Asking chatgpt (via poe.com) to compare pragmatism and critical realism with regard to research methodology design: a note for MBA students
Introduction and my first question: "I am a part-time MBA student, currently working on the formulation of my dissertation project proposal. My project is to study the main factors that lead to corporate merger failures and its negative financial and non-financial impact. Also, my research approach is going to be mixed methods research, primarily using a small-scale interview research on victims of corporate merger failure and desk research on contents mainly from news, journal and magazine articles, and corporate annual reports. I think both pragmatism and critical realism can be the underlying research philosophy to use, but I have some questions with regard to these two research philosophies. First of all, could you tell me five underlying ideas of these two research philosophies?"
The answer from Chatgpt: "Certainly! Let me provide an overview of the key underlying ideas of pragmatism and critical realism, two research philosophies that could be relevant for your dissertation project.
Pragmatism:
Practical Consequences: Pragmatism emphasizes the practical consequences of research and the usefulness of the findings in addressing real-world problems.
Multiple Methods: Pragmatists believe that a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods can provide the best understanding of a research problem.
Contextual Factors: Pragmatists acknowledge the importance of the research context and the role of personal experiences and values in shaping the research process.
Problem-Solving Orientation: Pragmatism is oriented towards finding practical solutions to problems rather than solely focusing on theoretical debates.
Pluralism: Pragmatists embrace a pluralistic approach, recognizing that there can be multiple valid perspectives and ways of understanding a phenomenon.
Critical Realism:
Ontological Realism: Critical realists believe that there is a real world that exists independently of our knowledge or perception of it.
Epistemic Relativism: Critical realists acknowledge that our knowledge of the world is always fallible and shaped by our social and historical contexts.
Explanatory Critique: Critical realists aim to uncover the underlying causal mechanisms and structures that shape social phenomena, often with the goal of emancipation or social change.
Methodological Pluralism: Critical realists recognize the value of using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to understand complex social phenomena.
Stratified Ontology: Critical realists view the world as consisting of multiple layers or domains (the real, the actual, and the empirical), which can be explored through various research approaches.
Both pragmatism and critical realism share a commitment to a mixed methods approach and the acknowledgment of the importance of context in shaping research. However, they differ in their underlying assumptions about the nature of reality and the goals of research.
Pragmatism is primarily focused on the practical utility of research findings, while critical realism is concerned with uncovering the underlying causal mechanisms that shape social phenomena, often with a view towards social emancipation or transformation.
Given your research focus on investigating the factors leading to corporate merger failures and their financial and non-financial impacts, both pragmatism and critical realism could potentially provide a suitable philosophical foundation for your study. The choice between the two will depend on your specific research objectives and the extent to which you wish to engage with more critical or emancipatory aspects of the phenomenon."
My second question is: "Great; could you come up with two research methodology designs, one based on pragmatism and another one based on critical realism, so that I can have a more clearer grasp of their differences with respect to my project work?"
The reply from Chatgpt is: "Certainly, let me provide two research methodology designs for your dissertation project, one based on a pragmatist approach and the other on a critical realist approach.
Pragmatist Research Methodology Design:
Research Objective: To identify the key factors that contribute to corporate merger failures and their practical impact on financial and non-financial performance.
Research Approach:
Mixed methods design, combining qualitative and quantitative methods.
Qualitative phase: Semi-structured interviews with managers and employees who have experienced corporate merger failures. Focus on understanding their perspectives, experiences, and the practical consequences of the failed mergers.
Quantitative phase: Analyze financial and non-financial data from corporate annual reports and news articles to quantify the impact of merger failures on organizational performance.
Data Collection:
Qualitative: Conduct in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of 15-20 individuals who have been impacted by corporate merger failures.
Quantitative: Collect financial and non-financial data (e.g., revenue, profit, market share, employee turnover, customer satisfaction) from the annual reports and news articles of companies that have experienced merger failures.
Data Analysis:
Qualitative: Thematic analysis to identify key themes and factors contributing to merger failures, as well as their practical consequences.
Quantitative: Statistical analysis (e.g., regression analysis) to quantify the impact of merger failures on financial and non-financial performance indicators.
Rationale:
The pragmatist approach focuses on the practical utility of the research findings, aiming to provide insights that can help organizations better manage and mitigate the risks of corporate merger failures.
The mixed methods design allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon, combining the in-depth, contextual insights from the qualitative phase with the quantifiable impact analysis from the quantitative phase.
