CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY

Were filled with our own rightness, our own autobiography. We want to be understood. Our

conversations become collective monologues and we never really understand whats going on

inside another human being (Polit & Beck, 2006, 96).

3.1 Introduction

In order to develop practices and policies that drive desirable behaviour, it is necessary to

understand the common experiences of those that have experienced a phenomenon and

assumptions that they hold (Onwuegbuzie & Leech 2006, 474). This qualitative

phenomenological study was performed to analyze the importance of effectiveness of teamwork

communication in the Medina Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). Results from this

study will aid in the improving the teamwork communication, in the MCCI.

3.2 Overview of qualitative and quantitative research approach

Qualitative research uses different methods to investigate phenomena and address issues

and problems (Neuman 2005, 36). These methods utilize an objective manner that enhances the

reliability of the information and reduces biases (Kumar 2007, 34). Qualitative research answers

questions and explores new knowledge in a natural environment (Hudacek 2008, 124). In this

research, this dissertation has employed the qualitative approach to data and employed both

qualitative and quantitative approach to analyze data that this dissertation has gathered through

research.
3.2.1 Rationale for the method selection

The selection for qualitative method for collection was that this had allowed us to collect

data in form of questionnaires from the employees of MCCI, this had enabled us to analyze the

effectiveness of teamwork communication in the MCCI. In the analysis of the data that had been

collected from the respondents, then, this dissertation had applied both the qualitative and

quantitative approaches to analyze data. The application of qualitative analysis had allowed the

researcher to make analysis of answers of the respondents through the qualitative content

analysis technique. Then, the researcher had applied statistical tools to summarize the answers of

the respondents and bring out the different aspects of the teamwork communication in the MCCI

from the answers of the respondents.

3.3 Research method and design appropriateness

In order to address the research problem and answer the research questions indicated in

Chapter 1, a qualitative approach to collect data and a qualitative plus quantitative approach to

analyze data was deemed to be the most appropriate for this study. The aim was to explore the

effectiveness of team communication in MCCI. Data gathered through review of literature has

aided in developing a questionnaire to explain the effectiveness of team communication. The

variables included are teamwork, communication, and conflict management. A different sample

from the identified population has received the questionnaire.

3.4 Population and sampling

This research is focusing on the importance of effectiveness of teamwork communication

in MCCI.

3.4.1 Population

A population is a numeration of elements including people or items with common

characteristics needed for the purpose of the study, research or understanding. Davies (2007, 14)

defined population as any group of the individual that have one or more characteristics in

common that are of interest to a researcher.

3.4.2 Sampling frame

Sampling frame is very important when conducting research, so the population parameters will

be carefully determined to avoid mismatching, as mismatching will invalidate the study (Cooper &

Schindler 2006, 69).

The population frame of our research consists of the people, who have been working in

the MCCI for more than three years. These employees have spent some time in the MCCI and

they have matured into employees, who have good knowledge regarding the working in the

MCCI. This would ensure the reliability of this study as the responses that we would get from

the respondents would be reliable.

3.4.3 Sample

The sample that this dissertation had used in our research consisted of 30 employees, 3

women employees and 27 male employees. These respondents were selected from every
department of the MCCI, in order to; ensure that there is complete representation of the

employees of the MCCI. Different employees from different departments of the MCCI would

give us a new perspective of the teamwork communication in the MCCI, which would allow us

to cover the communication in MCCI in-depth.

3.4.4 Access to respondents

In order to get access to the particular respondents for our research, researcher had

consulted the Human Resource Manager of the MCCI and had obtained the data regarding the

particular employees, who would fit according to our needs. After getting access to these

employees and collecting data from them, the researcher had developed a profile of these

employees, so that the researcher apply the technique of test and re-test in future in order to

ensure the reliability of the research results.

