Introduction
The report aims at evaluating the methods used in a study to establish the research quality. The report will discuss the study background, problem statement, purpose statement, research question, data collection, and data analysis method. Evaluating the above segments of the doctoral study will aid in obtaining a significant dynamics needed in developing the doctoral proposal.
A qualitative investigation into sources of job satisfaction among middle-level black managers
Strydom (2013) conducted a doctoral study using the phenomenological-analytical technique to identify the dimension of job satisfaction and gender difference among middle-level black managers. The phenomenology design is a type of qualitative research best suited for the doctoral study program. It is the study of shared meaning of the experience of the phenomenon for several people. The qualitative method of data collection includes several types of data collection and data analysis techniques. Phenomenology study tends to describe what participants have in common as they are experiencing a phenomenon; thus, it is the approach of addressing issues about why and how (Fortune, et al. 2013). Strydom (2013) conducted a study so as to contribute to the existing knowledge about methodological, theoretical, and descriptive applications in the field of black managerial job satisfaction.
Background
The background is usually the overview of the study. In the study by Strydom (2013), he does not write the background of the study in his doctoral study. The DBA doctoral study rubric and also the research handbook normally require that the researcher includes the background of the study (Walden University, 2015). The background should ensure that it references the applicable laws, the relevance of the current business problem, and the historical concern. However, Strydom (2013) did not include the background; thus, failed to adhere to DBA doctoral study rubric. The failure to include the background is a major inconsistency with the current requirement of the DBA doctoral study rubric.
Problem Statement
The problem statement is one of the essential sections in a doctoral study, and it is also a difficult part. The study by Strydom (2013) fails to follow the requirements as prescribed by the DBA doctoral study rubric. The problem statement does not contain the four major elements that include the hook, anchor, general business problem, and the specific problem (Walden University, 2015). Instead, Strydom (2013) provide a history of the black employees without clearly explaining the specific business problem. Also, the problem statement is too long which is more than 150 words. The references that Strydom (2013) used in the study are more than five years of the publishing of the study. The study includes references written in 1994 while the study published in 2013.
Purpose Statement
The purpose statement is usually the most important statement as it creates a succinct relationship between the research design and the research approach (Walden University, 2015). However, the study by Strydom (2013) failed to consider this important section in the doctoral study. Strydom (2013) failed to identify the purpose of the study; thus, making it extremely hard for the reader to know why the researcher was conducting the study. The lack of including the purpose statement also made it hard to know how the study problem linked with a particular business problem. Therefore, the study did not follow the DBA doctoral study rubric that requires the purpose statement section.
Central Research Question
According to Holloway & Daymon (2011), the central research question in the qualitative research tends to restate the purpose of the study in explicit terms. The research question tends to help the research in understanding and examining the core concept of the problem statement. The qualitative research question by Strydom (2013) does not exceed the number of words that the DBA doctoral study rubric suggests.
Research Methodology
Strydom (2013) considered selecting a data collection method that included the use of semi-structured, open-ended interviews with eight black-middle level managers. The researcher considered the use of semi-structured, open-ended interviews so as to provide sufficient data as it was the most appropriate method of data collection for the qualitative phenomenological study. Strydom (2013) use of the qualitative phenomenological design in studying the true meaning of job satisfaction for middle-level black managers helped in exploring the lived experiences so as to understand black managerial job satisfaction. The author did provide a well-thought method for data collection of the study. The participants selected for the study were the subject matter exporters; thus, they increased the validity of the information received. Strydom (2013) performed interviews that helped in increasing the response rate from the participants. The method of data collection employed in the study was able to produce reliable data from the knowledgeable participants. In data collection, Strydom (2013) did address all the elements outlined in the doctoral study rubric.
Data collection method
Strydom (2013) considered the use of the qualitative method in exploring the sources of job satisfaction among the middle-level black managers in organizations in South Africa. The researcher considered the use of semi-structured open-ended interviews in collecting data from eight participants. The use of exploratory approach helped in increasing an understanding of how black-middle level managers experience job satisfaction. Using interviews during data collection, it allowed a flexible method of communication so as to allow a better understanding of the phenomena (Galletta, 2013). Strydom (2013) used semi-structured interviews as a means of providing the interviewer the opportunity for learning from the life experiences of the participant.
Data analysis
The information that the researcher collected did serve as a close examination of factors associated with work satisfaction among the middle-level black managers. Data analysis aims at developing insight and understanding to the process (Blankenship, 2009). According to Blankenship (2009), data analysis aids the researcher in understanding the phenomena and clarifying any potential problems so as to answer the research question. During data analysis, the process remained consistent with the phenomenological approach to gathering information about the participant’s life experience from the participants. In qualitative research, there are different sampling strategies that the researcher can use to serve different purposes.
Strydom (2013) considered the use of purposive sampling. He believed it was the best choice for the study since it allowed finding a reasonable homogeneous sample that was black and working at middle-level management. The researcher used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The IPA analytical focus normally draws the analyst to the participant’s need for making sense of their unique experiences. Strydom (2013) used IPA in analyzing the discourse and consequent meanings of utterances. When using IPA, the researcher tends to have an interest in the living world of participants. The data analysis process did address all elements in the DBA doctoral study rubric (Walden University, 2015). Strydom (2013) did discuss and justified the data analysis methods through describing into details why the data analysis method used was appropriate for the study. In the data analysis section, Strydom (2013) explained how the interview questions and the data collected did support the primary research question and the main purpose of the study.
Conclusion
When evaluating the doctoral study, the researcher did establish an understanding of the study phenomenon, selected a proven data analysis method, and was clear in the study. These are some of the factors that are essential in a phenomenological research. An important factor in understanding how to construct a doctoral research study is the ability to investigate an existing study against the existing studies. The study by Strydom (2013) managed to follow some of the requirements outlined in the DBA doctoral study rubric.
Reference
Blankenship, D (2009). Applied Research and Evaluation Methods in Recreation. Canada, Human Kinetics.
Galletta, A (2013). Mastering the semi-structured interview and beyond. NYU Press
Holloway, I & Daymon, C (2011). Qualitative research methods in public relations and marketing communications. New York, Routledge
Miller, R., Reid, W., & Fortune, A. (2013). Qualitative research in social work. New York, Columbia University Press
Strydom, S (2012) The qualitative investigation into sources of job satisfaction among middle-level black managers Doctoral Literature thesis, University of South Africa, Pretoria.
Turner III, W. (2010). Qualitative interview design. Qualitative Report, 15(3), 754 – 760.
Walden University (2015). Doctoral study rubric
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