BUS604 - Business Research Methods: Research Paradigm Report

This report delves into the crucial role of research paradigms in business and management research, emphasizing their significance in maintaining truth, validity, and reliability. It explores various paradigms, including positivism, which employs observation and numeric data, and realism, which connects research to scientific inquiry. The report examines key concepts like epistemology, ontology, and axiology, illustrating how they contribute to understanding leadership styles and employee creativity. A literature review highlights the importance of methodologies and strategies for achieving research objectives, with a focus on constructivist and interpretivist approaches. The report analyzes how these paradigms and concepts are applied in real-world scenarios, such as studying leadership styles and their impact on employee productivity, and discusses the use of both primary and secondary data collection methods. Through this comprehensive analysis, the report underscores the value of research paradigms in providing accurate and reliable information, ultimately supporting effective decision-making and contributing to the advancement of management knowledge.

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“RESEARCH PARADIGM”

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
“Truth” in business and research.....................................................................................................2
Positivism....................................................................................................................................3
Epistemology...........................................................................................................................3
Ontology..................................................................................................................................4
Axiology..................................................................................................................................4
Realism........................................................................................................................................4
Epistemology...........................................................................................................................5
Ontology..................................................................................................................................5
Axiology..................................................................................................................................5
Literature review..............................................................................................................................6
Problematic issues...........................................................................................................................7
Case study........................................................................................................................................8
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................10
References......................................................................................................................................11

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Introduction
Business and management research is a systematic inquiry that helps to solve business
problems and contributes to management knowledge. The managers of the organization contain
some information regarding solving the problems and issues of the organization. The
organizations mainly develop strategies to resolve practical management problems (Rahi, 2017).
This supports the business to get in-depth information and gather information from various areas
which supports the managers and leaders to get scientific findings and apply them to gain
competitive advantage. This also leads n improving the policies of decision making for example
for conducting research in investigating the leadership style and employee creativity various
research paradigm is applied so that information regarding the leadership styles which leaders
adopt in Australia and effects of it on the creativity of the employees and other staff members
(Khaldi, 2017).
Research paradigm is considered the approach which is used in conducting the research,
this leads in providing overall information regarding the methods and techniques which can be
used to maintain validity and truth in the business research (Strauman, 2017). This defines the
adequate information and describes true facts and information through which the objective of the
research will be achieved. For example in conducting the study about leadership styles and
employee creativity, the methodologies that is data collection method and analysis is described
so that truth is established in the study and results will include validity as well as adequacy of the
research.
In this report, the discussion is made on assessing the research paradigm concepts and
theories which is used to maintain truth in business and management research. Furthermore, the
report also discusses the problematic issues in adopting research paradigm and case study is
analyzed. The report also includes some example to explain more clearly about the development
of truth in business and management research.

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“Truth” in business and research
In business and management research truth is maintained so that it can follow ethical
consideration which describes that the study should be conducted by maintaining validity and
reliability. This is done through using the concepts and theories of research paradigm as well as
research philosophy (Queirós, Faria, & Almeida, 2017). It is considered important because of
providing information to the employees, organization about the profitability and creativity of the
workforce. Therefore, business and management research is considered highly effective in using
the different concepts because it includes various workforce and leaders in data collection and
analysis. There are various theories which used in business and management research such as in
leadership styles and workforce creativity business research various concepts of research
paradigm is used (Symon, Cassell, & Johnson, 2018).
Positivism
It is the theory of research paradigm in which observation approach is used to understand
the aspects and components which used in performing business and management research. In this
overall strategy of the research is used so that it describes the techniques of data collection
(Iacobucci, 2016). Furthermore, the hypothesis of the study is also develop regarding the
leadership styles adopted in the organization, it provide the opportunity to the research to focuses
on the assumption and to investigate the further research. In this theory researcher does not
change the opinions and perception of the leaders and provide accurate information about the
workforce creativity and innovation.
In this theory researcher conduct the study by adopting numeric data and adopt statistical
techniques for analyzing the accuracy of the data. This results in establishing the truth of the
business and management research that is by conducting the research regarding the leadership
styles and creativity as well as innovation of the workforce (Kivunja & Bawa Kuyini, 2017). In
this research paradigm theory the truth is maintained because of defining dependent and
independent variables which provide information about the styles which leaders used and their
influence on the productivity of the workforce. The present theory also adopts various research
paradigm concepts so that reliability and accuracy is maintained in the study.