3.5 Informed Consent

Informed consent is an important component of research and is an integral part of the

research process (Onwuegbuzie & Leech 2006, 480). Researchers have to educate their

participants in order for them to make an informed decision regarding their participation in the

research (Hudacek 2008, 124). Participants must provide informed consent freely and without

force and with clear comprehension of what participation entails (See appendix A).

3.6 Confidentiality

Confidentiality is an important component that requires focused attention within the

research process (Gersh 2006, 12). The researcher has carefully considered confidentiality in the
proposed study for both qualitative and the quantitative phase. The qualitative sample had

include a purposeful selection of samples based on their knowledge of the central phenomenon.

The selection had ensured the confidentiality and privacy of the participants. Only the researcher

had approached potential participants.

3.7 Validity

Validity assesses whether the meaning and interpretation of an event is sound or whether

a particular measure is an accurate reflection of intent. The validity of data needs to be carefully

checked. Classifying the data can help the researcher reach important conclusions and uncover

the results that led to such conclusions (Creswell 2005, 58). In order to validate the answers of

the respondents, the researcher had included validating questions in the questionnaire, which

would allow the researcher to catch any respondent who might have lied in some way or had

made an attempt to hide information from the researcher in filling out the questionnaire (See

appendix B).

3.8 Reliability of the study

The reliability of a study means that if a person makes an attempt to repeat the study, then

he or she will get similar results. For this purpose, the researcher had developed a profile of the

respondents and gave them a consent form, which had mentioned that they could be contacted

again in future (See appendix A). So, the researcher had obtained their consent regarding the

validation of the reliability of the study.

3.9 Data analysis through quantitative and qualitative techniques

The researcher has analyzed the qualitative part of the study using quantitative analysis.

This type of analysis provides an image of the participants perceptions, feelings, experiences,

ideas, concerns, and attitudes (Cooper & Schindler, 2003). For the proposed study, the content

analysis process involved a few steps. The researcher had transcribed and carefully read the

filled questionnaires for completeness. The researcher had referred to completed questionnaire in

case of vagueness in words or statements and asks participants to clarify these issues. The

applicability of statistical tools on the answers of the respondents had allowed the researcher to

summarize and further critically analyze the answers of our respondents.

3.10 Exclusion of variables in the research design

In the first chapter, when describing the assumptions and limitations of the research this

dissertation had said that this dissertation would not include variables like different specific

conflict levels in the selected population and the unconscious psychological motives and hidden

agendas of individuals, differences in leadership styles, culture and value differences among

individuals, task divergence in teams, and team compositions and structures that different

researchers have recognized as influencing factors to conflict and conflict management styles. In

order to exclude these variables from our research, the researcher had made sure not to include

these variables in the questionnaire, which was the instrument for collecting data from our

respondents. In this way, the researcher had ensured that these variables had not been included in

the research. Since, these variables could not be measured through the instrument of a simple

questionnaire and inclusion of these variables in the research could have created serious issues of

reliability and validity in the quality and the output of the research.
3.11 Timeline
3.12 Questionnaire discussion

Below we have made a discussion of the questions that were asked from the respondents

(Please see appendix B for questionnaire).

Q. Number Description

1, 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, These question were aiming to analyze the level of communication

14, 15, 16, 17, 18, amongst the team members in the MCCI

30

19, 20, 21, 22, 23, This question aimed to analyze the efforts of the team leader for

24,25, 26, 27, 28, ensuring effective communication in the MCCI

29

11 This question aimed to analyze the level of communication in the

team in MCCI

10 This question aimed to analyze the team leader efforts to ensure

effective communication in the MCCI

9 This question aimed to analyze the flow of communication in the

team in the MCCI

8 This question aimed to analyze the efforts of the team leader for

ensuring effective communication in the MCCI

7 This question aimed to analyze the level of satisfaction of employees

from team communication in the MCCI

6 This question aimed to analyze the feedback in the team work process

in the MCCI
3 This question aimed to analyze the role of team leader in setting

effective communication in the team in the MCCI