MDB 8043

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT

PREPARED BY:
NUR IZZATI NADIA BINTI MOHD DZOLKIFLI
(3181365)
PREPARED FOR:
PROF. MADYA DR. KALSOM ABD WAHAB

FACULTY OF ECONOMIC AND MUAMALAT

(GSM)

Semester 1, 2018/2019
What justification needed for a research method choice?

What justification

needed for a

research method

choice? Before we

decide to answer

this question, we

need to identify

what is research

method in order to

make sure our

Figure 1 : The research journey (Kumar, 2011)
research is validate

and reliable. Research is about seeking knowledge. In addition, we may also define it as exploring

knowledge by using technical and organized procedures for valuable information in a specific

issue (Kothari, 2009). Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionaries also describe research as a

cautious study of an issue in order to find out new evidences or data about it. Research is an

expression used generously for every kind of analysis that is projected to discover fascinating or

new truths (Walliman, 2011). Based on the definition above, we can conclude that research is a

process of exploring or revealing new innovations or truths using a specific tools or methods. Why

research is necessary? The main objective of doing research is to improve understanding with an

event or to get new perceptions into it (Kothari, 2009).

 “There are many types of research for examples pure, applied and strategic research,

descriptive, explanatory and evaluation research, market and academic research, exploratory,

testing-out and problem solving research, covert, adversarial and collaborative research, basic,

applied, instrumental, participatory and action research” (Blaxter, L., Hughes, C. and Tight, M.

2006). According to (Pandey, P. and Pandey, M.M. 2015) Qualitative research is define when the

material is collected in form of qualitative data. Otherwise, Quantitative research is composed in

form of quantitative or numerical data.

Thus, before we decide to select the method of our research, we need to clarify what

research method is all about. Research methods are the instruments and skills for doing research

(Walliman, 2011). There are five different classifications when we discuss about basis of research

method which is philosophical research, historical research, survey research, experimental

research and also case-study research (Pandey, P. and Pandey, M.M. 2015).

Research method can be decided by determine our research problems. Research problems

is any kind of enquiry that we want to solve and any theory or proclamation that we want to test

or explore can become a research problem or a main topic of your study (Kumar, R. 2011). In the

present of research problem, research questions may be construct to clearly identify what are the

findings or outcomes that will derive from this research. Thus, will determine the methods or

techniques that will be used to collect the data. The way how we construct a research problem will

later determines the type of research design that we will used, the type of sampling technique, the

research tools that can be used or established, and the type of investigation that can be carry out.

Assume you extensive area of curiosity is trauma. If our focus is to find out services which is

available or provided to patients with trauma, the study will indisputably be descriptive and

qualitative in nature. These natures of investigations can be assume as qualitative research and
carried out using qualitative research methodologies. According to Stirling, J.A (2001), the

expanding and developing in qualitative methods is well-known and greeted fact within the social

sciences. Besides, if we want to define the amount of practice of these service, that is the total of

people consuming them, it will use quantitative methodologies even though is descriptive in nature

describing the amount of individuals using a service.

To make it clear about how to determine our methods or techniques which could be used

in our research project, I would like to share about my research topic which is about “Problems

and Challenges Face by Small and Medium Enterprise (SME’s) in Applying, Maintaining and

Renewing Malaysian Halal Certification”. Based on my research title, it is dominantly classified

as qualitative research. How did I determined whether it will be conducted in qualitative or

quantitative ways? Based on reference that have been mentioned before, research method was

determined or derived from our problem statement. Thus, my problem statement revealed that only

10 percent of application have been received by JAKIM for Halal certification from SME’s.

According to (Noorizzuddin, 2018) in Utusan Online, “The Small and Medium Industry

encompasses 97 percent of total business in Malaysia”. Based on the percentage above, the

applications for Halal certification are very low compared to the total amount of SME’s in

Malaysia. Thus, my research question will explained and identified what are the problems and

challenges that need to face by the SME’s when applying, maintaining and renewing Halal

certification. In order to answer the research question, we need to choose a verified method which

may provide us well understanding regarding this issue and finally so solve it.

There are several methods or skills in qualitative research that we may use to collect our

data. Qualitative research is definitely exposed us to a complete, particular and detailed

explanation about the topic. Quantitative and qualitative style of research hold opposing views in
their underlying philosophy and somewhat, in the approaches or techniques, models, and practices

used (Kumar, 2011). One of the common method in collecting primary data is by conducting

interview session among respondents. In a nut shell, quantitative method commonly deal with huge

data compared to qualitative. In my cases, I already identified 10 respondents classified as SME’s

from each state to represent the samples which is Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Sabah, Sarawak, Kedah

and Pulau Pinang. The significant reason why I choose to conduct this group interview in collecting

data because of the low cost. Costing is frequently be the dominant factor in determining our

methods because every method has different approaches with different cost. Most of the

researchers who want to gain opinions, perceptions or attitudes towards an issue or service used

this kind of method in order to have better understanding about regarding matters. The results

generated from this group interview can be meticulous and ironic which can be used to explore

further research or any related issues.

Last but not least, there are factors or enablers that could determine or justify the research

method in terms of the underlying philosophy or the techniques in collecting data. First and

foremost, the researcher need to understand the research problem and also research question before

designing the research method.

 REFERENCES

Blaxter, L., Hughes, C. & Tight, M. 2006. How to Research (third edition). Buckingham:

Open University Press

Kothari, C.R. 2004. Research Methodology: Methods & Techniques. India: New Age

International (P) Ltd

Kumar, R. 2011. Research Methodology (third edition). New Delhi: SAGE Publications Ltd.

Mohammad Noorizzuddin. 2018. “Harapan IKS, Keluhan Usahawan”. Utusan Online. 11

Julai

Pandey, P., & Pandey, M. 2015. Research Methodology: Tools and Techniques.

Romania: Bridge Center.

Stirling, J.A. 2001. “Thematic Network: An Analytic Tool for Qualitative Research”.

Qualitative Research. Vol. 1(3). Pp. 385

Walliman, N. 2011. Research Methods: The Methods: The Basic. New York: Routledge