Understanding Research Philosophies and Approaches
Understanding Research Philosophies and Approaches
Chapter 4
Understanding research philosophies
and approaches
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Figure 4.1 The research ‘onion’
Source: © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2006
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Ontology
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Ontology
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Slide 5.8
Ontology
For the everyday example, they use the example of a
workplace report – asking one to question whether it
describes what is really going on, or only what the author
thinks is going on.
They go on to highlight the complexity that is introduced
when considering phenomena such as culture, power or
control, and whether they really exist or are simply an
illusion, further extending the discussion as to how
individuals (and groups) determine these realities –
does the reality exist only through experience of it
(subjectivism), or does it exist independently of those who live
it (objectivism).
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Epistemology
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Epistemology
Blaikie (1993) describes epistemology as ‘the theory or
science of the method or grounds of knowledge’ expanding
this into a set of claims or assumptions about the ways in
which it is possible to gain knowledge of reality, how what
exists may be known, what can be known, and what criteria
must be satisfied in order to be described as knowledge.
Chia (2002) describes epistemology as ‘how and what it is
possible to know’ and the need to reflect on methods and
standards through which reliable and verifiable knowledge is
produced.
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Slide 5.11
Epistemology
Hatch and Cunliffe (2006) summarise epistemology
as ‘knowing how you can know’ and expand this by
asking:
how is knowledge generated;
what criteria discriminate good knowledge from bad
knowledge; and
how should reality be represented or described.
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Slide 5.12
Axiology
Axiology is a branch of philosophy that studies
judgments about value.
Although this may include values we posess in the
fields of aesthetics and ethics, it is the process of
social enquiry with which we are concerned here.
The role that your own values play in all stages of
the research process is of great importance if you
wish your research results to be credible.
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Slide 5.13
Axiology
Choosing one topic rather than another suggests that you
think one of the topics is more important.
Your choice of philosophical approach is a reflection of
your values as is your choice of data collection techniques.
For example, to conduct a study where you place great
importance in data collected through interview work
suggests that you value personal interaction with your
respondents more highly than their anonymous views
expressed through survey data.
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Slide 5.14
Aspects of philosophy
Positivism - the stance of the natural scientist
Realism - direct and critical realism
Interpretivism – researchers as ‘social actors’
Axiology – studies judgements about value
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Slide 5.15
Positivism
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Realism
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It says that what you see is what you get: what
we experience through our senses portrays the
world accurately.
critical realism: critical realists argue that we
experience are sensations, the images of the
things in the real world, not the things directly.
Criticalrealists point out how often our senses
deceive us.
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Slide 5.18
Interpretivism
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Slide 5.19
Interpretivisim
Interpretive research is concerned with the meanings that
people attach to norms, rules, and values that regulate
their interactions.
Care is taken not to impose a previous understanding of
norms, rules, and values on others but rather to understand
their beliefs and actions from their point of view.
The focus is not only on what they tell us directly about the
reasons for their beliefs and actions but also on the social
practices that underlie them.
Social practice gives meaning to social action
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Pragmatism
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Research paradigms
Definition
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Deduction
5 sequential stages of testing theory
Deducing a hypothesis
Expressing the hypothesis operationally
Testing the operational hypothesis
Examining the specific outcome of the enquiry
Modifying the theory (if necessary)
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Slide 5.23
Characteristics of Deduction
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Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Summary: Chapter 4
Research philosophy
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Summary: Chapter 4
Epistemology
Axiology
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Summary: Chapter 4
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Summary: Chapter 4
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Chapter 5
Formulating the research design
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Research choices
Research strategies
Time horizons
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Research Design
The research design needs
Exploratory research
is a valuable means of finding out ‘what is happening to seek
new insights; to ask questions and to assess phenomena in a
new light’.
Useful if you wish to clarify your understanding of a problem,
such as if you are unsure of precise nature of the problem.
It may well be that time is well spent on exploratory research,
as it may show that the research is not worth pursuing!
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Slide 5.36
Explanatory
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Descriptive studies
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Explanatory research
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Research Strategies
Archival research
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Research Strategies
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Research Strategies
Survey: key features
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Research Strategies
Case Study: key features
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Research Strategies
Action research: key features
Research IN action - not ON action
Involves practitioners in the research
The researcher becomes part of the organisation
Promotes change within the organisation
Can have two distinct foci (Schein, 1999) –
the aim of the research and the needs of the sponsor
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Research Strategies
Grounded theory: key features
Research Strategies
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Research Strategies
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Research Strategies
The role of the practitioner-researcher
Key features
Research access is more easily available
The researcher knows the organisation
Has the disadvantage of familiarity
The researcher is likely to their own assumptions
and preconceptions
The dual role requires careful negotiation
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Slide 5.48
Facilitation
Complementarity
Generality
Aid interpretation
Study different aspects
Solving a puzzle
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Slide 5.50
Time Horizons
Cross-sectional studies
Longitudinal studies
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Reliability
Validity
Generalisability
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Remember
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Slide 5.53
Summary: Chapter 5
Research design turns a research question and
objectives into a project that considers
Strategies Choices Time horizons
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Slide 5.54
Summary: Chapter 5
Important considerations
The main research strategies may combined in
the same project
The opportunities provided by using multiple
methods
The validity and reliability of results
Access and ethical considerations
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Slide 5.55
Developing a
+ Methodological
Framework
GreTIA Project
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+ Motivation- CHANGE
+ Research Objectives 57
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Slide 5.59
+ Behavior
Mismatch between residential location & job
location(activity locations-housing proximity);
Desire to live in low density environment and
externalities of travel;
Lack of alternatives to the private automobile and/or
private motorcycle;
What could happen if we are able to influence
Residents and tourist in green option in a
sustainable/green)community strategy vision?
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Slide 5.60
+ Innovation (1/2) 60
+ Innovation (2/2) 61
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METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK
+ 62
WP9:
POLICY
PLATFORM
WP4:
DEVELOP-
TOURIST
MENT
PREFERENCES
WP7:
TRANSPORT
WP5:
NETWORK
ENVIRONME-
SIMULATION
NTAL
ANALYSIS
+
Behavioral ·
Scenarios
Residential and Workplace Choice
· Car Ownership (Compatible vs Hybrid)
Framework · Implementation of Activities (Physical
Movement vs Information and Communication
Technologies - ICTs)
Developed based: · Mode Choice (walk, bike, bike share, carpooling,
Individual Characteristics
Travel Environment
literature Travel Preferences
Short & Long Distance Well-Being/
review and Attitudes and Scheduled & Not Scheduled Activities Satisfaction
Perceptions Peak and Off Peak Travel Inidicators
analysis; and
2.on a priori
assumptions. Individual/Household Travel Choices
Tourist Travel Choices
SP surveys
Policy Scenarios
Impacts
Activities/Travel
Environment
Well-Being
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Slide 5.64
+
Behavioral Framework
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