Question

Your manager was happy with your proposed qualitative design to better understand how to motivate employee performance. However, over the last 40 hours since you first discussed the plan with your manager, you are wondering if a different qualitative design would possibly yield better results. Consider each of the core qualitative research designs supported by GCU. How would the information gained from conducting the study differ from design to design? Explain. Which of the GCU core qualitative designs do you believe would best serve the purpose of the study? Why? Why would the other designs not be as effective? Explain.

Answer 1

Each qualitative research design offers different insights into employee motivation, with ethnography and narrative approaches providing in-depth cultural and personal perspectives. The best design depends on the research question and objectives, and any selected approach should align with the depth and focus needed.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering the various qualitative research designs supported by GCU (Grand Canyon University), it's important to note that each design has unique strengths and can offer different insights into employee motivation. For instance, ethnography can provide a deep understanding of the cultural aspects of the workplace and how they impact motivation, while case studies might focus on individual or group cases within the organization to provide a detailed analysis of motivational strategies and their outcomes.

Surveys with open questions can garner rich qualitative data about employees' personal beliefs, motivations, and values. Here, participants could reveal what truly motivates them in a way that might not appear in more structured research designs. In the context of understanding employee motivation, a narrative design, which collects and analyzes personal stories and experiences, may yield comprehensive insights into motivational factors and how they operate over time within the company's specific context.

Choosing the best qualitative design depends on the specific research question, what is being measured, and the type of information required to inform decision-making processes. For instance, to understand the complex motivations and internal thought processes of employees, an ethnographic or narrative approach might be more appropriate than a case study, as it allows researchers to delve into cultural elements and personal experiences that shape motivation. Other designs might not be as effective if they lack the depth or particular focus required by the study objectives.

Answer 2

Among the core qualitative research designs supported by GCU, the phenomenological design would likely serve the purpose of understanding employee motivation best due to its focus on exploring lived experiences. This design allows for in-depth exploration of individual perceptions, emotions, and motivations, providing valuable insights into the employees' perspectives on motivation. Other designs like ethnography, grounded theory, and case study might not offer as detailed an understanding of individual experiences and motivations, potentially limiting the study's depth and specificity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phenomenological design, among GCU's core qualitative research designs, emphasizes understanding individuals' lived experiences related to a specific phenomenon—in this case, employee motivation. By delving into employees' subjective experiences, perceptions, and emotions regarding motivation, this design allows for a rich and comprehensive exploration of the topic.

It enables researchers to uncover deep insights into how employees interpret motivation, what drives them, and the factors influencing their performance. This approach fosters a nuanced understanding that can inform strategies tailored to individual needs, enhancing the effectiveness of motivational initiatives within the organization.

Ethnography, grounded theory, and case study designs possess their strengths but might not be as suitable for exploring employee motivation in this context. Ethnography primarily focuses on observing cultural behaviors within a group over time, which might not entirely align with understanding the intricate nuances of individual employee motivation. Grounded theory emphasizes theory development based on systematic data analysis but may not capture the richness and depth of individual experiences as directly as phenomenology.

Similarly, while a case study could provide detailed insights into specific instances, it might lack the breadth and generalizability needed to understand diverse employee motivations across the organization. Hence, for exploring the complex and varied nature of employee motivation, the phenomenological design is likely the most effective among these options.