Research Onion A.

Research Philosphies: This research philosophy plays an important role in order to produce end result from the collected data. Following are the research philosophies 1. Positivism: Positivism philosophy is based upon the highly structured methodology to enable generalization and quantifiable observations and evaluate the result with the help of statistical methods. Positivism philosophy is commonly used in natural science and it is a critical and objective base method. It is an approach that includes the various philosophy of natural science such as philosophy of unchanging, universal law and the view of everything that occurs in the nature. (Sundars 2003) 2. Impretivism: The interpretive philosophy believes that the social world of management and business is too complex as to be formulated in theories and laws such as in the natural science. Interpretive philosophy represents the critical thinking about positivism philosophy. According to this philosophy, there are many truths and meaning of a simple fact and these are suitable for every situation and for every research problem (Johnson and Christensen 2010). 3. Realism: Realism philosophy is also an important philosophy that is based on the interdependency of human values and beliefs. This research philosophy focuses on the beliefs that really exist in the environment. This research philosophy believes in the existence of external and objective reality that influences peoples social interpretations and behavior. It also believes that the human are not the objects for the study in the style of natural science. This research philosophy also define that how individual react towards a real world situation (Johnson and Christensen 2010). 4. Pragmatism A pragmatic research philosophy is introduced that embraces mixed-method approaches to applied research questions. Pragmatism emphasizes the practical problems experienced by people, the research questions posited, and the consequences of inquiry. The pragmatic researcher is sensitive to the social, historical, and political context from which inquiry begins and considers morality, ethics, and issues of social justice to be important throughout the research process. Pragmatists often use pluralistic methods during multiphase research projects. Exemplar design types are discussed that logically cohere to a pragmatic research philosophy.

B. Research Approaches 1. Deductive Approach Deductive reasoning works from the more general to the more specific. Sometimes this is informally called a "top-down" approach. We might begin with thinking up a theory about our topic of interest. We then narrow that down into more specific hypotheses that we can test. We narrow down even further when we collect observations to address the hypotheses. This ultimately leads us to be able to test the hypotheses with specific data -- a confirmation (or not) of our original theories. 2. Inductive Approach Inductive reasoning works the other way, moving from specific observations to broader generalizations and theories. Informally, we sometimes call this a "bottom up" approach (please note that it's "bottom up" and not "bottoms up" which is the kind of thing the bartender says to customers when he's trying to close for the night!). In inductive reasoning, we begin with specific observations and measures, begin to detect patterns and regularities, formulate some tentative hypotheses that we can explore, and finally end up developing some general conclusions or theories.

C. Research Strategies 1. Experiment Research strategy that involves the definition of a theoretical hypothesis; the selection of samples of individuals from known populations; the allocation of samples to different experimental conditions; the introduction of planned change on one or more of the variables; and measurement on a small number of variables and control of other variables. Experimental group is the group in an experiment that receives the intervention in which researcher is interested. 2. Survey Research strategy that involves the structured collection of data from a sizeable population. Although the term survey is often used to describe the collection of data using questionnaires, it includes other techniques such as structured observation and structured interviews. 3. Case study Research strategy that involves the empirical investigation of a particular contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context, using multiple sources of evidence. 4. Grounded theory Research strategy in which theory is developed from data generated by a series of observations or interviews principally involving an inductive approach. 5. Ethnography Research strategy that focuses upon describing and interpreting the social world through first-hand field study. 6. Action research Research strategy concerned with the management of a change and involving close collaboration between practitioners and researchers. The results flowing from action research should also inform other contexts. 7. Archival research Research strategy that analyses administrative records and documents as principal source of data because they are products of day-to-day activities.

D. Research Choices 1.Mono Method Adopting a single approach to research, for example quantitative approach, to the exclusion of other types of approaches. 2. Mixed-Method A style of research that uses procedures for conducting research that are typically applied in both quantitative and qualitative studies. Combining qualitative and quantitative approaches into the research methodology. 3. Multi-Method Multimethod research entails the application of two or more sources of data or research methods to the investigation of a research question or to different but highly linked research questions.
E. Time Horizon 1. Cross-sectional Research If the research is of particular phenomenon (or phenomena) at a particular time, the research is cross-sectional. Cross-sectional studies often employ survey strategy (Easterby-Smith et al., 2002; Robson, 2002). They may be seeking to describe incidence of a phenomenon (for example of survey of the IT skills possessed by manager in one organization at a given point in time) or to compare factors in different organizations (for example the relationship between expenditure on customer care training for sales assistants and sales revenue). However, they may also use qualitative methods. Many case studies are based on interviews conducted over a short period of time. 2. Longitudinal studies The study which has the capacity to study change and development is a longitudinal study. Adams and Schvaneveldr (1991) point out that in observing people or events over time the researcher is able to exercise a measure of control over variables being studied, provided they are not affected by research itself. One of the best know examples of this type of research comes outside the world of business i.e the longrunning television series Seven-up. This has charted the progress of cohort of people every seven years of their life. 1. Longitudinal Analysis Continuous Panels Measurements taken on same items from same people over time. Discontinuous Panels Measurements taken on different items from same people over time. 2. Cross-Sectional Analysis Sample Survey

Study in which the sample is selected to be representative of the target population and in which the emphasis is on the generation of summary statistics such as averages and percentages.