Leadership Styles: Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methodology

This paper discusses the research methodology for studying leadership styles in organizations. It covers both qualitative and quantitative approaches, research philosophy, research design, data collection, sampling method, data analysis, ethical consideration, and limitations.

Running head: Leadership Styles
Leadership Styles
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................3
2. Research Philosophy....................................................................................................................3
3. Research Approach......................................................................................................................4
4. Research Design..........................................................................................................................5
5. Proposed research topic...............................................................................................................6
6. Qualitative Method......................................................................................................................6
6.1. Research Questions...............................................................................................................6
6.2. Appropriateness....................................................................................................................7
7. Quantitative Method....................................................................................................................7
7.1. Research Questions...............................................................................................................7
7.2. Hypothesis............................................................................................................................8
7.3. Appropriateness....................................................................................................................9
8. Sample size..................................................................................................................................9
9. Data Analysis...............................................................................................................................9
10. Accessibility Issues..................................................................................................................10
11. Ethical consideration...............................................................................................................11
12. Timeline...................................................................................................................................11
13. Summary..................................................................................................................................14
References......................................................................................................................................15

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1. Introduction
Research methodology is an important aspect of the research study. It discusses about
scientific concept of proceeding in research for completion of the study. There are two types of
approaches, which are qualitative and quantitative approach (Anderson& Sun, 2017). This paper
will addresses both hypothetical quantitative and qualitative design plans focusing on the
research project. In this case,the social belief and physical reality has not been dependent on the
research analysis. There are several components of research methodology including philosophy,
approach, design, data collection, sampling method, data analysis, ethical consideration and
limitations. Proper justification of each selection has been provided in this study. 20 online
journals will be selected for the secondary method of data collection. All the journals will be
peer-reviewed that help in validating the authenticity of journals. Interview has been conducted
with managers of the non-profit organizations as a part of primary data collection.
Different types of research models exist with both quantitative and qualitative methods
having their own set of models. The correlation and analysis will help in explaining the research
study related to leadership skills in organization.
2. Research Philosophy
Research philosophy helps in providing dimensions and data of the research. Research
philosophy focuses on fundamental information of concepts of research topic. Various
components of leadership skills can be analysed by use of research philosophy (Yahaya
&Ebrahim, 2016). The types of research philosophy that can be considered, includes positivism
and interpretivism philosophy. However, research philosophy arives from epistemology

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paradigm. The positivism philosophy includes dealing with philosophical aspects of the study by
making use of reality of components of leadership skills. Positivism deals with factual
knowledge gained from actual observation of components of the research topic. Positivism deals
with the quantifiable observations leading to the statistical analyses. It can be notified that
positivism philosophy has been empiricist view in knowledge.
Interpretivism describes the human interaction with the study. Interpretivism researchers
focuses on the general human interaction with respect to the research topic. The human
interaction in study has been discovered by the interpretivism philosophy (Arnold et al., 2015).
Interpretivism deals with the philosophical identity of idealism and can be used by groups with
diverse approaches. The researcher has to be a social activator to influence various people.
Justification of selected philosophy
Positivism research philosophy has been selected for this research. The impact of
leadership skills in the organizations have been discussed using the positivism philosophy. The
hypothetical approach can be generated by the use of positivism philosophy. The researcher does
not select interpretivism philosophy as it focuses on the human interaction. Intepretivism
philosophy does not help in getting data related to leadership skills.
3. Research Approach
There are two types of research approaches, which are, deductive and inductive research
approach. The deductive approach focuses on previous theories and concepts of research topic
including leadership skills (Saleem, 2015). Deductive approach focuses on objectives of the
research study. The use of the deductive approach helps in developing hypothesis for the
research based on existing theory of leadership. As commented by Gong, Li & Chen (2018),

