Research Methodology Report: Motivations of SEZ in China

This report outlines the research methodology employed to investigate the motivations behind the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in China. The study adopts a deductive research approach, incorporating positivism as its philosophical foundation and utilizing a descriptive research design. Triangulation theory is applied, combining the research approach, philosophy, and design to ensure a comprehensive understanding. Data collection involves both primary and secondary sources, including government documents, literature, interviews with government officials, and a case study of the Qianhai-Shenzhen-Hong Kong SEZ. Purposive sampling is used, with a sample size of 84 government officials. Data analysis employs both qualitative and quantitative techniques, with qualitative analysis used for literature review findings and SPSS for primary data. The research acknowledges limitations in time and money, and it emphasizes the use of questionnaires, surveys, and interviews to collect primary data, recognizing the importance of government officials' insights. The report's references include books and journals that provide the framework for this study.

Methodology
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Research approach.......................................................................................................................4
Research philosophies..................................................................................................................4
Research design...........................................................................................................................4
Data collection.............................................................................................................................5
Sampling......................................................................................................................................6
Data analysis................................................................................................................................6
Research limitations.....................................................................................................................7
Conducting questionnaire and survey, interview.........................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................9
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Research approach
In simpler terms, reteach approach can be defined as the action plan and strategies which
are being developed and used by a scholar with an objective to accomplish research objectives
and aims. The use of appropriate research approach results in carrying out study in desired
manner and obtain the best possible findings (Silverman, 2010). The term research approach is
broadly classified into two major categories which are inductive and deductive. Here, the scholar
has adopted for deductive research approach to carry out this research on motivations of
establishment of special economic zone in the China economic reform was required. The key
reason why the above mentioned approach is selected is that it will support providing
information that will move from general to specific which is more appropriate as per the nature
of present research. The use of inductive approach would have rendered the research will
generalize information and it was not suitable in context of the present research report.
Research philosophies
Research philosophies are generally termed as belief and values of a scholar which
guides and direct in carrying out research in most appropriate manner. Further, research
philosophies are play very important role at the time of data collection, analysis and presentation
(Pring, 014. Thus, it can be stated that researchers are required to be very careful at the time of
choosing research philosophies as it directly impacts effectiveness of study. The overall concept
of philosophies are broadly categorized into two main categories which are interpretivism and
positivism. In order to carry out research on topic the motivations of establishment of special
economic zone in the China, the researcher has adopted for positivism research philosophies is
adopted. The reason behind this is that it has provided information which is entirely based on
evidences and logic.
Research design
It can be defined as the framework upon which various tools and techniques are applied
to get the best possible outcomes. Case study, experimental, casual, exploratory, descriptive etc.
are different types of research designs which are being used by scholar for carrying out a
particular study (Jackson, 2011). For example it can be stated that in case study research design a
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particular case is taken into consideration and it is investigated to obtain satisfactory results. In
context of the present study, the researcher has employed descriptive research design. The main
reason for selecting this design is that it has helped in finding out the key motivations which can
supports in establishment of special economic zone in the China economic reform.
Triangulation theory
Triangulation theory in research is used to increase the wider and deep understanding of
the study phenomenon. This is a famous method of study accuracy whereas validity is ensured
by corporates (Yeasmin and Rahman, 2012). The combination of deductive research approach,
positivism research philosophies and descriptive research design represents a triangulation theory
which is used for the investigation. The research is going to study China’s establishment
of special economic zones, therefore an in-depth investigation was required to be carried out.
The topic herewith is need to be investigated therefore deductive research approach use with and
application to positivism research philosophies. The method principle of the present investigation
is triangulation. Using this triangulation theory, researcher will become more confident about
results of present investigation. Along with this, it facilitates the creation of inventive methods
and new ways to balance the problems with the collection of suitable data. The three approaches
stated above ensures extracting deviant dimension of a phenomenon. For this present
investigation, Triangulation' attempts to minimize inadequacies of single-source research. The
use of triangulation is going to help in qualitative and quantitative methods of study, through
with the arguments can be supported
Data collection
The process of data collection can be termed as one of the key and most crucial aspects of
dissertation. To a certain extent, effectiveness of researchers also relies on sources which are
being used to gather information on a particular topic under investigation (Saunder and et. al.
2007). Primary and secondary are the two major sources which are used for collecting data on a
particular topic. Furthermore, information gathered from secondary data is considered as second
hand data as it has been already gathered and used by other researchers and scholars (Crowther
and Lancaster, 2012). Along with this, the information collected is also considered as old and
less reliable. The reason why secondary sources used is that these sources can provide adequate
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information at a very convenient cost (Durling, 2002). On the other side, researchers are required
to use primary sources in study for gathering first hand, fresh and raw data. It can be also stated
that collecting information with the help of primary sources is very costly and time consuming.
However, it can be argued that primary sources can support in getting reliable, accurate, specific
and latest information on topic under investigation.