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Epistemology
In this concept the business and management research for example in leadership style and
employee creativity study this concept support the research to focuses mainly on the objective
and research question so that the objective of the research will be achieved. This concept
combines the feelings, opinions and perspective of the researchers in conducting the research and
to achieve the objective of overall research.
Ontology
The other concept ontology is also used in business research; it is because in this concept
the information is collected based on the reality and includes various aspects of the subject
matter. For example while conducting the research regarding styles of leaders and employees
efficiency the other factors such as behavior of the leaders and strategies it adopt to guide
employees is also included (Marx, Haunschild, & Bornmann, 2017). This concept also supports
in mapping the attitudes and behavior of the employees in the organization. Therefore through
this researcher can adopt qualitative approach to provide adequate judgment of the authors about
subject matter, through which truth and validity is managed in the research.
Axiology
Axiology concept is also used in providing judgments, ethics and belief information
about the subject matter, this concept support the researchers to focuses on the content and
reflect on the values which is related to the subject matter (Goertzen, 2017). In the research of
leadership style the study is conducted to understand the communication and guidance strategies
adopt by leaders so that productivity of the employees is increased. This supports in providing
valid information and maintain trust by providing current information about the organization and
leaders which influence positively on the development of the workforce.
Realism
The theory of realism is also included in business research because of relating the
required topic with the scientific enquiry (Khaldi, 2017). It provides the knowledge to the
researchers regarding the reality of the subject matter and provides the existence of the area in
the mind of the researchers. In the leadership style topic, the researchers will focuses on
gathering the information about the different leadership styles which is adopted by different
leaders by asking their opinion in different situation (Sovacool, Axsen, & Sorrell, 2018). In this

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theory two approaches is used by the researchers which includes direct realism and critical
realism to maintain truth in the study.
In the direct realism the researchers move to the objective and collect the data through
their experience and also by adopting observation method in which it observe to the target group.
This supports the researchers to get the important information (Wu, Thompson, Aroian,
McQuaid, & Deatrick, 2016). This is highly maintaining truth in the study because of getting the
real information which is based on the reality. The other is critical realism in which the senses of
the researchers are linked with the overall of the reality which researchers thinks about the
subject matter. Furthermore, this approach highly used in the multi-level studies and include
individual, group and the overall company in the research.
Epistemology
In this theory the epistemology concept is also used it is because through adopting this
researchers can provide information regarding the attitudes and behavior of the managers and
leaders towards the employees (Symon, Cassell, & Johnson, 2018). Furthermore, it increase the
data by providing the overall methodology knowledge which reveal complete information about
the research strategy, philosophy and techniques through which the data collection and analysis
is done in effective manner. Therefore, through this adequate information about the subject
matter will be achieved and truth in the information will be established so that aim of the
research will be achieved.
Ontology
This approach and concept supports the researchers to get the information regarding the
culture of the organization, through which the business research that is philosophy, attitude and
overall information regarding the social phenomena is also revealed (Percy, Kostere, & Kostere,
2015). It is considered important in the research because while conducting the research
regarding the leadership attitudes as well as creativity and outcomes of workforce, this concept
support in getting the information regarding the customers attitudes and their effects on the
external environment so that productivity of the organization is also revealed.

