Project Methodology

Abylaikhan Aldamzharov

Student ID 011310

Empirical Investigation on the Conceptualization of Stress using the Conservation of Resources Theory: The Case of the Malaysian Hospitality Industry

Introduction

The research that will be carried out here involves examining a new way of conceptualizing stress and this involves a very innovative concept known as conservation of stress theory (Bouckenooghe, Buelens, Fontaine and Vanderheyden, 2005). It is apparent that research done on stress presently involves a study of stress as a sort of a vague and general concept and which is focused on direct testing carried out on the stress models (Grandey and Cropanzano, 1999). The main problem with the present method of researching on stress is that there is a lack of very precise measurement instruments and also a set of physical laws which are capable of allowing for absolute standards (Brotheridge and Lee, 2002). There are a number of current models which are used when it comes to the topic of stress (Hobfoll, 2002). However, it is argued by the researcher that a very weak link exists between the present stress models and the actual research which is carried out (Neveu, 2007). Additionally, the researcher seeks to prove that the present models are tautological in nature and hence they are unable to help stress investigators progress to new research horizons (Hobfoll, 1989). Presently also, there seems to be a very long winded and cumbersome process of hypothesis testing of various comparative models (Hobfoll, 2002). A lot of stress literature is subjected to criticism because it possesses too many hypotheses but does not have overarching models which are capable of creating competing viewpoints (Grandey and Cropanzano, 1999).

A new stress model would be presented and this is the conservation of resources model. The research seeks to empirically test this model to show that it is more directly testable, parsimonious and comprehensive in contrast to other approaches used in the past and that it provides better focus for future research that would be done in the sphere of stress and stress resistance (Luria and Torjman, 2009; Hobfoll, 2002). The researcher would use the conservation of resources model to outline the process by which resources would operate and the conservation of resources model suggests that a specific set of behaviors and cognitions which might be observed to provide support, clarification and disconfirmation of the model (Hobfoll, 1989). Past research seems to have has given focus to outcomes and not process. However, outcomes on their own cannot have the effect of disqualifying or buttressing any sort of stress models (Hobfoll, 2001). The main rationale of this research is that it is aimed to show that the conservation of resources model is capable of solving the present research problem by providing a perspective which is capable of more effectively reflecting the present state of knowledge about stress (Hobfoll, 1989). Additionally, it would result in a number of testable directions which would lend the model to potential rejection or confirmation (Hobfoll, 2002). The researcher aims to test the effectiveness of the model on a number of respondents from a cross section of the Malaysian tourism and hospitality industry, namely employees from 5 star hotels in Kuala Lumpur.

Project Methodology

The researcher would use the quantitative research design for this particular research. In essence, quantitative research is the empirical investigation of certain phenomenon using statistical methods (Given, 2008). The aim of quantitative research is to develop and employ mathematical models, theories and hypothesis that are related to a certain matter (Howell, 2013). The research participants comprise of employees from the Malaysian tourism and hospitality industry. In particular, the researcher would select respondents that comprise of employees of 5 star hotels in Kuala Lumpur. In relation to the simple size, the researcher understands about the importance of selecting a sample size that is not too large or not too small (Given, 2008). The sample size must be large enough so as to ensure a better representation of the research population. Besides that, the sample should not be too large either as it would lead to a waste of resources (Franklin, 2012). Having all these factors in mind, the researcher decided to use a sample that comprises of 200 respondents. The sample would be recruited using the simple random sampling method. This method of sampling ensures that all members of the population have an equal chance of being selected. It also is a method that ensures better representation of the research population being investigated (Howell, 2013).

The research instrument that would be used for this research is the questionnaire method. The researcher would create a questionnaire comprising of open ended questions and Likert Scale questions. The questionnaire would be dispersed online via an internet link generated from an online survey website. The data that is collected would be statistically analyzed using the SPSS software. A number of statistical tests would be run on the data in order to make sense of the data and to show the relationship between the various research variables (Creswell, 2003). SPSS tests like frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and regression tests would be done on the data (Franklin, 2012).

There are potential ethical issues that are likely to arise with a research like this and such issues relate to the personal information of the research participants, the purpose of use of the data, and plagiarism (Berg, 2009). About the personal information of the participants, they would be informed that they do not have to divulge any personal information in order to participate in the research and their identities would be kept confidently in the event they do given their names (Creswell, 1998). In terms of use of data, the research participants would be informed that all of the data they provide would only be used for research purposes and not for any other purpose (Creswell, 2003). To avoid plagiarism, the researcher would ensure that any information taken from academic journals and articles are properly paraphrased and adequately referenced so as to provide credit to the author information (Franklin, 2012).

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14