Antonin Artaud

The design of research is the complete strategy which is implemented by the researcher that formulates answers to the questions of research questions to ascertain and explain both the objectives and aims of the study. This must remain logical, attainable and comprehensive, as well as maintain the capability to define the research

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intention through a manner that does not cause any form of misunderstanding. Overall, various types of research designs exist, with each one addressing specific aims: Experimental, Descriptive, Correlational, and Meta-Analytic. Firstly, when control over the study conditions is gained by the researcher and factors are shown in relation to how they affect the results, this is defined as a scientific approach to research and known as an experimental design. Secondly, when researcher aims to collect data in relation to the studied topic, this is known as the descriptive approach, or static research. Thirdly, the correlational approach has the aim to stipulate the connection between two different forms of variables (Kumar, 2005). Fourthly, when the researcher combines and defines the results from varied studies in order to assess a pattern for conclusive findings, then a meta-analysis is being used.

In general, the attempts by the researcher to construct a theoretical background for the different determinants that affect the turnover intention of faculty members is identified by a deductive strategy through enhancing the gaps in the research, as it assists research hypothesis or question formulation, together with empirical tests or investigations (Lee and Soyray, 1995). In fact, the major determinants that affect turnover intention within the universities of Saudi Arabia are evaluated by the current study, through a foundation of turnover intention literature. It has been stipulated by the researcher that the current study needs to be structured correctly through the analysis of the correct data in order to answer the already outlined questions. Subsequently, the questions of the research are answered in the following section of the study, which analyses the data in order to generate the evaluation of the findings from the results. Furthermore, the final chapter presents the research contributions and conclusions, which are hoped to provide notable and applicable findings that relate to the foundations of determinants for overall turnover intention by employees.

The target population in the current study comes entirely from faculty members who work in public Saudi Arabian Universities within the province of Riyadh, as the research has been structured to explore the general determinants to the turnover intention of these set members of the country’s workforce. Overall, a mix of both individuals from managerial and non-managerial levels comprise the participants of the study, which include management that encompasses all levels, whether lower, middle, or upper. The researcher incorporated a quantitative approach in order to be

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able to analyse data that was seen to be appropriate, fitting, and realistic in order to ascertain a greater comprehension of the main reasons behind the choice and opinions of participants. Moreover, a survey was conducted throughout the institutions of Saudi Arabian higher education in order to address the exploratory nature of the research questions.

3.6.1 Descriptive Research

The basic aim of acquiring data is to create an accurate definition of vital findings that relate to a national population at any specific point in time, which is fundamental to descriptive research, which help provide accounts of a set topic in an accurate and descriptive manner. Hence, most studies commence with set questions in relation to similarities between set concepts, in order to understand alternative departments in an organisation, varied regional operations of an organisation, or alternative companies within the same field of industry, as the central objective of descriptive research is to ascertain and design a diagram of how the overall topic of the study is relevant. However, descriptive research designers or theorists are required to understand and function with the prior conception that descriptive approaches, together with the comparisons that come with them, assist in the final stimulation of decided insights that are useful, and potentially beneficial to create future hypotheses. Nonetheless, rather than testing the relations that are anticipated between variables, the descriptive approaches are incorporated principally to provide descriptions of variables (Lans and Voordt, 2002).

A descriptive approach is presented through the current research, which means that an inductive formulation is denoted as the base for the research. Thus, the research has been shown to commence through observations, prior to moving on to data collection and analysis. Yet, comparatively, different descriptive approaches within research assist in the process of acquiring data that is sufficiently accurate by providing a fundamental picture of phenomena that is being studied. Moreover, descriptive approach is specifically relevant to the present research, as an accurate and authentic description is fundamentally required in the identification of determinants to affect

faculty members’ turnover intention throughout the universities of Saudi Arabia. In total, the descriptive research characteristics have been characterised by a variety of different notions (Cresswell, 2003). Firstly, they are invariably limited to acquiring

