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HIGHER NATIONALS
Internal verification of assessment decisions – BTEC (RQF)
INTERNAL VERIFICATION – ASSESSMENT DECISIONS
Programme title BTEC HND in Computing
Assessor Mr. Anuradha Internal Verifier
Unit(s) Unit 16: Computing Research Project (Pearson Set)
Assignment title Final Research Project Proposal - Remote working
Student’s name U.G.S.N Gunawardhane/KAN00069153
List which assessment Pass Merit Distinction
criteria the Assessor has
awarded.
INTERNAL VERIFIER CHECKLIST
Do the assessment criteria awarded
match those shown in the assignment
Y/N
brief?
Is the Pass/Merit/Distinction grade
awarded justified by the assessor’s Y/N
comments on the student work?
Has the work been assessed accurately?
Y/N
Is the feedback to the student:
Give details:

 Constructive? Y/N
 Linked to relevant assessment criteria?
Y/N
 Identifying opportunities for improved
performance? Y/N
 Agreeing actions? Y/N

Does the assessment decision need

Y/N
amending?
Assessor signature Date
Internal Verifier signature Date
Programme Leader signature (if required)
Date
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Higher Nationals - Summative Assignment Feedback Form

Student Name/ID U.G.S.N Gunawardhane/KAN00069153

Unit Title Unit 16: Computing Research Project (Pearson Set)

Assignment Number Assignment 1 Assessor Mr.Anuradha

05/10/2022 Date Received 1st
Submission Date
submission
Date Received 2nd
Re-submission Date
submission
Assessor Feedback:

LO1 Examine appropriate research methodologies and approaches as part of the research process

Pass, Merit & Distinction

P1 ☐ P2 ☐ M1 ☐ D1 ☐
Descripts

Grade: Assessor Signature: Date:

Resubmission Feedback:

Grade: Assessor Signature: Date:

Internal Verifier’s Comments:

Signature & Date:

* Please note that grade decisions are provisional. They are only confirmed once internal and external moderation has taken place and
grades decisions have been agreed at the assessment board.

Confirm action completed

Remedial action taken
Give details:

Assessor signature Date

Internal Verifier
Date
signature
Programme Leader
Date
signature (if required)

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Assignment Feedback
Formative Feedback: Assessor to Student

Action Plan

Summative feedback

Feedback: Student to Assessor

Assessor Date
signature

Student signature Date

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Pearson
Higher Nationals in
Computing
Unit 16: Computing Research Project
(Pearson Set)
Research Project Proposal

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General Guidelines

1. A Cover page or title page – You should always attach a title page to your assignment. Use
previous page as your cover sheet and be sure to fill the details correctly.
2. This entire brief should be attached in first before you start answering.
3. All the assignments should prepare using word processing software.
4. All the assignments should print in A4 sized paper, and make sure to only use one side printing.
5. Allow 1” margin on each side of the paper. But on the left side you will need to leave room for
binging.

Word Processing Rules

1. Use a font type that will make easy for your examiner to read. The font size should be 12 point,
and should be in the style of Time New Roman.
2. Use 1.5 line word-processing. Left justify all paragraphs.
3. Ensure that all headings are consistent in terms of size and font style.
4. Use footer function on the word processor to insert Your Name, Subject, Assignment No, and
Page Number on each page. This is useful if individual sheets become detached for any reason.
5. Use word processing application spell check and grammar check function to help edit your
assignment.

Important Points:

1. Check carefully the hand in date and the instructions given with the assignment. Late
submissions will not be accepted.
2. Ensure that you give yourself enough time to complete the assignment by the due date.
3. Don’t leave things such as printing to the last minute – excuses of this nature will not be
accepted for failure to hand in the work on time.
4. You must take responsibility for managing your own time effectively.
5. If you are unable to hand in your assignment on time and have valid reasons such as illness, you
may apply (in writing) for an extension.
6. Failure to achieve at least a PASS grade will result in a REFERRAL grade being given.
7. Non-submission of work without valid reasons will lead to an automatic REFERRAL. You will then
be asked to complete an alternative assignment.
8. Take great care that if you use other people’s work or ideas in your assignment, you properly
reference them, using the HARVARD referencing system, in you text and any bibliography,
otherwise you may be guilty of plagiarism.
9. If you are caught plagiarising you could have your grade reduced to A REFERRAL or at worst you
could be excluded from the course.

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Student Declaration

I hereby, declare that I know what plagiarism entails, namely, to use another’s work and to present it
as my own without attributing the sources in the correct way. I further understand what it means to
copy another’s work.

