Understanding the IT Field

This assignment delves into the benefits and challenges of the IT field. It employs a positivist philosophy and deductive approach to understand research objectives. Both primary and secondary data collection methods are utilized to gather information about the IT field. The future work section suggests focusing on specific areas within IT like storage, technology, and security, and incorporating advanced technologies for analysis.

Research methods in IT
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

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Table of Contents
Methodology....................................................................................................................................3
Introduction..................................................................................................................................3
Research Philosophy....................................................................................................................3
Research Approach......................................................................................................................5
Research Design..........................................................................................................................6
Data Collection Technique..........................................................................................................8
Data collection instruments.........................................................................................................9
Data Analysis technique..............................................................................................................9
Legal, social and ethical consideration......................................................................................10
Summary....................................................................................................................................11
Future Work...............................................................................................................................11
References......................................................................................................................................12

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Methodology
Introduction
The method of collecting data and information for the research is known as research
methodologies. These methodologies help in arranging the logical system for conducting the
research. Research methodologies involve hypothetical issues, numerical approach and
measurable methodologies for selecting the correct methodology for the research (Taylor et al.
2015). This section helps in expressing and clarifying anticipated data and information collected
for the research. Different instruments including experiments, surveys, inter views and thematic
analysis are used for conducting the research. The selection of research approach, philosophy
and design have been focused in this part with proper justification.
Research Philosophy
Research philosophy deals with a concept related to data gathering and analysis. The
collection of data is a phenomenon that consists of two type including epistemology and
doxology. However, research philosophy consists of three type realism, interpretivism and
positivism. Positivism philosophy deals with the knowledge including the objective perspective
and this philosophy helps in collecting data in scientific manner. On the other hand,
Interpretivism philosophy focuses on social science approach, which can be opposed by natural
science. However, realism philosophy refers to independence of human approach withheld
scientific approach. In this method, positivism philosophy will be selected for conducting
research.

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Figure 1: Research Philosophy
(Source: Silverman 2016, pp. 19)
Justification of using Positivism Philosophy
The researcher will prefer to take positivism philosophy for conducting this research.
However, this philosophy helps in collecting data in qualitative and quantitative approach.
Positivism focuses on the scientific approach to data collection process. The use of data and
information research will be taken from the scientific process. Positivism philosophy helps in
collecting related theories, models and data from conducting the survey and quantitative data is
collected. Positivism philosophy is a highly structured concept that helps in maintaining a proper
concept of the research topic (Flick 2015).
Research Approach
The research approach is a plan and procedure that helps in collecting data with broader
assumptions. This helps in detailing about data collection, analysis and interpretation. Smith
(2015) stated that research approach is based on the problem-discussed in the research. There are
two categories of research approach including deductive and inductive approach. The deductive
approach deals with the various analysis of the tests and theories used in the research. The
deductive approach has been moving from general level to specific level that helps in

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maintaining the priority of the task and elements included in the research (Pannerselvam 2014).
Therefore, thus research will take deductive approach.
Figure 2: Research Approach
(Source: Knobe and Nichols 2013, pp.33)
Justification of using Deductive Approach
In this research, deductive approach will be taken for analysing different concepts of the
IT field in the market the benefits ad challenges in the IT field might be identified with the help
of the deductive approach. The deductive approach focuses on the general level to the specific
top level that helps in maintaining and monitoring the priority of the tasks on the research (Leedy
and Ormrod 2013). The deductive research approach is maintaining the broader approach of the
researcher for maintaining the priority of the elements in the research. The project objectives and
questions will be observed properly that helps in focusing on different perspective of the
research. On other side, inductive research approach is a reciprocal of deductive approach and
initiates from theory hypothesis and lasts at observation and confirmation of the concept.