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deductive approach is linked with deducing conclusion from propositions. It always initiate with
expected pattern which is tested with observations of the research objectives and questions. It
helps in building casual relationships between concepts and variables of the research. It helps in
exploring existing theory and tested with validate circumstances. A logic path is always followed
by the deductive approach. Deductive approaches involves hypotheses formulation and testing
during their research process.
As commented by Maak, Pless andVoegtlin, (2016), inductive approach focuses on
inductive reasoning, observations and theories. Inductive approach does not helps with the
hypotheses and observation related to the leadership skills. This approach focuses on generating
meanings from data collection methods and build a theory on it (Mackey&Gass, 2015). This
approach does not help researcher to use existing theories on leadership. It begins with detailed
observation of world and move towards abstract generalization of ideas. The researcher tend to
develop general relationship with progression of the research.
Justification of selected approach
Deductive approach has been selected in the research as the research is depended in the
development of hypothesis. The development of the hypothesisis necessary for the research.
Therefore, inductive approach has not been used in this research. Inductive approach does not
focus in hypothesis development.
4. Research Design
As suggested by Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault (2015), there are three research designs
that includes explanatory, exploratory and descriptive research design. Research Design helps in

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providing accurate outline for the research. Research designs guides the researcher towards the
correct way of dealing with the research problem.
As mentioned by Lewis, (2015), exploratory design focuses on ling-term proves of
designing the study. This design helps in providing link with inductive design of the research.
Explanatory research design focuses on connecting different ideas for understanding cause and
effect of study. Descriptive research design helps in conducting the research in a descriptive
manner. A hypothetical research plan has been built in the research for the hypothetical analysis
of study.
5. Proposed research topic
Leadership styles have been an important aspect of the business organization. It is often
seen that leaders lacks cognitive skills for exhibiting destructive leadership qualities which is
necessary for elevating employee turnover. Therefore, negative leadership qualities have been
effectively diminished through the development of cognitive skills. The outcome of quantitative
and qualitative research will provide insight to areas development of leaders for further research
in non-profit organizations.
6. Qualitative Method
6.1. Research Questions
Following are the research questions:
 How is the lack of cognitive skills of organizational leadership affecting the employee
turnover?
 How could increasing cognitive skills in the leadership affect the turnover?

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The qualitative case study is a research method that focuses on procuring data through
communication with open-ended exploration of the research topic. Therefore, research questions
can be answered by this method. This method has been appropriate for the research study as data
can be obtained and questioned for analyzing the feelings behind responses. Online scholarly
literature including peer-reviewed journals and news articles have been used for data collection
and employee turnover due to leadership styles of organizational extension in the research. As
mentioned by Flick (2015), the purpose of the study is to explore relationship between
organizational leadership styles for employee turnover in non-profit organization. For
establishing relationship between two, different styles and concepts of leadership has been
explained. This assists in understanding of negative leadership styles that can affect the
organizations or an individual employee.
6.2. Appropriateness
The qualitative approach is effective in case of defining issues through inquiry and
narrow scope in small sample size. It is acceptable for assuming study for providing hypothesis
as a result. The qualitative method focuses on deeper understanding and comprehension of
behaviors and beliefs (Vaioleti, 2016). It has been possible for researcher for carrying out and
analyze comparison across multiple entities. Therefore, framework and direction of research has
been modified with an emergence of new information. The process of coding is necessary for
analyzing the results
7. Quantitative Method
7.1. Research Questions
Following are research questions of the study:

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 To what extent is the lack of cognitive skills in the leadership affecting the employee
turnover?
 To what extent would increasing the leader’s cognitive skills affect employee turnover?
7.2. Hypothesis
Hypothesis sets are useful for the quantitative study conduction. Therefore, following are the
hypothesis assumed for the research study:
 There is little or no relation between the cognitive skills of the organizational leaders and
the employee turnover for a not-for-profit organization.
 There is a prominent effect that a leader’s lack of developed cognitive skills
characteristics exert on the rate of employee turnover in not-for-profit organizations.
As commented by Ledford & Gast (2018), hypotheses testing will require development of
working model in an explaining manner in which the leadership skills affecting organization.
Survey and questionnaires have been used for obtaining data for analyzing aid in formulation of
conclusion. There has been controlled observation for researching the employees with response
to specific actions. Data will be coded for providing predictive statistics of a prospectus of
hypothesis for future research. Leadership has been an intrinsic relationship with rate of
employee turnover. The level of job satisfaction is an important aspect of determining leadership
skills in the organization (Brinkmann, 2014). The use of self-aware style of leadership has been
different effect on the turnover of employee assuming that leadership style is laissez-faire style.
However, quantitative research presents generalization developed for using large sample size.

