Week 3

06/30/2019

Qualitative research entails collection and analysis of non-numerical data. It also seeks to explain from such data from variables within the units of study such as population being studied. Qualitative research is different in that it takes into account those variables that can only be explained through observation. Carnevale, (2016). It is mostly understood as the direct opposite of quantitative research since it focuses on the micro-level trends in social love while quantitative research delves into the analysis of macro-level trends in variables. Observation, immersion, interviews, open-ended surveys, and focus groups are some of the qualitative research methods. Comment by Jon Musgrave: Themes Comment by Jon Musgrave: Remove space after paragraph

Value of Qualitative Research Comment by Jon Musgrave: Remove space after paragraph

Qualitative research is very significant in every new enterprise. For instance, to enter into a new business venture, research is required as an initial step. Gathering such information as customer interests, tests and preferences for a given product, for instance, requires qualitative research. Taylor, et al, (2015). Additionally, assessing customer satisfaction require qualitative research. This method is used in studying human behavior, opinions, themes, and motivations which can be hard to explain using quantitative research design. Comment by Jon Musgrave: See APA on proper citation of three authors. First time usage. Comment by Jon Musgrave: methods Comment by Jon Musgrave: Remove space after paragraph

This type of research is useful in strategy setting. Strategies such as marketing and advertisement, sales strategy and production strategies all need information on customers and markets. Eriksson, & Kovalainen, (2015). Such information may not be related to numerical and thus such necessitate qualitative research. For instance, information on the role played by financial intermediaries in asset portfolio management helps and understanding how such information helps investors can be collected through a qualitative research method. Such information can help with better management of financial investments. Comment by Jon Musgrave: and Comment by Jon Musgrave: data Comment by Jon Musgrave: reword

Application of mixed methods

There is a potential of using mixed methods approach in this research. The reason is that data will have to be collected through different methods such as focus groups, interviews, and open-ended surveys. In addition, collected data will need to be analyzed and married with quantitative data to explain different variables of the research during research results. Robert, (2013). Generally, comprehensive research will involve both qualitative design and qualitative research design. For instance, data on asset portfolio values and values invested can only be measured in quantitative terms then the outcome explained by variables such as the role played by intermediaries. This necessitates mixture of the two methods of research; qualitative and quantitative research designs. Comment by Jon Musgrave: How? Comment by Jon Musgrave: Remove space after paragraph

Research approach and degree path Comment by Jon Musgrave: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/apa_changes_6th_edition.html Comment by Jon Musgrave: Remove space after paragraph

The degree path of this research is to explore the advantages of asset portfolio management and also the role played by financial intermediaries in connecting investors with financial institutions listed on the New York Stock Exchange. This implies that information related to the advantages has to do with variables such as improved lifestyle, time-saving and so on, which investors can explain on their own without the researcher having to look into the increment of their profits from investments in the assets. Such an explanation will be required to support the quantitative data to explain these advantages and also explain the role of intermediaries. Comment by Jon Musgrave: Remove space after paragraph

By knowing the kind of information required for a given study, the researcher is able to decide what research approach to use. In this case, the research requires analysis of asset portfolio management to know the role the intermediaries play in the market chain and the advantages of the asset portfolio management. Simply, the research has to present that information since quantitative research design cannot satisfactorily explain merits such as time saved and satisfaction level. Such can only be explained by the units of study such as investors. Comment by Jon Musgrave: method Comment by Jon Musgrave: further understanding Comment by Jon Musgrave: Maybe. This needs clarification

Worldview discovery and the research Comment by Jon Musgrave: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/apa_changes_6th_edition.html

I have discovered that despite the fact that intermediaries play an important role in asset portfolio management and affecting profits, they also have an implication on the investment levels. In other words, intermediaries do not just cause changes of an investment portfolio and profits directly but also encourage the investors by helping them in assets assessment and investment analysis which raises their satisfaction and consequentially increase their motivation to invest even more. Holding all the other factors constant, more investment implies more risk and thus more expected returns. Donna, et al, (2013)

Having known this, the information that will be targeted will concern individual investors. They will be the target units of analysis and information on whether intermediaries have saved them time or not, how comfortable they feel whenever they let the intermediaries trade on their behalf, and whether they are generally satisfied by the actions of the intermediaries will be collected from them. Therefore, the research will be more direct and specific since we know the information we are looking for and from whom we expect to get it. In addition, the process of collecting data will be done in line with ethical values within society and with respect to humanity. Comment by Jon Musgrave: Remove space after paragraph

Conceptual framework; Financial intermediaries and asset portfolio management

The research paper will delve into assessing the role played by financial intermediaries in the management of an asset portfolio for investors in financial institutions listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Data will be collected through qualitative methods; open-ended surveys, focus groups and observation. Information concerning how financial intermediaries help the investors in the stock market by reducing their work and enhancing their satisfaction will be collected from investors. Observation will be done on chosen investors to judge and analyze their level of contentment on using intermediaries in their chain of trade. Data collected from different units of analysis will then be sorted and analyzed then it will be combined with quantitative data (if necessary) for more elaborate understanding. Comment by Jon Musgrave: Continue to refine this

References Comment by Jon Musgrave: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_basic_rules.html

Donna M. Mertens, Heidi m. Holmes & Raychelle L. Harris, (2013). Transformative Research and Ethics. The Handbook of Social Research Ethics.

Robert L. Harrison III, (2013). Journal of Business Research. Using mixed methods designs in the Journal Of Business Research, 1990-2010

Carnevale, F. A. (2016). Authentic qualitative research and the quest for methodological rigor. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research Archive, 34(2).

Eriksson, P., & Kovalainen, A. (2015). Qualitative methods in business research: A practical guide to social research. Sage.

Taylor, S. J., Bogdan, R., & DeVault, M. (2015). Introduction to qualitative research methods: A guidebook and resource. John Wiley & Sons.