Selecting potential research method(s)
Now that you have selected a topic and begun an initial literature review, the next step is to identify a research methodology and method(s) that could be used when conducting your research.
To prepare for this Individual Assignment:
• Review the Lessons and Learning Resources for Week 2.
To complete this Individual Assignment:
• Identify the methodology and method(s) that seem most appropriate for the research topic you have chosen.
• Drawing upon your literature review and the discussions during Week 2, develop a rationale for why you have chosen the methodology and method(s).
Create a 750-word document that includes the following:
• An opening paragraph that outlines the research topic and potential goals for the research.
• A detailed rationale for why you have chosen the methodology and method(s). Include explanations for why the other methodologies and methods were not appropriate given your proposed research topic.
• A concluding paragraph that summarises how choosing the methodology and method(s) has Helped you in gaining greater clarity into your research topic.
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In this research study, the idea is to investigate the 5G Mobile Cellular Network communications technology. As such, there is serious need to study and understand data flows within the 5G network. The most ideal research methodology suited for this study would be the use of mixed methods research design as it involves collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative research. Mixing these two techniques under the mixed method research design ensures that we will gain in depth understanding of the topic under research while also eliminating the weakness that exists in using each method on its own.
In future, mobile devices will require high memory and computing capabilities because they will have to support applications with high data rates. With the existing 4G network communication, it may be unable to support large memory and high computing capability that will be required in future which means that there is need to conduct a detailed study and analysis about mobile the 5G network architecture (Ambekar, Karrenbauer, & Schotten, 2017). As such, the mixed methods research design is best suited for this kind of study because it will help us to corroborate or validate the results obtained from the other research methods. Moreover, given the fact that the 5 network technology is relatively new, there is still very little information known about it, which means that there will be need to use one research method to inform the other. In other words, it will be advisable to first establish the variables about the topic under study using qualitative research before advancing this study with a larger population sample using the qualitative research technique (Berndtson et al, 2008). Based on this understanding, it gives a detailed rationale as to why we have chosen the mixed method technique as the ideal research design for this study.
While much is known about the potential benefits associated with the 5G network technology, there is still a lot that is yet to be explored the negative aspects associated with this technology. As such, adopting the mixed method research technique will be every crucial because it will give us a chance to look at the research topic from different perspectives, which with then allow for the clarification of any potential contradictions while also clarifying any unexpected findings. The mixed method research design will give us a chance to elaborate or a clear picture of the topic under study by comparing the findings from either the qualitative or quantitative study (Pyton, 2013). For example, in situations where the study wants to establish a casual relationship existing within various variables within the study topic through an experimental research model, a quantitative study would be the best approach while the qualitative research would be used to explain and understand the casual process. In other words, in situations where the research study will be required to develop a theory on a given topical issue and then test this hypothesis, a qualitative research study will be the ideal method to come up with the theory while the quantitative method will provide a good method for testing (Pyton, 2013). As such, the mixed method techniques as the ideal research design for this study.
Other research methodologies would not be appropriate to this study for a number of reasons. First they lack the strength with the mixed methods research technique to offset the common weaknesses found in other research methods (Rengasamy, 2016). For example, quantitative research has a weakness of understanding the setting or context on people’s behavior, while qualitative research makes up for this weakness. Similarly, qualitative research study has some deficiency in the sense that it falls the risk of biased interpretations from the researcher’s perspective while quantitative research has the ability to eliminate these weaknesses (Rengasamy, 2016). As such, using any of these other research methods alone means that their weaknesses will distort the accuracy of the research information collected. However, with a mixed method approach the strength of one research technique covers for the weaknesses of the other, a factor that will enhance the accuracy of the information collected.
In conclusion, choosing the mixed method research technique enhances clarity in my research study because it helps eliminate most of the weaknesses in other research methods. Moreover, given the fact that the 5 network technology is relatively new, there is still very little information known about it, which means that there will be need to use one research method to inform the other. In situations where the research study will be required to develop a theory on a given topical issue and then test this hypothesis, a qualitative research study will be the ideal method to come up with the theory while the quantitative method will provide a good method for testing. Other research methods lack the strength with the mixed methods research technique to offset the common weaknesses found in other research methods. As such, using any of these other research methods alone means that their weaknesses will distort the accuracy of the research information collected. Based on this understanding, it gives a detailed rationale as to why we have chosen the mixed method technique as the ideal research design for this study
References
Ambekar, Karrenbauer, and Schotten, 2017. Providing Physical Layer Security for Mission Critical Machine Type Communication.Assessed on 1 Nov. 2019.
Berndtson, M., Hansson, J., Olsson, B., & Lundell, B., 2008. Thesis Projects: A Guide for Students in Computer Science and Information Systems. 2nd edn. Available at https://link-springer-com.liverpool.idm.oclc.org/book/10.1007%2F978-1-84800-009-4. Assessed on 1 Nov. 2019.
Cosovic, M., Tsitsimelis, A., Vukobratovic, D., Matamoros, J., and Ant ´on-Haro, C., 2017. 5G Mobile Cellular Networks: Enabling Distributed State Estimation for Smart Grids.Assessed on 1 Nov. 2019.
Rengasamy, D., 2016. The Role of Theory in Social Science Research (With special reference to Business and Management Studies). International Conference on “Research avenues in Social Science” Organize by SNGC, Coimbatore. Vol-1 Issue-3. http://ijariie.com/AdminUploadPdf/The_Role_of_Theory_in_Social_Science_Research__With_special_reference_to_Business_and_Management_Studies__c_1204.pdf. Assessed on 1 Nov. 2019.
Pyton, J., 2013. How to Write a Great Research Paper. Available at: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/academic-program/write-great-research-paper/. Assessed on 1 Nov. 2019.
