Critical Evaluation of Research Methodology for Leadership Coaching Study

This article evaluates the research methodology used in a study on leadership coaching, including the appropriateness of the research design, data analysis strategy, research ethics, and outcomes. The study used a mixed-methods approach and found that leadership coaching is an effective tool for leadership development. However, the study did not consider ethical aspects, which is a major limitation.

Research Methodology

Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Characteristics of research design and assessment of its appropriateness.............................3
Evaluation of data analysis strategy.......................................................................................3
Assessment of research ethics................................................................................................3
Critical evaluation of the outcomes........................................................................................3
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................3
References..................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
The selected research study for critical evaluation is based on revealing the suitable generic
outcome variables and to evaluate if or if not coaching generated the same expected
outcomes, as well as to examine whether the leadership coaching can impact the suggested
outcome criteria in context with increased LRE and LTS, with the help of research design.
The aim of the study was to contribute towards the substantive theory supported on
leadership coaching initially. The present study is based on the evaluation of research design
and its appropriateness; this will be done by primarily focusing on data analysis strategy,
research ethics and critiquing the outcomes of research articles.
EVALUATION OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
Characteristics of research design and assessment of its appropriateness
The research design can be defined as a complete strategy which is used to incorporate the
various elements of the study in a practical and sensible manner. It will ensure the effective
addressing of research issue while including the appropriate data analysis and measurement
in the same (Marczyk, DeMatteo and Festinger, 2017). The characteristic of the research
design is to make sure that the outcomes obtained allow the researcher to address the research
issue in the best possible way.
In the selected study, the chosen research design was conducted in various steps by making
use of mixed method design wherein there was a combination of components of both
qualitative and quantities research methods. The mixed method research methodology in the
concerned study involved collection, evaluation and integration of qualitative and
quantitative research aspects. The core characteristics of this research design were the
collection of qualitative and quantitative data, in terms of research question and problems,
while integrating the same and giving preference to these type of data on the bases of
research. The study framed the process in theoretical perspectives and combined the same in
particular research design intending to satisfy the objectives of the research. This provided a
complete comprehensive viewpoint on the core aspects of mixed-methods research. A two-
stage examining sequential design was selected to deal with the various research questions, as
it allows a detailed account of leadership as a tool for leadership development. In the first

segment, researchers conducted a focus group discussion with the help of expert coaches to
offer researchers an ideal outcome variable on the basis of theoretical and practical aspects.
In the second part, the researchers conducted a quasi-experimental study with the participated
leaders and subordinates. The next aim of the study was to examine whether the leadership
coaching can impact the suggested outcome criteria in context with increased LRE and LTS,
with the help of research design. The intention was to offer summative analysis and to check
the two suggested outcome criteria, and offering an influential evaluation with the
explanatory of one means that contribute towards the hypothesized changes within the
outcome criteria. Further, the key findings of the conducted quasi-experimental supported the
overall five hypotheses rigorously.
The selected research design by the Gro Ladegard and Susann Gjerde is viable as
justifications are supported by research objectives and hypotheses. Further researchers had
considered accurateness of research designs by considering the previous thesis on a similar
topic as the study of Grant, Cavanagh, & Parker, (2010) shows the type of research design
with suitable for only topics that have been typically selected for various coaching studies,
and the results are potentially specious. In addition to this, there is relatively few longitudinal
leadership coaching studies using a pre-post and control group designs for conducting their
study.
Evaluation of data analysis strategy
Quantitative method is based on the objective measurement as well as on the data analysis
mechanisms of mathematics and numeric by pools, surveys, and questionnaire or by the
manipulation of the pre-existing data by making use computational techniques (Brannen,
2017). Further, the Quantitative research emphasizes on a collection of numerical data which
generalizing same throughout the group of individuals with explanatory of a specified
phenomenon.
In the selected study, researcher acted as a moderator and gathered notes and findings at the
time of discussion, meanwhile observations were provided by other researchers with the
support of notes, which offered two sets of notes for the comparison of analysis. According to
the given a suggestion in literature, the group was bit homogeneous, and on the other side, the
moderator was up to date with the similar topic. In light of the suggestion for focus group
research, researchers had an informal approach to ease the discussion. The aim was to

disclose the influence of coaching in terms of LRE and LTS in comparison with the control
group and if or if not the changes in trust had an impact upon the subordinates and to examine
whether the supporting coach behaviour would forecast variation held in the two leaders
outcome variables. Ultimately, researchers included the three control variables within the
leader analysis sample; the delegated coach, gender and the tenure of a leader in the current
job. Further, a questionnaire was given to the 195 leaders into two financial institutions,
wherein researchers included the developed items meant for the study to evaluate the
efficiency and trust in the leader role and subordinates, as well as to the pre-validated means
of effectiveness. The researcher obtained 120 filled questionnaires, with a 47% response rate.
For testing the differentiate validity among LTS and LRE, researchers conducted factor
analysis.
The selected quantitative approach by the researcher is appropriate as it has explained the
collected and statistical data in a relevant manner on the basis of the research problem. The
viability of the quantitative approach is evidenced with its effective reporting of unpredicted
events that took place at the time of data collection. It provided explanatory of the actual
analysis with the planned analysis. Furthermore, the approach has properly explained the
used techniques in the data set, with the description of the assumptions researchers took to
prevent volatility. In the approach, sufficient statistical processes are used to offer best
rationale and references. The appropriateness of the approach is also justified by its
comprehensive statistics with the proper avoidance of causality. In addition to this, tables and
figures are used to offer and interpret exact values and effects.
Assessment of research ethics
A core ethical principle in research is said to be when research attendants have complete
knowledge of uncertainty and advantages of their attendance and are independently opt to be
participants. This principle is known as informed consent (Resnik, 2015). Excluding the
modest public locations observing or the test of accessible documents, research participants
are required to interpret the nature of the process, the expectancy, sponsorship, involved
uncertainty advantages , provided confidentiality level, the right to refuse participation, and
the right to draw out from the study.
The researcher uses two methods to secure participants in behavioural studies which are
confidentiality and anonymity. In confidentiality, the identity of the respondent is known only
to the investigator but is hidden from the public to safeguard their identity. Further, the

