WEEK 5 DISCUSSION 1
Gathering and analyzing data to address the research question may be the most daunting part of the
doctoral study. Will you spend your time in front of your computer or interacting with people? Will you use
software or mathematical applications to interpret your findings? Ultimately, how will you substantiate your
solution(s) to your research question so that other people will feel confident in your conclusions?
Investigate either quantitative or qualitative research techniques in order to explore and discuss the
techniques that you may ultimately employ in the service of your research question.
� Identify and argue what you think is the best fit of research design for your proposal: either qualitative
or quantitative.
� If you select qualitative, which traditional method will you use and why?
WEEK 5 DISCUSSION 1
Introduction
In history, there are 4 typical generations that exist in the workforce, a factor that is
causing leaders to strategically re-evaluate their organizational structures and policies in
understanding and managing these workforces. A lack of understanding upon an organization on
the drivers and motivators of each of this generational group including the specific values and
behaviors attributed to each group may lead to a generational conflict in a work environment.
Out of this, the productivity of a company is likely to be affected. The specific purpose of this
phenomenological study is to determine appropriate approaches through which leaders can
motivate a multi generational workforce through a selection of a research design for the study.
Qualitative and Quantitative Research Techniques
Quantitative research can be developed to provide quantitative data that give answers to a
research question in relation to attitudes, opinions, trends, or the impacts of certain treatments
upon a study population (Mukhopadhyay, & Gupta, 2014). In carrying out this research
approach, a researcher has to identify the sole rationale of a study, the population to be
researched and studied, the variables that would be initiated in the study and lastly the type of
WEEK 5 DISCUSSION 1
data that would be appropriate for the study. A researcher then has the capacity to hone in on
designing the research strategy.
On the other hand, a qualitative research approach is geared towards gaining an in-depth
understanding over a specific organization rather than gaining surface descriptions of large
populations of study (Mukhopadhyay, & Gupta, 2014). Through this approach, a researcher
remains in a position to determine an explicit structure, broad patterns and order in a study
population and generate data through a human grouping within a social structure.
Best fir for the Research Design
It is therefore important to note that in order to achieve the results of this study, the use of
the qualitative tradition would be significant. This is essentially important since through this
approach, the research is able to bring on table the understandings in meanings that have been
constructed in accordance to their experiences of the four generational cohorts (Crişan, & Borza,
2015). Through this approach, the descriptive accounts of these people are more likely easier to
determine. Through this research methodology, the study will be in a position to draw parallels
through the comparisons of the four generations that exist within a work environment with the
aim of understanding some of the key elements that describe them.
The qualitative research approach therefore remains the preferred method to carry out this
study as compared to the quantitative approach. The research study will follow the qualitative
tradition through the incorporation of a phenomenological study that will describe the structures
and processes of experiences as presented without assumptions, deductions or theories (Crişan,
& Borza, 2015). Through this traditional approach, the research will pursue avenues of
disclosing the meanings of the lived experiences within a group in pertinence to a specific
WEEK 5 DISCUSSION 1
phenomenon. In this case, this traditional approach will disclose the values, attitudes, behaviors
as attributed within a generational group.
Conclusion
It is therefore significant to mention in summary that the specific purpose of this
phenomenological study is to determine appropriate approaches through which leaders can
motivate a multi generational workforce through a selection of a research design for the study
(Wahyuni, 2012). In achieving this purpose, a research study in which the qualitative research
approaches will be incorporated to achieve the research results.
WEEK 5 DISCUSSION 1
References
Crişan (Mitra), C., & Borza, A. (2015). Research Methodology – A Quality Assurance
Instrument. Analysis of Internationalized Masters Of Babeş-Bolyai University. Review Of
Economic Studies & Research Virgil Madgearu, 8(1), 37-49.
Mukhopadhyay, S., & Gupta, R. K. (2014). Survey Of Qualitative Research Methodology In
Strategy Research And Implication For Indian Researchers. Vision (09722629), 18(2),
109-123.
Wahyuni, D. (2012). The Research Design Maze: Understanding Paradigms, Cases, Methods and
Methodologies. Journal of Applied Management Accounting Research, 10(1), 69-80.
