My reflection blog this week is to discuss the elements of Quantitative Research and provide some insight to my experiences and aspirations of using this type of research. This type of research is outlining my methodology of how I am going to do my research to support my hypothesis.

Quantitative Research

Quantitative research occurs when survey question results are transformed into a numerical format so statistical analysis can be applied. Once the data is transformed it is called data metrics and is considered the starting point for the overall analysis of the research. Data metrics are divided into a matrix using observations units and variables.

An observation unit is when results are sorted or categorized by individuals, groups, institutions, or specific activities.  An example in my research the observations unit would include the highest leadership position held. This is one observation unit of information.

Variables are considered the main characteristic of an observation unit because they are observable and measurable. The variables in my highest leadership position held question is supervisor, manager, director, and no formal leadership role held. The total results returned for each of those variables within the observation unit is now measurable.

In my current collegiate course, I generated survey and one of the questions asked the person to define their highest leadership role from a list of variables.  The highest level in the survey was director.  One person who responded to the survey sent me a polite email stating that her current leadership role is Chief Executive Officer (CEO). I did not go back and change the question or re-distribute, only because cause the person identified they did hold a director role in the past. What I learned from this observation is that my variables did not include all available possibilities.

Advantages and disadvantages of Quantitative Research

In the reading material this week, I learned quantitative research has advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is where data transformed or converted into a structure where it can be compared and dependencies can be defined. This is also the part of research where change can occur to support the research.  The disadvantage of this type of research is the data can be constrained or too abstract. The idea that data is too abstract or constrained means that data can be too hard to understand, or to calculated on a theory verses experiences.

Sampling methods for Research 

My research will focus on the probability sampling method and refrain from using the non-probability sampling method. I would expect my research to include simple, systematic and cluster probability sampling.  Simple sampling is random selection of the population may not allow me to obtain enough information to support my research, and a more defined systematic target or cluster grouping method could provide a relationship in the results to support my research.  The reason to refrain from the non-probability is this type includes quota, judgment, convenience, and extensive sampling. The idea for sampling is to obtain good set of data that is measurable to either support or not support the hypothesis of the proposal. 

Methods for Obtaining Data

The legal and human resources department of the company granting the permission to do the research will control my method for obtaining data. This company is an aerospace company that determines research on their company is correct and does not cross any boundaries that could jeopardize their credibility. I have completed a research before on the same company, but different target of population. The company is supportive and they validate every question to ensure there is no risk of personal information or inappropriate questions making an employee feel uncomfortable. In the last research there were questions removed by legal. Our Legal department provides a survey user to populate the research questions into the company provided survey tool. Company does not allow outside survey tools such as www.surveymonkey.com. With Human Resources assistance, the population that will receive the survey is approved and disseminated for the researcher. To be clear, as the researcher I am still responsible for the quality of the survey, and its contents. I am just not allowed to disseminate the survey to employees directly. We are a union based company, and this would be a jeopardizing another person's defined role within the Legal and Human Resources department. Survey will be open for approximately one to two weeks. As a researcher I am able to obtain daily statistics to how many people have responded to the survey. If I determine that I am not obtaining enough responses, I can have a reminder sent out to the population to take the survey.

Conclusion

This blog was to discuss the methodology of how I plan to complete the quantitative research of my proposal. I aspire that his project will be simple and easy to do.