an investigative analysis of the psychological characteristics and job ...

CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 INTRODUCTION
There will always be problems that require research for solutions. For this reason there will always
be something for the researcher to investigate. These questions can be answered and problems be
solved only if the researcher asks questions to solve the problems (Neuman, 2003:2). The role of
research is therefore to create a method to solve problems and answer questions. All research
must follow acertain plan to find answers to the questions.
Walsh (2001:2) declares that real research investigation involve more than general information
seeking. It involves:
• Putting forward ideas that can be tested.
• Collecting data to test these ideas in a systematic way.
• Analysing the collected data.
• Drawing conclusions based on the research evidence.
According to Phillips and Pugh (1994:47), research is distinguished from information gathering and
decision making by three distinct but interrelated characteristics:
3.1.1 Research as an Open System ofThought
Researchers are entitled to think what they want They h"ve no hidden agendas or closed
systems. They continuously test review and criticise other researchers' work. Critical thinking
develops in this way. Non-researchers often regard research results as demonstrations of the
obvious or as unimportant However, by investigating the obvious, a good researcher discovers
elaborations that are not trivial. A good researcher is not someone who knows the right answers,
but someone who is struggling to find out what the right questions might be.
70