I'm working on developing my research proposal but need to understand if my approach is correct. My research will be:
1- to explore the X practices in medium to large organisations
2- to identify implications associated with X practices
3- the question will be: is there a need for a new system or to improve the current traditional X systems?
I'm intending to use phenomenological approach and collect the data via interviews from 5 to 6 companies (qualitative) to develop indicators and then use quantitative by sending questionnaire and target a number of 100 companies for triangulation.
I think the approach is correct, you just have to bring the topic closer to the research question. Good luck
Why are you using quant for a qual study? Are you doing a mix methods? If that is the case your design is incorrect.
Thanks Lutumba & Laverne..
Yes I'm planning to use both, qualitative and quantitative methods for data validation. Is the number of 100 companies for the quantitative method sounds reasonable?
Could you explain where the problem lies in this strategy?
La Verne A Davis can you pls elaborate as why the design is incorrect?
Good Morning Hussain, You have to know how to do both qual and quant studies proficiently. If you are doing a qual phenom study then you cannot use quant as a methodology. If you want to use both qual and quant, that is a mixed study. Please read this page. You said you wanted to triangulate correct? Which design do you feel will best help? I hope this information helps you.
https://cirt.gcu.edu/research/developmentresources/research_ready/mixed_methods/choosing_design
With the info. provided a phenomelogical approach does not sound appropriate. It appears you are not interested in the meaning that those involved have of the phenomenon. Phenomenology is used in medical and educational fields. Your question is more about processes, and results. I encourage you to check this well, and may be try a different methodological approach/desing instead. This explanation might help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXDtCZ9Eupg&t=1329s
As my research will explore X system and identify issues assoywith it, this requires first to explore and identify X's systems in depth and understanding the issues associated with it in details. This will definitely require Phenomenological approach and to start with qualitative method to collect the data from small sample, say 5 to 6 companies, and then apply the quantitative method for triangulation.
If your field will accept a highly applied phenomenological study, then that is sufficient, but I think that Laverne A. Davis and Diana Suarez are right that this approach would not be acceptable in most other disciplines. As Diana Suarez say, a true phenomenological study should emphasize meaning, and would add that this should be in terms of the lived experience of the participants.
Otherwise, you study is quite definitely mixed methods because the goal is to integrate the results from both qualitative and quantitative studies. In general, this is a good thing, because mixed methods is currently a very hot topic in most fields.
With regards to an N of 100 for your quantitative study, this is rather small and that will limit your ability to get statistically significant results. So, if you do plan to do statistical tests, you should use a program such as G*Power to determine a sample size that is appropriate for the tests you want to run.
The following papers may further help, particularly to an understanding of “meaning”.
- Fisher, J. W. P. and Stenner, A. J. (2011) Integrating qualitative and quantitative research approaches via the phenomenological method, International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches, 5, 1, pp. 89-103.
- Groenewald, T. (2004) A Phenomenological Research Design Illustrated, International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 3, 1, pp. 1-26.
- Hycner, R. H. (1985) Some Guidelines for the Phenomenological Analysis of Interview Data, Human Studies, 8, 3, pp. 279-303.
- Nakayama, Y. (1994) Phenomenology and qualitative research methods, Seiroka Kango Daigaku Kiyo, 20, 3, pp. 22-34.
- Norlyk, A. and Harder, I. (2010) What Makes a Phenomenological Study Phenomenological? An Analysis of Peer-Reviewed Empirical Nursing Studies, Qualitative Health Research, 20, 3, pp. 420-431.
- Randles, C. (2012) Phenomenology: A review of the literature, Applications of Research in Music Education, 30, 2, pp. 11-21.
- van Manen, M. (2017) Editorial: But Is It Phenomenology?, Qualitative Health Research, 27, 6, pp. 775-779.
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