Overview of the Exploratory Sequential Design

To provide an answer to the research initiating question (as highlighted in Chapter 1), the following two specific research questions were developed:

1. What is the relationship between subjective career success (dependent variable) and organisational variables, such as leadership characteristics and behaviours, organisational characteristics, such as job resources and organisational climate, and psychological characteristics and past job experiences?

2. Can a conceptual model be built, depicting the combined influence of organisational variables, such as leadership characteristics and behaviours, organisational characteristics, such as job resources and organisational climate, and psychological characteristics and past job experiences on subjective career success?

The research questions are informed by the literature review. To systematically provide answers to these two research questions, an appropriate research design is required.

The exploratory sequential design is a two-phase sequential design in which the researcher starts by qualitatively exploring the topic, before proceeding to a second, quantitative phase. The emphasis on exploration is encompassed in the name of the research design. In many applications of this design, the researcher develops an

instrument as an intermediate step between the phases that build on the qualitative results and is used in the quantitative data collection to follow (Creswell, Fetters, &

Ivankova, 2004).

However, for the purposes of the current study, no instrument will be developed. The initial qualitative phase plays a secondary role. The purpose of the qualitative phase in the current study is merely the verification of the content validity of the instruments with the possibility of adapting them.

3.2.1 Philosophical assumptions behind exploratory design.

According to Creswell and Plano Clark (2011), given that the exploratory design starts qualitatively, the research problem and purpose often require the qualitative strand to have a bigger priority within the design. However in the current study, emphasis is placed on the quantitative strand that follows the qualitative strand. In general during the first phase of a study, researchers work from constructivist principles to appreciate various perspectives and obtain an in-depth understanding of the topic prior to proceeding to the next quantitative phase.

3.2.2 The purpose of the exploratory design.

The purpose of the chosen research design is to ensure that accurate empirical evidence is obtained that can be interpreted to determine whether the thirteen research propositions defined for this study can be confidently accepted or rejected.

In order to test the propositions, a mixed-methods design (with the emphasis on the quantitative research approach) will be used. The primary purpose of the exploratory design is to make inferences from qualitative findings, based on the responses of a few individuals from the first phase, to a larger sample gathered during the second phase. The intent of the two-phase exploratory design is that the results of the first qualitative phase can help develop or inform the second quantitative phase (Greene, Caracelli, & Graham 1989). This design is based on the premise that an exploration is needed for one of several reasons: (1) a measure or instruments are not available, (2) the variables are unknown, or, (3) there is no guiding framework or theory (Cresswell, Plano Clark, Gutman, & Hanson, 2003). The four major steps of the exploratory design (with the associated phases of the current study) are depicted in Table 3.1.

Table 3.1

Flowchart of the Basic Procedures in Implementing an Exploratory Design

STEP 1: Design and Implement the Qualitative Strand (Phase 1)

 State qualitative research questions

 Determine the qualitative approach

 Obtain permission from research respondents

 Identify the qualitative sample

 Collect open-ended data with protocols

 Analyse the qualitative data using procedures of theme development and those specific to the qualitative approach to identify the information needed to inform the second phase

Outcome

 Sufficient coverage of variables (as suggested by literature review)

STEP 2: Use Strategies to Build on the Qualitative Results (Phase 2)

 Refine quantitative research questions or propositions

o If necessary, adapt quantitative research questions and propositions in light of qualitative results

 Determine how participants will be selected for the quantitative sample

 Design and pilot-test a quantitative data collection instrument based on the qualitative results

Outcome

 Reliable and valid measuring instruments

STEP 3: Design and Implement the Quantitative Strand (Phase 2 and Phase 3)

 State quantitative research questions or propositions

o If necessary, adapt quantitative research questions and propositions in light of qualitative results

 Determine the quantitative approach

 Obtain permission from research participants

 Analyse the quantitative data using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and effect sizes to answer the quantitative research questions

Outcome

 Trustworthy data for evaluating propositions

STEP 4: Interpret the Results (Chapters 4 and 5)

 Summarise and interpret the qualitative results

 Summarise and interpret the quantitative results Outcome

 Theoretically sound and empirically supported conceptual model

Adapted from Creswell et al. (2011, p. 88)

In the current study, the purpose of the qualitative phase was two-fold: Firstly, to seek confirmation whether the instruments to be utilised (in the quantitative phase) covered relevant constructs that were seen as important (from a theoretical perspective). Secondly, to establish whether there were additional themes that were not adequately covered by the selected instruments. Greater emphasis was, however, placed on the quantitative phase of the exploratory sequential design in the current study. Given the lesser emphasis to be placed on the qualitative phase of the current study, the advantages associated with qualitative research may not have been fully realised.

The following table provides a summary of the sequential research design and relevant information in terms of the research design utilised in the current study.

Table 3.2

Methodological Summary of Sequential Research Design Phases

Sequential

sampling  Qualitative

Interviews Conceptual

sampling  Multifactor

Leadership

Table 3.2 (continued).

Methodological Summary of Sequential Research Design Phases

Sequential Research Design Phase

Sample Size

Sampling Design Data Collection Technique

418 Convenience Sampling  Multifactor Leadership

In the following section an overview of the qualitative strand (Phase 1) will be provided: The primary purpose was to seek confirmation whether the instruments to be utilised (in the quantitative phase) cover relevant issues that are seen as important

(from a theoretical perspective). In addition, it was also aimed to establish whether there were themes that were not adequately covered by the selected instruments.