This chapter introduces the research method, research framework, research procedure, research participants, data collection, and validity and reliability.
Research Method
This study adopted qualitative research. As Maxwell (2012) stated, the qualitative method was suggested when research questions involve detailed and in-depth information form participants. This study aimed to examine the personal learning process between mentor and protégé in the hopes to understand and gain more insight about developing the employees.
Therefore, this study would utilize various empirical materials such as interviews, conversations, personal experiences. Participants for this study were asked questions regarding outcomes and process of their personal learning which may vary from person to person due to type of application of mentoring. This study relied on the mentor and protégé’s own interpretations of personal learning experiences to understand how application of mentoring affected personal learning in manufacturing firms.
A qualitative approach was appropriate for this study because this study was attempting to explore outcomes (i.e., skill development) and process of personal learning within application of mentoring (Bernard & Bernard, 2012). Besides, the qualitative approach enabled the researcher to collect descriptive data through the mentors and protégés’ own statements and behaviors regarding the personal learning in workplace.
Besides, according to Yin (2009), case study was appropriate for the study of knowing organizational issue and managerial process, because case study helped research understanding contemporary phenomenon in-depth and acquiring important information. Also, case study was appropriate for the research was focusing on investigating a certain phenomenon (i.e. learning situation) with a certain group of people. Furthermore, through case study, researcher could
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collect comprehensive information and explore the case systematically especially when the boundaries between real phenomenon and context were not clearly recognized. This study adopted multi-case study to collect data due to the reason as followed. Compared with single-case study, multiple-single-case study provides more abundant evident and information. Single-single-case study was used to test key case or peculiarity case from mature theory while this study aimed to know how mentoring facilitate personal learning which was still not clearly identified.
Therefore, this study adopted multiple-case study.
In sum, qualitative approach helped researcher analyze complex phenomenon of personal learning presented in the lives of individuals. After reading this study, readers had a better understanding of how and what mentor and protégé learn.
Research Framework
The problem identified in this study was that there still lack of research on how application of mentoring facilitates personal learning in the workplace. The framework of this study, shown in Figure 3.1, was conducted based on research purpose and research questions stated in Chapter I. This study aimed to understand what type of application of mentoring was applying to facilitate employees’ personal learning and figured out how and what mentor and protégé enhance personal learning from application of mentoring in manufacturing firms of Changhua Coastal Industrial Park.
Figure 3.1. Research framework
Mentoring for Personal Learning in CCIP
Implementation of
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Based on theoretical foundation and empirical evidence, dimensions of mentoring were both examined and identified. The dimensions of mentoring comprise mentoring type, mentoring relationship, and mentoring function (Kram, 1988a). Through these dimensions of mentoring, researcher aimed to investigate real application of mentoring in manufacturing firms and figured out how application of mentoring facilitate personal learning of protégés and what did protégé learn.
Research Procedure
The research procedure in this study included nine steps which were described below as Figure3.2.
1. Identify Research Topic
After discussing with the advisor and subject matter experts, author was able to recognize the current issue of mentoring application and personal learning in manufacturing firms now.
As a result, author based on ideas and topics of interest to identify research topic.
2. Review Literature
When the final topic was determined, literature reviews on mentoring and personal learning were done to figure out what research and information were already done on the topic and subject for identifying gaps between knowledge and practical experience.
3. Determine Research Questions and Purpose
After reading related literatures and discussing with the advisor repeatedly, the author was able to set the research questions and the purpose specifically.
4. Determine the Research Method
In order to explore specific outcomes and process of how does mentoring facilitate employees’ personal learning in Changhua Coastal Industrial Park, this study adopted the qualitative research to get better information.
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5. Set Research Framework
Based on the past literature, research purpose and research question, this study constructed the framework.
6. Design Interview Questions
Interview questions were developed from research purpose, research questions and literature review.
7. Conduct Expert Review/Peer Review
The interview questions underwent peer and expert review. The peers are classmates who are familiar with qualitative research methods and have knowledge and experience in the interview process. The expert is the manager in manufacturing firm who has practical experience and could provide useful suggestion.
8. Conduct Interview
Once interview questions were finalized, author began to interview the participant.
9. Analyze Data
Interview recording was transcribed and checked. Through interview verbatim and records, relevant documents were all used for analysis.
10. Conclude Research Findings
After complementing the data analysis, this study applied reviewed literatures and finding of the analysis to respond to research questions. Suggestion were provided for conducing strategy in manufacturing firms and for the future researches.
25 Figure 3.2. Research procedure
Research Participants and Criteria
This study aimed to understand how application of mentoring facilitate personal learning in manufacturing firms, at same time, this study also adopted qualitative multiple-case study to collect data. Based on research purpose and research questions, this study selected the information-rich case in the hope to get comprehensive information. For collecting most abundant information from sample, the samples of the study were chosen through convenience sampling. The convenience sampling focused on the companies which were willing to providing abundant information and easily to access.