1. I know that plagiarism is a punishable offence because it constitutes theft.

2. I understand the plagiarism and copying policy of the Edexcel UK.
3. I know what the consequences will be if I plagiaries or copy another’s work in any of the
assignments for this program.
4. I declare therefore that all work presented by me for every aspects of my program, will be my
own, and where I have made use of another’s work, I will attribute the source in the correct way.
5. I acknowledge that the attachment of this document signed or not, constitutes a binding
agreement between myself and Edexcel UK.
6. I understand that my assignment will not be considered as submitted if this document is not
attached to the attached.

e116895@esoft.academy 05/10/2022

Student’s Signature: Date:

(Provide E-mail ID) (Provide Submission Date)

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Assignment Brief
Student Name /ID Number U.G.S.N Gunawardhane/KAN00069153

Unit Number and Title Unit 16: Computing Research Project (Pearson Set)

Academic Year 2021/2022

Unit Tutor

Assignment Title Final Research Project Proposal

Issue Date 05/07/2022

Submission Date 05/10/2022

IV Name & Date

Submission Format:
Research Project Proposal

 The submission is in the form of an individual written report.

 This should be written in a concise, formal business style using single spacing and font size 12.
 You are required to make use of headings, paragraphs and subsections as appropriate, and all
work must be supported with research
 Reference using the Harvard referencing system and provide a referencing list.
 The recommended word limit is minimum 2000 words.

Unit Learning Outcomes:

LO1. Examine appropriate research methodologies and approaches as part of the research process .

Assignment Brief and Guidance:

Remote Working
The option to work remotely was already being embraced by some businesses in the pre-pandemic
era. These businesses were making some progress to adapt their working practices to accommodate
remote working by allowing those in certain job roles to take the opportunity to work from home,
albeit a day or two a week. However, on the whole there had been a reluctance to have staff working
remotely and this has largely centred around productivity concerns, security implications and
technology issues.

The global pandemic however necessitated and accelerated the move to remote working. The vast
majority of businesses have now shifted some or all of their operations online, and almost all of their

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staff are working from home. The enabling force behind this necessary shift has been the different
technologies and platforms that facilitate workers to achieve business goals remotely.
This sudden shift to remote working took place within weeks and months and has not been without
issues. Several surveys conducted during this period cited business leaders complaining about how
technology problems have impacted their business and employees while working remotely.
The biggest issues remote workers face are being frequently disconnected from corporate networks,
slow file downloads, poor quality of video meetings and long response times when loading apps. As a
result, building secure, effective and integrated technology capability, to continue this flexibility in the
workforce, has now become a priority for all organisations.
Choosing a research objective/question.
Students are to choose their own research topic for this unit. Strong research projects are those with
clear, well focused and defined objectives. A central skill in selecting a research objective is the ability
to select a suitable and focused research objective. One of the best ways to do this is to put it in the
form of a question. Students should be encouraged by tutors to discuss a variety of topics related to
the theme to generate ideas for a good research objective. The range of topics discussed could cover
the following:

 Digital transformation strategies

 Monitoring and productivity tools, their uses and implications
 Key security concerns when working remotely.
The Learner requires to produce a research proposal that clearly defines a research question or
hypothesis, supported by a literature review (Use the project proposal and ethical consideration form
template formats)
Project Proposal should cover following areas.
1. Definition of research problem or question. (This can be stated as a research question, objectives
or hypothesis)
2. Provide a literature review giving the background and conceptualisation of the proposed area of
study. (This would provide existing knowledge and benchmarks by which the data can be judged)
3. Consider and define research methodology and research process. Demonstrate understanding of
the pitfalls and limitations of the methods chosen and ethical issues that might arise.
Draw points (1–3, above) together into a research proposal by getting agreement with your tutor.

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Grading Rubric

Grading Criteria Achieved Feedback

P1 Produce a research proposal that clearly defines a

research question or hypothesis, supported by a literature
review.

P2 Examine appropriate research methods and approaches

to primary and secondary research.

M1 Analyse different research approaches and methodology

and make justifications for the choice of methods selected
based on philosophical/theoretical frameworks.

D1 Critically evaluate research methodologies and processes

in application to a computing research project to justify
chosen research methods and analysis

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Research Proposal Form

Student Name U.G.S.N Gunawardhane
Student number KAN00069153 Date 05/10/2022

Centre Name Esoft Metro Campus-Kandy

Unit Unit 16: Computing Research Project (Pearson Set)
Tutor Mr.Anuradha
Proposed title
Impact of online education platform during the pandemic era.

Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities

Title or working title of research project (in the form of a question, objective or hypothesis):
Research project objectives (e.g. what is the question you want to answer? What do you want to
learn how to do? What do you want to find out?): Introduction, Objective, Sub Objective(s),
Research Questions and/or Hypothesis
Impact of online education platform during the pandemic era.
RO1 Object of this research is to assess the impact of online education process in order to
improve academic performance
R02 Assess the impact of availability online education in order to improve academic
purpose.
RO3 Assess the impact of ease of use feature online education in order to improve
academic purpose.
RO4 Assess the impact of security online education in order to improve academic purpose

Responsibility which I would pose is as the researcher under the selected research topic.
Which means that I would have to look into various different literature sources, create
the questionnaire, gather the response which were given, and analyze them as well.

Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project

Reasons for choosing the project (e.g. links to other subjects you are studying, personal interest,
future plans, knowledge/skills you want to improve, why the topic is important): Motivation,
Research gap

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Section Three: Literature sources searched

Use of key literature sources to support your objective, Sub Objective, research question and/or
hypothesis: Can include the Conceptual Framework

Section Four: Activities and timescales

Activities to be carried out during the research project (e.g. research, development, analysis of
ideas, writing, data collection, numerical analysis, tutor meetings, production of final outcome,
evaluation, writing the report) and How long this will take:
Milestone Propose completion date
Finalize the Initial Project Proposal 20/07/2022
Finalize the Project Repor 02/08/2022
Beginning of the project 19/08/2022
Recognizing Risks and Fixing them 12/09/2022
30/09/2022
Gather Data

Section Five: Research approach and methodologies

Type of research approach and methodologies you are likely to use, and reasons for your choice:
What your areas of research will cover: Research Onion; Sample Strategy/Method; Sample Size

The deductive approach was chosen for this research and the quantitative research approach
was chosen to gather the needed data. Quantitate research was chosen due to the fact
that exact research article were available under the selected research topic with different
models as well. Therefore, the quantitative research as chosen.

Comments and agreement from tutor

Comments (optional):

I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be submitted for another qualification
and is appropriate.

Agreed Yes ☐ No ☐ Name Date

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Comments and agreement from project proposal checker (if applicable)

Comments (optional):

I confirm that the project is appropriate.

Agreed Yes ☐ No ☐ Name Date

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Research Ethics Approval Form

All students conducting research activity that involves human participants or the use of data
collected from human participants are required to gain ethical approval before commencing
their research. Please answer all relevant questions and note that your form may be
returned if incomplete.
Section 1: Basic Details
Project title: IMPACT OF ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM DURING THE
PANDEMIC ERA.
Student name: U.G.S.N Gunawardhane
Student ID number: KAN00069153
Programme: Unit 13: Computing Research Project
School: Esoft Metro Campus
Intended research start date: 10/07/2022
Intended research end date: 02/10/2022
Section 2: Project Summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as part of your project

 Interviews: ☐
 Questionnaires: ☒
 Observations: ☐
 Use of Personal Records: ☐
 Data Analysis: ☐
 Action Research: ☐
 Focus Groups: ☐
 Other (please specify): ☐ ............................................................
Section 3: Participants
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.
Will your research involve human participants?

Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:

Age 12-16 ☐ Young People aged 17–18 ☐ Adults ☒
How will participants be recruited (identified and approached)?
The questionnaire would be sent to friends and colleagues who can pass it on to their friends
and colleagues
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
Though social media and communication (WhatsApp) platform

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Studies involving questionnaires:

Will participants be given the option of omitting questions they do not wish to answer?

Yes ☒ No ☐
If “NO” please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical issues arising from this.

Studies involving observation:

Confirm whether participants will be asked for their informed consent to be observed.

Yes ☒ No ☐
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e. give them a brief explanation of
the study)?

Yes ☒ No ☐
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study? (This could be a brief
summary of your findings in general)

Yes ☒ No ☐

Section 4: Data Storage and Security

Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in compliance with the Data
Protection Act (1998)
Yes ☒ No ☐
Who will have access to the data and personal information?

No one other than the researcher would have access to the data.
During the research:

Where will the data be stored?

Data would be stored on Google Drive.

Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used?
Yes ☒ No ☐
If “YES”, please provide further details:
After the research:

Where will the data be stored?

Data would be stored on Google Drive. How long will the data and records be kept for
and in what format?

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The data would be kept for a time period of two months and would be in excel format.
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?

Will data be kept for use by other researchers?

Yes ☐ No ☒
If “YES”, please provide further details:

Section 5: Ethical Issues

Are there any particular features of your proposed work which may raise ethical concerns?
If so, please outline how you will deal with these:

Section 6: Declaration
I have read, understood and will abide by the institution’s Research and Ethics Policy:
Yes ☒ No ☐
I have discussed the ethical issues relating to my research with my Unit Tutor:
Yes ☒ No ☐
I confirm that to the best of my knowledge:
The above information is correct and that this is a full description of the ethics issues that may
arise in the course of my research.