researcher maintains known information out of the reach of publishes reports and public.
Confidentiality is considered as very important while the statements and actions of the
individuals would lead to certain embarrassment if they are identified. It is said to be good
for the researcher to maintain a higher level of confidentiality as it is hard to forecast how the
individual respond and answer might be used or understood by others.
In the selected study, no research ethics has been covered by the researchers. There is no
disclosures and description of the research ethics in the selected study. The researchers have
missed the most significant aspect of conducting research; they did not disclose any ethical
aspects of the study, which has come up as a limitation.
It is not moral to dismiss research ethics, as the researcher is responsible for maintaining
privacy, confidentiality regarding the responses provided by the same population. The study
only includes how the data is collected, but there are no descriptions regarding the ethics, this
fact shows that researcher has ignored the aspects of ethical consideration. In a situation like
this where respondents are by intention or accidental deceived, they must be debriefed once
with the completion of research.
Further, the researcher is required to follow the debriefing process; it is engaged in with
various activities with the data collection. It must consider the explanatory of any deception,
depiction of the intention, objective and hypothesis of the study, post-study sharing
outcomes, post-study outcomes and post-study notes of medical attention.
Initially, the researchers share the deception truth with the research participants and by
making use of deception in terms of the goals of the study. In a situation where strict
reactions take place, there be consideration of follow-up medical or psychological attention to
ensure the safety of participants of the research. When the research does not do deception
with the respondents, it is the best practice to provide them information on follow-up. This
holds the goodwill of the respondents, offering an incentive to do participate in the upcoming
research projects. For the interviews, the respondents can be provided with a descriptive
notes of the findings.
Critical evaluation of the outcomes
The outcomes of the study are in accordance with the research objectives, as the overall
objectives of the study were to make a contribution towards the leadership coaching theory
development as the leadership development tool. Along with this in respond to calls such as

less attention to be given to the new practices of coaching provided by HRD scholars and no
contributions for the support of the theory and future research. The study integrates with the
knowledge base of evaluation based on formative and summative, and it is argued that the
leadership coaching is an ideal leadership development tool. The major strength of the study
is based on the usage of mixed method integrating both qualitative and quantitative research
methods, and opportunities are provided by the same to the researcher for more development.
The integration of used method and sources of data has been provided to offer a
comprehensive detail of the impacts of the leadership coaching as a leadership development
tool.
On the other hand, there are certain limitations combined with the research. Initially, the
sample size shows a significant and distinctive challenge that the coaching studies fulfils
while evaluating the coaching procedure with the use of multivariate statistics as it is hard to
generate adequate statistical power. Although regardless of the small size of the sample, the
various analyses that the researchers conducted in a summative and formative manner and
from various source have indicated that the key findings are quite strong. One more limitation
is that there is the likelihood of selection biases. In light of the pre-studies of coaching, the
study is based on the voluntary participation which has placed a certain restriction on the
findings by researchers. The study must only be given generalization to leaders encouraged
for the development of leadership. On the other hand, as the random allocation to direct is
The intention of the work that is the overall aim of the study should be clarified and defined
precisely. The wide statements of expected results or general aims of the research make sense
of the research project. The researcher has achieved the stated the research objectives,
however, have ignored the research ethics which was a very significant aspect to be
considered. The researchers have emphasized on the overall accomplishments, and the
objectives have been linked with the hypothesis and the purpose statement.
CONCLUSION
The present study depicts that the research design selected by the Gro Ladegard and Susann
Gjerde is viable and appropriately justified. The research designs best suit the criteria and
objectives of the study. Moreover, the research design sufficiently addresses the research
objectives, and it is supported by key findings and great insights which help in gaining a
better understanding of the concerned topic. Hence, the methods, design and overall study

adequately describes and justifies the cited objectives thereby evidenced to achieve the stated
objective of the research. However, the study does not consider ethical aspect which is seen
as major loophole of the research.

REFERENCES
Brannen, J. ed., 2017. Mixing methods: Qualitative and quantitative research. Routledge.
Grant, A. M., Cavanagh, M. J., and Parker, H. M. 2010. The state of play in coaching today:
A comprehensive review of the field. International Review of Industrial and Organizational
Psychology, 25, 125–167.
Marczyk, G., DeMatteo, D. and Festinger, D., 2017. Essentials of research design and
methodology. John Wiley.
Resnik, D.B., 2015, December. What is ethics in research & why is it important. In ideas.