Methodology of Study

Research methodology is the process followed by a researcher to achieve the aim and objectives of a particular study. It provides the basis to make informed decisions, step by step, about how the research should be conducted. Moreover, research methodology comprises several key elements that a researcher should consider when undertaking research, for instance, the overall research approach, data collection techniques and data analysis techniques (Collis and Hussey 2003).

4.1. Research Philosophy

The term ‘research philosophy’ relates to the development of knowledge and the nature of that knowledge. As stated by Saunders et al. (2003), Easterby-Smith et al. (2002, p.27) reasons why an understanding of philosophical issues is useful for the author is” It can help in clarifying the research

designed; also, it can enable avoiding going up too many blind alleys. In addition, it can help to identify and even create designs that may be outside his or her past experience. And it may also suggest how to adapt research designs according to the constraints of different subject knowledge structures”.

Many authors such as Remenyi et al. (1998), Esterby-Smith et al. (2002), Saunders et al. (2003) and Collins and Hussey (2003) have mentioned that there are two main research philosophies or paradigms: phenomenology (interpretivism) and positivism (Hussey and Hussey, 1997; Easterby-Smith et al., 1991; Collis and Hussey, 2009)

In Table 1 Easterby-Smith et al. (2004, p.30) summarised the distinction between positivist and phenomenological philosophies.

Table 1: Contrasting implications of positivism and phenomenology, (Easterby-Smith et al., 2004).

Positivism Phenomenology

The observer Must be independent Is part of what is being observed Human interests Should be irrelevant Are the main drivers of science

Explanations Must demonstrate causality Aim to increase general understanding of the situation

Research progress through

Hypotheses and deduction Gathering rich data from which ideas are induced

Concepts Need to be operationalised so that they can be measured

Should incorporate stakeholder perspective

Units of analysis Should be reduced to simple terms May include the complexity of ‘whole’ situations

Generalisation through

Statistical probability Theoretical abstraction

Sampling requires Large numbers selected randomly Small numbers of cases chosen for specific reason

The review of the literature relating to TPs will be conducted through library and internet research in which textbooks, journal articles, bulletins, newsletters, professional body publications, and seminar reports pertaining to the subject matter will be used. In particular, research in similar cultural contexts to Libya will be sought.

4.2. Research Approach

There are two main research approaches, the deductive and inductive approaches. Quantitative research is deductive in nature (deductive testing where the theory depends on the literature review, and from this the hypothesis is formed, ie, start general and end with the specific); it allows the researcher to first collect the data and then to generate hypotheses or propositions that can be tested quantitatively (Hussey and Hussey, 1997).While the inductive approach is often associated with qualitative research in which the researcher collects data and develops the theory as a result of data analysis (Saunders et al., 2007). Inductive research builds up the theory and starts with the specific rather than generalities. Collis and Hussey (2003) discussed the philosophical assumptions that underpin the two main paradigms. Table 2 is adapted from their work.

Table 2: Assumption of the two main research approaches, Source: Collis and Hussey (2003).

Assumption Questions Quantitative Qualitative

Ontological What is the nature of reality?

Reality is objective and singular, apart from the researcher.

Reality is subjective and multiple as seen by participants in a study

Epistemological What is the relationship of the researcher to that research?

Researcher is

independent from that being researched.

Researcher interacts with that being researched.

Methodological What is the process of research?

Deductive process Cause and effect static design- categories isolated before study Context-free generalisations leading to predication, explanation and understanding accurate and reliable data through validity and reliability. Inductive process Mutual simultaneous shaping of factors. Context-bound emerging design-categories identified during research process patterns theories developed for understanding accurate and reliable data through verification.

Saunders et al, (2007) encouraged combining deductive and inductive approaches within the same piece of research. In this research, the researcher expects to incorporate the findings from the case studies into an existing theory (inductive approach).

4.3. Research Strategy

The aim of the research design is to satisfy the research aim and objectives. There are a number of research methodologies in social science which include: experiments, surveys, histories, analysis of archival information and case study research (Yin, 2003).. In case studies the researcher collects both primary and secondary data According to Yin (2009) three conditions can be used to select the appropriate strategy for research in the social science field. These are the type of research question posed the extent of control an investigator has over actual behavioural events and the degree of focus on contemporary as opposed to historical events. Table 3 shows these three conditions and how each one is linked to five main research strategies.

Table 3: Relevant situations for different research methods. Source: Yin (2009).

Method Form of Research

Question

Requires Control of Behavioural Events?

Focus on

Contemporary Events

Experiment How, Why? Yes Yes

Survey Who, What, Where, How many, How much?

No Yes

Archival analysis

Who, What, Where, How many, How much?

No Yes/No

History How, Why? No No

Case study How, Why No Yes

4.4. Data Collection Methods

The method of data collection from respondents is the first step taken in any such study. Yin (2003) stated that there are many forms of data collection such as questionnaires, personal interviews, observational techniques and documentation.The aim and objectives of this research will be achieved by the collection of both primary and secondary data. This will involve three separate activities as follows: firstly, conducting a review of the literature; secondly, undertaking a piece of empirical study in Libya to collect data regarding managerial and academic staff attitudes, and finally, by investigating documentary evidence, to identify and analyse current barriers to TPs. A documentation review is used as a source of evidence to satisfy the requirements for research validity and reliability. The documents may include reports, memos, minutes of meetings, proposals, and newspaper articles.

Additionally, the researcher will conduct a pilot study to identify problems that might occur with the questions posed in the semi-structured interviews. The sample will include two different groups, the first group sample will comprise a number of senior and top managers at

Al Fatah University; this sample will be interviewed using a structured technique, which will fall within the qualitative research paradigm. The second group sample will consist of the academic staff at the University of Al Fatah, and this group will also be interviewed using a structured technique.

4.5. Data Analysis

The data collected from the case study organisations will be analysed according to suitable methods to be decided in advance of the data collection.