 RESEARCH APPROACH

Research approach can be divided into two, inductive and deductive categories. If you

decide to find answer to specific research question(s) formulated in the beginning of the research
process, you would be following an inductive approach. Alternatively, if you choose to achieve
research objective(s) via testing hypotheses, your research approach can be specified as
deductive. The choice between the two depends on a set of factors such as the area of study,
research philosophy, the nature of the research problem and others.

  DATA COLLECTION METHODS

There are two types of data – primary and secondary. Primary data is a type of data which
never existed before, hence it was not previously published. Primary data is collected for a
specific purpose, i.e. they are critically analyzed to find answers to research question(s).
Secondary data, on the other hand, refers to a type of data that has been previously published in
journals, magazines, newspapers, books, online portals and other sources.

Dissertations can be based solely on the secondary data, without a need for the primary
data. However, the opposite is not true i.e. no research can be completed only using primary data
and secondary data collection and analysis is compulsory for all dissertations.

Primary data collection methods can be divided into two categories: qualitative and
quantitative.

The main differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods can be

summarized in the following points:

Firstly, the concepts in quantitative research methods are usually expressed in the forms
of variables, while the concepts in qualitative research methods are expressed in motives and
generalizations.

Secondly, quantitative research methods and measures are usually universal, like
formulas for finding mean, median and mode for a set of data, whereas, in qualitative research
 each research is approached individually and individual measures are developed to interpret the
primary data taking into account the unique characteristics of the research.

Thirdly, data in quantitative research appears in the forms of numbers and specific
measurements and in qualitative research data can be in forms of words, images, transcripts, etc.

Fourthly, research findings in quantitative research can be illustrated in the forms of

tables, graphs and pie-charts, whereas, research findings in qualitative studies is usually
presented in analysis by only using words.

 SURVEY METHODS

Survey method pursues two main purposes:

1. Describing certain aspects or characteristics of population and/or

2. Testing hypotheses about nature of relationships within a population.
3. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Quantitative research methods describe and measure the level of occurrences on the basis of
numbers and calculations. Moreover, the questions of “how many?” and “how often?” are often
asked in quantitative studies.

Quantitative research is defined by Bryman and Bell (2005, p. 154) that ‘entailing the
collection of numerical data and exhibiting the view of relationship between theory and research
as deductive, a predilection for natural science approach, and as having an objectivist conception
of social reality’. So the this specific form of research uses the quantitative data to analysis.

The most popular research methods from this category are closed-ended questionnaires,
experiments, correlation and regression analysis methods and others.

 Qualitative methods

1. OBSERVATION
 Observation can be structured or unstructured. In structured or systematic observation
data collection is conducted using specific variables and according to a pre-defined schedule.
Unstructured observation, on the other hand, is conducted in an open and free manner in a sense
that there would be no pre-determined variables or objectives.

Advantages of observation primary data collection method include direct access to

research phenomena, high levels of flexibility in terms of application and generating a permanent
record of phenomena to be referred to later if a need arises. At the same time, observation
method is disadvantaged with longer time requirements, high levels of observer bias, and impact
of observer on primary data, in a way that presence of observe may influence the behavior of
sample group elements.

2. CASE STUDIES

Case studies is a popular research method in business area. Case studies aim to analyze specific
issues within the boundaries of a specific environment, situation or organization. According to its
design, case study research method can be divided into three categories: explanatory, descriptive
and exploratory. 

Explanatory case studies aim to answer ‘how’ or ’why’ questions with little control on behalf of
researcher over occurrence of events. This type of case studies focus on phenomena within the
contexts of real-life situations. Example: “An investigation into the reasons of the global
financial and economic crisis of 2008 – 2010”.

Descriptive case studies aim to analyze the sequence of interpersonal events after a certain
amount of time has passed. Case studies belonging to this category usually describe culture or
sub-culture, and they attempt to discover the key phenomena. Example: “Impact of increasing
levels of multiculturalism on marketing practices: A case study of McDonald’s Indonesia”.

