Copyright © 2020 Statswork. All rights reserved 1

I am Planning to Develop a Theory, Which Methodology Would be

Better and Analyses Tool That I Should Use?

Dr. Nancy Agens, Head,

Technical Operations, Statswork

info@statswork.com

I. INTRODUCTION

A theory is constructed for

explaining some phenomena, situations in

the real world or any behaviour type. This

theory helps to understand any problems

or issues of a new finding and make a

conclusion depending on the most

important feature. Sometimes, theories are

used for forecasting situation or any

phenomenon (Fawcett & Downs, 2015). In

the case of a research paper or a

dissertation, the theory is formulated to

explain, predict and realise the phenomena

which are assumed to happen in reality. In

support of this theory, the theoretical

framework is structured for introducing

and describing the theory that can explain

the reason for a reason for the research

problem (Dawson, 2019).

On the other hand, research

methodology is considered as a significant

part of a research paper. It includes the

description of various ways and means for

conducting the research. The principal aim

of this research methodology is to explain

the techniques which are useful or can be

useful for obtaining the data or

information as that will be expected to find

out on behalf of the aim and objectives of

the research (Bowen, et al., 2017). A

relevant and useful research methodology

is very important to support the theory

which is needed to be constructed. Inspite

of performing a thorough literature

review, the research paper is mainly based

on the findings made by relevant research

methodology (Gordon, 2015).

There are three types of research

methodologies which are utilised in

constructing a theory. Those are

qualitative, quantitative and mixed. The

mixed research methodology includes both

quantitative and qualitative research

methodologies. Therefore, to understand

the role of the research methodology in

constructing a theory, it is required to

emphasize both the qualitative and

quantitative research methodologies

(Dawson, 2019).

In the case of a qualitative study,

the main aim indicates to understand social

phenomena by investigations and

interpretation of various meaning as

attached to the research. In this case,

primary objectives are making sense to

find out the phenomena in the real world.

The key principle is based on subjectivity

instead of making interpretations (Pandey,

2015). The theory will be developed

during or after the research work is

conducted. In this case, the inductive

process is followed. In this process, the

researcher starts to collect the data relevant

to the topic of interest. In the second step,

data analysis and data observation is

performed based on the similar pattern and

finally based on the observations or

findings of the data, a theory can be

developed (Mngadi, 2018).

In the case of quantitative study,

the enquiry is developed depending on

testing thee theory which made up of

various variables and those are measured

based on the numbers. Further, the

variables are analysed with a suitable data

analysis tool. It is needed to check whether

the result performed by the tool and the

prediction of the theory will be matched or

not in this quantitative research

methodology (Dawson, 2019). In this

case, the core principle is based on the

objectivity and the study is found to

associate with positivist or post-positivist

or both types of the research paradigm.

The research method is generally carried

Copyright © 2020 Statswork. All rights reserved 2

out by following deductive processes. In

the case of the deductive process, the

hypothesis can be developed depending on

the existing theory. The researcher mostly

shows the interest and makes decision or

interpretation based on the inferences of

data. Thus, in this case, the researcher

mainly tests his or her hypothesis based on

the existing theories (Mngadi, 2018).

In some cases, the mixed research

methodology is required to prefer where

both the qualitative and quantitative

research process is needed to follow in

constructing a theory. In the mixed

methodology, mainly sequential and

explanatory approached are used for

evaluating the concept that has to be

observed for constructing the theory

(Bowen, et al., 2017). The explanatory

sequential design includes two different

phases. First one refers to the initial

quantitative instrument phase and it is

followed by the second phase of

qualitative data collection (Bowen, et al.,

2017). The qualitative phase is found to

build directly on the result interpreted

from the quantitative phase.

Data analysis plays an important

role in conducting research methodology.

This process indicates the underlying

process which is employed by the

researcher for gathering necessary data in

research. The researcher should mention

the tool which is utilised to collect the

required data. At first, the researcher needs

to select the sample size depending on

which the research methodology will be

performed. The sample is needed to

choose in such a way so that it would not

provide any bias information based on the

selected population (Bowen, et al., 2017).

Sample size should be taken based on the

prevalence and precision of the data

measurement. Generally, good and

maximum sample size can be around 10%

of the population and it should not exceed

1000. Further, the minimum sample size

can be preferred to be 100 (Dawson,

2019). There are several ways based on

which data collection is performed with

the sample size. Those are online or

offline surveys, questionnaires, direct

interviews etc. In the case of quantitative

methodology, data collection is performed

by surveys and questionnaires including

close-ended questions. In the case of

qualitative methodology, generally,

observations, open-ended survey or the

interview are performed to gather the

required amount of data for the research.

Qualitative data collection is found to

consist of more number of open-ended

questions and the descriptive type answers

which may have little or no numeric

variables (Mngadi, 2018). It has been

observed that qualitative data is an

excellent way of gaining insight within the

thoughts and behaviour of the audience.

Hence, the theory is mainly

constructed based on the inductive or

deductive approach of different research

methodologies. The quantitative and

qualitative research methodology can be

carried out by considering suitable data

collection methods. The sample size is also

needed to choose so that it can support the

measurement for constructing the theory

with an unbiased way. Open-ended and

closed-ended questions are developed

based on the research methodology so that

an effective theory can be developed from

the research performed.

REFERENCES

[1] Bowen, P., Rose, R. & Pilkington, A., 2017. MIXED

METHODS-THEORY AND PRACTICE.

SEQUENTIAL, EXPLANATORY

APPROACH. International Journal of

Quantitative and Qualitative Research

Methods, 5(2), pp. 10-27.

[2] Dawson, C., 2019. Introduction to Research Methods

5th Edition: A Practical Guide for Anyone

Undertaking a Research Project. 1st ed. New

York: Robinson.

[3] Fawcett, J. & Downs, F., 2015. The Relationship

Between Theory and Reserach. The

Relationship of Theory and Research , 1(1), pp.

1-4.

[4] Gordon, H., 2015. Strategic Information Systems:

Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and

Applications: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools,

and Applications. New York: IGI Global .

[5] Mngadi, A., 2018. The role of theory in research and

practice. s.l.:GRIN Verlag.

Copyright © 2020 Statswork. All rights reserved 3

[6] Pandey, P., 2015. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES. 1st ed. Romania:

Bridge Center.