Research Methodology: Data Collection and Analysis Methods

This report provides an overview of the methodology and approaches used in a research study, focusing on data collection methods, analytical tools, and the distinction between primary and secondary data. It discusses various data collection techniques, including digitized methods and investigations by agencies, as well as approaches like aggregation and pivoting. The report also emphasizes the importance of pilot tests and considers epistemological and ontological factors. It concludes by highlighting the critical role of selecting an appropriate methodology based on the research objectives and limitations, acknowledging that a combination of approaches may be necessary to achieve accurate conclusions. The document also acknowledges the limitations faced during the research work or study.

Methodology and descriptive analysis
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Table of Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................................3
Data collection methods................................................................................................................4
Approaches used in the research work........................................................................................4
Analytical tools used during the research...................................................................................5
Pilot tests and its relevance...........................................................................................................5
Epistemology and ontology...........................................................................................................7
Primary and secondary data.........................................................................................................8
Conclusion....................................................................................................................................10
References.....................................................................................................................................11
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Introduction
The given report has been prepared for the purpose of providing a glimpse of methodology and
approaches that were used in the research problem that was covered in chapter 2. The approaches
used were appropriate keeping into consideration the factors that were considered relevant. This
chapter will give the user an insight into all the factors that arose during that time and which
force the selection of the best appropriate methodology and sampling frame. An understanding of
all the approaches will help and assist the reader and user of the report otherwise there might be a
possibility that he or she can interpret the conclusion and interpretation in a wrong manner. As
such, it the utmost responsibility of the research team to disclose all the approaches, data
collection methods along with analytical tools that were used in the research work conducted by
them.
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Data collection methods
The data collection method may be one of the least important aspects of survey research. There
are just so many other very important things to consider, things that affect the reliability
(precision, accuracy) of estimates.
The best data collection methods depend on the purpose of data collection initiative. This is
because different objectives require different kinds of data (Abdullah & Wan, 2013). In the
modern scenario, a digitized method saves time, increases efficiency and streamlines workflow.
Accordingly, in this case, study method, majorly all the data were collected using the digitized
manner. Also, the information relating to various business organizations covered in the case
study or the research work has been achieved with a mix of both qualitative and quantitative
research methods. Before choosing a data collection method, it is important to understand that
versatility and mobility are the key players in this digital age.
In the given research work, following data collection methods have been used to accomplish the
research objectives:
1. An investigation by agencies.
2. Information collected by enumerators through schedules
3. Information collected from documents published by the concerned business enterprises.
Approaches used in the research work
Macroevolutionary studies focus on large-scale and long-term changes (Day, et. al., 2014). Such
studies might explore how a set of species are related, what trends show up repeatedly in the
evolution of certain groups, or what events may trigger the development of new species.
Different approaches can be used depending on the purpose or scope of the research work. Thus,
it is imperative to take into consideration the ambit of the research work along with the stipulated
time frame within which the research work has to be conducted.
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There are two translations that need to happen before server logs of a researcher can be
meaningfully used to inform product management: aggregation and pivoting.
Aggregation is comparatively more straightforward since researcher could probably care more
about events that happen more frequently (Lowry, 2015). This is because knowing that the order
wasn't completed is only marginally useful. Knowing that 80% of orders started today weren't
completed is much more useful and can inform a focus on improving the order workflow.
Pivoting is even more important. In short, pivoting combines aggregation with the dynamic
ability to group events by their attributes. It can be said that both the techniques have their own
implications and outcome and accordingly both need to be used carefully without ignoring their
limitations and assumptions.
There is another approach named Lean. It is a process of continuous improvement, not a single
event with the goals of reducing Muda (waste) by eliminating any event/processes that do not
add value.
Analytical tools used during the research
There are a ton of tools that are designed to help process server logs and turn them into
meaningful reports (Stumpf, et. al., 2013). The quickest method is perhaps best defined by the
narrowness and focus of the concerned research question. Too broad a topic requires a wide net
to gather data. A focused problem under investigation will result in a much cleaner dissertation.
The quickest method is also the one that will yield the correct results so that research team
doesn't have to re-do entire document.
Pilot tests and its relevance
It’s a preliminary test done to make sure everything works as expected. It can also be used to get
feedback from the participants so the researcher can improve on some aspects, if necessary.
Experimental studies take the time necessary to develop a method to answer
a research question, pilot test to ensure reliability and validity, make observations "run" the
experiment, collect data, and analyze data. Qualitative studies involve a great deal of one-on-one
time spent in interviews, observations, and transcribing field notes.
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The research design is part of a research proposal.
 Research design can be said to be main method, discussion, and budget.
 Research proposal can be said to be composed of a title, abstract, and table of contents,
introduction, and literature review plus research design (Omotayo, 2015).
A research design cannot stand alone. It has to be part of a research (proposal) to have meaning
and purpose. A research proposal is more extensive than research design.
 A research proposal is a concise and coherent summary of the proposed research.
Selecting a research design means choosing a method of doing research that fits both
the research question and the available resources. A case study that follows one or a few
individuals is one form of research. A survey of a specific demographic segment or occupational
group or people whose behavior matches a defined profile is another.
An experimental study in a laboratory is a third. The controlled circumstances allow the research
question to be composed more narrowly or in a refined way, but then generalizing from this
result to how people would behave outside the lab might be difficult (Stumpf, et. al., 2013). Data
needs about something in the population that the investigator wants to resolve by making
measurements in the study population leads to the formation of the topic.
Types of research topics
o Descriptive: It involves observation by the investigator. It formulates possibility.
o Analytical: It involves interventions and comparison. It checks possibility.
