Implementing the Research Plan Paper Example

Introduction

As mentioned in the research methodology section, the study primarily uses interviews and questionnaires to collect primary data for the research. The research has been successfully rolled out, with all the research considerations carefully regarded. The target is to implement interviews that collect data from at least one-third of the participants in the research and also run questionnaires to all the participants in the research. Ensuring the accuracy of the research tools has been considered to reduce the likelihood of bias and ensure more fluid data collection process (Krishnaswamy, Sivakumar & Mathirajan, 2009). This section explores the implementation of the research plan and the subsequent steps.

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Before the data collection process, it has been established that a clear definition of goals is pertinent to the success of the project. Having S.M.A.R.T. objectives ensured that the focus of the research is identified and pursued. In addition to that, the processes that supersede data collection such as data analysis and presentation are established (Kothari, 2013).

Semi-structured questionnaires and interviews are used in this study as they provide the best way to collect the information sought. They provide the needed guiding questions and aspects that may need clarification from the respondent and ensure complete and consistent information is collected across the interview (Kothari, 2013). In implementing the interviews and the questionnaires, the proper procedure is followed. The first step was to get consent from the respondent to conduct the interviews and administer the questionnaires while properly recording the data (Krishnaswamy, Sivakumar & Mathirajan, 2009).

The data is collected and recorded in the appropriate research tools. For the questionnaires, the data is recorded directly by ticking where appropriate, highlighting or direct entry of the responses. The interview responses are noted down on the survey sheet by the interviewer. The focus has been to create the best environment for the research and to collect the data as honestly and accurately as possible.

Sampling

The respondents are a subset of a larger population, and therefore we are obtaining n sample objects from N population. Simple random sampling is adopted because each of the members of the population has an equal chance to be useful and to be chosen for the research. The approach is used in order to gain a meaningful representation of the population under analysis. The respondents to the interviews and questionnaires were Walmart employees hence it was easy to sample them out (Kothari, 2013). As they worked under the same conditions, simple random sampling would result in a more meaningful sample and the chances of introduction of bias are minimized.

Data Preparation Techniques

Much effort has been put in place to ensure that the data collected is concise and that there are few inconsistencies which could affect the final presentation. The data has undergone the following steps to ready it for the final analysis:

Data Editing

The raw data collected is routinely examined in the field to ensure high levels of accuracy. Once the questionnaire is collected from the recipient, it is checked for overall accuracy, completeness and to certify that the information collected is usable. If the questionnaire is noted to have critical inconsistencies, it is discarded as it may introduce undesired bias to the final analysis. Field editing entails checking the questionnaires for incomplete sentences and finishing up, and expanding on abbreviations used by the respondents which may be misunderstood. The interviewer has the sole task of vetting and ensuring that the respondent meets the target criteria set before commencing the interview (Manikandan, 2010). Certain interviews may be discarded if it is realized that they were done inconsistently or that they may be inaccurate.

Central editing is the second phase of editing that takes place in the office or any other predetermined central place. The editors check the responses for the legibility of the entries such that the data is deciphered, completeness of the entries such that there is reduced ambiguity, consistency of the entries such that discrepancies are eliminated, and inaccuracies which may show systematic interviewer dishonesty or bias.

Coding the Data

Before the raw data is processed, it has to be categorized clearly. The data is categorized based on similar responses in order to enhance interclass homogeneity. Classification of the categories realizes Interclass homogeneity with respect to the characteristics (Manikandan, 2010). Establishing appropriate class intervals is also critical as it eases the process of data processing and presentation.

Data Tabulation

Still, under data preparation, proper tabulation and arrangement of the responses in different categories is essential. As this research is simple, it has fewer categories and doing will make it easier to analyze the work in the subsequent steps.

Concluding the Research

After successful data collection and preparation, the subsequent steps deal with the processing of data. Statistical Package for Social Sciences software will be used for the final processing of the data. Data processing processes such as validation, sorting of the data, summarization of data to their main points, aggregation, analysis of the data and classification will follow next. The findings will the presented using the appropriate methods.

References

Krishnaswamy, K. N., Sivakumar, A. I., & Mathirajan, M. (2009). Management research methodology: integration of principles, methods and techniques. Pearson Education India.

Kothari, C. R. (2013). Research methodology: Methods and techniques. New Age International.

Manikandan, S. (2010). Preparing to analyse data. Journal of pharmacology & pharmacotherapeutics, 1(1), 64.