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facts without attempting to explain the reasons why reality is presented in a certain manner, which means that descriptive research is not required to create hypotheses, or produce innovative advancements to theoretical development. Secondly, descriptive research differs from prescriptive research as through description it becomes objective in nature, which means that it actually describes the true form of reality, whereas prescriptive research is primarily concerned with the concept of idealism to reality. Finally, the explanations are conducted by the reader or in relation to other disciplines through descriptive research that provides standard inventories as its most central point. Nonetheless, a sliding scale exists from the practical side in regards to the pure description to analysis, as well as to evaluation from interpretation, which has also been applied to the objective-subjective dimension (Lans and Voordt, 2002). Therefore, overall data is seldom objective in its entirety through analysis and interpretation, as human beings are prone to involuntarily instil bias within the research concepts that they work upon, even though they are guided by descriptive intentions.

3.6.2 Quantitative Approaches

In order to quantify a certain issue through the generation of numerical data, quantitative approaches are generally utilised, which can also result in data being potentially transformed into practical statistics. These quantitative approaches are utilised to quantify different attitudes and behaviours, as well as varied opinions and alternative variables, which can then be transferable to create a generalisation to a grander level of population. Furthermore, measurable data is used through quantitative research in order to formulate facts and create the perception of different patterns, which may be produced by intricately structured methods of collection that function better than the collection methods for qualitative data.

Quantitative Approaches are irrevocably different from qualitative methods, as they concentrate on the relationships between variables (Creswell, 2014). Moreover, they are formulated around the aggregation of data, with the majority taking numerical values. Additionally, researchers are less concerned with laying importance on in- depth descriptive phenomena, and they seldom study it directly, as they abstract themselves from the real world (Naslund, 2002).

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In contrast, an array of facts in relation to phenomena is provided quantitative approaches, which incorporate a statistical analysis (Ticehurst & Veal, 2000). Through hypothesis testing, useful conclusions are constructed by the statistical evidence provided by a quantitative approach, with it contributing to a greater understanding of individual participants within the research and their varied experiences. Moreover, when research is defined as confirmatory rather than exploratory, the quantitative approach contributes more, as confirmatory research incorporates a topic of research that is frequently researched, and numerical data that is present from previous studies becomes available. The current study tries to create a measurement of the patterns to factors within the findings in order to demonstrate a clear comprehension of the different concepts and variables through the concepts and variables being duly measured on a ratio or ordinal scale, which is increasingly challenging with qualitative research (Creswell, 2014). Additionally, the quantitative researchers do not purely rely on the perceptions that they have decided upon, as an objective reality is widely accepted by them that decidedly affects the concept of measurement. Therefore, an objective researcher actively attempts to acquire set facts that are seen as distinct from the feelings or perceptions of different people in relation to varied facts, which are often developed in concept as "causes" and "effects." Indeed, quantitative methods formulate assumptions within their structure through the process of asking questions or posing hypotheses by incorporating words, such as "cause," "difference between," "effect," and "predicts," which all assist in the general quantitative research’s aim of developing generalisations that allow better predictions, explanations and understanding of specific factors by the researcher. Overall, an informative and conducive study needs to be conducted consistently and objectively, which maintains research that is free of bias or error, as the quantitative methods’

process and related procedures are integral to the final analysed results. Invariably, through an order of information in an arbitrator arrangement and the commitment to complete objectivity, the correct use of information is commonly utilised as part of a sound scientific method. This is vital in order to be regarded as valid (accurate) and reliable (consistent) (Rubin et al., 2009).

The overall efficiency of descriptive research, as well as the quality of descriptive research is commonly labelled by critics to involve a lack of adequate planning procedures, minimal research methods’ development, and insufficient implementation

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of the methods of research. Those scholars and individuals who fail to comprehend the full defined narrative of descriptive research start to produce misconceptions in relation to this form of research, as they also generally fail to understand the general objectives that are outlined within descriptive research, and the methods of alternative approaches that can be utilised effectively in order to divulge more enhanced information (Bamberger, 2013). Nevertheless, quantitative surveys have been utilised increasingly more in research for education, as they enable specific educational questions to be analysed and evaluated successfully, which helps demonstrate the imperative nature of descriptive research to a study. Hence, the current study distributed a questionnaire to various different individual faculty members in order to be able to answer questions related to faculty member turnover intention and the factors that affect it.