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7.3. Appropriateness
Quantitative method has helped in conducting research with the obtained results of
objectives. However, data has been collected by investigation, and so the accuracy of outcome is
high in providing validity to research (Smith, 2015). The quantitative approach helps in
collection of data in numerical system that can allow researcher for conducting statistical test.
Leadership characteristics have been correlating the employee retention and turnover in an
organization for profit and non-profit organization. Therefore, both qualitative and quantitative
methods is appropriate for the combination of both techniques in obtaining accurate outcomes
and for addressing research aims and questions.
8. Sample size
There will be 20 online journals selected for the secondary method of data collection. All
the journals will be peer-reviewed that help in validating the authenticity of journals
(Panneerselvam, 2014). Interview will be conducted with managers of the non-profit
organizations. There will be five open-ended questions asked to the managers and their views
and answers will be collected as data and information of the research.
9. Data Analysis
As commented by Neuman and Robson, (2014), data Analysis is an important aspect of
the research. There are two types of data analysis which includes qualitative and quantitative
data analysis method. Quantitative analyses method deals with data collected from primary data
collection method. Raw data will be collected by organizing online survey with 10 participants
who are employees of non-profit organizations. The analysis will be done using the Likert Scale,
range from 1 to 5. Data has been put into the Likert Scale and outcomes and results will be

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generated using graphs, tables and charts. As mentioned by Quinlan et al. (2019), the analysis of
the charts, tables and graphs will help in analyzing the effect of leadership styles on employee
behavior in non-profit organization. Survey and questionnaires have been used for obtaining data
for analyzing aid in formulation of conclusion. There have been controlled observation for
observing research of employees with response to specific actions. As suggested by Choy
(2014), Qualitative analysis focuses on the data collected from secondary data sources including
online journals, articles and books. As commented by Silverman (2016), the quantitative method
of this research focuses on procurement of data from employees and their leaders. Therefore,
data collection has been done in order to collect raw data and information from online surveys,
questionnaires and observations. However, statistical models helped in helping in analysis of
collected data with numerical results in nature. Therefore, this data collection process can be less
time consuming relative to other data collection methods. Several attributes assigned to the study
survey and responses of questionnaires have been presented in statistical data for ease of
providing data analysis results. 20 journals have been selected for the research for collection of
data related to leadership styles. Thematic analysis has been used for analyzing the secondary
data collected from online journals and articles. There will be three themes created for thematic
analysis of data. Themes will be based on the objectives of research.
10. Accessibility Issues
There have been different issues faced by the researcher in this research. There might be
some difficulties in the data collection techniques during survey. Participants might not answer
properly as their answers might be hypothetical. Therefore, the validity of the data is needed to
be tested. As commented by Humphries (2017), participants of the survey might be keen in
judging the company by the current issues faced by them. Therefore, there might be be some

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problems in answering questionnaires. Online scholarly literature including peer-reviewed
journals and news articles have been used for data collection associated with employee turnover
due to leadership styles of organizational extension in the research. Conduction of the interview
has been a difficult task as fixing appointment with managers have been difficult. The mangers
were not ready to provide their valuable time for the interview. However, the researchers
managed to conduct an interview with them. The financial condition of researchers has not been
good to use modern techniques in the data analysis. The time bound has been another problem
for the researchers. The time period provided for the research to be completed, has been quite
less than expected. Hence, researcher might not be able to complete the research within deadline.
11. Ethical consideration
The research has been conducted within proper ethical consideration. The survey has
been organized within proper guidelines for ensuring ethics. Participants have not been forced to
participate in the survey. They were let free to leave the research study at any time according to
their will. Data and information has been kept secured and safe properly. There have been no
changes in the data pattern till the study is completed. Results will not be published until the
completion of the research. The researcher has been following all legal factors for conducting the
research. The research has been following the Article 30 of the Basic Law (Chapter III, Public
Rights and Duties) that reveals freedom of correspondence. This act has been helping in
disclosing identity of respondents at any circumstances. There has been no illegal transaction of
money done during the conduction of study.

