Always EMBED the rubric in your paper. Doctoral Research Preparation Applications Rubric 30 points available for each Application Assignment Analysis 15 points maximum Exemplary (14–15 points)...

Always EMBED the rubric in your paper.
Doctoral Research Preparation Applications Rubric
30 points available for each Application Assignment

Week 1 Application
Insert Name Here
DDBA 8427

Applied Research Methods–Qualitative and Quantitative!

Insert Date Here

Abstract

All research contains embedded philosophical worldviews that influence the research strategies, research designs, and research methods of a study. This essay explored the postpositive, advocacy/participatory, and pragmatic worldviews and how they link to a study on the effects of firm features and contextual characteristics on XXX XXX. Additionally, this essay aligns each worldview with a research method and describes how the proposed study uses each research method. The essay concluded that the study of the XXXXXXXXXXx is most aligned with a pragmatic worldview.
Linking Theory to the Problem Statement
The purpose of this essay is to link a quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approach to this writer’s research problem statement. The essay will start by describing the phenomenon that the research addresses. Next, the essay will introduce the problem statement and describe its linkage to the phenomenon. Thirdly, the essay will align the problem statement with three of the four worldviews discussed by Creswell (2008). Fourthly, the essay will match each worldview with a quantitative, qualitative, or mixed research method, and describe how each method would be conducted. Finally, the essay will discuss which research method is best suited for this research study based on the alignment of the worldview and problem statement.

Phenomenon for Research

Global business practices over the past 55 years have led to substantial social and environmental side-effects (Jones, Smith, Johnson, Edmonds, & Williams, 2008).Notice that the phenomenon started with a statement backed by a peer reviewed cite! The negative social and environmental impact of business practices resulted in the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) gaining increasing importance both in terms of society and academic research (Blomback & Wigren, 2009). Today, businesses are increasingly under pressure to ensure that their business activities address the economic, social, and environmental needs of society (Jenkins, 2009)ßNotice that many would simply state this as fact without providing a cite. You demonstrate a mature understanding of APA referencing principles!!! Since small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) represent over 90% of the world-wide business population, many view their social and environmental impact as substantial (Hitchens, Thankappan, Trainor, Clausen, & De Marchi, 2005). Therefore, the CSR practices of SMEs are critically important to society (Lepoutre & Heene, 2006).

Problem Statement

Over 75% of Fortune 500 companies have established a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Department over the past 5 years, a 400% increase since 2005! (Smith, 2010). ßnotice the powerful HOOK statement to start off the problem statement. Firm size affects the decision to implement CSR; various researchers concluding that Small and Middle-size Enterprises (SMEs) are less likely to be involved in CSR activities, as firm size is a constraining factor (Smith, Wesson, Jackson and Robillard, 2007; Rabo, 2010). The general problem is that SME’s have over-emphasized organizational size as a controlling variable, and therefore the impact that firm size appears to have on CSR practices may simply be an indicator of other phenomena that are at work (Back & Wigren, 2009; Udayasankar, 2008). The specific focus of this study is to determine whether SMEs could benefit from further research on the impact that firm attributes and contextual characteristics have on the CSR practices of SMEs.
*** The problem statement is CRUCIAL. It forms the basis for your entire study. Here is how you should write your problem statement. Remember, the problem statement forms the BASIS of your entire study. The problem statement is a mini story of about 200 words and must include the following 4 elements:
1. HOOK (something that hooks the readers' interest about your business problem and comes from the literature). A citation is required, and it is best to use a NUMERICAL STAT!
2. ANCHOR (a number that identifies the seriousness of the issue - like 1 out 3 xxxxx as it relates to the business issue and comes from the literature). A citation is required.
3. The general problem is xxxxxx.
4. The specific focus of the study is xxxxxx...
Example:
Tennessee's Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 1.1% in 2010 (Consumer Price Index, 2010). This problem has forced Tennessee business owners to decrease their staff, increasing the unemployment rate to 9.5% in 2020 (Neeley, 2010). The general problem might be that these owners may not be aware of several possible methods of reducing costs, such as telecommuting. Perhaps a study of the possible advantages of telecommuting could help to alleviate the problem.***

