The assessment document should critically compare the issues surrounding the adoption of three different approaches to research (see below). These issues should consider the effect of the choice of approach on:
• the statement of the research question(s),
• the outcome of the research,
• and the skills needed by the researcher,
• as well as the differences in what would be done to conduct the research itself.
A topic or issue within an organization needs to be selected. This already has been done and can be reviewed in detail in the attached “Assignment Research First Part” (financial risks in the credit card acquiring business). Using data that is in the public domain, this could be from annual reports, newspaper articles etc.,
show how you might approach analysis of your selected case using one potential method from each of the three categories listed below, justifying your choices:
a. An action research (AR) approach (select one from the many different AR approaches available and justify this choice too)
b. Select a non-AR qualitative approach.
c. Select a non-AR quantitative approach.
Consider how the choice might affect the findings and outcomes of the research for the organization and yourself as the researcher.
Reflect on:
d. The difference between interventionist approaches (like AR) versus non-interventionist approaches (e.g. positivism).
e. The role of researcher values.
f. The required skills needed for different methods.
g. Write some reflections on how, if at all, this will affect your choice of approach to your dissertation.
You may continue to extend and rework your discussion until the final submission in your thesis. Whichever options you choose for this piece, these considerations will inform your methodology chapter, as well as later chapters regarding your reflections and conclusions on your methodological choices.
