Research Proposal: Developing and Sustainable Oil and Gas Projects

This research proposal explores the development and sustainability of oil and gas projects, specifically within the context of Southeast Asia. The study adopts a qualitative research approach, utilizing grounded theory as its primary methodology. Data collection will involve structured and semi-structured interviews, as well as focus group discussions with key stakeholders in the oil and gas industry. Secondary qualitative research, including literature reviews, will supplement the primary data. The proposal details the strengths of this approach, such as minimizing researcher bias and generating rich, diverse answers, while acknowledging limitations like challenges in establishing validity and generalizability. The research aims to identify key factors influencing the sustainability of oil and gas projects and to analyze risks, uncertainties, and investment decision-making in the upstream oil and gas industry within developing countries. The proposal also considers the impact of volatile oil prices on energy policies for oil and gas companies in these regions.

Running head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Research Proposal
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1RESEARCH PROPOSAL
1. Understanding how the Research can be considered as a Qualitative Project
A project on developing and sustainable oil and gas projects in the context of Southeast
can be conducted using primary qualitative research by deploying the use of structured
interviews, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions (Flick 2018). Such
interviews and focus group discussions can be taken with a respondent population that is
made up of key stakeholders in the oil and gas industry in Southeast Asian countries.
Interviews and focus group discussions if conducted in a detailed and organized way with
stakeholders will help to generate answers to the key research questions that have been posed
in the study. The information obtained from the interviews, focus group discussions etc. can
then be supplemented with information obtained from secondary qualitative research, by
reading up extensively on books, journal articles and book chapters on the subject. This is a
subject that can specifically be researched upon qualitatively using the design of grounded
theory research, with a detailed and systematic exploration of concepts and theories being
undertaken through the methodical gathering as well as analysis of data (Flick 2018).
2. Type of Methodology that would be employed to answer the Research Questions
Grounded theory research will be employed in order to answer the research questions.
This is a method that entails the construction of a theory by gathering and analyzing data in a
methodical manner (Henninke et al. 2020). The primary purpose of using such a design
strategy will be to ground or evolve a theory in the specific context in which the study is
being undertaken, in this case, the key factors that have to be addressed when undertaking
sustainable oil and gas projects in developing countries of the world such as in Southeast
Asia.

2RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Some of the key ways in which data shall be collected is by taking interviews
with key stakeholders in the oil and gas industries in Southeast Asian countries, with the
questions being open-ended in nature, by taking focus group discussions with the same and
by engaging in participant observation behavior. Coding text followed by theorizing will be
the key analytical tools deployed for data analysis.
One of the key strengths associated with grounded theory research is that researcher bias
is not too likely to impact the outcome of the study and a diverse and richer set of answers
can be produced compared to answers produced by traditional research (Silverman 2016).
The limitations lie in the fact that since the data produced is subjective in nature, establishing
validity and reliability of the information and the approaches can be difficult. Detecting
researcher induced bias will also prove to be difficult to do when using a research design like
grounded theory research (Prasad 2017).
Generalizability in qualitative research will help to provide an understanding of the
circumstances or the backdrop against which sustainable oil and gas projects are being
implemented in developing countries of the world such as in Southeast Asia. It will help to
provide a general context to the project after which the researcher can narrow down the
subject and look at specific issues impacting sustainable oil and gas project development in
Southeast Asia (Silverman 2016).

3RESEARCH PROPOSAL
References
Flick, U., 2018. Designing qualitative research. Sage.
Hennink, M., Hutter, I. and Bailey, A., 2020. Qualitative research methods. SAGE Publications
Limited.
Prasad, P., 2017. Crafting qualitative research: Beyond positivist traditions. Taylor & Francis
Silverman, D. ed., 2016. Qualitative research. Sage