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Research Design
The research design is a strategy for gathering data from various sources and comments
of the research in a coherent way. However, research design ensures that the research problem is
addressed properly and contains mapping of the data collection process. In IT field, the benefits
and challenges are main aims of the research. Three types of research design are explanatory,
exploratory and descriptive (Palinks et al. 2015). Exploratory research is concerned with the
issues identified in the research study. The research study is mainly focussed in the objectives
and questions of the research. Explanatory research helps in connecting concept of the
understanding various reasons and effects of the two variables. On other hand, descriptive design
focuses on observational study that helps in finding out the characteristics of the participants and
population of the research (Leedy and Ormrod 2013). The descriptive research design will be
selected for this study. Both primary and secondary data collection method. However, in order to
collect primary data, researcher will conduct online survey.
Figure 3: Research Design
(Source: Mackey and Gass 2015, pp.29)
Justification for selecting Descriptive research design

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The researcher has taken the descriptive research design that helps in maintaining the
objectives of the research. The research design helps in investigating various data and
information related to the research topic. The IT field has various challenges in the business
organisation that might be identified by using this research methodology (Mitchell and Jolley
2013). The use of the descriptive research design will help in collecting data from both
quantitative and qualitative sources. The descriptive design will focus on the research questions
and data analysis of the research study. (Knobe and Nichols 2013) In this research, the researcher
will take data and information from a sample of the population and descriptive design helps in
providing various approaches for collecting data and information related to the IT field.
Data Collection Technique
Data collection discusses the collection of data and information related to research topic.
The use of data collection technique help in collecting data in a synthetic way for enabling
transparency in the research study (Novikov and Novikov 2013). There are two types of data
collection technique including primary and secondary method. Primary data are the raw data and
information that helps in providing raw data from the participants by conducting online surveys
(Mackey and Gass 2015). On the other hand, Clemence et al. (2014 )argued that secondary data
collection method provides secondary data collected from online books, journals, articles,
websites, magazines and governmental reports.
These data are collected in a scientific fashion that helps in relying on these data the use
of the advanced approach in the data collection process has helped in providing the better
approach towards the data collection method. However, the amount of data collected from a
primary method is larger than that of secondary data collection method. Secondary data is based
on the longitudinal study. However, secondary data do not have availability and cost-access
issues in the research study.
However, in this research, mixed data collection method will be used for collecting data
and information for the research. The mixed method consists of both primary and secondary
method of data collection Eisenhardt et al. (2016). An online survey will be done to collect data
and information related to the IT field. The survey will be done on customers of the IT field in
the market. The questionnaires will be based on the objectives and research questions. Interview

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sessions will be conducted during the research study that helps in collecting data and information
from the IT experts of different companies.
Data collection instruments
Data will be collected from both primary and secondary data collection method. In order
to this, research will conduct both survey and interview for collecting data and information
related to IT field. Data collection instrument for survey will be a set of close-ended multiple
type questionnaires. There will be 10 close-ended questions in the questionnaires. Survey
questions will be uploaded over the internet. In the case of interview session, data collection
instrument will be open-ended descriptive questions. There will be 8 open-ended descriptive
questions during conduction of the interview. The answers of IT experts will be recorded as the
Data Analysis technique
The researcher will use both quantitative and qualitative data analysis method.
Interviews and observations fall under the qualitative data analysis method. The researcher will
analyse data with help of survey of questions of research (Popping 2012). The researcher will
also focus on the answers provided by participants of online survey and interviews conducted
(Neuman and Robson 2014). The analysis of the data will be integrated with the literature review
section of the study that concludes the benefits and challenges in the IT field. The observations
of the research will be portrayed using Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5. Results will be shown
using charts, graphs and tables. This will help in better understanding of findings of study and
analysis.
Data collected from Interviews will be analysed using qualitative data analysis method.
However, data based on the interviews will be the observational data that will be descriptive. The
form of qualitative data will be in the form of explanation, understanding and interpretation.
However, the qualitative data analysis will be based on interpretative philosophy of the
participants (Neuman and Robson 2014). The qualitative data analysis help in examining
complex questions for providing help in dealing with value questions.
Legal, social and ethical consideration
Legal