Name: U.G.S.N Gunawardhane

Date: 05/10/2022

Please submit your completed form to: ESOFT Learning Management System (ELMS)

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 THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL

IMPACT OF ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM DURING

THE PANDEMIC ERA.

By

U.G.S.N GUNAWARDHANE
KAN00069153

Research Proposal Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the

COMPUTING RESEARCH PROJECT MODULE OF
PEARSON’S HND IN NETWORKING ENGINEERING
PROGRAMME
at the
ESOFT METRO CAMPUS

Name of research Tutor: Mr.Anuradha

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The success and outcome of this assignment required a lot of guidance and assistance from
many people and I am extremely fortunate to have gotten this all along with the completion
of my assignment. Whatever I have done is only due to such guidance and assistance and I
would not forget to thank them. I respect and thank Mr. Anuradha for giving an opportunity
to do this assignment and providing us with all support and guidance, which made me
complete the assignment on time, we are extremely grateful to you for providing such a nice
support and guidance. Once again, thank you Mr. Anuradha

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced millions of workers to suddenly shift their
activity out of their offices and into their homes: We forecast that 25-30% of the U.S.
workforce will be working-from-home one or more days a week after the pandemic (Lister,
n.d.) organizations have started to consider extending “working from home” (WFH)
arrangements beyond the pandemic (Kelly, 2020), this sudden and exogenous shift has the
potential to cause dramatic, and still unknown, effects on workers’ behavior, as well as their
productivity and wellbeing

In this research I explore what some of these effects are. Specifically, we assess how the
sudden and widespread shift to working from home during the pandemic impacted how
knowledge workers a particular set of occupations that typically focus their activity on
problem-solving , Monitoring and productivity tools, their uses and implications and Key
security concerns when working remotely

In academic how they forced transition to LMS (Learner Management System) arrangements
changed the allocation of time across different activities (e.g. the relative importance of
activities performed alone vs. those that require communication and coordination with
others); whether the transition affected how these activities are conducted (for example,
length of meetings); whether the changes in time allocation and activity structure varied
across knowledge workers with managerial responsibilities vs. individual contributors; and
how new work arrangements are correlated with objective and subjective measures of
wellbeing. Technology can help take advantage of opportunities for improving worker
productivity and wellbeing that are made possible by this shift.

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CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENT...................................................................................................................i
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................................ii
CONTENTS..................................................................................................................................iii
LIST OF TABLES...........................................................................................................................iv
LIST OF FIGURES..........................................................................................................................v
INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................1
1.1. Introduction.................................................................................................................1
1.2. Purpose of research......................................................................................................1
1.3. Significance of the Research.......................................................................................1
1.4. Research objectives.....................................................................................................1
1.5. Research Sub objectives..............................................................................................1
1.6. Research questions......................................................................................................1
1.7. Hypothesis...................................................................................................................1
LITERATURE REVIEW..................................................................................................................2
2.1. Literature Review........................................................................................................2
2.2. Conceptual framework................................................................................................2
METHODOLOGY..........................................................................................................................3
3.1. Research philosophy....................................................................................................3
3.2. Research approach.......................................................................................................3
3.3. Research strategy.........................................................................................................3
3.4. Research Choice..........................................................................................................3
3.5. Time frame..................................................................................................................3
3.6. Data collection procedures..........................................................................................3
3.6.1. Type of Data.........................................................................................................3
3.6.2. Data Collection Method.......................................................................................3
3.6.3. Data Collection and Analyze Tools.......................................................................3
3.7. Sampling......................................................................................................................3
3.8. The selection of participants........................................................................................3
REFERENCES...............................................................................................................................4

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 Garntt chart..................................................................................................................15

Table 2 Primary and secondary data........................................................................................17
Table 3 qualitative and quantitative data..................................................................................19

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LIST OF FIGURES

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INTRODUCTION

1.1. Introduction

During global pandemic era, Education industry shift to online education. This sudden shift
to remote working took place within weeks and months and has not been without issues.
Several surveys conducted during this period cited students, lecturers complaining about how
technology problems have impacted their education while working remotely. Main issues
remote workers face are being frequently disconnected from corporate networks, slow file
downloads, poor quality of video meetings and long response times when loading apps.

In this project I mainly focus for usage of monitoring and productivity tools to improve
academic performance, digital transformation strategies and Key security concerns when
working remotely.

