Muhammad Zahir Gul, Roll No.

10352, MS (MS)
Case Study No. 1
Isabelle’s Research Dilemma

Q# 1. How do you think Isabelle’s understanding of theory and method changed

in adopting the approach she chose?
Ans: Isabella research was mainly concerned with studying the Managers and how they
coped with pressure in work place. However, she was confused in adopting any research
method. After studying the relevant literature, she decided that she would address the
problem both by the use of theory and practice. She also thought that pressure and coping the
same could be better understood by studying the factors from most micro level to the most
macro level. She noticed that most of the earlier research work done on managing pressure
used the quantitative approach, wherein statistical correlation of two variables used to be
found out and determined some relationship between sources of pressure and possible
physical, psychological or even physiological outcomes. She felt that managers have
biography like histories, future expectations and individual goals to pursue in their life, which
had effect on managers and on their ability to cope with the pressure in the workplace, which
could not be covered under quantitative research. Therefore, she decided to use qualitative
approach instead of quantitative and for this purpose, she would use in-depth interviews as a
research tool to have first-hand information regarding that what was the turning point in the
life of these managers, why particular decision they had taken at that time and what were the
consequences of their decisions.
Q# 2. What particular knowledge and skills did she develop in preparing this
research?
Ans: During the period of preparing herself for research work, she gained knowledge about
theories and methods, which are being used in research. She came to know that earlier
research work done on the subject matter conducted through quantitative methods, having
emphasis on measuring and the use of factor analysis and the results of the said research were
not presenting the true picture on the issue. Whereas, the qualitative research on the other
hand takes in to account managers’ biography, like histories, features, expectations and
pursue their goals, which have great influence on managers and the way they coped with
pressure in the workplace. She also developed some particular skills such as how to take in-
depth interviews. She learnt that the qualitative research was rigorous, systematic and had
relevancy to the maximum level. However, it would not be an easy task for her to conduct
such research but she was confident that she had emotional maturity to manage such type of
research successfully.
Q# 3. What problems do you think she would have anticipated in conducting research into pressure
and coping among managers that her literature review may not have identified?
Ans: She opted to go with qualitative research and to conduct in-depth interviews of
managers to understand pressure and coping the same by mangers in the workplace.
However, she failed to identify the following points in her literature review:
a) Most of the Managers may not admit pressure as a problem in their workplace and
even if they are applying any strategy to cope with the pressure within an
organization, they may not be willing to share the same easily with any outsider;
Muhammad Zahir Gul, Roll No. 10352, MS (MS)
Case Study No. 1
Isabelle’s Research Dilemma

b) She would require an access to interview a number of Managers, which is not possible
for her in working hours due to Managers’ busy work schedule. They would not give
her the required time she would be asking for;
c) Management of an organization would not allow Isabella to get entered in their
organization premises and to spent so much time for her research purpose, from which
the organization seeks no benefit;
d) In-depth interviews from Managers take more time than Questionnaire;
e) Managers would also be reluctant to share their biography with an alien without any
purpose and without any apparent benefit to them and if they disclose something
about their biography then the level of truth may not be determined in their
statements; and
f) It is possible that due to organizations’ policy/SOP/culture, managers may not be able
to disclose the actual reasons of pressure they are being confronted with.

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Muhammad Zahir Gul, Roll No. 10352, MS (MS)
Case Study No. 1
Isabelle’s Research Dilemma