Questions and Answers of Research Methods Business

How aware are you of your own personal bias? How might this affect what you expect your data to show? What steps can you take to limit the influence of your personal perspective on the data that are
What organisational and ethical issues need to be considered if you decide to undertake some form of participant observation? What might be the best way to take this forward?
If you plan to video or audio-record some of your data, how equipped are you to subsequently transcribe the dialogue into a written form? What arrangements might you make for this?
How well developed are your skills as a note-taker? What system can you develop to ensure that any notes you take while engaged in qualitative data gathering are formulated accurately and in detail?
How clear are you about the purpose of the different types of data gathering you plan to undertake? How clearly developed are the themes to be explored? How clearly are these themes derived from your
How confident are you of your skills as an in-depth research interviewer, or facilitator of focus groups? How might you further develop your skills in these areas?
What sample selection process is most appropriate for your project? How confident are you (and your tutor or supervisor) that your sample will be sufficient to provide data of good quality?
To what extent might qualitative data from social media platforms contribute to the achievement of your research objectives or questions?
Who might be ‘key informants’ for your research project? What access arrangements would be necessary to incorporate them into your sample?
What opportunities may exist within the organisation(s) in which your research is to be based for the use of some form of participant observation? To what extent would such approaches to data
How likely is it that some form of semistructured or in-depth interviews would be an acceptable form of data gathering within the organisation?
Which TWO of the following can be treated as forms of qualitative data?a Google analytics.b Social media posts.c LinkedIn connection requests.d Web pages.
Which of the following statements are correct in relation to using video recording as a form of research data?a Takes a great deal of time to do.b The data must be interpreted.c Should be accurate.d
Which of the following is an advantage of focus groups?a The facilitator cannot control how the discussion proceeds.b They can produce a large volume of data that represents a range of different
What is the role of the facilitator in a focus group?a To evaluate the performance of the group relative to the questions being answered.b To encourage discussion and keep the conversation ‘on
Which of the following is a characteristic of a focus group?a It has two or three participants.b It enables you to study decision-making processes in a group situation.c It is a way to get people to
What is a ‘probing question’?a A question that asks indirectly about people’s opinions or feelings.b A question that encourages the interviewee to say more in response to your original
Why is it important to prepare an interview guide or schedule before you undertake a semi-structured interview?a So that you can work out the statistical inferences from the answers.b To make it easy
Which of the following best describes a qualitative interview?a The researcher seeks rich, detailed answers.b ‘Wandering’ away from the topic is expected.c The questions are standardised.d The
What is purposive sampling?a Deciding about the people you want to include before you have worked out your research questions.b Ensuring that your research sample provides an equal chance for all
How might you ensure that you take into account any biases (such as a management perspective) in the documents that you analyse?
How can you check on the meaning and significance of some of the terms and expressions used within any organisational sources that you study?
What level of permission will you require to utilise data from an HR information system(whether paper-based or electronic)?
To what extent are you interested in, and able to contribute to social media-based interactions such as blogs, social networking sites, podcasts and so on that may provide information and ideas for
What information search skills do you need to identify and select appropriate documentary sources? How might you develop these?
What level of skills would you need to generate specific queries and reports from information management systems? How might you develop the skills you need? Who would be the best person to help with
To what extent might large institutional surveys provide useful information about multiple organisations? Would these data be useful for benchmarking?
In what ways may data from any HR information system be useful to achieving your research objectives? What would be the most helpful format for the data?
To what extent might images and photographic evidence help you to answer your research questions or provide a useful context for your analysis?
To what extent are you so familiar with the organisation that your knowledge of many of its features is ‘tacit’? What sources of evidence would justify your understanding through making your
What are the implications for confidentiality and ethics if you make use of internal information sources?
Who might be helpful in arranging access to organisational forms of evidence?
What are the views of your supervisor about the use of organisational sources of evidence?
What sources of organisational evidence(primary and secondary data) may help you to answer your research questions?
