A collection of blog notes on perplexity usage: for Housing Studies students

A collection of blog notes on perplexity usage: for Housing Studies students

1. An introduction to perplexity
2. On using perplexity to do literature search and desk research: housing affordability

A collection of blog notes on perplexity for the field of business management

 A collection of blog notes on perplexity for the field of business management

1. An introduction to perplexity
2. Using perplexity to do literature search: for wine marketing
3. Using perplexity to do literature search and desk research: on the leadership style of gen y.

Asking chatgpt to illustrate a research approach: a note

Asking chatgpt (accessed via poe.com) to illustrate a research approach: a note

My question 1: "I am learning the subject of research methods; I have difficulty to understand the topic of research approach. Could you provide an example of research approach in the form of a diagram for illustration? Tks a lot."

The reply from chatgpt: "I can't create a diagram directly for you, but I can explain a common research approach and guide you on how to visualize it.

Example of a Research Approach: Quantitative Research

Define the Research Question: Start by identifying what you want to study.

Literature Review: Review existing literature to understand the context and previous findings.

Hypothesis Formation: Develop a hypothesis based on the literature.

Research Design: Choose a research design (e.g., survey, experiment).

Data Collection: Collect numerical data using structured methods.

Data Analysis: Analyze the data using statistical methods.

Interpretation: Draw conclusions based on the data analysis.

Reporting: Write a report detailing the research process and findings.

Suggested Diagram Structure

You can visualize this in a flowchart format:

Start: Research Question

↓

Literature Review

↓

Hypothesis Formation

↓

Research Design

↓

Data Collection

↓

Data Analysis

↓

Interpretation

↓

Report Findings

↓

End"

My question 2: "Tks for information. In this case, could you also give an example of a research approach: qualitative research? Tks."

The reply from chatgpt: "Certainly! Here’s an overview of the qualitative research approach, along with a suggested structure for visualizing it.

Example of a Research Approach: Qualitative Research

Define the Research Question: Identify the topic or phenomenon you want to explore.

Literature Review: Review relevant literature to understand existing theories and contexts.

Research Design: Choose a qualitative method (e.g., interviews, focus groups, observations).

Participant Selection: Select participants who can provide rich, detailed insights.

Data Collection: Gather data through open-ended questions and discussions.

Data Analysis: Analyze the data thematically, identifying patterns and meanings.

Interpretation: Interpret the findings in the context of the research question.

Reporting: Present the results with quotes and narratives to illustrate key points.

Suggested Diagram Structure

You can visualize this in a flowchart format:

Start: Research Question

↓

Literature Review

↓

Research Design

↓

Participant Selection

↓

Data Collection

↓

Data Analysis

↓

Interpretation

↓

Report Findings

↓

End"

Reference: a collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.

Asking chatgpt to clarify the terms of research philosophy, research approach, research methodology, and research method: a note for MBA students

Asking chatgpt (accessed via poe.com) to clarify the terms of research philosophy, research approach, research methodology and research method: a note for MBA students

My question 1: "As an MBA student, I have some difficulty to tell the differences as well as relationship between these terms: research philosophy, research approach and research method. Could you clarify for me, with regard to my research project that makes use of pragmatism (the research philosophy) to study the sales representatives' job performance of ABC Ltd, with the main application of academic motivation theories? Could you use examples based on my research project ideas to do the clarification? Tks."

The reply from chatgpt: "Certainly! Understanding the distinctions and relationships between research philosophy, research approach, and research method is crucial for conducting effective research. Let's clarify these terms in the context of your project on sales representatives' job performance at ABC Ltd, using pragmatism as your research philosophy.

Research Philosophy

Definition: Research philosophy refers to the underlying belief system that guides how research is conducted. It shapes the way researchers interpret data and understand the world.

In Your Project: Since you are using pragmatism, your research philosophy emphasizes practical outcomes and real-world applications. This means you will focus on what works best to understand and improve the job performance of sales representatives, considering both qualitative and quantitative data.

Example: You might explore both the quantitative performance metrics (like sales figures) and qualitative insights (like employee feedback) to create a comprehensive view of job performance.

Research Approach

Definition: The research approach outlines the strategy and plan for how to conduct the research, typically categorized into three types: deductive, inductive, and abductive.

In Your Project: Given your pragmatic philosophy, you may choose a mixed-methods approach (often associated with pragmatism). This allows you to combine both deductive reasoning (testing specific motivation theories against your findings) and inductive reasoning (developing new insights from the data collected).

Example: You could start with existing academic motivation theories (like Maslow's hierarchy of needs) to form hypotheses about what motivates sales representatives. Then, you could gather data through surveys and interviews to see if these theories hold true in your specific context at ABC Ltd.

Research Method

Definition: Research methods are the specific techniques and procedures used to collect and analyze data. This includes qualitative methods (like interviews or focus groups) and quantitative methods (like surveys or experiments).

In Your Project: You will select methods that align with your mixed-methods approach to gather and analyze both types of data.

Example:

Quantitative Method: You might develop a survey to measure sales performance metrics and motivation levels among sales representatives.

Qualitative Method: You could conduct interviews or focus groups to gain deeper insights into the motivations behind their performance and how they perceive their roles.

Summary of Relationships

Research Philosophy (Pragmatism): Guides your overall approach to understanding the performance of sales reps in a practical and outcome-focused manner.

Research Approach (Mixed Methods): Determines how you will combine qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.

Research Method (Surveys and Interviews): Specifies the actual tools and techniques you will use to gather data.