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The researcher will follow all the legal factors that will be integrated with the research
study. The researcher will choose primary and secondary data collection method for collecting
data and information (Uprichard 2013). The identity of ant participants will not be discussed
with each other. The participants will be allowed to leave the research as their own want.
Participants will not be forced to stay in the research until the end.
Social
Participants will be aware of research and researcher will be concerned about freedom
and autonomy of respondents’ choices. The research topic will not provide any harm to
community and it will encourage participants for providing their opinions (Thomas 2013). The
researcher will use council and government database for conducting research. However, the
social factors of research will not affect the society in any way and conduct a proper research and
instrumentation in society.
Ethical
This research will involve with human participants and it will help in raising complex and
unique ethical and legal issues. In addition, the researcher will follow all ethical values during
conducting the research (Somekh and Lewin 2012). The researcher will help in providing choice
to the participants for collecting information and this research would not harm anonymity and
confidentiality of respondents. Under the Data Protection Act 1998, the personal details of the
participants will be shared worth anyone in the research (Salaberry, M. & Comajoan 2013).
Summary
Research methodology has helped researcher in collecting samples and data for research.
Moreover, sampling process has helped researcher in obtaining knowledge about research.
Through survey and interview, researcher will collect data and these data have been properly
analysed. The use of the positivism philosophy with deductive approach might help in
understanding objectives and aim of research. The use of both primary and secondary method of
data collection help in increasing number of data and information for the research.
Future Work
This research will focus on the benefits and challenges of the IT field in a broader area.
However, future research might focus on a particular area of IT field including storage,

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technology and security. The use of advanced technology might be used in the future work that
might help in maintaining a proper study of the future aspects of the study in IT field. Therefore,
the future researchers might include different theories and models related to the IT field that
might help in acknowledging various information related to IT filed in a particular area. The
implementation of various theories and models in the theories might help in gaining new
observation related to IT field in the market.

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References
Clemence, A., Doise, W. and Lorenzi-Cioldi, F., 2014. The quantitative analysis of social
representations. Routledge: Routledge.
Flick, U. (2015). Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research
project. Sage.
Knobe, J. and Nichols, S. eds., 2013. Experimental philosophy (Vol. 2). Oxford University Press.
Leedy, P. and Ormrod, J. 2013. Practical research. Boston: Pearson.
Magilvy, J. K. and Thomas, E. (2009) ‘A first qualitative project: Qualitative description design
for novice researcher’, Journal of the Society, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 298-300
Mitchell, M. and Jolley, J. 2013. Research design explained. Australia: Wadsworth Cengage
Learning.
Novikov, A. and Novikov, D. 2013. Research methodology. Leiden, Netherlands: CRC
Press/Balkema.
Panneerselvam, R., 2014. Research methodology. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd..
Popping, R. 2012. Qualitative Decisions in Quantitative Text Analysis Research. Sociological
Methodology, 42(1), pp.88-90
Potrata, B. (2010). Rethinking the Ethical Boundaries of a Grounded Theory Approach.
Research Ethics, 6(4), pp.154-158.
Salaberry, M. and Comajoan, L. 2013. Research Design and Methodology in Studies on L2
Tense and Aspect. Boston: De Gruyter.
Silverman, D. ed., 2016. Qualitative research. London: Sage.
Smith, J.A. ed., 2015. Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods. London:
Sage
Somekh, B. and Lewin, C. (2011) Theory and Methods in Social Research, 2nd ed. London:
Sage Publications

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Taylor, S.J., Bogdan, R. and DeVault, M., 2015. Introduction to qualitative research methods: A
guidebook and resource. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons
Thomas, J. 2013. Empathic design: Research strategies. Australasian Medical Journal, 6(1),
pp.1-6.
Uprichard, E. 2013. Sampling: bridging probability and non-probability designs. International
Journal of Social Research Methodology, 16(1), pp.1-11.