To summarize, samples were companies which were selected in accordance with the criteria listed below: (1) Types of industry: manufacturing firms in Changhua Coastal Industrial Park, (2) Case companies with application of mentoring.
Identify Research Topic Review Literature
Determine Research Questions and Purpose Determine the Research Method
Set Research Framework Design Interview Questions Conduct Expert Review/Peer Review
Conduct Interview Analyze Data
Conclude Research Findings
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To collect multiple evident, this study interviewed the participants who were drawn from case companies. This study selected 3 companies and interviewed 3 to 4 participants from each company. Participants were divided into three types, protégé, mentor, and supervisor. For criteria of protégé, protégé should work in R&D department where mainly department for receiving new technical information and demand from customers. Protégé was assigned to a mentor or mentors to enhance learning in company. Protégés had at least 1 year tenure of service in the current company at the time of the interview. These criterion allowed for the collection of data on how application of mentoring facilitate personal learning that participants had experiences and viewpoint to share concerning the outcomes and process of personal learning. For criteria of mentor and protégé’s supervisor, once participants of protégé had been decided, mentor and supervisor also could be decided as well. The description of interview participants was shown in Table 3.1.
Concerning case companies, three case companies all located in Changhua Coastal Industrial Park. All three case companies belonged to small scale manufacturing firms, and number of employees was below 50 people. Company A started operation from 1991, has been designing and manufacturing silicon pressure sensors for OEM applications, providing customized sensors service to meet customers’ OEM needs, had around 30 employees, started operation from 2000, has been developing and manufacturing ester type oleo-chemical products, offering a variety of customer oriented products, had around 40 employees. Company C started operation from 1986, has been developing and producing all kind of knitting products, providing products including shoe materials, sportswear, washing net, suitcase net, had around 26 employees.
27 Table 3.1.
The Description of Interviewees
Data Collection
The data was collected mainly through in-depth interview and some supplementary data was obtained via observation.
In-depth Interview
According to Silverman (2013) stated the interview is a good approach to get necessary and important information for research when researchers are interested in how people interpret the world and phenomenon in front of them. Similarly, Glaser and Strauss (2009) suggested interview help research directly receive pivotal and real information from participants compared to observation. In this study, the research would like to understand how application of mentoring facilitates personal learning in workplace. Therefore, the interview was the top priority when deciding methods for data collection.
Case
C C02 Production Control Staff Female 6 months
C C03 Quality Control Staff Female 1 year
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Interview is classified into different forms. In this study, the semi-structured interview was considered. Semi-structured interview helped researcher get in-depth and insightful information and material for respondents could provide unique perspectives (Myers, 2013).
Semi-structured interview was carried out based on outline of interview. The purpose of the establishment of the interview outline was used for checking whether the respondents had completed all interview questions. In the process of interview, respondents had abundant opportunity to state and share the information related to research question (Creswell, 2013).
Interview questions were developed from the research questions:
1. What kind of mentoring is applying now to facilitate employees’ personal learning in manufacturing firms of Changhua Coastal Industrial Park?
2. What mentoring functions are brought out in manufacturing firms of Changhua Coastal Industrial Park?
3. What does protégé learn to increase personal learning through mentoring implementation?
4. How does protégé learn increase personal learning through mentoring implementation?
Based on literature review in chapter II, the questionnaire was developed from four concepts which are mentoring relationship, mentoring type, mentoring function, personal learning, as shown in Table 3.1. Mentoring relationship could exist formally and informally (Kram, 1983). Formal mentoring relationship started with organizational program that specifically assigns mentors and protégés for certain purpose in requested period while informal mentoring inform naturally. According to Eby (1997), mentoring types could distinguish into several types based on type of skill development and form of mentor-protégé relationship. Based on Kram (1988a), mentoring has two critical types of functions, career function and psychosocial function. Career functions include coaching the protégé; sponsoring protégés’ promotions; protecting the protégés; increasing protégés’ exposure and visibility; and providing challenging assignments that assist protégés in acquiring skill and facilitating
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advancement in the workplace. Psychosocial functions including providing confirmation, acceptance, counseling, friendship and role modeling uplift the effectiveness of protégés’
professional and personal growth, identity to the organization. Personal learning has two dimensions which is relational job learning and personal skill development. Relational job learning is defined as increased individuals’ understanding about the connection and interdependence of job with others. Personal skill development is defined as acquirement of new skill that makes individuals have better working relationship. The interview questions covered these four concepts mentioned above which were address from past studies. Through interview, researcher aimed to know current mentoring implementation and how mentoring facilitate personal learning in manufacturing firm of Changhua Coastal Industrial Park.
The interview questions conclude 7 questions in total. Interview questions were shown in Table 3.2., covering every aspect of research questions. Interview questions were listed at the appendix C, appendix D, and appendix E. of this study.
30 Concept Dimension of concept Interview questions for
supervisor
Who is responsible for assigning your mentor/ protégé?
Mentoring type Team Mentoring
After application of mentoring, what kind of influences, such as career function or psychosocial function do you receive from your mentor/ protégé?
Table 3.2.