1.2. Purpose of research

 The purpose of this research was solve the disconnected from cooperate network.
 The purpose of this research was solution for slow file download.
 The purpose of this research was good quality video meeting
 The purpose of this research was solution for long response times when app loading

1.3. Significance of the Research

From all the points, statements, and facts which are said above it can be seen that advantages
and disadvantages of online education. This has been affected by the weaknesses in the
technology in terms of grants as well as the newness of the students and teachers to the
technology. These can be avoided by introducing new technology and getting quick answers
to problems. The Open University through which this research is conducted will consider the
measures and technology taken for this purpose.

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1.4. Research objectives

Object of this research is to assess the impact of online education process in order to improve
academic performance.

1.5. Research Sub objectives

SO1 Assess the impact of availability online education in order to improve academic
purpose.

SO2 Assess the impact of ease of use feature online education in order to improve academic
purpose.

SO3 Assess the impact of security online education in order to improve academic purpose.

1.6. Research questions

RQ1 What is impact of usage of monitoring and productivity tools to improve academic
purpose?

RQ2 What is impact of availability online education in order to improve academic purpose?

RQ3 What is impact of ease-of-use online education in order to improve academic purpose?

RQ4 What is impact of security features online education in order to improve academic
purpose?

1.7. Hypothesis

H1. Online education system impact of usage monitoring and productivity tools to improve
academic purpose

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H0. Online education system does not impact of usage monitoring and productivity tools to
improve academic purpose

H2. Availability online education system in order to improve academic purpose?

H0. Availability online education does not in order to improve academic purpose?

H3. Ease-of-use online education system in order to improve academic purpose?

H0. Ease-of-use online education system does not in order to improve academic purpose?

H4. Security features online system education in order to improve academic purpose?

H0. Security features online system education does not in order to improve academic
purpose?

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LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1. Literature Review

The impact of online education process in order to improve academic performance.

the concept of distance learning first came into practice in the mid 19th century when the
U.S. Postal Service was developed. The notion of reliable, long-distance correspondence led
to the development and implementation of what were called commercial ‘correspondence
colleges', where instructional missives would be distributed through the postal service
between students and professors. Today, at-distance education programs have become more
sophisticated and accessible due to the proliferation of the web and digital technology. Elite
institutions around the world now offer open courseware, online degrees, and online classes
that are both legitimizing and popularizing the idea of education from a computer. (academy,
2021)

online learning is a part of many institutions' course offerings around the world. From
certificates, PhDs, impactful online language learning and everything in between, learning
online has never been so easy.

Offered by some of the world's top-ranked institutions, online learning offers you all the
perks of attending your dream university, with the added convenience of a learning
experience tailored to your schedule. With courses available in almost every subject, and
flexible timetables to suit almost every lifestyle, students are increasingly turning to online
learning as a viable alternative to on-campus study. It could allow you to study abroad
remotely, at a university not in your home country. Open university is a such a university.
Advances in technology now allow students to study entirely online while still socializing
with classmates, watching lectures and participating in subject-specific discussions.

While some consider online learning to require a greater degree of self-motivation,

institutions recognize that educational support is just as important as tutor feedback, and take
great care to ensure that their students receive the same levels of support that they would
receive on campus.

In general, when taking an online degree program you might encounter resources like;
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1. EBooks;
2. Journals;
3. Videos;
4. Recorded lectures;
5. Quizzes;
6. Discussion forums
7. Live Q&A sessions; and
8. Interviews.

The resources offered to you for learning online will depend on the institution where you
take your online program. Some online learning programs may require you to order physical
textbooks in advance by in the mail, but these are generally being phased out in favor of
eBooks and online-only methods of delivery. In Open University they delivered all the text
book by courier. And also we can download in the LMS as a PDF.

Taking an online learning program, you'll be an officially registered student at your

institution and have access to the same resources as an on-campus student, like your
institution's digital library, learning management system (like Blackboard), student union
membership and more! An online degree is similar to taking a degree program on campus,
but you have the freedom to direct your own study schedule.

The Open University uses zoom, team, and learner management system for the teaching
process. A separate server is also used for the exam.

There is a learner support to ask questions and problems between lecturer and student and get
answers. In addition to text books, many other resources have been put in LMS. Also, due to
technical errors or other reasons, the Open University uses zoom, team, and learner
management system for the teaching process. A separate server is also used for the exam or
if the lecture is missed, the recording will be uploaded to the LMS. Such things are available
in this university. Also, this LMS is user friendly and has an intuitive learner interface,
responsive design, and variety and learning resources.

A separate server is used here for exams and for them. Tight security is in place. All the kids
in the university have a separate email. Therefore, exams can be secured. Receiving
questions differently. There is no way to get answers through Google search and the back
button is invalid.
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2.2. Conceptual framework

Figure 1 conceptual framework

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METHODOLOGY

Research methodology is the specific procedures or techniques used to identify, select,

process, and analyze information about a topic. In a research paper, the methodology section
allows the reader to critically evaluate a study’s overall validity and reliability.

