RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 3.1 Introduction
3.8 Data analysis
3.8.1 Qualitative data analysis
Nieuwenhuis (2010) contends that qualitative data analysis is usually based on an interpretive philosophy. The aim is to investigate meaningful content of the qualitative data, that is, determining the meaning attributed to phenomena. This is done through analysing the perceptions, attitudes, understanding, values and feelings of research participants. Data analysis in this study was done in an iterative process as described by Seidel (1998). While reflecting on
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data collected at participating organisations, some gaps were identified or questions arose. In these cases, a follow-up discussion was held to clarify issues or collect more data. Throughout the analysis process, I referred to my field notes, keeping in mind the research questions. Qualitative data was analysed manually without making use of any computer software.
The first step in the data analysis process was organising the various datasets. Each digital recording and its accompanying field notes were electronically filed. Copies of the recordings were archived for potential retrieval in case of accidental loss or theft. Recordings were also appropriately labelled to facilitate easy retrieval. Subsequently, each interview was transcribed verbatim. Transcription of the data was done by me to assist with interpretation and building insight. Copies of the transcribed interviews were archived together with the digital recordings.
The next step in the data analysis process was to get to know the data by reading the transcriptions and listening to the digital recordings if needed. While doing this, notes were made of any impressions. This process is referred to as “memoing” (Punch, 2005:201). The next step was the coding of the data. Coding was done by my reading through the transcriptions and segmenting the data into meaningful units (McMillan & Schumacher, 2010:276; Nieuwenhuis, 2010). Codes allocated were developed during the coding process, that is, inductive coding. On completion of the initial coding of the data, codes were revised and refined. An example of the results of the coding process can be found in Appendix G.
Following the coding process, related codes were combined and classified into themes or categories. Each category was given an appropriate description. This was done in an iterative process until all coded data were combined into categories (McMillan & Schumacher, 2010). On completion of the inductive categorisation, the categories were revisited to determine the relationship between them. The results of the coding process are summarised in Appendix H and the final list of categories is provided in Appendix I.
3.8.2 Quantitative data analysis
The secondary quantitative data collected by utilising the Genos EI Inventory was scored by the Department of Industrial Psychology at Stellenbosch University (SU) using SPSS computer software. The scored profiles were subsequently analysed inductively for pattern recognition only. The quantitative data was interpreted together with the qualitative data, moving from specific data to general categories and patterns (McMillan & Schumacher, 2010:367).
130 3.9 Ethical considerations
Saunders et al. (2009:117) define ethics as “beliefs about what is right or wrong from a moral perspective”. Ethical considerations are of primary importance during research (Saunders et al., 2009; Maree, 2012). The ethical standards followed in this study are described in the following section using the guidelines provided by Saunders et al. (2009), McMillan and Schumacher (2010), Elias and Theron (2012), and Maree (2012).
3.9.1 Research authority approval
Permission to conduct the research was formally obtained from the Faculty of Informatics and Design Research Committee at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, as well as from the Faculty Ethics Committee before the start of the data collection.
3.9.2 Full disclosure
The researcher was open and honest with research participants concerning all aspects of the study. The rationale for the study and the research design were explained to the participants and no information was withheld in order to deceive the participants. The participants were also invited to raise any questions regarding the research with their manager, the researcher and the research supervisor at any time personally or via email.
3.9.3 Voluntary participation
Assurance was given to each manager approached for an interview as well as each business analyst, systems analyst as well as project manager invited to participate in completing the
Genos EI Inventory that participation was voluntary. No one was at any stage of the project
coerced into taking part. Participants were informed that they could refuse to sign the consent form and thereby not participate in this study. They were also informed that they could decide to withdraw from the research and not participate at any time. It was also emphasised that withdrawal from this study would not affect their relationships with their employers.
131 3.9.4 Privacy
During the briefing sessions as well as in the consent form, participants were informed that participation would be treated as confidential but not anonymous. It was highlighted that the data collected from the Genos EI Inventory would be used for pattern recognition only and no individual information would be made available as a result of this study. Participants were informed that overall patterns identified during this research would be published as a result of this research. No individual EI results would be published. Participants were also informed that no individual feedback of EI profiles would be given to any of the research participants.
The Genos EI psychometric test used in this study was scored by an independent professional from the Department of Industrial Psychology at Stellenbosch University, accredited for the use of the instrument. The scoring was therefore done by an individual „blind‟ to the study (Maree, 2012).
3.9.5 Informed consent
Formal written consent, as included in Appendix A, was obtained from each of the research participants. Participants were therefore given a choice whether to participate or not. Participants were given the opportunity to refuse to take part without any penalty. Participants were also informed that they could withdraw their consent at any time without any penalty.
The following informational aspects as recommended by Elias and Theron (2012:155) were included in the consent form.
Purpose of the study
Statement on voluntary participation, refusal to sign and cancelling of consent Procedure to complete the EI assessment and duration
Participant confidentiality
Risks and benefits to participants
132 3.10 Summary
In this chapter, an overview of research philosophy was provided and the ontological and epistemological assumptions of this study were delineated. An overview of research paradigms was provided. The research design was illustrated, followed by an explanation of the methods followed for the collection of qualitative and quantitative data. The chapter was concluded with an overview of the ethical considerations of this study. In summary, from an ontological perspective, this study assumed the position of idealism, disagreeing with the belief in an independent objective reality. In addition, I assumed a subjectivist ontological position, believing social phenomena originate from the perceptions and actions of social actors.
From an epistemological perspective, the study was approached from an interpretive paradigm. I believe reality is subjective and dependent on the frame of mind of the observer. Also, the study was approached from a constructivist paradigm, believing the relationship between cognition and the object of cognition, is defined by the subject. From a Kantian perspective, I view both experience and intellect as sources of cognition. From the perspective of Burrell and Morgan (1979), this research was focused in the radical humanist and interpretivist paradigms. The role of business analysts, systems analysts and project managers was critically explored with the aim to understand and explain the role of emotional intelligence of these SDLC stakeholders in Business – IT alignment.
The research approach followed was inductive generalisation. The research design was mixed- methods. The research strategy from a qualitative perspective was a multiple interpretive instrumental case study. The research strategy utilised from a quantitative perspective was a survey. The data collection technique for qualitative data was semi-structured interviews. The data collection technique for collecting quantitative data was a psychometric instrument.
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