Examining the underlying research philosophies in an ALRA-based dissertation project

Most MBA students writing up the chapter on Research Methods find it challenging to examine the underlying research philosophies of their dissertation projects.

Basically, you need to examine:

(a) research methods anchoring: trying to argue (e.g. to explain how) that a chosen set of research methods endorses the worldview (e.g. its ontology, epistemology and favored research methods) of a specific research philosophy.

(b) research philosophy switching: trying to argue that the research design involves using 1-2 research methods that endorse a different underlying research philosophy. In short, there is a research philosophy switching from one used research philosophy to another one employed in the same dissertation project.

The following diagram is illustrative in the context of a agile literature review approach (ALRA)-based dissertation project:

It is useful to also discuss (i) the specific strengths and weaknesses of adopting a particular research philosophy as well as (ii) how the chosen research philosophy (or chosen research philosophies with philosophy switching) shape formulation of research objectives, research questions and research design formulation.

To improve your skills to review research philosophies in your dissertation projects, you need to study research methods textbooks as well as academic articles that discuss research philosophies and their employment in specific research works.