Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Research Methodology
3.1 Overview of the Chapter
This study was conducted in order to assess the challenges post by the new
accounting rules and practices in HK with regards to real estate industry. To be able to
gather the necessary data, the researcher utilized the descriptive method, using both
qualitative and quantitative approaches. Herein, the chosen responded were randomly
selected from various real estate industry in HK. The survey methods were the research
instruments used for the data-gathering.
The employees of real estate who have been chosen in this study accomplished
a survey questionnaire to evaluate the challenges facing the real estate industry in
Hong Kong. The results of the survey were then processed by computing the weighted
mean of each survey item. The computed values were compared to the Likert scale for
data interpretation. Relevant literatures were also used to support the gathered findings.
The credibility of findings and conclusions extensively depend on the quality of
the research design, data collection, data management, and data analysis. This
chapter will be dedicated to the description of the methods and procedures done in
order to obtain the data, how they will be analysed, interpreted, and how the conclusion
will be met. This section is to justify the means in which the study was obtained and will
help in giving it purpose and strength as it will then be truthful and analytical. All these
will help in the processing of the data and the formulation of conclusions.
Specifically, this research will cover the following: the research design and
method, the respondents or subjects to be studied (which will include the sampling
method), the data collection instrument, and the data analysis. These will be presented
below.
Two types of data were used: the primary and the secondary data. The
primary data were derived from the answers respondents gave in the selfadministered questionnaire prepared by the researcher. In addition, the
information obtained from the interview also provided primary research data
that supported the study. The secondary data on the other hand, were
derived from the findings stated in published documents and literatures
related to the research problem. These were based from the recent
literatures related to real estate in HK and the factors that challenge it and
the accounting rules and practices in HK and the concepts cited by the
respondents.
In terms of approach, the study employed both qualitative and quantitative
approaches. The quantitative approach focused on obtaining numerical findings was
used with the survey method. The interview on the other hand, made up the qualitative
approach of the study as this focused on personal accounts, observations, description
and individual insights of the respondents. This study employed the combined approach
so as to overcome the limitations of both approaches.
In this study, the chosen respondents will be selected from industries and other
people who are related to real estate and decision-making. Interview questions will focus on
the research problems and questions. The dissertation used self-administered questionnaire as
the main tool in collecting data from a large number of respondents.
3.5 Instrumentation
1. Content analysis
Content analysis was done to analyse communications in order to answer two
levels of questions the descriptive and the interpretive. Descriptive questions focused
on what the communication contains. Interpretative questions focused on what the
contents was likely to mean. The process entailed searching through one or more
communication to answer questions that an investigator brings to the search (Brubaker
& Thomas, 2000). Content Analysis was used to analyze and interpret the interviews.
2. Statistical Treatment
The Likert scale was used to interpret items in the questionnaire. These
responses were based on the respondents' assesHK Real Estatent of the current
investment process model. There were instances that the respondents were asked to
rate the effectiveness of implementing the phases in the investment process. The range
and interpretation of the five-point scale are shown in Table 2.
Table 2
The Five-point Likert Scale
Scale
Range
Interpretation
4.01 5.00
Strongly Agree
3.01 4.00
Agree
2.01 3.00
Uncertain
1.01 2.00
Disagree
0.01 1.00
Strongly Disagree
Weighted mean was used to measure the general response of the survey
samples, whether they agree to a given statement or not.
The formula in computing weighted mean is as follows:
Where:
f weight given to each response
x number of responses
xt total number of responses
The survey result was analysed with the use of statistical approach and Microsoft Excel
spreadsheets.
in
very
clear
and
concise
manner
to
prevent
conflicts
among
respondents. People who participated in the research were given an ample time to
respond to the questions posed on them to avoid errors and inaccuracies in their
answers. The respondents were given a waiver regarding the confidentiality of their
identity and the information that they did not wish to disclose. The respondents'
cooperation was eagerly sought after, and they were assured that the data gathered
from them would be treated with the strictest confidence, so that they would be more
open. This was done with the hope that this would promote trust between the
researcher and the respondents.