Research Design for Studying Creative Deviance at Work
This paper outlines a research design strategy for an applied study examining how creative deviance among employees can be promoted while minimizing negative effects on respect for authority. Set in a technology company environment, the study targets managers, supervisors, and employees as subjects. The paper justifies the selection of a descriptive research design as appropriate for the exploratory nature of the research problem, explains how the design supports data collection without variable manipulation, and presents three guiding research questions focused on the relationship between creative deviance, workplace creativity, and organizational authority.
- Introduction to Research Design: Defines research design and its importance
- Purpose and Setting of the Study: Study purpose, technology company setting, and subjects
- Research Questions: Three guiding questions on creative deviance
- Justification for Descriptive Research Design: Why descriptive design suits this study
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What makes this paper effective
- Clearly connects the chosen research design to the specific needs of the research problem, providing logical justification rather than simply naming the design.
- Explicitly identifies and justifies the study population (managers, supervisors, and employees), linking each group back to the research purpose.
- Frames the research questions in a way that aligns naturally with the descriptive design strategy, demonstrating methodological coherence.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates methodological justification — the practice of explaining not just what research design was chosen, but why it fits the research problem. By citing Creswell's definition of research design and linking it to the exploratory nature of the research issue, the author shows how design choices should be driven by the research questions rather than selected arbitrarily.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a general definition and rationale for research design, then narrows to the specific study purpose and setting. It proceeds to identify the subject population and list the guiding research questions before concluding with a justification of the descriptive design strategy. This funnel structure — broad to specific — is characteristic of well-organized methodology sections in applied research proposals.
Introduction to Research Design
One of the most important preliminary considerations before commencing a research study is the identification and selection of a suitable research design strategy. Research design is a term that refers to plans and procedures for the study, ranging from broad assumptions to details regarding data collection and analysis processes (Creswell, 2014). Choosing a research design strategy is vital before commencing the study because it helps ensure that evidence is gathered to effectively address the research issue in a logical manner. In essence, a research design strategy is an overall plan for integrating the different components of a research study in a logical and coherent way. Without a suitable research design, it is highly likely that the research will not address the research problem effectively.
Purpose and Setting of the Study
In light of the problem described in Module 1, the purpose of this applied research study is to examine measures for promoting creative deviance among workers with minimal impact on respect for authority. The evaluation of this issue is important given the role creative deviance plays in promoting and enhancing creativity among employees in the workplace. However, workplace deviance has become a major issue in the modern business environment because of its potential negative impacts on organizational operations. The link between creative deviance and respect for authority has not been well studied in existing research and literature on workplace deviance. Therefore, examining this issue will help business managers understand how to strengthen creative deviance among employees in order to promote creativity without undermining respect for authority.
This applied research study will be conducted in a working environment that focuses on promoting creativity among its employees. The researcher will identify a technology company as the setting for the study, given that operations in such companies focus on promoting creativity as the premise of organizational success and profitability. The subjects for this study will be the company's managers, supervisors, and employees, since they are directly linked to the purpose of the study. Managers and supervisors will be included because they determine organizational operations and act as authorities in the workplace. The inclusion of employees is attributable to the fact that they are the primary focus of the research in relation to creative deviance.
References
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
The Office of Research Integrity. (n.d.). Module 2: Research design — Section 1: Descriptive studies. Retrieved from U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website: https://ori.hhs.gov/content/module-2-research-design-section-1#descriptive-studies
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