Qualitative analysis of organisational sources of evidence involves:a Counting the number of times a word or feature appears in artefacts.b More creativity and imagination than other forms of
What challenges are presented by making use of evidence about organisations taken from website sources?a They are difficult to reference in a dissertation.b Website data are always less reliable than
What problems are presented by analysing photographs as a form of visual data?a They capture different features of what you are researching into.b They can supplement other evidence that is available
What issues should you take into account if you decide to make use of evidence from published diaries, memoirs or autobiographies?a They were produced for commercial intent.b It is likely that they
What criteria are helpful for assessing the quality of organisational sources of evidence?a Objectivity, subjectivity, accuracy, significance.b Authenticity, credibility, representativeness,
What issues need to be considered when evaluating sources of evidence about an organisation?a The hand-in date of your research report.b Whether the organisation is well known or not.c Whether you
What are the disadvantages of using organisational sources within your research project?a Provision of contextual information about the situation or issue that is being researched.b Difficulties of
Which of the following are documentary forms of evidence about any organisation?a Minutes of executive committee meetings.b E-mail exchanges between an employee and his or her manager.c Newspaper
To what extent have organisational stakeholders got firm ideas about the methods you should use? What skills will you need to manage these expectations and ensure the validity and reliability of the
What skills will you require to obtain access to organisational information (primary and secondary) and to achieve the cooperation of participants in your research?
What experience and level of expertise do you have in recording and analysing quantitative and/or qualitative data? Where can you learn more about these activities?
What knowledge and understanding do you have of sample selection processes? Where might you obtain effective advice about this?
What is your level of expertise in designing of data collection instruments (questionnaire design; interview design; facilitating focus groups and so on)? What development might be helpful in this
How has your review of the literature informed your thinking about methods of data gathering? How satisfied are you with your review of the existing literature?
How clearly articulated are your research questions/objectives? To what extent have your research questions informed your decisions about the research design and data gathering process?
What secondary data sources (organisational documents, etc) are available to you?What level of permission will you need to obtain company information? Who are the‘gatekeepers’ of such information?
What are the expectations of the organisation(s) with which your research will be concerned? What organisational issues or priorities might affect the methods by which you gather data or the timing
Find out about the requirements of your study centre for the methodology section of your report. What sort of word length is expected?What headings or key issues should be discussed?
Data quality issues involve thinking about:a The sampling strategy.b The data gathering instrument.c Data recording processes.d All of the above.
Which of the following approaches to data enable a consideration of change over time?a Cross-sectional ‘one moment in time’survey.b Secondary data analysis.c Longitudinal data.d Literature review.
Theory is important for HR research because:a Tutors give a bad mark if there is no theory.b Theory relates to ‘know-about’ knowledge.c There is a general theory of HR.d Theories provide a basis
One of the advantages of mixed methods research is:a Facilitation of different methods in order to answer a research question.b Focus in depth using open interviews.c Theoretical purity.d Eliminating
Inductive reasoning involves:a Refining and reconsidering theories through testing propositions in different conditions.b Maintaining independence from the subjects being researched.c Incrementally
Issues of data credibility and transferability are particularly relevant to:a Experiments.b Cross-sectional research.c Case study research.d Positivism.
in-depth interviews with people from different departments in an organisation is:a A longitudinal study.b A structured study.c A quantitative study.d A qualitative study.
A study based on
Which of the following is associated with qualitative data?a Meanings and words.b Pie charts.c Randomised sampling strategy.d Positivism.
Which of the following is associated with quantitative data?a Analysis begins as data are collected.b Is associated with interpretivism.c Research process takes full account of the research context.d
Which of the following is a data collection method?a Case study.b Positivism.c Focus group.d Social constructivism.
What organisational sensitivities will you need to take into account in your research to ensure the dignity and well-being of all those who are involved and in relation to any potential unintended
To what extent will it be possible for you and those with whom you work to be able to distinguish between your role as a researcher and your ‘usual’ work role? What steps might you take to
What expectations might your sponsor or organisation have about the retention of any data for subsequent use after your research project has been completed? Who do you need to discuss this with and
What plans do you have for the secure storage of data? Think about:a) paper based data; andb) electronically stored data. Can you access locked storage in the workplace?Would you be permitted to
How clear are you about what information to provide on an information or briefing document that would ensure informed consent has been achieved? Who might help you to clarify these issues?
