Portfolio: Evaluating Choices in Research Philosophy and Approach

This portfolio critically evaluates research philosophies and approaches, emphasizing their importance at the master's level. It delves into different research philosophies such as positivism, interpretivism, and realism, justifying their application based on research requirements. The portfolio also explores inductive and deductive research approaches, highlighting their roles in validating research hypotheses and developing new theories. The document concludes that a proper selection of research methodologies is crucial for achieving desired research outcomes. This student contributed assignment is available on Desklib, a platform offering a wide range of study resources for students.

Running head: PORTFOLIO
Evaluating choices during research philosophy and understanding research approach
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

1
PORTFOLIO
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Research philosophy..................................................................................................................2
Justification for choices of the research philosophy..................................................................3
Research approach.....................................................................................................................4
Justification of choices of research approach.............................................................................4
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................5
Reference....................................................................................................................................6

2
PORTFOLIO
Introduction
Research methodology is the identification of specific procedures as well as
techniques that are used in identifying and selecting process of research required for success.
According to Bernard (2017), the analysis of information about a particular topic is required
for understanding the topic so that information regarding the application of a specific
research method can be justified. While conducting a research, the methodology section of
the research paper allows the readers to understand the validity of the research as well as its
reliability. As stated by Brannen (2017) this can help in understanding the potential direction
that can be provided to the research so that effective guidance of the research can take place.
In this task, the focus is on understanding the effectiveness of the research methodologies and
the justification for the choice of the research methodologies while conducting a research.
The focus is based on the approaches of the research conducted at a master’s level. In
this regard, it can be seen that research methodologies are usually of three types that include
the research philosophy, research design and the research approach. The focus for this study
is on the research philosophy and the research approach and the justification provided for
conducting the research in a proper manner.
Research philosophy
Research philosophy can be considered as a manner in which belief about the way to
collect data can be made. The belief is based on the application of collecting data, gathering
it, analysing it and using it for the benefit of the students. According to Bryman (2015),
Research philosophy can be of three types namely the positivism, interpretivism as well as
realism. Positivism research philosophy can be considered as a highly structured research
philosophy that helps to consider large sample size required for the development of data. At
the same time, as observed by Bryman (2017) the positivism philosophy provides students
with an opportunity for conducting research that can help in the application of a scientific
approach necessary for the analysis of the data so that data accuracy and validity can be
ensured.
Davies and Hughes (2014) is of the opinion that the interpretivism philosophy
provides for an understanding of the sample size that is considered as small and focuses on
the belief provided by the general people that deal with the terms and requirements of the

3
PORTFOLIO
research topic. Realism philosophy consists of the characteristics that are present in both the
positivism as well as the interpretivism philosophy (Flick 2015). Hence this particular
application of the research philosophy tends to complicate the understanding of the research
philosophy. Therefore, justification can be provided about the application of each of the
philosophies depending upon the requirement from the student. It needs to be kept in mind
that at the master’s level it is necessary for students to analyse the pros and cons of a research
methodology before applying it as a final solution for the research.
Justification for choices of the research philosophy
The reason for selecting positivism is the fact that it provides a belief system that
considers the fact about realism being stable and it can be observed from an objective
viewpoint. Lampard and Pole (2015) stated that the description made in a research using
positivism philosophy is mainly related to the observations made that cannot be repeated in
the future. However, one of the negative impacts of using positivism philosophy is that it can
sometime manipulate the reality. Therefore, the application of the positivism philosophy can
be considered as critical for the stability of a research process.
The application of interpretivism is that a subjective interpretation and the
intervention of reality can be made that can help in understanding the reality in full.
According to Lewis (2015), the study of the concerned phenomenon is main for an
interpretivist that highlights the disability of the scientists to avoid the phenomenon required
for study. In this regard, it can be said that interpretation of the reality is made by the
application of this process. Hence, this particular research philosophy can be considered as
effective for the linking between scientific thoughts as well as for the real world that exists
within the society.
As observed by McCusker and Gunaydin (2015) the reality philosophy is based on the
application of both the previous philosophies that highlight the importance of reality while
conducting research. For master’s level students this can be considered as an effective
research philosophy mainly because it provides a link between the real world as well as the
scientific application of the theory. Hence, the students can provide evidence that are
experienced by people and link it with theories that are presented. In this case it can be said
that the application of theoretical as well as practical approach can be taken into
consideration.

