Asking Chatgpt to clarify the topic of critical realism for dissertation work: a note for MBA students

Asking Chatgpt to clarify the topic of critical realism for dissertation work: a note for MBA students

I am a part-time MBA student, currently exploring my dissertation project topic on the evaluation of the staff turnover problem with my company. Below is an account of my dialogue with the assistant bot (a chatgpt app accessed via poe.com) on the topic of critical realism with special reference to dissertation project work for MBA students:

My initial question is: "Having come across the the research paradigm of critical realism, what is critical realism, with special regard to the context of dissertation study in Business Management?"

The reply from the assistant bot: "Critical realism is a research paradigm that has gained significant attention in the field of business management, particularly in dissertation studies. It offers a unique perspective on understanding and investigating complex organizational phenomena.

At its core, critical realism combines elements of both realism and interpretivism. It acknowledges the existence of an objective reality, while also recognizing the importance of subjective interpretations and the role of social structures in shaping that reality.

In the context of a dissertation study on staff turnover within your organization, critical realism can provide a valuable framework for your research. Here are some key aspects of critical realism that may be relevant:

Ontological depth: Critical realism posits that reality is stratified, consisting of three domains: the real, the actual, and the empirical. The real domain refers to the underlying causal mechanisms and structures that generate observable events. The actual domain encompasses the events that occur, and the empirical domain is the domain of experience and observation. In the context of staff turnover, this ontological depth can help you uncover the deeper, underlying causes that contribute to the problem, beyond the surface-level observations.

Retroductive reasoning: Critical realism emphasizes the use of retroductive reasoning, which involves moving from the observed events or patterns to the identification of the underlying causal mechanisms that produce them. This approach can be particularly useful in your dissertation study, as it allows you to explore the complex interplay of factors, both visible and hidden, that influence staff turnover within your organization.

Abductive analysis: Critical realism encourages the use of abductive analysis, which involves moving back and forth between theory and data to develop the most plausible explanations for the phenomenon under study. This iterative process can help you refine your understanding of staff turnover and develop more nuanced and contextually-relevant insights.

Emphasis on context: Critical realism recognizes the importance of the social, organizational, and cultural context in shaping the phenomena being studied. In your dissertation, this perspective can guide you to deeply explore the specific factors within your organization that contribute to staff turnover, beyond generic, one-size-fits-all explanations.

Practical adequacy: Critical realism aims to produce knowledge that is not only theoretically sound but also practically adequate, meaning that the insights generated can be applied to address real-world problems. This aligns well with the applied nature of a dissertation project in a business management context, where the goal is to provide actionable recommendations to address the staff turnover issue.

By adopting a critical realist approach in your dissertation study, you can gain a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the staff turnover problem within your organization. This can ultimately lead to the development of targeted and effective interventions to address the underlying issues and improve employee retention".

My second question is: "In the case of the company I am working in, there is an significant increase of staff turnover in the Sales Department. I suspect that this has something to do with the tight labour market for sales staff as well as the high-pressure corporate culture, among others. If I adopt critical realism for my research methodology, what will my interview research and document study research look like in this case?"

The reply from the assistant bot is: "Excellent, this is a great example of how critical realism can be applied in the context of your dissertation study on staff turnover in the Sales Department of your company.

Adopting a critical realist approach, your interview research and document study could look something like this:

Interview Research:

Identify key stakeholders: Conduct in-depth interviews with a diverse range of employees, including current and former sales staff, sales managers, HR personnel, and even senior leadership. This will help you capture different perspectives and uncover the underlying mechanisms at play.

Explore the real domain: Delve deeper into the experiences, beliefs, and motivations of the interview participants. Aim to uncover the causal mechanisms that are driving the high turnover, such as the pressures of the tight labor market, the corporate culture, management practices, work-life balance issues, and so on.

Understand the actual domain: Gather detailed accounts of the specific events, decisions, and processes that have contributed to the turnover problem. This could include discussions around hiring and onboarding practices, performance management, career development opportunities, and the overall employee experience.

Identify the empirical domain: Explore the participants' perceptions, interpretations, and observations of the turnover problem. This will help you understand how the underlying mechanisms manifest in the day-to-day experiences of the sales staff.

Document Study:

Analyze organizational documents: Review relevant company policies, HR records, performance data, and any other documentation that can provide insights into the staff turnover issue. This will help you triangulate the information gathered from the interviews and develop a more comprehensive understanding of the problem.

Explore industry benchmarks: Examine industry reports, market trends, and research on staff turnover in the sales function. This will allow you to contextualize the turnover problem within your organization and compare it to broader industry dynamics.

Identify structural and cultural factors: Look for evidence of the organizational structures, processes, and cultural norms that may be contributing to the staff turnover problem. This could include aspects like compensation structures, career progression opportunities, management styles, and the overall work environment.

Uncover the causal mechanisms: Analyze the documentation to uncover the underlying causal mechanisms that are driving the observed turnover patterns. This could involve identifying the interplay of factors such as the tight labor market, high-pressure sales targets, work-life balance challenges, and any other relevant organizational or contextual elements.

By adopting a critical realist approach, your interview research and document study will be focused on uncovering the deeper, underlying causes of the staff turnover problem, rather than just describing the observable patterns. This will enable you to develop a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the issue, which can then inform the development of targeted interventions and recommendations to address the problem effectively."

My third question is: "What specific interview questions should I consider to uncover causal mechanisms effectively?"

The reply from the assistant bot is: "To effectively uncover the causal mechanisms behind the staff turnover problem in the Sales Department using a critical realist approach, consider the following types of interview questions:

Exploring the real domain:

What are the core values, beliefs, and motivations that drive you in your role as a sales professional?

What do you perceive as the key factors that influence job satisfaction and retention in the Sales Department?

Can you describe the underlying pressures or challenges you face in your day-to-day work that contribute to the turnover problem?

How do you think the organizational culture and management practices impact the work environment for sales staff?

Understanding the actual domain:

Can you walk me through the typical career progression and development opportunities available for sales staff in the company?

How would you describe the performance management and feedback process for sales employees?

What are the common reasons you've observed or experienced for sales staff leaving the company?

Can you share any specific incidents or events that you believe have contributed to the high turnover in the Sales Department?

Identifying the empirical domain:

How do you perceive the overall work-life balance and work environment for sales staff in the company?

What are your observations regarding the recruitment, onboarding, and training processes for new sales hires?

Can you describe your experiences with the company's compensation and benefits structure, and how it may impact staff retention?

How do you feel the current labor market conditions for sales professionals have affected the turnover problem in your organization?

Exploring the interplay of structures and agency:

How do you think the organizational structures, processes, and policies have influenced the staff turnover issue in the Sales Department?

What role do you believe individual factors, such as personal motivations, career aspirations, and work-life balance needs, play in the turnover problem?

Can you identify any specific management practices or leadership behaviors that you believe have contributed to the high turnover rates?

How do you think the broader industry trends and market conditions have interacted with the internal organizational dynamics to exacerbate the staff turnover issue?

By asking these types of questions, you can delve into the deeper, underlying mechanisms that are driving the high staff turnover in the Sales Department, rather than just focusing on the observable symptoms. This will provide you with a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the problem, which can then inform your recommendations and interventions.

Remember to approach the interviews with an open and curious mindset, allowing the participants to share their insights and perspectives freely. This will help you uncover the causal mechanisms that may not be immediately apparent on the surface."

Overall evaluation comments

The assistant bot offers quite useful and concrete information to clarify the topic of critical realism to me. It serves as good study materials for MBA students learning the subject of Research Methods.

Reference: a collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.