For the purpose of carrying out study on the motivations of establishment of special
economic zone in the China economic reform, the scholar has used both primary and secondary
sources of data collection. For collection of secondary data, government documents and literature
are taken into consideration. It can be stated that the use of above mentioned secondary sources
has give a comprehensive information about the present economic development in China. Along
with this, newspapers, publications, videos and films are On the other side of this, the scholar has
used interview method to carry out investigation on the key motivations which can supports in
establishment of special economic zone in the China economic reform. The case study of the
Qianhai-Shenzhen-Hong Kongspecial economic zone is appropriate to study China’s
establishment of special economic zones is also taken into consideration so that the researcher
can become aware of each and every element or factor linked with special economic zones.
Along with this, the case will also support in getting useful information about the key factors
which needs to be taken into consideration at the time of operating in economic zone of china. A
well structured questionnaire has been developed which consist of different type of open ended
questions associated with topic under investigation. The benefit of using both sources of data
collection is that it has supported in gathering accurate and adequate information and attain
objectives of present study carried out.
Sampling
It is defined as the process in which sample and its size are selected by researcher with an
objective to collect primary data. In this process, a sample or group of people is selected by
researcher to gain required information about topic under investigation. The total number of
people from whom data has been collected is termed as sample size (Coviello, 2005). It can be
stated that probabilistic and non-probabilistic are the two different type of sampling methods
which are used by scholar for collecting primary data. In order to carry out research on the key
motivations which can supports in establishment of special economic zone in the China
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economic reform, purposive sampling technique which is a part of non-probabilistic sampling
method has been selected. The rationale behind choosing this technique is that the researcher has
approached participants or respondents with a specific purpose of collecting information on
special economic zone in China. In terms of sample, it can be stated that government officials in
China are taken into consideration and the selected sample size is 84.
Data analysis
It is the process in which different tools and techniques are used by scholar to carry out
analysis of information collected from various sources. At the time of carrying out the process of
data analysis, researcher are required to be very careful as the effectiveness and quality of
research relies on how well the raw data has been analysed (Downey, Hamilton and Catterall,
2007). Qualitative and quantitative are the two techniques which can be used for carrying out the
evaluation of information collected with the help of various sources. In qualitative analysis
different themes are developed to analyse information and get desired findings. On the other side
of this, statistical tools such as SPSS are used in quantitative technique of data analysis. For
carrying out the present research, both qualitative and quantitative techniques are being
employed by the scholar. The findings of literature review are presented in the form of various
themes with the help of qualitative data analysis. On the other side of this, information gathered
from government officials in the form of primary data is analysed with the help of statistical
tools such as SPSS.
Research limitations
Researcher limitations can be termed as the hurdles or obstacles which are being faced by
researcher at the time of carrying out a particular study. Furthermore, it is required by scholars
develop effective strategies through which all limitations can be overcomes. At the time of
carrying out research on the key motivations which can supports in establishment of special
economic zone in the China economic reform, time and money were the two major constrains.
The scholar was provided with limited amount of time and money to carry out the present
research. This limitation has been overcome by using appropriate research methodologies for the
same.
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Conducting questionnaire and survey, interview
It can be stated that questionnaire and survey interview are generally conducted with an
objective to collect primary data on topic under investigation. Questionnaire is effective because
with the help of questionnaire the most accurate and desired outcomes can be achieved. For the
present study, 84 government officials has been approached and data has been collected with the
help of survey interview. The benefit of this is that the method consumer very less time and it is
also very cost effective. Furthermore, the rate of response rate is also very high in survey
interview and this has enhanced the study. The reason why government officials has been
contacted is that they have provided with more reliable and accurate information about special
economic zone in China. Along with this, the use of open ended questions in survey interview
has supported in collecting a broad range of data which is linked with opinion, values, belief of
those governments’ officials. Thus, it can be stated that the use questionnaire, survey and
interview is very effective and appropriate as per the nature of present study.
REFERENCES
Books and journals
Coviello, E. N., 2005. Integrating qualitative and quantitative techniques in network analysis.
Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal. 8(1) .pp.39 – 60.
Crowther, D. and Lancaster, G., 2012. Research Methods. 2nd ed. Routledge.
Downey, H. Hamilton, K. and Catterall, M., 2007. Researching vulnerability: what about the
researcher? European Journal of Marketing. 41(7/8) .pp.734 – 739.
Durling, D., 2002. Discourses on research and the PhD in Design. Quality Assurance in
Education. 10(2) .pp.79 – 85.
Jackson, S., 2011. Research Methods and Statistics: A Critical Thinking Approach. 4th ed.
Cengage Learning.
Pring, R., 2014. Philosophy of Educational Research. 3rd ed. Bloomsbury Publishing.
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Saunders, M. and et. al., 2007. Research Methods for Business Students. 4th edition, Prentice
Hall.
Yeasmin, S. and Rahman, K.F., 2012. Triangulation’research method as the tool of social
science research. BUP journal, 1(1), pp.154-163.
Silverman, D., 2010. Qualitative research. Sage.
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