Methodology Explanation for Data Collection in a Study on Private Taxi Drivers in Bolt Company

This chapter explains the methodology used for data collection in a study on private taxi drivers in Bolt company. It includes the use of semi-structured interviews with ten drivers, purposive sampling, and qualitative data collection and analysis. The chapter also discusses the development of research questions and the interview protocol used.

CHAPTER 4 Methodology Explanation [around 1,000 words]
The main aim of this chapter is to justify the proposed data collection method that has been
suggested, which is conducted semi-structured interviews with ten private taxi drivers from Bolt
company.
Access
According to the study, the access will be at the Bolt company London taking place in various
locations such as waiting areas at London airports, directly to the office or any other locations in the
city. In order to explainTo explaingexplain the scope of the research current project and the
researcher`s aim it will be getting the agreement of the number of ten private taxi drivers to be
interviewed from different backgrounds using a discussion guide agreed with Ethical Issues Form and
which is contained in the Annex 1. Telephone interviewing can be used mobile phone, skype,
landline and other web based applications that can help to accomplish the business goals by recruiting
skilled and talented people.
The telephone contact are used to maintain one to one interaction associated with face to face
interviews. This can help to create a right connection between people by sharing the information and
data properly where researcher ask questions and answer given by respondent (Denscombe et al,
2007, pp. 11).
. ..
can be carried out using landline, mobile or, increasingly, web-based applications such as
Zoom with half of them.
Telephone contact brings with it some of the immediate one-to-one interaction associated with face-
to-face interviews. Although it forfeits the visual contact of face-to-face interviewing, it retains the
‘personal’ element and the two-way interaction between the researcher and the respondent
(Denscombe et al, 2007, pp. 11).
Academic methodology
This could be explained as important aspects for researcher in which it receives a topic and
conduct the analysis that can help to reach the targets. The current research is about interview of 10
taxi private hire regarding work in gig economy where methodology helps to collect the data. The
Methodology is explained below:
Philosophy – This could be explained as beliefs and standards which needs to be follow
while analysing the topic. This consider inductive and deductive. In relation to current research

deductive philosophy is being used by management of Bolt company because it helps to collect right
information about gig economy.
Approach – This could be determined as planning and procedure which are formulated by an
individual to analysis the topic. This mainly involves positivism and Interpretivism approach. From
the above it has been justified that management of Bolt company make the use of positivism approach
as it supports to get relevant and appropriate data regarding private hire regarding to work in gig
economy that affected the business activities and performance.
Strategy – This could be explained planning and ways which mainly uses by researcher to
complete their study by bringing changes in their existing work and supports to accomplish the goals.
This consider experiment, survey, interview, and questionnaire strategy. It has justified that interview
strategy has been used by management of Bolt company in which it take interview of 10 private taxi
drivers. This can help to collect right data and take action accordingly.
Time Horizon – This is a time framework which is used by researcher to complete their
study in certain period of time. This involves cross sectional and longitudinal horizon. In relation to
current research, Ccross sectional method has been used by researcher in present research that can
help to collect relevant and valid data regarding particular topic.
Data collection and analysis - This could be explainedclarified as methodology which used
by researcher to conduct analysis and managing all information. The researcher requires to have
proper knowledge and skills by bringing changes and attaining higher performance. The techniques of
data collection are qualitative and quantitative technique. When data is being collected in practical
and statistical format could be determined as quantitative technique that can help to managing all
activities. Moreover, data is being collected in theoretical form in relation to the topic is considered as
qualitative technique. From the above it has been justified that quantitative technique has been used
by individual and management of Bolt company who analysis the market and introduce different ways
which can be used to develop the business performance and productivity effectively.
Sampling
The private hire drivers from Bolt company collected the data by using purposive sampling
method. Sampling is the technique which is used by management of selected company to gather data
from 10 people who have been hired in Bolt organization. This supported to collect relevant and valid
data regarding particular topic . This means people are selected with a specific purpose in mind, and
that purpose reflects the particular qualities of the people or events chosen and their relevance to the
topic of the investigation (Denscombe et al, 2007, pp.17). In relation to current research, sample size
is 10 people who have been employed within Bolt organization and contributing in organization by
providing right services to their customers..

