Slide 4.
Chapter 4
Understanding research philosophies
and approaches
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 4.2
The research ‘onion’
Saunders et al, (2008)
Figure 4.1 The research ‘onion’
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 4.3
Why to pick an approach???
• Leads to decide research design
• Helps to decide the choices and strategies
• Helps to cater problems and constrains
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 4.4
Summary: Chapter 4
The two main research approaches are
Deduction - theory and hypothesis are
developed and tested
Induction – data are collected and a theory
developed from the data analysis
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 4.5
DEDUCTION AND INDUCTION
1. Theory
2. Hypothesis 1. General Research Questions
Deduction
Induction
3. Data Collection 2. Data Collection
4. Findings 3. Findings
5. Hypothesis confirmed or 4. Generation of Theory
rejected
6. Revision of theory
5
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 4.6
Deductive and Inductive research
Major differences between these approaches
Saunders et al, (2009)
Table 4.2 Major differences between deductive and inductive approaches to
research
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 4.7
‘Research philosophy is an over-arching term
relating to the development of knowledge and
the nature of that knowledge’
Adapted from Saunders et al, (2009)
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 4.8
Understanding your research philosophy
Three major research philosophy
• Ontology- What is the nature of reality?
• Epistemology -What is regarded as acceptable
knowledge and how we know it?
• Axiology- What is the role of values in conducting
research?
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 4.9
Sr. Philosophical Positivism Interpretivism Pragmatism
# Assumption
1 Ontology: - Singular reality existing Multiple realities Singular and multiple
apart from researcher’s shaped by researcher’s realities.
perception and cultural prior understanding e.g. researchers test
What is the nature of
biases. (Objectivism) (constructionism). hypothesis and provide
reality?
e.g. researchers reject or fail e.g. researchers multiple perspectives.
OR
to reject hypothesis. provides quotes to
what is knowledge?
illustrate different
perspectives.
2 Epistemology: - Distance and impartiality Closeness (e.g. Practicality (e.g.
What is the relationship (e.g. researchers objectively researchers visit researchers collect data
between the researcher collect data on participants at their by “what work” to
and that being instruments.) sites to collect data) address research
researched? Acceptable knowledge is It is cased on the question).
What is regarded as gained through sense and is perceptions of the Objective + Subjective
acceptable knowledge objectively real. (Objective) individuals about the
and how we know it? world. (Subjective)
3 Axiology: - Unbiased (e.g. researchers Biased (e.g. researchers Multiple stances. (e.g.
What is the role of use checks to eliminate actively talk about their researchers include
values? bias) biases and both biased and
interpretations) unbiased perspectives)
9
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 4.10
Understanding your research philosophy
(3)
Aspects of ontology
• Objectivism – quantative measuring, social
entities are external to social actors.
• Subjectivism – complex phenomena, on going
process, involves social actors.
• Pragmatism- research philosophy is picked
according to research questions
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 4.11
Understanding your research philosophy
(4)
Aspects/views of epistemology
• Positivism - the stance of the natural scientist
(observerable, law-like generalisations, resources)
• Realism - ( scientific enquiry ) direct and critical
realism. ( cricket umpire)
• Interpretivism – researchers as ‘social actors’
(generalisation is not necessary)
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 4.12
Research paradigms
Definition
‘A way of examining social phenomenon from
which particular understandings of these
phenomena can be gained and explanations
attempted’
Saunders et al. (2009)
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 4.13
Combining research approaches
Things worth considering
• The nature of the research topic
• The time available
• The extent of risk
• The research audience – managers and markers
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 4.14
Four conceptual dimensions
• Radical Change - judgment about ways organizational
affairs should be conducted, how to make them better, critical
perspective
• Regulation – less critical and judgemental, seeks explanation
as how affairs are regulated in organization and how they can be
improved with in the given framework
• Objectivist – (ontology)
• Subjectivist – (ontology)
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 4.15
Summary: Chapter 4
Social science paradigms can generate fresh
insights into real-life issues and problems
Four of the paradigms are:
Functionalist Radical humanist
Interpretive Radical structuralist
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 4.16
Radical change
Radical Humanist Radical Structralist
(critical perspective in ( fundamental changes
organizational life, like power relations,
how to change the patterns of conflict,
status quo, what is what should be done. )
Subjectivist done) Objectivist
Interpretive Functionalist (why a
(fundamental problem is occurring
meanings attached to and how it can solved,
organizational life, Problem oriented
understand and approach, practical
explain why things are solutions, practical
happening in an problems)
organization)
Regulation
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