How clear are you about the type of data you propose to gather? Can you articulate the sampling strategy that you propose and explain how you would recruit and select your research participants? Who
To what extent is your research idea a‘sensitive issue’ for any organisation(s) and for any individuals who participate? What influence might this have for your ethical choices about informed
In the research context in which you will be working who has an interest in the findings, conclusions and outcomes of your project? Might there be a potential conflict of interest between your role
How might the professional standards of your professional association impact on the research project you are planning to undertake?
Are there questions on any of the ethical forms you need to complete that you do not understand? Is it possible to access guidance for the completion of the forms and for a successful ethical review
What is the ethical code of conduct of your professional organisation?
If you are undertaking your research in an organisation then does it have any ethical policies or procedures you must adhere to?
What are the ethical scrutiny requirements of your centre?
The purpose of the Freedom of Information Act in the United Kingdom is to:a Ensure data privacy and protect personal data.b Increase the transparency and accountability of public authorities.c Enable
Which of the following is not part of the principles underpinning the Data Protection Act?a Data may only be used for the purpose for which they were collected.b Data must be stored in a secure way.c
A gatekeeper is:a A pathway to continuing access to a group of people or organisation.b Gaining acceptance for your research from someone who can arrange access to research participants and other
Which of the following approaches to organisational data gathering goes against the principles of organisational informed consent?a Taking internal organisational documents without permission.b The
Which method of data gathering is associated with a lack of informed consent?a Structured interviewing.b Questionnaire survey.c Covert observation.d Focus groups.
Why is it important that research data are stored in a secure way?a So that you can track down your respondents at a later date if you want to get more data from them.b So that people will not know
HR researchers have a duty of care to minimise any risk to research participants of:a Physical discomfort or injury.b Stress or anxiety.c Coercion to participate.d All of the above.
Which of the following is a purpose of standards in management and HR?a To provide the basis for ethical and effective professional activity.b To increase efficiency and consistency of HR practices
Why are ethical considerations an imperative in HR research?a Because the ends justify the means.b Because research, like HR, is an inherently bureaucratic process.c Because adherence to a
What strategies might you adopt to manage the time pressures of organisational and academic deadlines and produce a literature review of good quality?
To what extent is your thinking determined by features like the organisational culture of your employing organisation, your previous work experience, your national cultural background, your political
In your writing are you able to distinguish between facts and opinions? To what extent is your writing style ‘objective and impersonal’?What feedback have you received on this in past assignments?
To what extent do you adopt a questioning and an evaluative approach when you are reading? How successful are you at making explicit the underlying theories and assumptions in what you read? If you
How effective are your reading and notetaking‘habits’ and strategies? In previous assignments how easy has it been to write an overview of what you have read about a topic? How organised is your
What is your preferred learning style? In which environment do you work best? What are the best conditions for you to write your literature review?
Revisit assignments you have produced previously for your course. What feedback have tutors made about your referencing technique? How confident do you feel about referencing? What will you do to
Reflect critically on your use of literature in previous assignments. To what extent have you relied on ideas ‘derived’ from other places (usually textbooks)?
Which academic journals are you already familiar with and which do you find the most challenging to analyse?
How familiar are you with HR related internet‘gateways’ and other search engines?
What user-name and passwords do you need and where can you get them?
What literature and information sources are available to you (physically and electronically)from:• your study centre;• your place of work;• any professional institutions of which you or your
What percentage of your final mark is allocated to your literature review? What sort of word length is expected? To what extent are ‘academic’ articles and books expected?
Why is it important to analyse the credentials of authors that you read and cite?a To ensure only academically qualified sources are used.b In case your tutor asks you a question about your
When referencing, page numbers must be shown when:a You read any textbook relevant to your project.b A source has been written by more than one author.c You are using a direct quotation to enhance

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