If you're designing a research methodology for your dissertation, thesis, or any other formal
research effort, Saunders' research onion illustrates the various choices you'll need to make.
You'll have to make a variety of decisions as you move inside from the outside of the onion,
ranging from high-level and philosophical to tactical and practical in nature. Additionally, it
follows the overall format of the methods chapter.

Saunders' research onion is a good tool for considering methodology holistically, despite its
obvious shortcomings. It at the very least clarifies the choices you must make regarding your
research design.

Research onion contain six layers;

 Philosophy
 Approach
 Strategy
 Choice
 Time Horizon
 Data collection tools

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Figure 2 Onion research methodology

2.3. Research philosophy

A research philosophy is a set of assumptions about how the reality under investigation
works (Bryman, 2012). It is the fundamental explanation of what knowledge is. Research
philosophies might also differ with regard to the objectives of the study and the most
effective strategy for achieving these objectives (Goddard & Melville, 2004). These are not
always different, but the research project's chosen research philosophy is determined by the
kind of knowledge being examined (May, 2011).

There are three main philosophies that are significant in the research process.

Ontology is, in a sense, the study of reality. It explains the nature of reality, what thoughts
occur to mind when doing research, and what effects it has on people and the environment.
The distinction between reality and how you see it is made obvious by ontology.
Additionally, it teaches you about how people's behavior is affected by it. The ontological
worldview primarily encompasses three philosophical perspectives. They are pragmatism,
constructivism, and objectivism. Goddard & Melville (2004) stated that understanding how

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reality actually is and how it affects our surroundings and the people who live in it might be
helpful. Ontology distinguishes between what is genuinely real and how one perceives real.
Objectivism, constructivism, and pragmatism are all parts of ontology. You learn about
social events and the various meanings that people give them through objectivism. It
distinguishes between the effects of various social occurrences on various persons. Contrary
to objectivism, constructivism holds that people are the ones who produce social
phenomena. Theories are employed by pragmatism to find a solution to a particular
problem. It is an option to others even if it is relatively new when compared to others.

Epistemology - Epistemology is frequently employed in scientific study, and this is because

it aids in the discovery of information that can be proven beyond a reasonable question; in
other words, it looks for generally accepted knowledge and addresses the facts in
accordance with it. Here, you must specify what level of expertise is appropriate in the area
of your study and provide details on the findings of in-depth testing. The philosophical
stances that fall under the epistemological worldview are positivism, critical realism, and
interpretivism.

Epistemology, according to Bryman (2012), incorporates positivism, realism, and

interpretivism. Positivism employs testable research questions. Using the information that is
generally accepted by individuals can aid in your search for an explanation. New research
techniques can be used when one is realistic. You must conduct investigation before you
can understand reality. It is comparable to positivism, but realism opposes the scientific
method, whereas positivism does. Interpretivism helps you understand how people perceive
their own actions and those of others. Understanding people's cultures and social
interactions is beneficial.

Axiology - Axiology teaches you how opinions and values affect the gathering and
processing of your study data. According to Silverman (2013), it helps one comprehend the
influence that public opinion has on the gathering and analysis of research. It aids in your
comprehension of how important it is to consider others' opinions when conducting
research.

Objectivism, Constructivism and Positivism

A social occurrence and the various meanings and effects it has on its actors are made clear
to you by objectivism. Constructivism, on the other hand, prefers to defer the idea that
social actors are accountable for creating a phenomenon. Contrarily, constructivism
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contends that each observer or group creates the fundamental meaning of social phenomena
(Stlund et al., 2011). According to this theory, it is never safe to assume that participants
would interpret observations in the same manner. Instead, it is important to look at the
subtle distinctions and variations in respondents' comprehension.

Positivism generates testable research topics and hypotheses that can be examined.
Positivism can be used to quantify and explain general knowledge about the world. The law
of gravity is an illustration of it.

One of these philosophical approaches is not necessarily superior to the other despite the
fundamental distinctions between them, even though some researchers may prefer one over
the other (Podsakoffet al., 2012). The research methodology is merely justified by the
philosophy. The nature of the phenomenon being observed should guide the methodology.

Researcher select Positivism as the research philosophy. Because the study mainly based on
scientific method. Researcher is trying to test the theory. During the study researcher use
both research questions and hypothesis.

Following is an example of a research question that researcher trying to answer.

RQ1. What is impact of usage of monitoring and productivity tools to improve academic
purpose?