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12. Timeline
Task
Mode Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Auto
Scheduled Leadership Styles 93 days Mon 6/4/18 Wed 10/10/18
Auto
Scheduled Study Initiation 11 days Mon 6/4/18 Mon 6/18/18
Auto
Scheduled
Study Requirements
Analysis 2 days Mon 6/4/18 Tue 6/5/18
Auto
Scheduled
Approval of Research
Topic from Supervisor 1 day Wed 6/6/18 Wed 6/6/18 2
Auto
Scheduled
Development of Research
Plan Charter / Document 2 days Thu 6/7/18 Fri 6/8/18 3,2
Auto
Scheduled
Development of Research
Framework 4 days Mon 6/11/18 Thu 6/14/18 4,2
Auto
Scheduled
Prepare Draft Research
Proposal 2 days Fri 6/15/18 Mon 6/18/18 5,4
Auto
Scheduled Research Planning 21 days Tue 6/19/18 Tue 7/17/18
Auto
Scheduled
Formation of Research
Team 2 days Tue 6/19/18 Wed 6/20/18 6
Auto
Scheduled
Analysis of Research
Requirement 1 day Thu 6/21/18 Thu 6/21/18 6,8
Auto
Scheduled
Identification of Research
Questions 4 days Fri 6/22/18 Wed 6/27/18 8,9
Auto
Scheduled Identify Scope of Research 4 days Thu 6/28/18 Tue 7/3/18 10
Auto
Scheduled
Estimate Research
Timeline 4 days Wed 7/4/18 Mon 7/9/18 10,11
Auto
Scheduled
Allocation of Resources
and Time for the Research 2 days Tue 7/10/18 Wed 7/11/18 10,11,12
Auto
Scheduled Initiation of Research 4 days Thu 7/12/18 Tue 7/17/18 13
Auto
Scheduled Research Development 26 days Wed 7/18/18 Wed 8/22/18

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Auto
Scheduled
Determination of Research
Problems 4 days Wed 7/18/18 Mon 7/23/18 13,14
Auto
Scheduled
Access to Necessary
Media 1 day Tue 7/24/18 Tue 7/24/18 13,16
Auto
Scheduled Access to Online Library 1 day Tue 7/24/18 Tue 7/24/18 13,16
Auto
Scheduled
Selection of Literary
Sources 2 days Wed 7/25/18 Thu 7/26/18 13,17,18
Auto
Scheduled Literature Review 4 days Fri 7/27/18 Wed 8/1/18 19
Auto
Scheduled
Collection of Necessary
Data 10 days Thu 8/2/18 Wed 8/15/18 19,20
Auto
Scheduled
Collection of Secondary
Data 5 days Thu 8/16/18 Wed 8/22/18 21
Auto
Scheduled Data Analysis 8 days Thu 8/23/18 Mon 9/3/18
Auto
Scheduled Analysis of Primary Data 4 days Thu 8/23/18 Tue 8/28/18 21,22
Auto
Scheduled
Analysis of Secondary
Data 4 days Wed 8/29/18 Mon 9/3/18 24
Auto
Scheduled Research Evaluation 13 days Tue 9/4/18 Thu 9/20/18
Auto
Scheduled Evaluation of Data 6 days Tue 9/4/18 Tue 9/11/18 21,22,23,24
Auto
Scheduled
Reflection on Research
Undertaken 2 days Wed 9/12/18 Thu 9/13/18 27
Auto
Scheduled
Documentation of
Learning Outcomes 2 days Wed 9/12/18 Thu 9/13/18 27
Auto
Scheduled
Issues Identification and
Future Planning 5 days Fri 9/14/18 Thu 9/20/18 29,28
Auto
Scheduled Research Closure 14 days Fri 9/21/18 Wed 10/10/18
Auto
Scheduled
Complete All Acitvities in
Research 1 day Fri 9/21/18 Fri 9/21/18 30
Auto
Scheduled
Documentation of Entire
Research 10 days Mon 9/24/18 Fri 10/5/18 32

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Auto
Scheduled
Validation of the Research
and Learning 2 days Mon 10/8/18 Tue 10/9/18 33
Auto
Scheduled Team Sign Off 1 day Wed 10/10/18 Wed 10/10/18 34
13. Summary
Research methodology has helped researcher in gathering samples of data and
information for the research. This research has considered both quantitative and qualitative
methods for data collection methods. Data collection has been done using both primary and
secondary data collection methods. Sampling process has helped in sampling participants using
simple random sampling method. Online survey and interview have been conducted in order to
collect data and information about the research. Data has been analysed by using both
quantitative and qualitative method. The research has followed proper ethical considerations.

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