Research can have elements which are based upon a non-empirical approach or an empirical approach or a combination of both. Empiricism refers to a philosophical position which sees observation as the foundation of scientific knowledge (Punch, 2005, p.31). According to Easterby-Smith et al. (1991), the term ‘fieldwork’ is used for gathering empirical data in the study of real organisations or social settings by observation or experience. In contrast, non-empirical approach involves collection of research data based on searching and reviewing the literature, in order to address the research problem (Saunders et al., 2007). Thus, empirical research, as opposed to non-empirical research, is a way of gaining knowledge by means of direct observation or experimentation. It is used to answer empirical questions, which must be precisely defined and answerable with data.
As previously explained, the purposes of this study are to explore BOR WORN-HTS Organisation as a learning organisation, which is a way to provide knowledge, education and learning to the community and also to transmit Thai local knowledge and culture to the next generations to achieve the goal of a learning and strengthening community characterized by knowledge and morality. To do this I have employed an interpretivist project with the status of an empirical research approach because it is the study of real organisations in
the community of Thailand. A non-empirical approach was also used to address the research problems and develop the conceptual framework via a literature review. Due to the fact that this research is a study about people, organisations and culture within the community, it is subjective and reflects multiple natures as seen by people in the study areas.
Therefore, as a qualitative researcher, I am interested in understanding, participating, dealing within human action and behaviour, focusing on meaning, and looking at the totality of each situation and trying to understand what is going on. I interact by including myself with the people that are being researched and are concerned with the dynamics of a particular organisation process, focusing on human behaviour, judgment and interpretations of how these elements are pieced together in developing organisational strategies in order to gain an understanding of social and human activities (Morgan and Smircich 1980, 492; Collis and Hussey 2003; Saunders et al 2007; Denzin and Lincoln 2000 and Patton 2002, Hussey and Hussey, 1997). Thus, has been previously stated, this study is an empirical qualitative research with an inductive approach.
1. Interpretive / Qualitative Approach
The interpretivist or phenomenological paradigm is a natural scientific study of human individuals and society that is concerned with understanding human behaviour, owing to the ability of humans to think, decide and give meanings to the world around them. Van Maanen as cited in Hussey and Hussey (1997, p.53) stated that the research methods used under this approach are ‘an array
of interpretative techniques which seek to describe, translate and otherwise come to terms with the meaning, not the frequency, of certain more or less naturally occurring phenomena in the social world’. According to Walliman (2000), such an approach involves, investigating, interpreting and understanding the ability of humans to give meanings to the world around them as ‘social facts’. He also notes that, ‘all genuine knowledge is based on information gained by experience through the senses and can only be developed through further observation and experiment’.
The qualitative research paradigm has its roots in cultural anthropology and American sociology (Kirk and Miller, 1986). According to Hussey and Hussey (1997, p.20), ‘a qualitative research is a subjective approach which includes examining and reflecting on perceptions in order to gain understanding of social and human activities.’ This qualitative approach stresses the subjective aspects of human activity by focusing on the meaning rather than measurement of social phenomena. Qualitative methodology can provide a ‘deeper’
understanding of social phenomena and also allows for rich description (Miles and Huberman, 1994; Silverman, 2000). The results of a qualitative study are the development of descriptions and themes from the data and the presentation of these descriptions and themes to convey multiple perspectives from participants and detailed descriptions of the setting or individuals. Using a qualitative strategy of inquiry, these results may also provide a detailed portrait of a culture-sharing group in ethnography (Creswell, 2009, p.193).
2. Inductive Approach
An inductive research approach, which in general is the foundation of qualitative research, was used in this study. Induction, or the inductive approach, is an approach in social research used to generate theory from specific observations and derives general conclusions from them (Miller and Brewer, 2003; Walliman, 2006). The process begins by the researcher gathering information from participants by interview or observations. The researcher asks open-ended questions of participants or records field notes and then analyses the data and forms this information into categories or themes. These themes or categories are developed into broad patterns, theories, or generalizations that are then compared with personal experiences or with existing literature on the topic (Creswell, 2003, pp.132-133). This means that inductive thinking is going from the specific to the general - sometimes called a bottom up or mountain climbing approach.
Since, this study used qualitative research in order to understand the theories of learning in HTS Organisation and why this organisation is still present in Thai society, especially in the rural areas, it was appropriate to adopt an inductive approach. This involved conducting research in the small communities where HTS organisation has been operating and interviewing a sample of key informants such as villagers, monks, parents, teachers, and students etc. about how they interact with this organisation, what is going on during the learning process and their experience of Thai local knowledge and culture in their community. Induction is also an approach that assumes social situatedness during the fieldwork process. For example, I am staying in specific situations
i.e. construction of learning and using theoretical insights to inform the research. The purpose here would be to get a feel of what is going on and to understand the nature of the problem better (Saunders, 2003). For these reasons and due to the research problem as outlined in Chapter 1, the best way to do this research was an interpretive-qualitative approach with an inductive logic.