Research methodology entails the rational and systematic exploration of fresh, valid, and reliable information on a specific topic. According to Pavan & Kulkarni (2014), good research is contingent on the proper selection and use of various qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Therefore, a researcher should select the best research methods for the acquisition of the most reliable and consistent information. Concurrently, a wide range of significant and pertinent information would be gathered, and a hypothesis generated. Most importantly, the goals set for the research would be accomplished.
Design
A qualitative descriptive method of data collection is employed in this research. The qualitative research design will enable the researcher to determine the relationship between the independent variables, which are in this case leadership and management, as well as the impacts of a proper differentiation and execution of these two concepts, on the dependent variable, which is the attainment of corporate goals. The first qualitative research method that will be used is questionnaires.
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The top business managers and shop floor workers from the randomly selected manufacturing companies will be provided with questionnaires comprised of a series of questions, to determine the difference between management and leadership, as well as the impact of the practical application of these two in these companies. The main reason for the selection of this method is due to the fact that questionnaires are cost-effective and require less effort as compared to verbal or telephone surveys.
In addition, this research approach is characterized by standardized answers which make it easy for the researcher to compile data ( Sutton & Austin, 2015 ). Nonetheless, this method also has a number of limitations. For instance, questionnaires necessitate literacy ( Shakouri, 2014) . Consequently, individuals who do not understand the questions, or interpret them in other ways as opposed to the way they are supposed to be explained, may not adequately respond to them. With this in mind, the researcher has employed an additional qualitative research method, to obtain the most reliable information for the research.
The second method that is used in the study is qualitative interviewing. The top business managers and the shop floor employees of the chosen companies will undergo a one-to-one interview with the interviewer. According to Rahman (2016), this enables interviewers to perform an in-depth exploration of these individuals’ opinions, and thoughts, with regards to the topic at hand. Each interview will take one hour, and audio or video recordings will be used in the course of this time, to store the collected information. The records will then be transcribed verbatim prior to analysis.
Lazar, Faciu, Mata, & Lazar (2016, June) argue that t he primary limitation of this design is that it is costly since it requires a lot of time to set up. In addition, data analysis is often difficult and time-consuming as a result of the sheer volume of data gathered. Analytical tools are essential since they enable researchers to make sense of the collected information. The tools form the basis through which reports are prepared and data interpreted. The GAT system will be employed to transform spoken language into grammatically correct sentences. Selting & Auer (2011) argue that G AT is a reliable and fine-grained transcription system which is highly beneficial for the study.
Participants
The participants of the study will be corporate managers and shop floor staffs in the fifty manufacturing companies selected. In addition, one hundred participants will be used in this research. All the participants will be twenty-seven years and above. The reason for this age selection is because the majority of students complete their higher education in their early twenties. These individuals further secure employment after a considerable amount of time. Majority of them are likely to obtain jobs between the ages of twenty-four. At twenty-seven, they have significant work experiences in various organizations and can therefore effectively differentiate between leadership and management. Two individuals will be selected from each of the fifty companies, to make up the number of participants required. In addition, both the female and male genders will be included. Moreover, the aspect of diversity will also be taken into consideration, and the selected individuals will be diverse in terms of their races, cultures, colors, among other factors.
Data Collection Tools
Data collection will be done primarily through questionnaires and qualitative interviewing. Questionnaires are an effective way of gathering exploratory information, especially since the chief purpose of this research is to promote a deeper understanding of the subject matter, to formulate a reasonable hypothesis. Since the questionnaire will not be subjected to any statistical evaluation, no formal questions will be included. It will also comprise of ten primary open-ended questions, with suitable probes prompts listed under each. In addition, the items will be brief and simple grammar will be employed to promote a deeper understanding of what is being asked ( Jones, Baxter, & Khanduja, 2013 ), for the best responses. Below are three sample questions that will be included in the questionnaire.
How can you best describe the terms leadership and management?
Is there a difference between leadership and management?
Do you think that leadership and management are applied effectively in your organization?
Kindly refer to Appendix A for a copy of the survey.
Moreover, an interview will also be carried out to gather information on the distinction between leadership and management according to the interviewees. The interviewer will have a list of questions which will direct him/her during the process. The questions will be brief and in line with the research objectives. In addition, the simple language will be employed to promote a comprehensive understanding of the items ( Alshenqeeti, 2014 ), and so that the participants can provide the interviewer with the most suitable responses. In consideration of diversity, an interpreter will be assigned depending on the participants who come from various minority groups and have a poor understanding of English. This individual will ensure that information is conveyed as required. Moreover, an audio-visual recording will be used for the interview, to store all the information for transcription, as well as a reference for the study. Below are sample questions that will be used for the research.
Are leaders any different from managers?
