Abstract
Qualitative and quantitative organizational research methods have been fiercely debated with regards to their ‘value’ in terms of the ‘validity’ and ‘generalizability’ of their respective research outcomes. Qualitative or phenomenological research paradigm requires a ‘holistic’ approach to analysing a particular phenomenon in order to address ‘validity’ and ‘generalizability’ issues, and therefore necessitates more ‘intense’ and ‘comprehensive’ approach to data analyses. This conceptual paper adds to the current debate among the positivists and the phenomenologists on the superiority of a particular research method and, resorting to the dialectical analysis, contributes to the current literature on organizational research methods through conditionalising the ‘validity’ and ‘generalizability’ of the research outcomes under the qualitative research paradigm to the use of appropriate ‘research design’. Using the microfinance sector’s paradigm shift of the 1990s as a case, the paper argues that, under the qualitative research paradigm, ‘viewing’ and ‘analysing’ a qualitative set of data with a combination of two or three established theoretical constructs would help the researcher overcome the relative ‘flaw’ or ‘incapacity’ of a single theoretical construct to address all aspects of a social phenomenon under investigation, and therefore, not only enhance readers’ understanding of the issue but also conclude the research with relatively more ‘valid’ and ‘generalizable’ outcomes.
Highlights
Theoretical and philosophical issues are considered to be of utmost significance in carrying out high quality research
There has always been a debate among various schools of thought with a peculiar predisposition to one of the two research paradigms arguing on the suitability and intrinsic value in terms of ‘validity’ and ‘generalizability’ of research outcomes under a particular paradigm
The remainder of the paper is structured as follows: section 2 elaborates on the ‘case’ the author has used to demonstrate how an effective ‘research design’ that employs a combination of two established theoretical conceptualization to ‘view’ and ‘analyse’ the empirical data of a qualitative research project enhances the ‘validity’ and ‘generalizability’ of the project’s findings, in addition to facilitating readers’ understanding of the phenomenon under investigation
Summary
Theoretical and philosophical issues are considered to be of utmost significance in carrying out high quality research. Under the paradigm researchers must base interpretation of their research findings on empirical data, their own experience and perceptions, and the existing state of knowledge on the research issue Following these qualitative paradigm guidelines could potentially give rise to a new theory in the area of research, which, in turn, could extend the boundaries of human understanding on the issues. The remainder of the paper is structured as follows: section 2 elaborates on the ‘case’ the author has used to demonstrate how an effective ‘research design’ that employs a combination of two established theoretical conceptualization to ‘view’ and ‘analyse’ the empirical data of a qualitative research project enhances the ‘validity’ and ‘generalizability’ of the project’s findings, in addition to facilitating readers’ understanding of the phenomenon under investigation.
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