Research Methodology and Its Applications

This assignment provides a comprehensive overview of research methodology, its applications, and techniques used in different disciplines. It includes references from various academic sources, such as books, journals, and conferences, highlighting the importance of research methodology in special education and behavioral sciences. The summary also mentions the use of research methodology in language studies, engineering, and medical research, demonstrating its versatility and relevance across multiple fields.

RESEARCH PROPOSAL
(Factors affecting employee absenteeism: A case study on International
Conglomerates in India, Franc)

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Background..................................................................................................................................1
Rationale of the research.............................................................................................................1
Aim and Objectives.....................................................................................................................1
Research questions.......................................................................................................................1
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................2
Defining key concepts.................................................................................................................2
Critically reviewing theories and models....................................................................................2
Summary of variables..................................................................................................................3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY....................................................................................................4
Research paradigm.......................................................................................................................4
Research design and strategy.......................................................................................................4
Data Collection............................................................................................................................5
Total population...........................................................................................................................5
Sample size and sampling method...............................................................................................5
Data instrument............................................................................................................................6
Accessibility and ethical issues...................................................................................................7
Data Analysis plans.....................................................................................................................8
Research limitation......................................................................................................................9
TIME SCALE..................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Background
Employee absenteeism has always been an interesting topic and various researches have
already been conducted by the researchers on this subject. The results of study may vary country
to country and its consequences can have direct on indirect impact on the functions of
organization. It can affect statutory sick pay, high expenses to cope up with absenteeism of staff
and lost production of the corporation as well. It can also lead to lowering down the overall
satisfaction of the customers as well which can ultimately have greater impact on profitability
aspects of the company (Borgogni and et.al., 2013).
Rationale of the research
Since, the study has substantial concern over various factors, such as, family, environment,
job satisfaction and health. The impact of these factors will be judged on India, France and
Brazil. Absenteeism of employees can prove to be quite costly for the organization. In this
scenario, it can also prove to add up to the overall cost of the organization. The absenteeism
percentage is quite high in these countries. Hence, in that case, it becomes important to analyse
the factors that can contribute to the same. It leads to create lack of efficiency of the organization
in such a manner that it can severely impact their job satisfaction aspect as well.
Aim and Objectives
The aim of present study is to assess the factors affecting employee absenteeism: A case
study on International Conglomerates in India, France and Brazil
Based on the above research aim, following research objectives can be formulated:
 To explore the impact of family on absenteeism of the employees
 To investigate the impact of environment on absenteeism of employees
 To explore the impact of job satisfaction on absenteeism of employees
 To investigate the impact of health on absenteeism of employees
Research questions
Based on the research objectives, following research questions can be formulated:
 What is the impact of family on absenteeism of the employees?
 What is the impact of environment on absenteeism of employees?
 What is the impact of job satisfaction on absenteeism of employees?
 What is the impact of health on absenteeism of employees?
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LITERATURE REVIEW
Defining key concepts
As per the views of Mowdaym, Porter and Steers, (2013) absenteeism is absence of
workers from their regular task that they are required to conduct in the organization in
comparison to the duration they are actually scheduled to work. In other words, it has been
defined by Borgogni and et.al., (2013) that, absenteeism is also related to the absence pf
employees, which is involuntary, due to reason which can be considered as unavoidable from the
part of employees.
There are various determinants that will be considered to assess the absenteeism criteria in
the employees. These are: Family: As per the opinion of Brown and et.al., (2014) family plays an important role in
absenteeism of the employees. Issues can be related to child care, elderly care. Divorce or
marriage are the other reasons due to which an individual can take some time off from his /
her work. Environment: As per the views of Mudaly and Nkosi, (2015) it is an immediate surrounding
in which an individual works. There must be appropriate environment initiated to the
employees in such a manner that they can perform their tasks effectively. Ineffective
environmental setting can initiate changes in the working conditions of the employees and
thereby resulting in high rate of absenteeism as well. Jon satisfaction: It is another important aspect, which generally describes the feeling of
employees, preferences and attitude towards their work. However, the level of satisfaction
varies from employee to employee as well. Health: As per the views of Soane and et.al., (2013) it is considered to be the most occurring
reason which result in absenteeism of employees. If an individual is disabled or chronically
ill, then in that case, there are higher chances of being frequently absent at the workplace.