Further researcher trying to prove hypothesis and example as follow.

H1. Online education system impact of usage monitoring and productivity tools to improve
academic purpose

H0. Online education system does not impact of usage monitoring and productivity tools to
improve academic purpose

Researcher is not use realism because the study based on scientific method, where the
realism recognize that the scientific method is improper and encourage research method

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alternatives. Further this study does not belong to Interpretivism and Pragmatism, because
the study focusses on deductive approach.

2.4. Research approach

The second layer of the research onion includes the phrases deductive and inductive.
Knowing the purpose of the research and its constraints is crucial because the previous layer
of the onion has an impact here.

The Deductive Approach

The deductive method creates a hypothesis or set of hypotheses based on an existing theory
before formulating a research strategy to test them (Silverman, 2013). The positivist
approach, which allows for the formation of hypotheses and the statistical testing of
anticipated findings to an agreed degree of probability, can be thought of as being particularly
well suited to the deductive approach (Snieder & Larner, 2009). It is defined as the
progression from general to specific: first, the general theory and knowledge foundation are
developed, and then the particular knowledge obtained through the research process is
compared to it (Kothari, 2004).

The expectations created by prior study might be stated differently than through hypothesis
testing in such instances, but a deductive approach may still be applied alongside qualitative
research approaches (Saunders et al., 2007). Deductive reasoning creates comprehension of
observation through the use of questionnaires, allowing you to compare various
interpretations of individuals using empirical evidence. The information acquired aids in
confirming or disproving the hypothesis, and the procedure can be repeated.

The Inductive

In contrast to the deductive method, which requires you to adopt an established theory, the
inductive method lets you develop your own theories. This demonstrates how the two
strategies differ from one another. The inductive method is distinguished by a shift from the
particular to the general (Bryman & Bell, 2011). Since there is no structure that guides the
data gathering in this method, the research focus can be determined after the data has been
gathered (Flick, 2011). Although the analysis of the data may reveal that it fits into an
existing theory, it is also true that this may be considered as the point at which new theories
are produced (Bryman & Bell, 2011). This approach is frequently employed in qualitative
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research. Interviews are conducted. This approach is frequently employed in qualitative

research. Interviews are conducted regarding specific occurrences, and the collected data may
then be used to look for trends among respondents (Flick, 2011). This strategy can, however,
also be successfully applied in positivist approaches, which generate findings by first
analyzing the data and looking for important patterns.

Researcher select the Deductive Approach research approach. Possibility to explain causal
relationships between concepts and variables.

2.5. Research strategy

The study plan outlines the researcher's intended method of operation (Saunders et al., 2007).
The plan may incorporate a variety of methods, including experimental research, action
research, case study research, interviews, surveys, or a thorough assessment of the literature.

Experimental

The method of developing a research procedure that compares experiment outcomes to

anticipated results is known as experimental research. It is applicable to all research fields
and typically just takes into account a small number of variables (Saunders et al., 2007).

Survey

The deductive method is frequently associated with the survey strategy of the research onion.
One of the best and most affordable research methods is this one. Through this strategy, you
can gather detailed and trustworthy data. Most quantitative research projects use surveys,
which sample a representative sample of the population (Bryman & Bell, 2011). The survey
strategy is mostly employed to identify relevant factors among various data. It allows for the
gathering of enormous amounts of data that will be used to address the study issue.

Case Study

This tactic is concentrated on a single person or group of people. It can provide insight into
the particulars of any example and demonstrate the significance of culture and context in the
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variations among cases (Silverman, 2013). The use of this tactic in financial research is
greater. Case study research involves analyzing a single unit to determine its important
characteristics and make generalizations (Bryman, 2012). This type of research is useful for
comparing the experiences of two organizations or the impact of investments in various
circumstances in financial research.

Action research

In fields like teaching or nursing, where practitioners can analyze how to better their
professional approach and understanding, this type of research is prevalent (Wiles et al.,
2011). This tactic is mostly employed to identify a potential answer to a problem.

2.6. Research Choice

Research choice is a term used to describe the fourth layer of the research onion. This layer
enables you to determine whether using either one approach or a combination of quantitative
and qualitative methodology is appropriate. The research onion has three described choices,
including the Mono, Mixed, and Multi method research choices or approaches, according to
Saunders et al. (2007).

Mono method

One sort of information must be gathered while employing the mono approach, which
requires either quantitative or qualitative research methods. The two cannot be combined.

Mixed method

A precise set of data can be produced using the mixed approach, which enables the
combination of quantitative and qualitative methodology in research. According to (Flick,
2011), the multi method is utilized when the research is separated into segments, with each
creating a specific data set. The mixed approach mixes methods to create a single dataset.