Based on the identified differences, does u think that leadership and management are applied differently in your company?
Data Collection Procedures
The researcher will visit each of the targeted manufacturing companies to identify and obtain volunteers for the research. Approximately five individuals both top business managers and shop floor employees will be included. In addition, the informed consent of these people will be sought. The participants will sign the informed consent sheet. Moreover, the document will also be approved by a legally authorized representative. The document will also comprise of the date, the name of the participant, the study number and the title of the study ( Manti, & Licari, 2018). In addition, the core elements discussed with the potential participants will also be included, as well as any other information that is pertinent to the participants understanding of the research ( Nusbaum et al. 2017 ).
Furthermore, the document will also include a statement to show that adequate time was provided to review all the information and that the signing was voluntarily done with a profound understanding of the right to withdraw from the research at any time, without any penalties. Furthermore, the researcher will review the forms to ensure that they are deficient of any errors, signature omissions, initials, and dates, among other vital aspects. After the informed consent signing is completed, the emails of the participants will be obtained and an email link sent to the participants to complete the survey.
In addition, information on the amount of money that will be provided to the participants who complete the survey will also be included in the email. Furthermore, the participants will also be requested to submit their PayPal emails during the questionnaire submission, so that payment can be made. After the survey is finished, the researcher will select a number of days in a span of one month to visit the identified companies and conduct interviews with the two participants in each organization. The interviews will act as a back-up to the questionnaire for the aim of gathering and elaborating on unclear information obtained in the surveys.
Conclusion
Research methodology is a critical part of the research. The acquisition of effective, relevant, valid, and consistent information is contingent on the data collection methods used. The qualitative descriptive research method used in this research fosters the acquisition of knowledge that is essential for the generation of a hypothesis. It is therefore vital for an individual to select the most suitable data collection approaches to meet the objectives set for the research. In addition, the research procedures should be carefully planned out, as well as effectively implemented, for the acquisition of the required data. In so doing, the anticipated goals would be achieved.
References
Alshenqeeti, H. (2014). Interviewing as a data collection method: A critical review. English Linguistics Research , 3 (1), 39.
Jones, T. L., Baxter, M. A. J., & Khanduja, V. (2013). A quick guide to survey research. The Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England , 95 (1), 5-7.
Lazar, I., Faciu, M. E., Mata, L., & Lazar, G. (2016, June). Strengths and limitations of quantitative research applied in the educational sciences. In Conference Proceedings. The Future of Education (p. 240). libreriauniversitaria. it Edizioni.
Manti, S., & Licari, A. (2018). How to obtain informed consent for research. Breathe , 14 (2), 145.
Nusbaum, L., Douglas, B., Damus, K., Paasche-Orlow, M., & Estrella-Luna, N. (2017). Communicating risks and benefits in informed consent for research: a qualitative study. Global qualitative nursing research , 4 , 2333393617732017.
Pavan, G. K., & Kulkarni, N. (2014). Research methodology. International Journal of Innovative Research and Development , 3 (7).
Rahman, M. S. (2016). The advantages and disadvantages of using qualitative and quantitative approaches and methods in language “Testing and Assessment” research: A literature review. Journal of Education and Learning , 6 (1), 102.
Shakouri, N. (2014). Qualitative research: Incredulity toward metanarrativeness. Journal of Education and Human Development , 3 (2), 671-680.
Selting, M., & Auer, P. (2011). A system for transcribing talk-in-interaction: GAT 2 translated and adapted for English by Elizabeth Couper-Kuhlen and Dagmar Barth- Weingarten. Gesprächsforschung–Online-Zeitschrift zur verbalen Interaktion , 12 , 1-51.
Sutton, J., & Austin, Z. (2015). Qualitative research: data collection, analysis, and management. The Canadian journal of hospital pharmacy , 68 (3), 226.
Dear Participant
I am a student at Eastern Nazarene College, working on a graduate degree in management. As part of my thesis project, I am conducting a research study to determine the difference between leadership and management, as well as the impacts of the effective application of these two concepts in organizations. The purpose of this survey is to gather information on the distinction between leadership and management which are two concepts that are often used interchangeably. Please take a few minutes to fill out this 10-question survey, which should take no longer than five minutes of your time.
You are being invited to participate in a research study since you meet the requirements for enrollment in this study. Your participation is voluntary which means you can choose whether
Or not you want to participate. You may withdraw any time without penalty. If you decline to
Continue, any data gathered to that point may be used in data analysis.
The investigator and staff involved in the study will keep your personal information collected for the study strictly confidential. Any information that is obtained in connection with this study and that can be identified with you will remain confidential and will be disclosed only with your permission or as required by law. Your identity will be kept strictly confidential.
Thank you,
Your name
