Description

This report is designed to test your knowledge of both qualitative and quantitative research methods and your ability to design research studies.

This report will consist of two essay questions of 1,000 words each. Students are expected to use relevant literature and frameworks from the course as outlined in the assessment handbook.

Instructions

You must answer Two essay questions: one from Part A - Qualitative Methods; and one from Part B - Quantitative Methods. For the parts of your answers that relate to research methods, you should cite and make reference to the reading from the course only. For the parts of your answer that discuss literature related to the question topic you can cite wider references from the literature. Your answer for each essay should be 1,000 words (+/- 10%) not including references and will count for 50 marks.

Part A: Qualitative Methods

1. You have been approached by Lakshmi Gopal, the managing director of Fair Fresh Foods, a large supermarket chain. She has a problem with the toilet paper supplies in her stores. She thinks you can help her identify how and why there is a shortage. She’s observed that customers have been flocking to stores and buying more toilet paper than they probably need. Also, she’s heard tales of other store managers at different grocery store chains ordering as much toilet paper as they can - hoarding supplies. She’s also heard that there is a shortage of truck (lorry) drivers and there are rumours that manufacturers are not producing enough toilet paper for   demand.

Describe a qualitative research study that you would undertake to present to Lakshmi. The study you design should include information about your research question(s), its relation to existing literature, who the participants are, recruitment, analysis and expected findings. Each choice must be justified. You should consider what issues might occur when conducting the study and how you might addressthese issues in the design of your study. What are the strengths and weaknesses of your study?

2. Natasha Andreiovich works for Notal, a large European energy company. She works on developing new wind power technology for Notal. She has always worked in male dominated fields. There were all sorts of strange rituals the men had which seemed to exclude her. Even the way they interacted in meetings was annoying - but what’s worse - is she struggled to get promoted. She also observed that other women in the company often were not promoted, while men were quickly promoted or recruited elsewhere. She was getting sick of it. She was beginning to realise that her company was missing out on too many qualified young women. She has employed you to find out how and why women in Notal rarely are promoted or recruited elsewhere.