What Methodology Did You Select For Your Proposed Study? ✓ Solved

What methodology did you select for your proposed study?

What methodology did you select for your proposed study? Why? Justify and defend your choice as the best option for addressing your problem statement and research questions. Discuss an alternative methodology and explain why you did not select it for your study. Use at least 2-3 peer-reviewed sources in your defense and refutation.

I selected a qualitative methodology to analyze the monetary value of a corporation's professional certification, because it uses oral interviews and focus discussion approaches. The method collects data, such as beliefs, perceptions, and observations, and efficiently evaluates professional certifications' monetary value to corporations (Stewart & Cash, 2017). According to Nelson & Evans (2014), a researcher working on professional certifications needs to conduct interviews and hold focus group discussions with small groups to obtain valuable information. Quantitative methodology is an alternative for studying the monetary value of professional certifications. However, I did not choose this method, because it deals with data, such as figures and numerals analyzed using statistical approaches.

According to Sukamolson (2017), it uses statistical techniques to evaluate its data and requires a large sample size to conduct its study; this will be challenging in studying professional certifications' monetary value. Additionally, the quantitative methodology entails manipulating observations to describe occurrences reflected by observations; if data becomes manipulated while examining the monetary value, it will alter the research objectives. References Nelson, G., & Evans, S. D. (2014). Critical Community Psychology and Qualitative Research: A Conversation. Qualitative Inquiry, 158–166. Stewart, C. J., & Cash, W. B. J. (2017). Interviewing principles and practices. Interviewing Principles and Practices., 15th Edition, New York: McGraw Hill Education. Sukamolson, S. (2007). Fundamentals of quantitative research. Language Institute Chulalongkorn University, 1–20.

What research design did you select for your proposed study? Why? Justify and defend your choice as the best option for addressing your problem statement and research questions. Discuss an alternative design and why you did not select it for your study.

I selected a case study design for my study, because of its in-depth investigation. According to Thattamparambil (2020), case-study is an in-depth study of an event, an organization, a person, or a group, and explains how the researcher selected their case study materials for the analysis, the type of materials analyzed, and how they collected and selected them. The design will assist with analyzing the monetary value of professional certifications to corporations, because it answers why and how questions. Additionally, the design explores a time and space-bound phenomenon based on history, development, and other aspects. The design is generally used by researchers to study past organizational performance considering a corporate choice of technical knowledge. Grounded theory design is an alternative; it focuses on constructing theories from data collected.

I did not select the design, because it focuses on participants' experiences and perceptions, which vary from one person to another based on their context, and therefore this process could alter the research study. According to Chun et al. (2019), the design aims to discover and construct theories from comprehensively acquired data and analyze it using a contingent analysis. The design is not effective in analyzing the monetary value of professional certifications for corporations. References Chun Tie, Y., Birks, M., & Francis, K. (2019). Grounded theory research: A design framework for novice researchers. SAGE Open Medicine, 7. Thattamparambil, N. (2020). How to choose the research methodology best suited for your study.

Paper For Above Instructions

In the realm of educational and organizational research, selecting an appropriate methodology is crucial in ensuring the relevance and validity of one’s findings. In this paper, a qualitative methodology has been chosen to assess the monetary value of professional certifications from the perspective of corporations. This section will explore the rationale behind this choice, alternative approaches to methodology, and delve into the implications that guide such decisions.

Selected Methodology: Qualitative Research

The qualitative methodology focuses primarily on understanding phenomena through the meanings individuals attach to them. This approach is particularly beneficial in fields involving human behavior and societal trends, as it captures the depth of complex issues. In analyzing the monetary value of professional certifications, qualitative methods such as interviews and focus groups will be central to gathering insights into how stakeholders perceive these qualifications.

According to Stewart & Cash (2017), qualitative methods are effective in gathering data that encapsulates a rich tapestry of individual beliefs, perceptions, and behaviors. For a research topic centered on professional certifications, understanding the subjective experiences of employees, employers, and industry experts is paramount as these certifications often carry different weights in various contexts. Furthermore, Nelson & Evans (2014) emphasize that direct engagement through interviews provides nuanced data that are difficult to glean from quantitative metrics. This perspective aligns with the objectives of the current study, which seeks to explore nuanced relationships rather than arrive at broad generalizations.

Alternative Methodology: Quantitative Research

While quantitative research offers a structured approach to data collection through measurable variables, it is not deemed suitable for this study. The limitations arise from its inherent nature of relying on numerical data to create statistical analyses that may not reflect the subtleties of human experiences regarding certification values. Sukamolson (2017) notes that quantitative analysis demands large sample sizes and often manipulates data, which can lead to misleading conclusions if not handled with caution. For this research, manipulating observations—especially regarding something as intricate as perceived professional value—could jeopardize the authenticity of the findings. Additionally, the rigidity of quantitative methods poses a challenge when exploring the dynamic context surrounding corporate perception of professional certifications.

Selected Research Design: Case Study

Moving from methodology to research design, a case study approach is selected to provide an in-depth investigation into specific organizations and their values surrounding professional certifications. Thattamparambil (2020) argues that case studies allow researchers to delve deeply into events, organizations, or individuals, allowing for a comprehensive analysis that connects to the research questions effectively. This investigation seeks to identify specific instances of how certifications impact corporate practices and decision-making.

The case study design is particularly relevant due to its ability to examine the "how" and "why" related to a phenomenon, enabling the researcher to explore the multi-dimensional aspects of professional certifications. This qualitative design allows for rich, detailed accounts that reflect individual experiences and organizational contexts, which are vital in addressing the primary research questions regarding monetary value.

Alternative Design: Grounded Theory

Grounded theory presents an alternative design focused on generating theory from the data collected. However, this approach was not chosen due to its emphasis on broad theoretical constructs, which may obscure individual experiences. Chun et al. (2019) elucidate that grounded theory aims at constructing theories that are sensitive to context; yet, for this study, there is a distinct need to analyze a specific corporate scenario, making a grounded theory approach less effective. While both qualitative methodologies focus on human experience, the case study supports a detailed examination of corporate contexts rather than abstract theory development.

Conclusion

The methodological and design choices made in this research are strong indicators of the study's focus on understanding the intricate nature of professional certifications within corporate environments. Through qualitative research and case study designs, this investigation will yield a depth of understanding that quantifiable data cannot achieve, allowing for an informed discourse on the perceived monetary values attributed to professional certifications.

References

  • Chun Tie, Y., Birks, M., & Francis, K. (2019). Grounded theory research: A design framework for novice researchers. SAGE Open Medicine, 7.
  • Nelson, G., & Evans, S. D. (2014). Critical Community Psychology and Qualitative Research: A Conversation. Qualitative Inquiry, 158–166.
  • Sukamolson, S. (2007). Fundamentals of quantitative research. Language Institute Chulalongkorn University, 1–20.
  • Stewart, C. J., & Cash, W. B. J. (2017). Interviewing principles and practices. Interviewing Principles and Practices., 15th Edition, New York: McGraw Hill Education.
  • Thattamparambil, N. (2020). How to choose the research methodology best suited for your study.