Critically reviewing theories and models
As per the views of Soane and et.al., (2013) a model of attendance motivation was
introduced in the year 1977, where, various personal characteristics of the employees were
explored so as to assess their involvement with the organization. These are related to motivation
of having high attendance and issues faced in travelling, are important aspect linked to
absenteeism in the organization. As per the model of Steers and Rhodes, it was also analysed
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that, there are various personal characteristics of the employees as well, which can have greater
impact on absenteeism of the employees. These factors are, gender and age, ability to attend
illness and accidents and pressure to attend. The common driving force for the same is rewards
and incentives. However, in comparison to this, as per the views of Gosselin, Lemyre and
Corneil, (2013) Steers and Rhodes also initiated to develop a Diagnostic model of employee’s
attendance where strong emphasis was made on managers, so as to understand main reasons of
absence in the organization. The model helps in understanding absence culture followed,
attitudes of employees, their values and goals related to completion of work are common in
them. The model also suggested factors, such as, family responsibility, illness and travel issues,
as the main barriers of attendance which also have greater impact on framing of organizational
policies as well.
Summary of variables
H1: Family has significant positive impact on employee absenteeism
As per the results of research conducted by Russo and et.al., (2013) there are various
issues linked to family that results in absenteeism of employees. Few of them indicated in the
research are, marital status, child care, responsibility of adult children towards family issues and
its impact on presence of employees in the organization. Another study Merrill and et.al., (2013)
reflected regarding age and gender also being a prime factor of employee absenteeism.
H2: Environment has significant positive impact on employee absenteeism
According to Dasgupta, Suar and Singh, (2012) there are various elements related to
environment as well. It can be in the form of ventilation, lighting and noise which can have
stronger impact on employee’s absenteeism. Other driving force of presence of employees are,
recreational facilities, clean rest rooms and sufficient amount of fresh air in the organization.
Also, determinants, such as, quite and cold working environment, safe working conditions, clean
work stations and availability of sufficient amount of resources helps in ensuring that the
employees are present for maximum amount of time in the organization. Availability of new
technology also plays a conducive role towards presence of employees at workplace.
H3: Job satisfaction has significant positive impact on employee absenteeism
As per the views of Mudaly and Nkosi, (2015) pay, benefits and incentives, given to the
employees also plays an important role in initiating in them in the organization. It becomes
important for the organization to initiate proper and healthy working conditions, leadership and
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social relationship have positive impact on absenteeism and can lead to the minimum. Other
factors related to job satisfaction are, opportunity, productivity, salary, supervision and
relationships at the work place. Moreover, future prospects, job content and difficulty also play
an important role in initiating job satisfaction level and there by employee absenteeism as well.
H4: Health has significant positive impact on employee absenteeism
In the opinion of Soane and et.al., (2013) research has been able to reflect that anxiety,
depression, alcohol disorder, sleep difficulties are common issues to employees. Other factors
influencing their health are, smoking, less of physical activity, smoking and obesity are the other
influential factors that are related to health. Common health issues find in the employees are,
heart disease, respiratory disorders, skin disease, hypertension and tumours which affect
employee health and thereby absenteeism as well.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research paradigm
Research methodology plays significant role in the research that helps in discovering new
facts about the topic and finding more information. Researcher s has to engaged with variety of
research paradigm that assists in improving their knowledge (Flick, 2015). There are three main
types of paradigm such as positivism, interpretivism and critical. Positivism paradigm help in
carrying out the study by logical analysis. In this method scholar can gather information through
questionnaire technique. It is applied in the quantitative type of research projects. On other hand
interpretivism is another paradigm that is used in qualitative type of projects. In this researcher
involve human being and conduct study from subjective view point. In the present study on
factors affecting employee absenteeism scholar will take support of positivism paradigm
(Ledford and Gast, 2018).
Research design and strategy
Research design is the method which explain the format of the entire research. There are
mainly three types of designs: descriptive, explanatory and exploratory. In the present
investigation on factors affecting employee absenteeism scholar will take support of explanatory
design (Humphries, 2017). This is more suitable for the type of studies where scholar ha to
develop link between variables and research problems. By this way scholar will be able to find
out variables or the factors that impact on employee absenteeism in the organization.
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Research strategy define the strategy of scholar for completing this research in effective
manner. In the present research investigator will use cross sectional study (King and Mackey,
2016). This will help the person in gathering in-depth information about the topic and developing
understanding. It is more suitable and save time of individuals. If researcher uses longitudinal or
observational methods then these are time consuming methods and individual may get failed to
complete their project on time (Thompkins and et.al, 2016).
