Research Design

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3.3. R ESEARCH D ESIGN

Based on the literature review, research framework and the research variables of this study, the research methods will be designed with key focuses in finding the research variables through qualitative studies. The qualitative studies will be completed through two major sources. One source would be conducted interviews while the other would be complementary secondary sources to validate and verify the interview results. The qualitative studies method is chosen because the focus of this study is to conceptualizing behaviors and practices. Quantitative studies in this case would not assist the conceptualization process since the behavior and practice of interest is relatively new to the IT industry (Davis 2011).

3.3.1. Research Method

The research would be conducted from two sources, one is interview the other is complimentary secondary source used to validate and verify the interview. Since the research variables are abstract concepts and relationships between actual practices of the collaborative practices in the industry, the interview will focus on discussion of abstract concepts with the support from an appropriate practical case study. This would not only ensure that the interviewee is synchronized with the academic definitions and descriptions of abstract concepts, it would also allow the research to further validate and verify from complimentary secondary sources.

The interview would be conducted through the Delphi Method via sessions conducted and consulted with industry experts experienced in different aspects of the Web or Collaborative practices. This method is used because the divergence in responses from experts of different fields will decrease and will converge towards a common and most probable answer to the research questions (Dalkey and Helmer 1963). In this research, the Delphi Method is applied to the interview process such that the responses from the previous interviewee used as a part of the interview questions and/or content for the next interviewee to comment, add, or even revise.

This allows the different interview responses to converge and answer the research variables. In addition, through the Delphi interview process, the abstraction of

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practical behaviors and practices would be more synchronous with the previous academic researches because the interviews are based on a discussion common ground from the previous literature reviews that allows the interviewee to build their response upon. Furthermore, since the Delphi Method would enable the interview questions to be an improvement of the previous version. This would enable the research to identify and focus on the research variables.

To ensure that the Delphi Method is valid, the interview would contain a mechanism where the interviewer would constantly check with the interviewee to ensure that the communication is synchronous and not diverging. For instance, from Table 3.1, the variables in Relation 1 and the relation itself would be communicated to the interviewee from the beginning of the interview to the end to minimize distortion in communication. Another mechanism that will be utilized to ensure that the Delphi method continues to function is redefinition of research variable modified based on the current definition. This is would not only assist validity of the literature reviews in the industry, but it would also assist the refinement of the research variables for future studies. Finally, to ensure that the interview does not lose its focus, the relationship between each research variable within the context of the research framework will be shown to the interviewee to ensure that the collected data are meaningful to the research.

3.3.2. Data Collection

The research data is collected from two sources, one source is the interviewees, and the other is complimentary secondary sources. The interviewees involved in this research are listed in Table 3.2, along with their industry experiences and specific area of expertise.

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Table 3.2.: List of Interviewee involved in this research

Name Industry Experiences Area of Expertise Duration Richard

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The secondary sources used to compliment the data collected from the interviewee is either suggested by the interviewee and/or searched with keywords provided by the interviewee. Although the secondary sources are suggested by the interviewee, several secondary sources would be used to increase objectivity. In addition, relevant secondary sources would be drawn from formal publications, reports and books for cross-referencing and further increase in objectivity.

3.3.4. Research Limitations

This study has several research limitations caused by the research framework and method:

1. The conceptualizing process of this research is based on a simplified techno-social model of the Web, thus, this research is limited within this model of the Web. However, in reality, the Web can be operating in a much more complicated model than the model in use for this study.

2. This research is based on the assumption that the Web’s progressing and evolving phase is discrete; however, in reality, this is a simplified model of the Web’s progressing and evolving phase. Thus, this research would only be able to provide insight to larger small progression and evolution of the Web.

3. The sample base of industry expert interviewees is small due to the resources available and time constraints; however, this research attempts to be as diverse as possible in the area of expertise in order to collect more diversified data.

4. Since interview is the primary data source for this study and discussions of industry practices are present, the interviewee may avoid sensitive information.

Therefore, the inferences from the data may be slightly distorted by the information provided by the interviewees.

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