Methodologies
Research is more than finding information online and exploring various databases. You can collect information by hand, interview peers, conduct surveys, and its not limited to just that. Explore these methodologies used by professors in their expert research and incorporate these methodologies to enhance your data collection and analysis.
Network-based Approach
Network-based approaches have been strongly applied to studying structures of member-based organizations with application towards assessing leadership and group management. The methodology, in those applications, takes deep drives into identifying and analyzing immediate and growing relationships amongst members of an organization to then discover patterns between the flow of information in the group, how influence is applied, and how collaboration between members is formed. These relationships can be assessed by classifying them into different descriptive network-based approaches and predictive network-based approaches. Descriptive network-based approaches assess individualized and inter-small group level perspectives against other individuals and groups and categorize interactions for their roles and place in a network. For example, the perspective individual A has on individual B or what group X thinks of group Y or how new member A fits into group because of certain relationships or circumstances. Predictive network-approaches bring another wide view on the network assessment by piecing together patterns that form over time. Looking at sequences of past interactions and subsequent changes in the organization or the emergence of natural leaders and changes in an organization's dynamics. In a more simpler case, it is best to imagine laying out members of a group and taking note of the types of interactions and relationships between each member as well as how capable each member is able to communicate and collaborate efficiently with another.
By utilizing such frameworks, approaches, and patterns, details about how the group functions can be revealed such as members who serve as key influencer on the group, what characters facilitate the emergence of natural leaders, or which persons help bond a group and its members together. Through such patterns, recognizing which types of relationships work best for factors, such as productivity, or how those relationships reveal leaders in a group can help managers understand how best to organize their organizations for the best possible outcomes.
Dr. Fuhe Jin is an expert on network-based approaches. If you would like to learn more about using this type of methodology, please feel free to explore her scholarly research available through Google Scholar or ResearchGate or ask for insights in the forum!
Quasi Experimental Approaches
Quasi-experimental designs have been used and applied to studying surrounding topics surrounding health and society. Its principle rests on the circumstance of a situation being “randomized” and uncontrolled and the acknowledgement and understanding of the “cause-and-effect” phenomenon. To try and define this principle, consider two different experimental situations where one is controlled, meaning when all other variables are constant, it will be known a change in one variable will lead to one exact consequence, and the other is randomized, meaning that while the changes in one variable can be measures, all other circumstantial variables are held in similarity but not exactly leading to a consequence that may have a similar or different consequence. In more simpler terms, a controlled experiment would be something similar to a chemistry laboratory experiment. For example, by adding one reagent, there will be a measurable consequence, or reaction, that is known to be caused by this one intervention because all other variables and circumstances are held constant. On the other hand, quasi-experimental designs can be applied towards societal conditions because of the randomness of the situation. For example, in an impoverished region, researchers can try and measure the consequence and benefits of supplementing the community with stimulus checks. However, because of the circumstance and uncontrollable nature of the subjects, one definite result cannot be defined: some people might invest their cash into conducive activities to help them find jobs while others may spend it all at once and remain in poverty.
While the quasi-experimental method and controlled experimental method do seem to have similarities in principle, the quasi-experimental method has a more fitting application to unpredictable circumstances, especially when it comes to evaluating public health or society. However, by recognizing a situation that requires a quasi-experimental approach, instead of finding the one definite consequence, researchers are able to approximate and simulate a controlled setting and define a consequence that is in generality, true and applicable for a majority of subjects.
Dr. Mark McGovern is an expert on quasi-experimental methods and has versed himself in their application in a number of his scholarly research. If you would like to learn more about the methodology or its application, feel free to explore his work through Google Scholars or ask questions in the forum!