Data Collection
Data collection is the most important part of research projects. In the absence of quality
data individual may get failed to get desired results. It is responsibility of scholar that to ensure
effectiveness of involved information in the study. There are two main types of data collection
methods: primary and secondary. Primary methods are such sources in which individual gathers
information by own. All these details that are being used in the study are never been used earlier
in any kind of projects (Gura, Shevchenko and Gura, 2016). These are real and current facts. On
other hand secondary data collection sources are such methods in which researcher uses earlier
data that have been used in other studies. In the present study on factors affecting employee
absenteeism scholar will take support of primary data collection sources. For this research
project individual will apply questionnaire technique. This is considered as most effective
method that supports the scholar in finding real information about the topic. It is less costly
method and individual can collect details without any bias. These details will be beneficial in
answering research problems (Prescott and et.al, 2015).
Total population
In the present study scholar will involve employees of marketing department those who
are working in organization across three sites: India, Brazil and France. Total population ion this
study will be 200 in which there will be 50 people from France, 120 from India and 30 from
Brazil (Faber and et.al, 2016).
Sample size and sampling method
Sampling is the process of selecting right people from the population. It is essential for
the researcher that to involve right number of samples in the research project so that research
problems can be answered in appropriate manner. In the present study scholar will take sample
size of 100 people which is 50% of entire population from each country (Nakata, 2015).
Country France India Brazil Total
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Total population 50 120 30 200
Sampling
Fractions (%)
50 50 50
Sample Size 25 60 15 100
There are two main sampling methods that are used in different types of research
projects: probability and non probability (Flick, 2015).
Probability Non-probability
Simple random sampling Snowball sampling
Systematic sampling Quota sampling
Stratified sampling Purposive sampling
Cluster sampling Convenience sampling
In the present study on factors affecting employee absenteeism in the organization
researcher will use quota sampling method. Population will be divided into subgroups and they
will be selected on the bases of their characteristic. As study will involve people from Brazil,
India and France. Thus, this quota sampling method will be suitable for the present study
(Ledford and Gast, 2018).
Data instrument
In the current research, scholar will take support of questionnaire technique. For that
individual will use likert scale to measure the responses of people. There will be options of
agree/ disagree/ strongly agree etc (King and Mackey, 2016). By this way participants will be
able to express their feeling about the issues faced by them in the firm that increases employees
absenteeism.
Variable Factors Sources
Family Marital status
Number of people in family
Flick, 2015
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Divorce
Environment Noise
Safeness
cleanliness
Thompkins and et.al, 2016
Jon satisfaction Working condition
Salaries
promotional opportunities
Prescott and et.al, 2015
Employee absenteeism Family
Job satisfaction
heath
Environment
Nakata, 2015
It is very important for the researcher that to ensure validity and reliability of data.
Incorrect data may get fail to answer research problems and finding accurate results. In the
present research scholar will check validity and readability of questionnaire. Individual will use
construct, concurrent validity test and test retest reliability for testing their validity and reliability
(Prescott and et.al, 2015).
Accessibility and ethical issues
In order to carrying out this research scholar will involve human resource department of
the firm. It will gather detail about rules and regulations that are faced by entity. Furthermore,
scholar will send consent form to all the participants those who are going to be part of the
research (Gura, Shevchenko and Gura, 2016). Once people have sign this consent form them
researcher will send them questionnaire. This questionnaire will be tangible in nature and there
will no unethical questions that can hurt feeling of anyone. Ethical issues can be arisen when
researcher involve unethical questions and force respondents to share their views. But in the
present research on factors affecting employee absenteeism scholar will take care of ethical
aspects and will not force anyone to share their views. If they do not want to answer any question
then they are free to skip the questions (Nakata, 2015).
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Furthermore, individual will access authorized websites and individual will not copy any
material from any site. Researcher will read the articles and will gather reliable information from
these sites. Once scholar has developed understanding them person will write details in own
words (Prescott and et.al, 2015). This will support the scholar in avoiding issue of plagiarism in
research project. Researcher has taken permission from the higher authorities of the firm before
conducting research on the branches of Brazil, India and France.
Data Analysis plans
There are two main techniques of analysing the data. In the qualitative research projects
scholar takes support of thematic analysing tool in order to analysis data. By this way person can
present information through charts and graphs in effective manner. On other hand in the
quantitative researches individual take support of SPSS. It is the software that test hypotheses
and on the bases of tests results are being generated (Nakata, 2015). In the present study on
factors affecting employee absenteeism researcher will apply SPSS software for data analysis.
Individual will use descriptive table, frequency table, Anova test, validity, reliability test in order
to get results.
Analysis Reasoning Rules of Thumb
Normality test It is essential test that
underline assumptions.