Research question should be finer.
o Feasible: Good technique and adequate knowledge of researcher.
o Interesting: To researcher and other workers of the same field.
o Novel: New and appropriate.
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o Ethical: Ethically correct.
o Relevant: It should improve scientific knowledge. Also, it should be useful for some
intervention.
 Hypothesis: In the analytical study, the hypothesis should be made. Very much specific and
clear.
 Aim: Clear words of what knowledge the researcher want from research.
The basic mistakes that come in the way of data collection are:
 Using outmoded collection methods
 Drawing a conclusion with missing data
 Lack of Training or incomplete training of data collection procedures
 Rushing through any data collection procedures to save time where accuracy suffers
 Time concerns lead to unfair data collection
 Inadequate staffing relative to the survey area
 Not organizing the collection area
 Improvisations and self-interpretation of data
 Periodic inventory checks not conducted
Epistemology and ontology
Epistemology is charged with examining the factors that will limit the analysis of
the research and Ontology is charged with constructing the paradigm that will produce a healthy
conceptual approach to the research so that it may be set up productively (Omotayo, 2015).
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Both categories of data have their strengths and weaknesses: The Research Onion invites much
more thorough and rigorous deconstruction, but at this first level at least, as a metaphorical
meme, it actually appears to be a decent way to understand basic research methodology. This is
not to suggest that it’s the only or the best way to do that, or that the Onion is equally applicable
in any, all, or every field of human inquiry and experiment.
1. It’s a metaphor — it’s a snapshot of the landscape of research from a particular perspective in a
specific season of methodological thinking. Perspectives and seasons both change, however, and
those changes could render this way of looking at research metaphorically misguided and off the
mark.
2. It’s a meme — another way of saying it’s a metaphor, but further emphasizing the social context
and cultural ethos within which the meme, as a combination of visually iconic and symbolically
textual information, sells its message or tells its story (Murphy, 2015).
Primary and secondary data
The distinction between primary and secondary data is mostly based on why the data was
collected:
 Primary data is data gathered for a specific purpose or to answer a specific question.
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Secondary data pertains to data collected for one put. There are tons of secondary data examples
out there. It’s basically any dataset that can be used by researchers who didn’t actually collect
the data.
 Primary data, by design, has information meaningful to the task at hand. Bias can be introduced
by deciding what data is truly relevant and needs to be collected.
 Usually, secondary data is used since it already exists and research team doesn’t have to contend
with complexity and hassle of data gathering. Bias can be introduced selecting which data can be
reused and is relevant to the task at hand (Rahi, 2017).
 Everything depends on what the researcher is looking to collect for business (Udoh & Inuwa,
2016).
 Qualitative Research is also called “exploratory research”. It provides an in-depth understanding
of how and why things have happened. Qualitative research also includes the following
techniques:
1. Interviews on a “one on one” basis
2. Focus groups, which involves more than 5 respondents for a single topic.
3. Observations
 Quantitative research is numerically oriented. The main feature of this type of research is to ask
every respondent the same series of questions (most of the time, it involves many questionnaires
or interviews). Quantitative research also includes the following techniques:
1. Surveys, which are questionnaires with the aim to collect data through a specific set of
questions asked in the same way to many people. These type of research may be administered by
telephone, email or website.
2. Observations
3. Secondary data (e.g. company accounts)
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Conclusion
Thus it can be concluded from the overall discussion that selection of a particular methodology
and approach is very critical. Also, no approach can be suitable or appropriate for every research
study since each research work has its own limitations and objectives on the basis of which the
most appropriate and relevant methodology is considered. It is very important to consider each
and every critical factor that arises in deciding the most appropriate one. Only then it will be
possible for the researcher to achieve the research objectives in a formalized manner. Apart from
that, in some research study, the situation arises when he has to apply more than one approach to
arrive at the right conclusion. Accordingly, all the techniques that were used in the research
study have been disclosed in this report along with the limitations that were faced during the
research work or study.
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References
 Abdullah, A. A. & Wan, H. L., 2013. Relationships of Non-Monetary Incentives, Job
Satisfaction and Employee Job Performance International Review of Management and Business
Research, Vol. 2, pp. 1085-1091.
 Day, J.W., Holladay, C.L., Johnson, S.K., and Barron, L.G., 2014. ‘Organisational rewards:
considering employee need in allocation’, Personnel Review, 43(1), pp. 74-95. Academic Search
Complete
 Lowry, L. D., 2015. Bridging the Business Data Divide: Insights into Primary and Secondary
Data Use by Business Researchers. IASSIST Quarterly.
 Murphy, B., 2015. The impact of reward systems on employee performance. Dublin Business
School and University. pp. 3-17.
 Omotayo, F.O., 2015. Knowledge Management as an important tool in Organisational
Management: A Review of Literature. University of Nebraska – Lincoln.
 Rahi, S., 2017. Research Design and Methods: A Systematic Review of Research Paradigms,
Sampling Issues and Instruments Development. International Journal of Economics &
Management Sciences.
 Stumpf, A.S., Tymon, W.G., Favorito, N. and Smith R.R. 2013. ‘Employees and Change
Initiatives: Intrinsic Rewards and Feeling Valued’, Journal of Business Strategy, 34(2), pp. 1-15.
 Udoh, L., & Inuwa, I., 2016. Implementation of a Data-Driven Transaction Processing System
for the AUN’s Restaurant, Yola – Nigeria. International Journal of Computer Applications.
 Yousaf, A., Huadong, Y. and Saunders, K., 2015. ‘Effects of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
on task and contextual performance of Pakistani professionals’, Journal of Managerial
Psychology, 30(2) pp. 133-150.
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