The Development of Interview Questions
(continued)
31 Personal learning Relational Job Learning After application of
mentoring, what kind of relational job learning, such as knowledge or skill or attitude do employees learn?
After application of mentoring, what kind of relational job learning, such as knowledge or skill or attitude do you learn?
How did employees learn relational job learning, such as knowledge or skill or attitude?
How did mentor help you learn relational job learning, such as knowledge or skill or attitude?
Personal Skill
After application of mentoring, what kind of personal skill development, such as communication skill or networking do you learn?
How did employees learn personal skill development such as communication skill or networking?
How did mentor influence you to learn personal skill development such as communication skill or
networking?
Table 3.2. (continued)
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Participant Observation
Participant observation is a form of data collection, because it helps researcher study the social world as being part of participants. Moreover, participants observation is a distinctive opportunity that researcher can perceive reality from the viewpoint of someone who is really
“inside” a case (Yin, 2009). In this study, the researcher got permission of working as 3-days intern in case company A, thus, had the opportunity to see, to observe, and to further understand the mentoring application, interaction between mentor and protégé, and personal learning of employees in the manufacturing firm. According to Kathleen M. Dewalt and Bille R. Dewalt (2010), research should develop a participant observation plan for systematic observation based on research purpose. As a result, researcher developed a participant observation plan which included research purpose and research questions before participant observation activity.
With assistant of managers, researcher worked as normal employees and stayed in productive department A, productive department B and product development department from 27th January to 29th January. At same time, researcher also was assigned three mentors while staying in productive department A, productive department B, and product development department and played role of protégé in the company. During the 3-days intern job in case company A, the main focus of the researcher’s observation were on what kind of mentoring was applying to facilitate employees’ personal learning, how did mentor and protégé interact, what did protégé learn, and how did protégé learn. Field note was written and used as research material in this study. Example of field note was shown in appendix F.
During 3-days intern job in case company A, researcher found informal mentoring was applied in case company A. Each employee had similar situation as researcher entered company on the first day. Manager assigned a co-worker as mentor to take care of new hired without any clear instruction, time frame. However, researcher found mentor and protégé interacted frequently. Co-worker relationship helped protégé enhance personal learning, such
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as communication, work-oriented skill because protégé felt less pressure and was willing to address questions. During 3-days intern job in case company A, researcher observed interaction between mentor and protégé. Three mentors whom were assigned to researcher have different positions, work contents, work experiences but each mentor had similar teaching procedure, for example, interpretation, demonstration, helping protégé acquiring work skill and better understanding work content. Through assignment, protégé had real operation opportunity.
Moreover, even though each department has only 4 to 6 employees, the atmosphere in each department was so good that employees were willing to joining discussion. Other employees regarded researcher as new hired and they also were willing to share rich information.
Data Coding and Analysis
According to Stake (1995), there are two way to enrich data: one is direct interpretation, and the other is categorical aggregation. Researcher looks at a single instance and draws meaning from data in direct interpretation while researcher seeks a collection of instances from the data in categorical aggregation. This study will use method of direct interpretation to collect and process data for the purpose of data analysis.
Each interview will be recorded by the digital voice recorder, taken notes, and analyzed simultaneously. Because of the recorder, the research could mainly focus on taking notes of key information instead of verbatim. After interview, all the recording will be transcribed into verbatim. The verbatim will be reviewed and compared with notes taken during the interview for figuring out important message behind lines.
Data analysis procedures include two steps, namely, data coding and data analysis.
Coding
Coding is necessary phase in the processing of data because it help researcher screen and encode data simultaneously. Coding also help researcher classify and categorize data derived
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from interviews based on research purpose and research questions. The Figure 3.3 described how coding works.
Number Content Important Concept Code
A_01_R1_01 We work in the forms of team. However, when I have technical skill problems, I always ask my mentor firstly. He is like my friend, and we can exchange
Figure 3.3. An example of the coding procedure
Data Analysis
After coding work is done, data can be analyzed and interpreted into explanations and categories in relation to context of the research framework, research questions, and reviewed literature. Figure 3.4 described the flow of data analysis.
Number:
35 Figure 3.4. The process of data analysis
Validity and Reliability
Three criteria were established to examine the trustworthiness of a study, which are credibility, transferability, and dependability (Guba & Lincoln, 1994).
Credibility (i.e. internal validity) means fitness of findings to the research questions. In this study, the research will use digital recorder and take note for making sure the completeness of the interview content. Also, comparing content of recorder and note taking could avoid any bias or mistake. To further understand how application of mentoring facilitates personal learning, this study would interview mentor, protégé, and supervisor. Through different perspectives of mentor, protégé, and supervisor, researcher can further measure the phenomenon of personal learning.
Transferability (i.e. external validity) means generalization of finding of the study. To increase transferability, researcher would record, describe, and analyze information as extremely thorough.
Transcribing data into transcripts
Reading the transcripts
Segmenting and coding data
Comparing, categorizing, and inducing
Identifing relationships and answering the research questions
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