Asking Chatgpt to clarify interpretivism with regard to dissertation proposal formulation: a note for MBA students

Asking Chatgpt to clarify interpretivism with regard to dissertation proposal formulation: a note for MBA students.

I am a part-time MBA student, currently working on the formulation of my final-year dissertation proposal. I am interested in doing a study with my employer on the theme of managerial leadership effectiveness. As I am also interested in the research philosophy of interpretivism. I have a few questions I would like to ask you. My first question is what the main underlying ideas of interpretivism are?

Below is my dialogue with the assistant bot (accessed via poe.com) on the topic of interpretivism for dissertation proposal formulation:

Finding 1

My first query: "As I am also interested in the research philosophy of interpretivism. I have a few questions I would like to ask you. My first question is what the main underlying ideas of interpretivism are?"

The reply from the assistant bot: "The main underlying ideas of interpretivism as a research philosophy are:

Ontological Relativism: Interpretivists believe that reality is subjective and socially constructed. There is no single objective reality, but rather multiple realities that are interpreted by individuals based on their experiences, beliefs, and cultural contexts.

Epistemological Subjectivism: Interpretivists argue that knowledge is not absolute or independent of the researcher. Instead, knowledge is created through the interaction between the researcher and the research participants, with the researcher's own biases and perspectives shaping the interpretation of the data.

Idiographic Approach: Interpretivists focus on understanding the unique and context-specific experiences of individuals or small groups, rather than seeking to uncover universal laws or generalizations.

Inductive Reasoning: Interpretivists typically use an inductive approach, where they start with observations and aim to develop theories or patterns based on the data, rather than testing pre-existing hypotheses.

Emphasis on Meaning and Understanding: Interpretivists are more interested in understanding the subjective meanings, interpretations, and experiences of research participants, rather than explaining or predicting behavior.

Reflexivity: Interpretivists acknowledge the role of the researcher in the research process and the need to reflect on their own biases, assumptions, and influence on the data collection and analysis.

These underlying ideas of interpretivism contrast with the positivist research philosophy, which assumes the existence of a single, objective reality that can be studied through scientific, deductive methods."

Finding 2

My second query: "Tks for clarification. If I want to come up with a research proposal that employs interpretivism to evaluate the managerial leadership effectiveness of the middle-management of my company, with the main research methods being interview research and participant observation, what would the research proposal looks like?"

The reply from the assistant bot: "Here is an example of what a research proposal on managerial leadership effectiveness using an interpretivist approach with interviews and participant observation could look like:

Title: Exploring Managerial Leadership Effectiveness in Middle Management: An Interpretivist Case Study of [Company Name]

Introduction:

Briefly introduce the topic of managerial leadership effectiveness and its importance in organizational performance.

Highlight the need to understand leadership effectiveness from the perspectives of those experiencing it, rather than through objective, positivist measures.

State the aim of the study: to explore middle managers' experiences and interpretations of leadership effectiveness within the context of [Company Name].

Theoretical Framework:

Provide an overview of the interpretivist research paradigm, emphasizing its focus on subjective meanings, contextual understanding, and the role of the researcher.

Discuss relevant leadership and management theories that align with an interpretivist approach, such as transformational leadership, authentic leadership, or relational leadership.

Methodology:

Explain the choice of a qualitative, interpretivist case study design to gain an in-depth understanding of the research context.

Describe the data collection methods:

Semi-structured interviews with middle managers to explore their perceptions, experiences, and interpretations of leadership effectiveness.

Participant observation of middle managers in their work environments to observe leadership behaviors and interactions.

Outline the sampling strategy, such as purposive sampling to select information-rich participants.

Discuss the data analysis approach, such as thematic analysis, to identify patterns and themes in the data.

Address issues of trustworthiness, such as triangulation, member checking, and reflexivity.

Anticipated Findings and Contributions:

Discuss the potential insights the study could provide into middle managers' perspectives on leadership effectiveness.

Highlight how the interpretivist approach could offer a nuanced understanding of the contextual and subjective factors influencing leadership effectiveness.

Explain how the findings could inform leadership development and organizational practices within the company.