Exploratory case studies aim to find answers to the questions of ‘what’ or ‘who’. Exploratory
case study data collection method is often accompanied by additional data collection method(s)
such as interviews, questionnaires, experiments etc. Example: “A study into differences of
leadership practices between private and public sector organizations in Atlanta, USA”.

3. FOCUS GROUP

Focus group is a group discussion conducted with the participation of and 7 to 12 people to
capture their experiences and views regarding specific issues closely related to the research
question. Focus group data collection methods is most suitable for types of studies where
multiple perspectives needed to be obtained regarding the same problem.

Focus groups are led by a moderator who is responsible to ensure that group discussions remain
focused on research area. Advantages of focus groups include possibility of obtaining primary
data through non-verbal channels, as well as, verbal channels and approaching the research area
from various perspectives.

 EXPERIMENTS

The terms experiment may seem to be associated with the image of a chemist surrounded
by bubbling tubes and other related items. Traditionally, experiments have been used by
physical and behavioural researchers to a greater extent compared to business scientists,
nevertheless, experimental research can be effectively used in businesses in order to analyse
cause and effect relationships. Deductive approach is mainly used for experimental
researches in order to test hypotheses.

Experiments are usually used in causal studies. Specifically experimental studies involve
manipulation with an independent variable in order to assess its impacts on dependent
variables. Changes in price levels on volume of sales can be mentioned a basic example for
experiment. In this specific example, price can be specified as independent variable, whereas
sales would be dependent variable.

The nature of relationships between two variables in causal experimental studies may be
divided into three categories: symmetrical, reciprocal and asymmetrical.
 Symmetrical relationship can be observed when two variables fluctuate at the same
time. However, in symmetrical relationship change in one variable is not caused by change in
another variable. In other words, symmetrical relationships of two individual variables
usually would be the cause of another factor.

For example, decrease in the levels of consumption of luxury products and decrease on
the levels of consumer trust on financial institutions may occur at the same time as a result of
a third factor – increasing level of uncertainty of perspectives of national economy.

Reciprocal relationship between two variables occurs when there is a mutual influence

and reinforcement between two variables. For example, impacted by a marketing message a
consumer purchases a car from a particular brand for the first time. Consequently, the
consumer becomes loyal to the brand considering more purchases from the same brand in the
future. Hence, the mutual influence between the consumer and company.

TYPES OF STUDIES:

1. A longitudinal study (or longitudinal survey, or panel study) is a research

design that involves repeated observations of the same variables (e.g., people) over
long periods of time, often many decades (i.e., uses longitudinal data). It is often a
type of observational study, although they can also be structured as
longitudinal randomized experiments.
2. Cross-sectional study (also known as a cross-sectional analysis, transversal
study, prevalence study) is a type of observational study that analyzes data collected
from a population, or a representative subset, at a specific point in time—that
is, cross-sectional data.

ESANTIONUL

 Persoane capabile sa verbalizeze, care au opinii/atitudini, care nu refuza comunicarea si

interactiunea

 Minim liceul sau o scoala medie (exceptii?)

 Minim 4 grupuri pt a atinge punctul de saturatie

  Compozitia grupurilor decisa de intrebarile si ipotezele cercetarii

 In general grupuri omogene in interior dar diferite intre ele - structurate pe anumite criterii –
care?

 Dispersia geografica

 Sa nu se cunoasca intre ei

 Sa nu il cunoasca pe moderator

INDICATORI:

1. Dinamismul grupului: număr total de interacţiuni observate:

(grup dinamic/inert)

2. Leadershipul: ierarhia membrilor în funcţie de numărul de interacţiuni pe care îl are; cel cu

cele mai multe va fi liderul grupului

3. Tipul de leadership: expresiv sau instrumental?

4. Dominanta grupului:

 Predominanta pozitivă/negativă a grupului

 Predominanta expresivă/instrumentală a grupului