Skewness and Kurtosis
< -1 + 1
Reliability test It is the effective test that
assist in checking reliability of
the results
Cronbach's Alpha
>0.6
Descriptive analysis It is the method that helps the
researcher in transformation of
data into understanding ways
so that it can be interpreted
easily
N/A
Regression analysis It is another type of method
that is used in SPSS that helps
Adjust R Square
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in identifying relationship
between two variables
>0.6
Durbin Watson
1.5-2.5
Significant
0.01 or 0.05
Research limitation
Researcher will take support of questionnaire technique but there may be possible that
participants do not give accurate answers of these questions. They may give dishonest answers.
They may sometimes answers without reading the questions properly (King and Mackey, 2016).
In such condition individual may get failed to get accurate results. Apart from this, it may be
possible that participant's skill many questions. They may fail to understand language. As
researcher will prepare questionnaire in English language but it might be possible that
respondents feel confused and do not give accurate answers. Furthermore, major limitation of the
study would be poor monitory resources (Ledford and Gast, 2018). In the absence of adequate
funds individual may get fail to collect accurate information this unfortunately may impact on
the overall results. Another limitation of this research would be insufficient time. Individual has
to complete this study will be less period of time. In such short duration it is difficult to gather
information on employee absenteeism of three branches: Brazil, India and France. But if scholar
schedule activities in effective manner then this issue may be resolved easily (Faber and et.al,
2016).
TIME SCALE
Key Activities 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1
0
11 12 1
3
14 1
5
16 1
7
18 1
9
20
Preparing
introduction
Conducting
Literature Review
Accessing
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Secondary Data
Examining
collected Data
Research Design
Preparation of
Research
Methodology
Collection of
Primary Data
Analysis of
primary and
secondary data
through SPSS
Conclusions and
Recommendations
Completing
remaining work
Revise and draft
Final Submission
The main objective behind drawing a research time table is ensuring that the overall
research is conducted in the specific time duration so that it do not lose its relevancy. It helps in
giving a psychological push to the researcher that what task is required to be conducted at what
time. The researcher tries to achieve the milestone based on the key activities and try to achieve
the task as per specified duration in time scale chart. It also reduces the probability of not
completing the task and prevent the researcher from any type of last minute rush. Hence,
timescale chart is considered to be quite a systematic approach that helps in maintaining quality
of the overall research.
Hence, it is tries that all the important aspects of the research are given adequate time so
that each and every aspect of the research can be given adequate time to read, understand and
interpret. It has been ascertained that the overall research will get complete in next 20 weeks
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with the consideration of all the important aspect that are required to be taken care of, so as to
deliver an effective, relevant as well as authentic research.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Flick, U., (2015). Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research
project. Sage.
Ledford, J. R. and Gast, D. L., (2018). Single case research methodology: Applications in
special education and behavioral sciences. Routledge
Humphries, B., (2017). Re-thinking social research: anti-discriminatory approaches in research
methodology. Taylor & Francis.
King, K. A. and Mackey, A., (2016). Research methodology in second language studies: Trends,
concerns, and new directions. The Modern Language Journal. 100(S1). pp.209-227.
Thompkins, A. M. and et.al., (2016). Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Domestic
Dog: Research, Methodology, and Conceptual Issue. Comparative Cognition & Behavior
Reviews,.11.
Gura, D. A., Shevchenko, G. G. and Gura, A. Y., (2016). Development research methodology
elastic deformation total station. Journal of engineering and Applied Sciences. 11(13).
pp.2885.
Prescott, J. and et.al., (2015). Blogging as a viable research methodology for young people with
arthritis: A qualitative study. Journal of medical Internet research. 17(3).
Faber, C. J. and et.al., (2016, June). Narrating the experiences of first-year faculty in the
engineering education research community: Developing a qualitative, collaborative
research methodology. In 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition.
Nakata, Y., (2015). Insider–outsider perspective: revisiting the conceptual framework of research
methodology in language teacher education. International Journal of Research &
Method in Education. 38(2). pp.166-183.
Mowday, R. T., Porter, L. W., and Steers, R. M. (2013). Employee—organization linkages: The
psychology of commitment, absenteeism, and turnover. Academic press.
Borgogni, L. and et.al. (2013). The role of self-efficacy and job satisfaction on absences from
work. Revue européenne de psychologie appliquée/European Review of Applied
Psychology. 63(3). 129-136.
Brown, H. E. and et.al. (2014). Measuring presenteeism: which questionnaire to use in physical
activity research?. Journal of physical activity and health. 11(2). 241-248.
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