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Axiology
Axiology concept is also used in business research because of providing the knowledge
regarding the values and belief and this supports the researchers in developing the themes
through which the data collection is done so that information gathering is done through involving
all the elements and aspects (Pavlineri, Skoulikidis, & Tsihrintzis, 2017). This supports in
providing more information and accomplish the aim of the study. Furthermore, in leadership
style topic researchers divide the themes that understand the leadership style used by leaders in
company, effects of leadership style on employees outcomes and productivity (Iacobucci, 2016).
This results in providing adequate results about the subject matter, therefore, it is investigated
that these concepts and theories supports in management of trust, validity in the business and
management research.
Literature review
In research the researchers mainly focuses on understanding the methodologies and
strategies which should be adopted to achieve the objective of the research (Marx, Haunschild, &
Bornmann, 2017). Researchers focus on finding the theories which is adopted by the researchers
so that truth is managed in conducting business and management research. From the analysis, it
is revealed that theory of constructivist supports the researchers to adopt the qualitative and
quantitative method that is analysis the data through using scientific techniques. This supports in
testing the assumption which is develop in the study and maintain truth in the research.
The study is also concentrate on investigating the truth which is established by the
researcher by analyzing the effect of leadership style on the overall productivity of the
employees. The data collection is done through the secondary method that is by using thematic
analysis method (Queirós, Faria, & Almeida, 2017). Through the analysis, it is revealed that
researchers also used symbolic interpretivism approach to maintain reality and to get the
knowledge regarding the interaction done by the leaders with the staff members. Through this
more information about the subject matter is gathered by the researchers so that objective of the
researchers will be achieved.
The objective of the study is to understand the research paradigm used by the researchers
so that adequate information is revealed about the subject matter. The information gathering is

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done through using primary method in which opinion of the researchers is used so that
objectivity and carefulness is maintained in the study (Rahi, 2017). The findings of the research
describes that positivism research paradigm is highly useful because it is conducted to taking the
survey from the respondents and the information does not include values but provide accurate
business information. Therefore, this supports in getting real data about the subject matter, it also
establish trust by providing accurate data about subject matter.
This research is also focuses on getting the information about the perceptions of the
researchers so that more information about the subject matter is revealed. It also provide
adequate information about the concepts and philosophies which researchers used to get accurate
data regarding the subject matter (Sovacool, Axsen, & Sorrell, 2018). From the analysis, it is
revealed that realism is considered most effective theory so that real information about the
business and management information is revealed. It is because this describes more information
about the perception and experience of the researchers which contribute more towards the study.
The aim of the study is acquire knowledge about the research philosophies and
methodologies used in conducting the study about the leadership styles used in companies so that
motivation of the employees and better results will be acquired (Wu, Thompson, Aroian,
McQuaid, & Deatrick, 2016). The information gathering is done through getting the information
by other researchers. The investigation revealed that interpretivism concept is used on describing
the complete abstract of the research, in this research it also provide information about the
description of the variables and reveal the information through including the perception of the
respondents. Therefore in this other data collection method is also included which include case
study method, phenomenology (Goertzen, 2017).
The study is also providing knowledge about the application of research paradigm in the
business and management research (Percy, Kostere, & Kostere, 2015). The data collection is
done through adopting qualitative approach, from the analysis it is revealed that critical realism
approach of realism theory supports the researchers to gather information in critical manner. This
supports in getting the adequate results about the subject matter and provide accurate information
regarding the manager behavior, employee motivation level, leaders traits and other factors so
that objective of the research will be conducted in efficient manner by including scientific
analysis method.

