A note on research philosophies and MBA dissertation project background discussion

A note on research philosophies and MBA dissertation project background discussion 

I am a part-time MBA student, and I have question to ask about dissertation report writing. My question is: how do the research philosophy chosen for my dissertation work affect the relative attention paid to dissertation project background aspects with regard to: (1) the academic background (e.g. on research issues), (2) on the general and business background (e.g. public media-reported issues) and (3) the researcher positionality background. It would be helpful to clarify your discussion with reference to the MBA research theme of "business strategies to deal with the tourist misbehavior problems in Hong Kong in 2026".

Research philosophy shapes how you construct the background sections of your MBA dissertation by influencing the emphasis on objectivity, context, and personal insight. For a theme like business strategies addressing tourist misbehavior in Hong Kong in 2026—such as violent incidents in serviced apartments or unlicensed tour groups crowding sites—philosophies like positivism, interpretivism, and pragmatism dictate varying attention to academic literature, general/business contexts, and your positionality as a Hong Kong-based researcher.

Positivism

Positivism prioritizes objective, measurable facts, so academic background receives heavy emphasis through reviews of empirical studies on tourist behavior patterns, like psychological closeness reducing misbehavior. General and business background gets concise coverage of verifiable issues, such as 2026 Golden Week complaints about forced shopping or trail sign removals, focusing on quantifiable impacts like tourism revenue. Researcher positionality is minimal or absent, as the approach assumes researcher neutrality to maintain scientific detachment.

Interpretivism

Interpretivism emphasizes subjective meanings, balancing academic background with deep dives into theoretical debates on cultural perceptions of misbehavior, such as compatriot biases in tourism studies. General and business background expands richly on media-reported nuances, like local frustrations with mainland tour groups eating in streets or unlicensed campsite operations in Hong Kong. Positionality demands extensive attention, detailing your Hong Kong residency, MBA studies, and potential biases in interpreting misbehavior as a local, to enhance reflexivity.

Pragmatism

Pragmatism mixes approaches for practical outcomes, giving balanced academic background by integrating quantitative studies (e.g., misbehavior stats) with qualitative theories on strategies like norm reminders. General and business background focuses actionably on 2026 issues, such as government crackdowns on malpractices during holidays, linking to strategies like stricter tour controls. Positionality is addressed moderately, noting your practitioner lens (e.g., finance background) only if it aids real-world recommendations for Hong Kong tourism firms.

        A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.