Purposive sampling allows the researcher to identify and select people who are thought to be
'‘typical'’ of the population being researched, or to interview all individuals within a group that is
thought to be representative of the total (Davis et al, 2014, pp. 62). [not really needed]
Data collection administration [this is all too vague. Tell me about the
questions you asked, including the format and how the themes link to the
literature? Tell me how interviews were set up and conducted?]
The normal starting point for this research project is to decide what is worth investigating and
how it needs to be investigated.
According to the study will be used qualitative strategy method to use semi-structured
interviews with ten taxi private drivers. The participants will be recruited according to their age by
phone and internet with the mention that is a research project about Bolt company.
In relation to qualitative research, however, there are a couple of specific aspects that need to
be taken into account before involving those in the research project. In particular, need to reflect on
the potential problems in seeking the views and experiences in the gig economy of taxi private drivers
from Bolt company specifically at job satisfaction. A number of approximately twenty [10 should be
enough time] minutes will be allocated to each interview, during which time each driver will provide
the interviewees with a friendly and comfortable environment.
The data collection analysis is defined as main methodology used by researcher to set their
goals and attain them by collecting information from different sources. If data is not appropriate and
valid then could be challenging to operate their business and any other project. The ways of collecting
data are unstructured and semi structured in which all activities are designed in well manner. The
Sstrategy of data collection are interviews, observations, visual material and questionnaire
that can help to gather data effectively. The
data collection steps include setting the boundaries for the study through sampling and recruitment;
collecting information through unstructured or semi-structured observations and interviews,
documents, and visual materials; as well as establishing the protocol for recording information
(Creswell et al, 2018, pp. 297).
The point of data collection administration of this study is to introduce different theories
and models which are related to a business and maintaining higher performance. In relation to current
research, unstructured interview as analysis has been used by researcher that can help to collect the
various information and bring changes accordingly.
generate theories, not to test them, and so there is a preference for unstructured interviews rather than
structured interviews.

Research methods are explained as participation observation in which all individuals are collected to
share their opinion and views. This can help to bring changes and emerge with activities for
developing business performance.
such as participant observation and semi-structured interviewing allow the researcher to keep an open
mind about what he or she needs to know about, so that concepts and theories can emerge out of the
data (Bryman et al, 2015, pp. 11).
Broadly speaking, though, most experts in the field would recognize the five stages involved
in the analysis of qualitative data. In logical order these are:
• Preparation of the data.
• Familiarity with the data.
• Interpreting the data (developing codes, categories and concepts).
• Verifying the data.
• Representing the data.
According to the study, the qualitative data will come in a variety of formats: fieldwork notes,
interview transcripts, texts, photographs, etc. Whatever the format, the data need to be prepared and
organized before they can be analysed.
Developing research questions [again, this is too vague. Tell me what
happened with this specific research project]
This implies investigative techniques which take one closer to individuals, which allow close
attention to the way people use language and which enable the researcher to relate closely the
individual to the context in which they work (Bryman et al, 2015, pp. 84).
During this research project the decisions about research questions are therefore crucial to
how research is designed and to data collection.
Interviews are particularly good at producing data which deal with topics in depth and in
detail. Subjects can be probed, issues pursued and lines of investigation followed over a relatively
long period. In interview many questions have been asked to employees who are providing hiring
services to their guests. The researcher will conduct the analysis and comes to know how relevant and
valid the collected data which can help to accomplish the business goals.
As a method for data collection, during of this research project the interviews are probably the
most flexible. Adjustments to the lines of enquiry can be made during the interview itself.
Interviewing allows for a developing line of enquiry (Denscombe et al, 2007, pp. 202).

The interview questions in this research project should be clear, logical and conceptually. In
the table below are mentioned the interviewees and the questions for the interview:
Name Position When How Where
Table No.1. Interview Protocol
Interview questions:
Background questions:
Please can you tell me your name and your age please?
Can you please describe your position on Bolt company?
How long do you work for company Bolt in London?
Main interview questions:
Can you please tell me something about the process of recruitment to work for Bolt company?

The Bolt is the larger size organization which recruits people by using online and offline
method by conducting the test and analysing their skills. The working environment of selected
company attracted in the first place.
[no! do you mean ‘what attracted you to work for Bolt in the first place?’ – this could work as a
question]
Could you please explain me that process from beginning to end how you describe the flexibility to
work in gig economy?
The Bolt company providing the flexibility of remotely work to their staff which influenced
to work effectively for long period of time.
When you do the trips for the company are you happy with the commission and hours to spend?
What are the opinion about the quality app-work?[I don’t like these. Need to ask what the person
likes about the work, with some suitable prompts (e.g. what about flexible hours?) and what they
don’t like (e.g. pay? Issues with the app and how work is allocated?]
Do you have any suggestion about the company policy, then need make some improvement? [add
some prompts so these are properly explored]
What is about working for Bolt that you don’t like?
- Pay? What do you think is your average hourly rate? Has this
changed since you started? Impact of pandemic?
- Covering your costs – petrol etc?
- Issues with the Bolt app? specific

Martyn Denscombe, The Good Research Guide for small-scale social research projects, 3rd
Edition 2007, Open University Press
John W. Creswell, J. David Creswell, Research Design, Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed
Methods Approaches, Fifth Edition, SAGE publications, 2018
Alan Bryman, Emma Bell, Bill Harley Business Research Methods, Fifth Edition, Oxford
University Press, 2015
Martin Davies, Nathan Hughes, Doing a Successful Research Project Using Qualitative or
Quantitative Methods, 2014