4
PORTFOLIO
Research approach
Research approach at a master’s level can be considered based on the ability to
validate the research hypothesis. According to Bernard (2017), the applicaton of inductive as
well as deductive approach can be used to conduct research approach so that validity of the
research can be understood. The two concepts help in the evolution of the data that provides
an understanding of the new theories as well as concepts necessary for conducting the report.
Therefore, it can be said that the application of the inductive research approach can help
students to understand the application of the research topic Bryman (2015). With the
application of the inductive approach data can be collected before the application of theory.
This can help in understanding the importance of the data and ensure that new theories can be
formed based on the analysis of the research.
Apart from this the application of deductive approach helps in validating any research
objective or question. For students at the master’s level, it is necessary that every data
collected by validated and tested so that every data can be analysed by taking into
consideration the responses of the sample size. As stated by Lewis (2015) any development
in the form of scholarly articles can be described in a manner that can help in the
development of the research as well as ensure that it meets the objectives of the research in a
proper manner. Due to the application of the deductive research approach observation of the
collected data can be made with existing theories and concepts.
Justification of choices of research approach
Deductive approach can help in validating the research questions and the objectives
necessary for the success of a researcher. In this regard, it can be said that students at a
master’s level can consider various questions that can be related to the topic at hand. The
formulation of the research questions can be done by conducting detailed analysis of any
work performed by scholars so that students can gain a theoretical knowledge about the
application of the research approach and the mode of research that is required to be
conducted Davies and Hughes (2014). Relevant theories and concepts can be used so that
research methods can be applied in an appropriate manner.
On the other hand, the inductive research approach can help students to continue with
the research topic before understanding the theories and concepts. Analysis of the factors that
may affect a topic can be taken into consideration before the application of theories (Flick

5
PORTFOLIO
2015). Therefore, students can gain the flexibility of applying relevant theories that can help
in the development of the research in a successful manner. In this regard, it can be said that
for a research to take place using the research approach, the application of both the inductive
as well as the deductive approach can be taken into consideration Therefore, masters level
students can choose any of the research methodologies based on the situation and the
requirement of the reseach.
Conclusion
Therefore, it can be concluded that for a research to take place in an effective manner
it is necessary that the choices related to the research methodologies be done in a proper
manner. The application of the research methodology types has provisions that provide an
analysis of the reasons behind its success in a research. At a master’s level the expectations
from the students are to critically reflect the research and provide evidence about the manner
in which research approach of the students. The research philosophy can help in analysing the
effectiveness of the research in terms of scientific analysis of the topic so that relation can be
made about the topic and its applicability with the analysis of a large sample size.
At the same time the application of research approach can help in determining the
theories and concepts that can be associated with a data and the manner in which it can help
in aligning the topic with that of the topic at hand. Therefore, it can be said that in order to
continue with the development of a research at a master’s level it is necessary that the
application of a proper research methodology that suits the application of data be conducted
so that it can help in gaining the desired results from the research.

6
PORTFOLIO
Reference
Bernard, H.R., 2017. Research methods in anthropology: Qualitative and quantitative
approaches. Rowman & Littlefield.
Brannen, J. ed., 2017. Mixing methods: Qualitative and quantitative research. Routledge.
Bryman, A., 2015. Social research methods. Oxford university press.
Bryman, A., 2017. Quantitative and qualitative research: further reflections on their
integration. In Mixing methods: Qualitative and quantitative research (pp. 57-78). Routledge.
Davies, M.B. and Hughes, N., 2014. Doing a successful research project: Using qualitative
or quantitative methods. Palgrave Macmillan.
Flick, U., 2015. Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research
project. Sage.
Lampard, R. and Pole, C., 2015. Practical social investigation: Qualitative and quantitative
methods in social research. Routledge.
Lewis, S., 2015. Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five
approaches. Health promotion practice, 16(4), pp.473-475.
McCusker, K. and Gunaydin, S., 2015. Research using qualitative, quantitative or mixed
methods and choice based on the research. Perfusion, 30(7), pp.537-542.