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Problematic issues
There are some problematic issues which occurred in developing the truth in the business
and management research by adopting research paradigm. It is because of selecting the
appropriate theory which should be used in the particular situation this is due to the reason that
there are various different themes and aspects in diverse business and management research topic
(Kivunja & Bawa Kuyini, 2017).
For example for applying the theory of research paradigm is different for understanding
leadership style and workforce diversity of the organization. Furthermore, in some of the theories
it becomes difficult to describe the research strategy and structure which should be followed in
conducting because of fixed research design method (Khaldi, 2017). This leads in increasing the
challenge for the researchers to change the subjectivity of the research and describe the data
collection and analysis technique to be used so that truth could be established in business and
management research.
The instruments and structure which should be used in finding the data is different in
both interpretive and positivism theory, this leads in providing accurate information about the
subject matter and increase the issue of selecting the data which should be used in providing
better results and findings as well as could be appropriate for the business and management
research (Pavlineri, Skoulikidis, & Tsihrintzis, 2017). The one of the problematic issues is the
volume of the information which becomes challenge for the researchers to make interpretation of
the data so that analysis is done in efficient manner. However, sometimes it leads in getting
subjective responses of the respondents which are involved in the study and this affects the truth
of the business research. The other problems which involve includes collecting the narrow data
and sometimes provide limitation in giving adequate numerical information about the subject
matter and reveal less description of the human opinions and perception accounts (Queirós,
Faria, & Almeida, 2017).
Case study
Business and management research supports in providing information regarding the
overall business information, it supports in formulating and understanding in-depth problem
which organization are facing and provide knowledge to solve the issue. It also helps in

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developing the appreciation of the issues which involved in the research. Therefore, researchers
focus on developing the truth in the research by conducting the research so that validity and
reliability of the research is measured (Marx, Haunschild, & Bornmann, 2017). This supports in
giving accurate information about the subject matter and describe the research strategy by which
the framework of the study is used. Therefore to provide the relation of truth with research
paradigm research conducts the study to understand the strategies which organization used in
management of workforce diversity. This topic is selected because majority of the company find
difficulty in workforce diversity management.
The data collection was done through adopting the secondary method in which the
researchers used qualitative approach and adopt thematic analysis method to define different
themes which includes importance of workforce diversity, effect of workforce diversity
management in organization (Marx, Haunschild, & Bornmann, 2017). This supports the
researchers to get complete information about business and management research and supports in
achieving the objective of the research. The researchers used realism theory in which critical
realism approach used to analyze critically about the subject matter this supports the researchers
to adopt reality and to get more results and opinions of the researchers so that more results will
be achieved about the proposed topic.
This theory leads in getting the complete phenomena about the topic and research
paradigm supports in selecting the research strategy and framework so that procedure and other
aspects will be revealed for understanding the series of steps which can to be covered while
conducting the research (Marx, Haunschild, & Bornmann, 2017). This leads in managing the
results of the study and established truth to get the real results according to the benefits of the
society and organization because it support the company to understand the problem and develop
strategies to overcome the issues. Furthermore, the truth and reality is also achieved trough
getting the information which cover whole area and this leads in establishing real information
and developing truth and trust.
The findings revealed that workforce diversity effects in positive manner, therefore which
provide information to the company to develop policies for increasing workforce diversity
(Marx, Haunschild, & Bornmann, 2017). This leads in getting adequate information by the use of
research paradigm, this theory supports in getting the deep analysis of the research and develop

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other related areas for getting the objective of the research. The theories in research paradigm are
different for different types of business research because of differentiation in the subject area by
which the truth is established.
Conclusion
From the above, it is concluded that research paradigm is the approach which is used by
the researcher to define the overall research strategy in which the techniques and method used
for collection of data, which is to be involved and methods for data evaluation is described. This
supports the researchers to adopt the principle of validity and reliability to reveal accurate
results. Furthermore, there are various theories which used in business and management research
such as positivism and realism which also used other concepts which includes ontology, axiology
so that valid results will be revealed about the subject matter.

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Iacobucci, D. (2016). Marketing Management. Boston: Cengage Learning.
Khaldi, K. (2017). Quantitative, Qualitative or Mixed Research: Which Research Paradigm to
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Kivunja, C., & Bawa Kuyini, A. (2017). Understanding and applying research paradigms in
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Marx, W., Haunschild, R., & Bornmann, L. (2017). Quantitative analysis of a highly dynamic
research field. Journal of Grapevine Research , 56 (1), 35-43.
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