Lecture Notes: Research Philosophies, Approaches, and Strategies
Introduction
- Workshop led by a Director of Global Engagement from Birmingham
- Focus on research philosophies, approaches, and strategies
- Introduction to the Research Onion
- Explanation of personal involvement in both quantitative and qualitative research
Key Publications
- Textbooks on statistics (quantitative) and case studies (qualitative)
- Recent book: "How to Keep Your Doctorate on Track" - insights from doctoral students and supervisors
- Research on trust and distrust in various fields
- Publications in Human Resource Management (HRM) and development
- Research on interview sampling strategies
- Collaborative projects, e.g., doctoral development in South Africa
- Member of multiple academies and institutes
Research Philosophies
- Positivism: Objectivity, measurable facts, often quantitative
- Interpretivism: Subjective, socially constructed reality, qualitative
- Critical Realism: Layers of reality, understanding through context
- Postmodernism: Power structures and silences, qualitative
- Pragmatism: Focus on solutions, using appropriate methods
Key Concepts
- Ontology: Nature of reality
- Epistemology: Nature of knowledge
- Axiology: Role of values
Research Methods
- Deductive: Theory testing
- Inductive: Theory building from data
- Abductive: Combining induction and deduction
Research Strategies
- Experiment: Control groups, testing changes
- Survey: Structured data collection, often large samples
- Archival Research: Analysis of existing records
- Case Study: In-depth exploration of a case
- Ethnography: Immersive observational study
Discussion & Exercises
- Research questions and assumptions impact research design
- Importance of aligning ontology, epistemology, and methodology
- Exercises included applying philosophy to practical scenarios
Practical Considerations
- Systematic alignment of research design is critical
- Approaches are related to methods but distinct in scope
- Importance of consistency between research philosophy and methods chosen
Resources
- Free chapter on research philosophies available for download
Conclusion
- Emphasis on the importance of aligning personal research philosophy with research activities
- Encouragement to remain aware of assumptions and systematic in approach
This summary captures the essential elements of the lecture, focusing on understanding and applying various research philosophies and methodologies in academic research. It also includes practical advice on conducting systematic and coherent research aligned with one's philosophical stance.