By aligning these three components effectively, you can create a robust framework for your research project, ensuring that your findings are meaningful and applicable to the real-world context of ABC Ltd."

My question 2: "I remember that some references suggest that the classification of research approach includes qualitative research, quantitative research and mixed methods research. Now you mention that research approach is classified into the inductive approach, the deductive approach and the abductive approach. So which classification scheme should I use to classify research approaches?"

The reply from chatgpt: "The classification of research approaches can indeed vary based on different contexts and frameworks. Here's a breakdown of how the two classification schemes relate to each other:

1. Types of Research Approaches

Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods:

Qualitative Research: Focuses on understanding phenomena through in-depth exploration of subjective experiences, often using methods like interviews, focus groups, and content analysis.

Quantitative Research: Involves the collection and analysis of numerical data to identify patterns, test theories, and establish relationships, typically using surveys and experiments.

Mixed Methods Research: Combines both qualitative and quantitative approaches to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the research problem.

2. Reasoning Approaches

Inductive, Deductive, and Abductive Approaches:

Inductive Approach: Starts with observations and develops theories based on patterns identified in the data. Commonly used in qualitative research.

Deductive Approach: Begins with existing theories or hypotheses and tests them through data collection. Often associated with quantitative research.

Abductive Approach: Combines elements of both inductive and deductive reasoning. It starts with an incomplete set of observations and seeks the best explanation, often leading to new theories.

Choosing a Classification Scheme

Context Matters: The choice of classification scheme depends on the specific goals of your research. If your focus is on the methodology used for data collection and analysis, then the qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods classification may be more relevant.

Integration of Approaches: In many cases, researchers integrate both classifications. For example, you might use a mixed methods approach that incorporates both inductive and deductive reasoning.

In Your Research Project

For your project on sales representatives' job performance at ABC Ltd:

Methodology Classification: You can classify your overall approach as mixed methods since you are collecting both qualitative and quantitative data.

Reasoning Classification: You may employ both inductive reasoning (to explore new insights through qualitative data) and deductive reasoning (to test existing academic motivation theories with quantitative data).

Conclusion

Ultimately, both classification schemes are valid and useful. You can choose one based on your research focus, but integrating insights from both can enhance your understanding and approach to your research project."

My question 3: "Lastly, what is the difference between research approach and research methodology?"

The reply from chatgpt: "The terms "research approach" and "research methodology" are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different aspects of the research process. Here’s a breakdown of their differences:

Research Approach

Definition: The research approach refers to the overall strategy or plan that guides the selection of specific methods and techniques for conducting research. It encompasses the reasoning process (inductive, deductive, or abductive) and the type of data collection (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods).

Key Characteristics:

Focus: The overarching framework for how research will be conducted.

Types: Qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, and reasoning approaches (inductive, deductive, abductive).

Purpose: Helps determine how researchers will investigate their research questions and objectives.

Research Methodology

Definition: Research methodology refers to the specific procedures, techniques, and tools used to collect and analyze data within the chosen research approach. It provides a detailed plan for how the research will be executed.

Key Characteristics:

Focus: The specific methods and procedures used in the research process.

Components: Includes techniques for data collection (e.g., surveys, interviews), sampling methods, data analysis techniques (e.g., statistical analysis, thematic analysis), and ethical considerations.

Purpose: Provides a clear, systematic framework for conducting the research and ensures that the study is replicable and valid.

Summary of differences

In Your Research Project

For your project on sales representatives' job performance at ABC Ltd:

Your research approach might be mixed methods, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection, and employing both inductive and deductive reasoning.

Your research methodology would detail how you will conduct surveys to gather quantitative data and carry out interviews for qualitative insights, including specific sampling strategies and data analysis techniques.

Understanding these distinctions will help you design and articulate your research more effectively."

My question 4: "Could I say that research methodology discussion can cover in more procedural details more than one research method to use in a dissertation project within the context of one type of research approach, while a research method to use deals with more specific details on how specific data is to be collected and analyzed using such a particular research method?"

The reply from chatgpt: "Yes, that's a clear and accurate way to differentiate between research methodology and research methods! Here’s a breakdown of your points:

Research Methodology

Scope: Research methodology encompasses a broader discussion that includes the overall strategy for the research project. It can cover multiple methods within the context of a single research approach.

Procedural Details: This section can outline various methods you might consider using (e.g., qualitative interviews, quantitative surveys, case studies) and the rationale for selecting them based on the chosen research approach (e.g., mixed methods).

Flexibility: It allows for the exploration of different methodologies to understand how they can be applied to answer the research questions effectively.

Research Method

Specificity: A research method focuses on the detailed, specific techniques used for data collection and analysis within the chosen methodology.

Procedures: This includes how you will implement a particular method (e.g., designing a survey, conducting interviews), how you will sample participants, and how you will analyze the data collected (e.g., statistical analysis for quantitative data, thematic analysis for qualitative data).

Execution: It deals with the practical steps required to carry out the chosen method effectively.

Summary

So, to summarize:

Research Methodology discusses the broader strategy and may include various methods that align with a particular research approach.

Research Method provides the specific details on how to collect and analyze data using a selected method.

This distinction is helpful in structuring your dissertation and ensuring clarity in how you present your research design."

Diagram 1: On the relatedness of research philosophy, research approach, research methodology and research method

Diagram 2: research methodology: an illustration

My version

** also study the note on research approach. The second one is on research method design.

Reference: a collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.