preview

Qualitative Research Methods

Decent Essays
Open Document

4. Research Methods

4.1 Data Collection

For this study, the data was generated sequentially and each stage of the research process was informed the next stage. Methods was utilised are: document analysis, one to one semi-structured interviews and non-participant observation with key informants. The staged approach was enabled the researcher to confirm triangulation from multiple sources of evidence and to develop a deeper understanding of the phenomenon. The methods was utilised are as follows:
1. Document analysis: The researcher analysed organisational documents which the researcher can gain access to and which are relevant to the study. Therefore, documents which refer to coaching and the development of talented employees were targeted …show more content…

Semi-structured interviews: The researcher conducted one to one semi-structured interviews. The first interview was with the owner manager as he is a key informant. The other interviews were also on a one to one basis with 4 coaches and 4 coachees in this case study organisation.
3. Non-participant observation: Each coach and coachee was asked to provide consent for the researcher to observe, but not to participate in, a coaching session.

The interview questions developed have been informed by the literature and have been devised to ensure that there are no misleading questions that may impact upon the reliability of the results and to ensure that the objectives of the study are fully examined (Cresswell, 2007). However, it is acknowledged that case study research is iterative and additional questions may arise during the research process as the researcher develops a deeper understanding of the phenomena being explored.

For this report, case study 1 in this pilot study was completed and therefore, findings from case study 1 will be analysed and written up before progressing to case study 2; similarly for case study 2 before progressing to case study 3. This iterative approach will enable the researcher to remain reflective and reflexive as the research …show more content…

The number and nature of cases studied in a qualitative research design must be provisional (Gobo, 2007), so the suggested number of participants in this study will be 27, representing three sectors of SMEs in Thailand. This number (27) is an appropriate number for the beginning of the research which 24 participants are identified as key informant and who will be selected by their owner/manager (3 participants), and the number of cases can change during the research until the data analysis is quite advanced. Mario Luis Small (2009) suggested that in a case model, the number of cases is unknown until the study is completed; if the case is conducted properly, the very last case examined will provide very little new or surprising information, so the objective is saturation. Three SMEs will be selected, being the three case studies that were considered as critical cases. The criteria for selection will be that the companies are registered as Thai SMEs and received an SMEs National Award from OSMEP in Thailand. The three categories represented will be the National Award, Outstanding Award, and Rising Star Award, and three cases will also be representative of the Production Sector, Service Sector and Trading Sector, respectively. There will be 9 participants for each case; 1 participant will be the owner-manager, 4 participants will be manager/ supervisors who are considered to

Get Access