Module Assignment – Research Methods
Report:
Reflective Journal
Mavy Lena Aguilera Sánchez
R1805D5213906
Research Methods BS4S14
Tutor: Doros Michael
December 1st, 2019
The first task required by this module, at first sight was the simplest one, however it was
crucial. We had to determine the research topic of our project report. In order to do that I
needed to decide first where I wanted to investigate, and I had to options: Don Caribe,
which is where I work, or Beyond Roots, a small Cuban business created by my cousin,
where several members of my family work as well. I finally decided to focus on Beyond
Roots and I asked Adriana (my cousin, who is also the leader) to let my know what subject
or problem she needed to solve. She briefly explained to me that they have problems with
the organizational structure, since they have one, but she knows that it is not properly
designed. So, she needed me to help her with a new design.
During the module, I decided to focus on the weekly tasks and approach them from a
perspective that would be useful for my final assignment. I am glad that I did this way,
because, when I final had to concentrate on it, I had some work already done.
Furthermore, while I was searching information about organizational structure, I realized
that I really like not only the subject, but also other areas related with human resources.
Additionally, the more I read about it, the more I learned; and this became very handy
when at work, I got new responsibilities: I was designated as the Human Resources
Manager; and a month later I had to create an organigram for the company Don Caribe.
It was relatively easy to do it, thanks to the articles I had read for this module weekly
tasks. On the other hand, when asking Beyond Roots´ team leader for their organigram I
received not one, but three different ones, one for each department. Then I realized that
the problem was a bit more complicated than I though. In fact, before thinking about
creating a new structure, I needed to determinate the valid one.
During the week 5 I realized that I definitely wanted to collect qualitative data, unlike when
I was doing my bachelor, where I used to do quantitative analysis on my reports and
thesis. As stated by Sarah A. (2011), the quantitative analysis is about numbers, and
representing facts with statistics. Despite being this method really useful when reading a
report, I have realized that for me personally is easier to relate with words and take
advantage of my own emphatic ability, which allows me to understand other people point
of view. That is the main reason I decided to approach the topic by following the qualitative
method of data collection.
According to Ratner (2002), the subjectivity is very related to the qualitative methodology,
because the investigator is stimulated to reflect on the values, which arises the issue of
how subjectivity affects objectivity. In this report, this issue could become also an ethical
problem, since Adriana is both the leader and a family member. By admitting this issue, I
was able to reflect on how to facilitate an objective comprehension and when preparing
the questionnaire I replaced the distorting values with other than enhance neutrality. This
allows me to integrates objectivism and subjectivity by improving my analytical reasoning,
perception, logical deduction and distinguish essences from appearances (Ratner, 2002)
This was one of the reasons that led me to the decision of making the questionnaire as
simple and as objective as possible, so I could avoid let my subconscious influence my
analysis. The decision of design a questionnaire instead of an interview, was also due to
other barriers: this time was the technological problem. In Cuba, is very hard to get
internet access, so I knew it was going to be difficult to talk with the workers I needed to
interview. Thus I made the questionnaire, which needed to be short and easy to answer
by the employees that can have internet connection during 10-30 minutes per day.
Another ethical issue that I was facing was the data confidentiality. In order to avoid this
problem I approached each person individually, although I had help from some members
of the team that facilitated me contact numbers of other people, so I could reach them.
The results were given directly to me using WhatsApp in order to guarantee
confidentiality. Then, I created an Excel file that I used to collect all the information and it
was managed only by myself. However, as I stated on my report, only the 31% of the
people I gave the questionnaire replied to it, which affected the results of the study. In
fact, I realized that with so little information I wouldn´t be able to design a new organigram
as Adriana needed.
On another hand, the hardest part for me was to determinate to philosophical which
school I could relate the most. As a personal level, I relate with various philosophies of
thinking, usually the way I approach things depends on the each case, and I have never
thought about it until I undertake the investigation. After investigating on the subject, I
realized that I was following the critical realism philosophy. The methods that support this
approach, according to Dudovskiy (2019), are match with the way I pursued the
investigation: follow an historical path in order to establish a better understanding that
lead to the analysis of the established situation and structures. Moreover it covers a bigger
range of methods and data types to complete the investigation (this way it would allow
me to follow an inductive approach even though I was collecting qualitative data).
The decision to use the inductive method, was also not planned, and it was another factor
that lead me to the decision to change the final purpose of my investigation. In fact, at the
beginning of the module the final objective I wanted to achieve, required to start by using
the inductive approach in order to translate the facts into the rules. For example, what I
did in my report, thanks to the valid organigram and the questionnaires, I was able to
determine which organizational structure is being applied in the company and which real
perception of the workers is.
Furthermore I wanted to find a better organizational structure, and for that I would have
applied a deduction approach, since I would have to translate a theory to facts
(USW(University of South Wales), 2019). That, along with the limited response for the
questionnaires that provided, made me realize that I needed more time for achieve the
initial objective, so I had to come back to the starter point and modify the purpose of the
study, leaving it until the phase of diagnosis of the problem.
Finally, I can say that I have learned a lot with the experience, not only about research
methods, but also about the topic. Now I have found a new passion about human
resources, human behaviour in general and psychology.
References:
Dudovskiy, J. (2019) Realism Research Philosohy, Research-Methodology. Available at:
http://research-methodology.net/research-philosophy/realism/ (Accessed: 21 November
2019).
Ratner, C. (2002) ‘Subjectivity and Objectivity in Qualitative Methodology.’, Forum:
Qualitative Social Research. Sozialforschung, 3(3), p. Art. 6. Available at:
http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/829/1800 (Accessed: 1
December 2019).
Sarah A (2011), Qualitative VS Quantitative Research. Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddx9PshVWXI (Accessed: 30 November 2019)
USW(University of South Wales) (2019) ‘The Philosophy of Research’. Available at:
http://vle-usw.unicaf.org/course/view.php?id=707.