Ethical Considerations:

Outline the measures to ensure the ethical conduct of the research, such as obtaining informed consent, protecting participant confidentiality, and minimizing any potential risks.

Timeline and Resources:

Provide a timeline for the various stages of the research project.

Identify any necessary resources, such as access to the research site, support from the organization, and any funding requirements.

By framing the research proposal within an interpretivist paradigm and focusing on middle managers' experiences and interpretations of leadership effectiveness, this approach can provide valuable insights that complement more traditional, positivist studies on the topic."

Finding 3

My third query: "Can you elaborate on the sampling strategy for selecting participants?"

The reply from the assistant bot: "Sure, let's dive deeper into the sampling strategy for the proposed interpretivist study on managerial leadership effectiveness:

Sampling Strategy:

For this qualitative, interpretivist case study, a purposive sampling approach would be most appropriate. Purposive sampling allows the researcher to select participants who can provide rich and relevant information to address the research questions.

The specific sampling strategy would involve:

Identifying the target population:

Middle managers within the [Company Name] organization, as they are the focus of the study on leadership effectiveness.

Establishing selection criteria:

Minimum 3 years of experience as a middle manager within the company.

Representation across different departments, teams, and functional areas to capture diverse perspectives.

Willingness to participate and share their experiences openly.

Recruitment and selection:

Obtain approval and support from the company leadership to facilitate access to potential participants.

Reach out to middle managers who meet the selection criteria and invite them to participate in the study.

Aim for a sample size of approximately 15-20 middle managers, as this should allow for data saturation to be reached within the case study context.

Ensuring diversity and balance:

Strive to include middle managers with varied backgrounds, tenure, functional roles, and demographic characteristics to capture a range of perspectives.

Consider factors such as gender, age, and managerial experience to ensure the sample is representative of the middle management population within the company.

The purposive sampling approach allows the researcher to intentionally select participants who can provide in-depth insights into the phenomenon of managerial leadership effectiveness from an interpretivist perspective. This targeted sampling strategy, combined with the qualitative data collection methods of interviews and participant observation, will enable the researcher to develop a rich, contextual understanding of the research topic."

Finding 4

My fourth query: "How will you ensure ethical considerations are addressed during participant recruitment?"

The reply from the assistant bot: "Ensuring ethical considerations are addressed during the participant recruitment process is crucial for an interpretivist study on managerial leadership effectiveness. Here are some key steps that can be taken:

Obtain Organizational Approval:

Seek formal approval and support from the company's leadership or relevant gatekeepers to conduct the research within the organization.

Clarify the purpose of the study, data collection methods, and any potential impact on the organization.

Obtain written consent from the organization to proceed with the research.

Informed Consent:

Develop a detailed informed consent form that clearly outlines the purpose of the study, the voluntary nature of participation, and the rights of the participants.

Ensure the consent form is written in plain language and easily understandable by the prospective participants.

Provide ample time for participants to review the consent form and ask any questions before signing.

Emphasize that participants can withdraw from the study at any time without penalty.

Confidentiality and Privacy:

Assure participants that their identities and any sensitive information will be kept confidential.

Explain how the data will be stored, protected, and used, and who will have access to it.

Offer the option for participants to use pseudonyms or avoid using identifying information in the study.

Ensure secure data storage and encryption to protect participant privacy.

Minimizing Risks:

Identify any potential risks or discomforts that participants may experience, such as emotional or reputational harm, and take measures to mitigate them.

Consider the power dynamics between the researcher (who may be a colleague or manager) and the participants, and address any concerns about coercion or undue influence.

Provide participants with appropriate resources or support if any sensitive issues arise during the data collection.

Participant Autonomy:

Emphasize that participation is entirely voluntary and that participants can choose to withdraw or refrain from answering any questions without consequence.

Ensure participants understand that their decision to participate (or not) will not impact their employment or relationship with the organization.

By implementing these ethical safeguards during the recruitment process, the researcher can build trust, demonstrate respect for participant autonomy, and uphold the principles of ethical research practice. This approach is particularly important in an interpretivist study where the researcher and participants engage closely, and the research aims to capture subjective, contextual experiences."

Some overall evaluation comments

The replies from the assistant bot are informed, useful and concrete.

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