that I would use both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection which are readily available in peer reviewed secondary sources. Most of the peer reviewed secondary sources are online journals which have been cited by other researchers hence having credibility that can be relied on. Other sources to be used are the media, also available in the form of online publications in addition to data base searches. These methods will be used concurrently to minimize weaknesses found in either of the two methods for example selection bias and premature selection (Smith & Noble, 2014).

Types of Data/ Information

Although the aforementioned data methods are largely secondary in nature, first hand data can also be gathered via the use of surveys or questionnaires which can be sent via electronic means to respondents; people in management who have been directly impacted by the use of technology. The data that will be collected will be a combination of both qualitative and quantitative in order to deduce the solutions to the research problem.

Quantitative data is easily obtained from statistics, business reports and other numerical sources. Qualitative data on the other hand is easily obtainable through surveys as mentioned prior. According to Paradis et. al (2016) surveys are typically open-ended questions which are unstructured in a nature and therefore attract a wide range of subjective answers which is the basis of qualitative data. The same set of questions can be readily disseminated to a large group of respondents without having to retailor the questions; this makes comparison easier.

Government and business reports are one of the easiest ways to obtain both qualitative data which is easy to use through content analysis. Paradis et. al reiterates the suitability of this method by noting that it can be used to evaluate changes in the purview of an institution or organization in regards to a certain topic. It is also dependent on the context and therefore is applicable to a group of persons who have similar experiences and written reflectively on them.

For example, in our case, the content analysis can be of testimonials. On its own, textual or content analysis encompasses a wide range of material like newspaper articles, organizational policies, meeting notes and even organizational records. Alternatively, data can be collected via one on one interviews or telephone interviews using a set of guiding questions. Structured questionnaires may also be used where specificity and accuracy is needed. Lastly yet importantly, observations can also be used it is possible to interact with management personnel.

Research Participants

If research participants, in this case, respondents and interviewees are required, the would have to come from small and medium level enterprises which make use of management information systems or other types of technology to for example automate their processes. These processes may be back end or front end management, regardless they have to involve shop floor level, middle level or top level management. Such activities may include inventory management, assessment employee output at the work place or batch processing.

Since the data to be gathered has to be both quantitative and qualitative data, it follows that then, the sampling technique caters for the acquisition of both types of information. Therefore, probability sampling and non-probability sampling will be used for quantitative and qualitative data respectively. For the probability sampling, the type used will be cluster sampling citing geographical dispersal of the research participants (Wilson, 2010), because small and medium size enterprises can be found everywhere. The sample here is clustered according to regions and then the final sample is selected from each of these clusters. As for the non-probability sampling, convenience sampling is the most prudent option because it is inexpensive and less time consuming; research participants are integrated into the study as they become available (Taherdoost, 2016). The research respondents would have to be at least 100.

The target audience for this research data would be managers who are looking to improve how their businesses organizations are run efficiently through adoption of technology, more so innovation to help them make decisions. It can also help managers who would like to learn the trends in current technology being used by some of the most successfully managed enterprises.

Data analysis

Data obtained from reports and other secondary sources such as testimonials will be analyzed through content analysis as stated prior. For interviews, surveys of managers and observation of technology being used in management, a narrative method of analysis is will be used since the data is largely qualitative and therefore requires a researcher to use subjective analysis. Since the research is causal in nature, quantitative data will be analyzed through hypothesis testing, regression and correlation analysis would be very valuable techniques of analyzing such data (Disman & Barliana, 2017) to ascertain the impact of technology on management in quantitative terms.

For instance, in regression analysis, the two variables here can be the adoption of technology and management performance where management performance is dependent on how acquainted the management of an enterprise is with technology. Thus management performance is the dependent variable while adoption of technology is the independent variable and the relationship between the two variable can be calculated mathematically using the regression and correlation formulae. This data can also be readily presented once analyzed in this way in the form of linear graphs where the trends in management performance can be compared against the trends in the use of technology in management.

Peer reviewed material on research into the impact of technology would be a very good measure of validating the findings of this study and this is also readily available on online journals where other researchers review and critique.

Ethical issues and biases in the research

Research must follow a set of ethical guidelines in order to acquire ethically prepared findings. Some of the areas of ethical concern include obtaining consent and voluntary participation of the research subjects. The subjects being interviewed have to be requested for consent about the research that is going to focus on them and once they do agree to this, they also have to be informed the implications of the research for example how it will be used (Binti Mohd Arifin, 2018).

There is also the ethical issue of confidentiality and privacy of the subjects under study. The research respondents should be assured that their private information, more so their identity will not be revealed anywhere during the process of data collection including emails, phone calls or one on one interviews, analysis and eventual presentation of the research findings (Binti Mohd Arifin,2018). They should be given the option to rescind the process if they feel that their anonymity and privacy is at risk.

Subjective bias may be present especially if I conduct the research alone. This is a weakness of qualitative data gathered through subjective methods such as interviews and observations. In spite of that, by combining qualitative methods with quantitative methods, most of them being secondary sources which have been peer reviewed, this bias is minimized or eliminated altogether.

References

Binti Mohd Arifin, Siti Roshaidai. (2018). Ethical Considerations in Qualitative Study.

Disman, Ali, M., & Barliana, S. M. (2017). The use of quantitative research method and statistical data analysis in dissertation: An evaluation study. International Journal of Education, 10(1), 46-52. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.17509/ije.v10i1.5566

Kabir, Syed Muhammad. (2016). METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION.

Paradis, E., O'Brien, B., Nimmon, L., Bandiera, G., & Martimianakis, M. A. (2016). Design: Selection of Data Collection Methods. Journal of graduate medical education, 8(2), 263–264. doi:10.4300/JGME-D-16-00098.1

Smith, J., & Noble, H. (2014). Bias in research. Evidence-Based Nursing, 17(4), 100-101. https://doi.org/10.1136/eb-2014-101946

Taherdoost, H. (2016). Sampling Methods in Research Methodology; How to Choose a Sampling Technique for Research. International Journal of Academic Research in Management. 5. 18-27. DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3205035.

Wilson, J. (2010). Essentials of business research: a guide to doing your research project, SAGE Publication.