Critical Realist Research Methodology Design:
Research Objective: To uncover the underlying causal mechanisms and structures that contribute to corporate merger failures and their negative financial and non-financial impacts, with the aim of informing strategies for organizational transformation.
Research Approach:
Critical realist mixed methods design, using both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Qualitative phase: In-depth interviews with managers, employees, and other stakeholders affected by corporate merger failures. Focus on understanding the underlying social, cultural, and power dynamics that shape the merger process and outcomes.
Quantitative phase: Analysis of financial and non-financial data to identify patterns and trends related to the impact of merger failures, with a focus on uncovering the underlying causal structures.
Data Collection:
Qualitative: Conduct semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 20-25 individuals, including managers, employees, and other stakeholders directly affected by corporate merger failures.
Quantitative: Collect financial and non-financial data (e.g., revenue, profit, market share, employee morale, customer loyalty) from the annual reports and news articles of companies that have experienced merger failures.
Data Analysis:
Qualitative: Critical discourse analysis to uncover the underlying power structures, ideologies, and social dynamics that shape the merger process and its outcomes.
Quantitative: Statistical analysis (e.g., structural equation modeling) to identify the causal relationships between merger failures and their financial and non-financial impacts.
Rationale:
The critical realist approach aims to uncover the underlying causal mechanisms and structures that contribute to corporate merger failures, with the goal of informing strategies for organizational transformation and social change.
The mixed methods design allows for a more nuanced understanding of the phenomenon, combining the in-depth, critical insights from the qualitative phase with the quantifiable analysis of causal relationships from the quantitative phase.
The key differences between the pragmatist and critical realist approaches lie in their underlying assumptions and research goals. The pragmatist approach is more focused on practical problem-solving and the utility of the research findings, while the critical realist approach is more concerned with uncovering the deeper, underlying structures and mechanisms that shape social phenomena, with a view towards social transformation."
My last question is: "For a dissertation project based on critical realism to study my research theme on corporate merger failures and consequences, what kinds of recommendations could be made that are related to the promotion of social transformation?"
The reply from Chatgpt is: "For a dissertation project on corporate merger failures and consequences based on a critical realist approach, the following types of recommendations related to promoting social transformation could be made:
Addressing Power Imbalances:
Identify the underlying power dynamics and structural inequalities that contribute to corporate merger failures, such as the disproportionate influence of certain stakeholder groups or the marginalization of employee voices.
Recommend strategies to empower and amplify the voices of diverse stakeholders (e.g., employees, local communities) in the merger decision-making and implementation processes.
Propose mechanisms to hold corporate leadership accountable for the social and ethical consequences of merger decisions.
Fostering Organizational Cultures of Collaboration and Inclusion:
Recommend the development of more collaborative and inclusive organizational cultures that prioritize the well-being of all stakeholders, not just shareholders.
Suggest the implementation of employee-centric policies and practices that support job security, skill development, and overall employee welfare during merger transitions.
Encourage the adoption of more transparent and democratic decision-making processes within organizations to promote trust and engagement among employees.
Promoting Socially Responsible Merger Practices:
Advocate for the incorporation of social and environmental impact assessments as a mandatory component of the merger evaluation and approval process.
Recommend the development of industry-wide guidelines or regulations that prioritize the long-term societal and environmental well-being over short-term financial gains in merger decisions.
Propose the creation of independent oversight bodies or watchdog organizations to monitor and enforce socially responsible merger practices.
Advancing Stakeholder-Centric Legislation and Policies:
Identify gaps or weaknesses in existing merger and acquisition regulations that prioritize shareholder interests over broader stakeholder interests.
Recommend the development of new laws, policies, or guidelines that better protect the rights and interests of employees, local communities, and other stakeholders affected by corporate mergers.
Advocate for the inclusion of more diverse stakeholder voices in the policymaking process related to mergers and acquisitions.
Fostering Cross-Sector Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing:
Encourage the establishment of collaborative platforms or networks that bring together corporate leaders, policymakers, academics, and civil society organizations to share best practices and innovative approaches to managing merger-related social impacts.
Recommend the creation of research and development programs that facilitate the co-creation of solutions to mitigate the negative societal consequences of corporate mergers.
Propose the development of educational and training programs that equip managers, employees, and other stakeholders with the knowledge and skills to navigate merger processes in a more socially responsible manner.
By addressing these types of recommendations, the critical realist-informed dissertation could contribute to promoting broader social transformation and the development of more ethical and sustainable corporate merger practices."
Some overall evaluation comments
The answer from Chatgpt is quite clear and concrete, given the nature of my question being quite complicated intellectually.
Reference: a collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.
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