Problem Statement in a Worldview

Creswell (2008) maintained that all research contains embedded philosophical worldviews that influence the research strategies, research design, and research methods of a study. Creswell identified four major philosophical worldviews that shape research: postpositive, social construction, advocacy/participatory, and pragmatic. This writer has selected the postpositive, advocacy/participatory, and pragmatic worldviews to align with the writer’s problem statement (2008).
The problem statement assumes that there are variables related to firm features and contextual characteristics that determine the corporate social responsibility practices of small and medium size enterprises (Udayasankar, 2008). The problem statement, therefore, aligns with a postpositive worldview. According to Creswell (2008), the postpositive worldview is a deterministic view. This view maintains that variables which can be observed, measured, and quantified, causes phenomenon (Creswell, 2008). Additionally, the study makes the claim that CSR research has marginalized SMEs, as traditional focus on CSR practices has largely concentrated on large businesses (Jenkins, 2009). Consequently, this research advocates a better understanding of CRS practices within the SME grouping, as well as ways to improve those practices. Therefore, the advocacy element of the research aligns with the advocacy/participatory worldview which assume the need to provide a voice for a targeted group; and to promote an agenda for improving the circumstances of that group (Creswell, 2008). Note that the right margin is jagged, not flush.
Finally, the research addresses how to improve the CSR performance of SMEs. This reflects a pragmatic worldview. According to Creswell (2008) the pragmatic worldview involves a concerned for creating practical solutions to problems. The pragmatist’s genuine concern is what works and how to make things work (Creswell, 2008).

Alignment of Research

Notice that this paper is double spaced throughout. post-positives world’s view matches with a quantitative approach to research. This research method starts with a set of hypothesis on the correlation between firm attributes and contextual characteristics and the CSR practices of SMEs. Following, is data gathering on specified firm and contextual characteristics and firm CSR practices from close-ended surveys of SMEs in California. Note that there are 2 spaces after the period, not one spaceThe results from the data will then be quantified and analyzed. From there, the research will validate whether the hypothesis are true or false based on the survey results.
The advocacy world view matches with a qualitative research method (Creswell, 2009). This method will require creating a survey with open-ended questions. These questions enable participants to define and give meaning to the firm and contextual characteristics that impact their CSR practices. The study will conclude with an agenda for approving CSR practices among SMEs.
The pragmatic approach matches with a mixed research method (Creswell, 2009). As in the quantitative research approach, this research method will also start with a set of hypothesis on the correlation between firm attributes and contextual characteristics and the CSR practices of SMEs. Following, is data gathering on specified firm and contextual characteristics and firm CSR practices of SMEs in California, using close-ended surveys. The results from the data will then be quantified and analyzed. From there, the research will validate whether the hypothesis are true or false based on the survey results. Interviews with SME managers will follow the quantification and analysis of results. The purpose of the interviews is to gain the managers assistance in interpreting and explaining the results of the survey.
Conclusion Always end your papers with a conclusion
Based on the research in this essay, the study of the effect of firm features and contextual characteristics on the CSR practices of SMEs in California is most aligned with a pragmatic worldview. The pragmatic worldview affirms the goal is both empowerment and solution seeking. Since the study is mostly aligned with a pragmatic worldview it is more suited for a mix research method.
The proposed research approach raises various questions. First, which firm attributes and contextual characteristics will be examined? Also, what is the best way to conduct the interview of managers? Finally, how will the researcher use the interviews and surveys to produce conclusive results?
References
Blomback, A., & Wigren, C. (2009). Challenging the importance of size as determinants for CSR
activities.
Management of Environmental Quality,
20(3), 225-270.
doi: 11.1108/14777830910950658
Creswell, J. W. (2008).
Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods




approaches
(3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Smith, D., Jones, S., Johnson, M., Edmons J., & Robillard, B. (2005). Environmental
performance, competitiveness and management of small businesses in Europe.
Journal of Economic &Social Geography,
96(5), 541-557. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org
Jenkins, K. (2009). A ‘business opportunity’ model of corporate social responsibility for
small- and medium-sized enterprises.
Business Ethics: A European Review,
18(1), 21-35. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org
Lepoutre, J., & Heene, A. (2006). Investigating the impact of firm size on small business social
responsibility: A critical review.
Journal of Business Ethics,
67(3), 257-273.
doi: 10.1007/s1055-006-9183-5
Perrini, F., Russo, A., & Tencati A. (2007). CSR strategies of SMEs and large firms: Evidence
from Italy.
Journal of Business Ethics,
74(3), 285-300. doi: 10.1007/s10551-006-9235
Rabo, J. S. (2010). The effect of firm size and firm activities on CSR practices of selected
Chinese-Filipino owned MSMEs in metro Manila.
Chinese Business Review,
9(2), 1-12.
Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org
Senge, P., Smith, B., Kruschwitz, N., Laur, J., & Schley, S. (2008).
The necessary revolution.
New York: Doubleday
Udayasankar, K. (2008). Corporate social responsibility and firm size.
Journal of Business


Ethics,
83(2), 167-175. doi: 10.1007/s10551-007-9609-8