Multi-method

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This approach combines quantitative and qualitative technique in a study, making it

comparable to the mixed approach. Despite their similarities, they yet differ in some ways.
While the mixed method utilizes many methodologies to create a specific set of data, the
multi-method

2.7. Time frame

The time horizon specifies how long the project work must take to finish. The research onion
specifies two different temporal horizon types: cross sectional and longitudinal (Bryman,
2012).

Cross Sectional

The already-established cross-sectional time horizon is the one during which data collection
is required. When a specific phenomenon at a certain period is being studied as part of an
investigation, this method is used.

Longitudinal

When examining change over time is a key component of the research, a longitudinal time
horizon for data collection is used, which involves collecting data periodically over a lengthy
period of time (Goddard & Melville, 2004).

Task July August September October

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

finalize the concept of the project

create the project proposal
approval for the project
Find the area to be cover
have a WBS of the needed report
finished research on quality and
quantity
finalize project questioner

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start initial stage of the report

recognize the risks in the research
find solution for risks found
gather user response for the questioner

Table 1 Garntt chart

2.8. Data collection procedures

This is the innermost layer of Saunders' research onion and the sixth and final layer overall.
The methodology employed at this point in the study makes a major contribution to its
overall validity and dependability (Saunders et al., 2007). Data gathering and analysis rely
on the methodology employed (Bryman, 2012). This layer describes the methods utilized to
gather and analyze the data for the study. The data source, research design, sample, size,
sample ethics, sample constraints, research reliability, and validity are also explained. Both
primary and secondary data may have been gathered. Primary data is information that is
directly collected from the source. Secondary data, which is indirect data, is the reverse of
primary data.

3.6.1. Type of Data

Primary Data

Data gathered directly from the source is referred to as primary data. This can be
accomplished by using a variety of tools, including questionnaires, oral or written inPrimary
data analysis in which the same individual or team of researchers designs, collects, and
analyzes the data, for the purpose of answering a research question (Koziol & Arthur, nd).

 Advantages Of Primary Data

Data collected is very specific to the problem and is useful.

Quality of the data collected is not doubtful and is meaningful.

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It may lead to the discovery of additional data and information during its collection.

 Disadvantages Of Primary Data

There are numerous hassles involved in the collection of primary data like taking a decision
such as how, when, what and why to collect.

The cost involved in the collection of primary data is very high.

Secondary Data

Secondary data are findings or viewpoints drawn from the work of other scholars (Newman,
1998).

 Advantages Of Secondary Data

There is no issue of data collection as it is obtained by performing operations on primary
data collected.

The cost involved in secondary data collection is relatively less.

Quality of data is not the responsibility of the investigator.

 Disadvantages Of Secondary Data

It may not be possible that the information or data required for obtaining the secondary data
is available.

Getting detailed and clarified data on some topic is not possible in secondary data as a limited
source of information is there.

This data would be unrealistic or fake.

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BASIS FOR
PRIMARY DATA SECONDARY DATA
COMPARISON

Meaning Primary data refers to the first Secondary data means data
hand data gathered by the collected by someone else earlier.
researcher himself.

Data Real time data Past data

Process Very involved Quick and easy

Source Surveys, observations, Government publications, websites,

experiments, questionnaire, books, journal articles, internal
personal interview, etc. records etc.

Cost effectiveness Expensive Economical

Collection time Long Short

Specific Always specific to the May or may not be specific to the

researcher's needs. researcher's need.

Available in Crude form Refined form

Accuracy and More Relatively less

Reliability

Table 2 Primary and secondary data

3.6.2. Data Collection Method

Quantitative Research Methods

Data that can be measured, quantified. Basically Descriptive Statistics.

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Qualitative Research Methods

Data collected that is not numerical, hence cannot be quantified. It measures other
characteristics through interviews, observation and focused groups among a few methods. It
can also be termed as "Categorical Statistics".

Quantitative Qualitative

Purpose The purpose is to explain and gain
insight and understanding of phenomena
through intensive collection of narrative
data Generate hypothesis to be test ,
inductive.
The purpose is to explain, predict,
and/or control phenomena through
focused collection of numerical data.
Test hypotheses, deductive.

Approach to subjective, holistic, process- oriented Objective, focused, outcome- oriented

Inquiry

Hypotheses Tentative, evolving, based on particular Specific, testable, stated prior to

study particular study

Research Controlled setting not as important Controlled to the degree possible

Setting

Sampling Purposive: Intent to select “small, ” not Random: Intent to select “large, ”
necessarily representative, sample in representative sample in order to
order to get in-depth understanding generalize results to a population

Measurement Non-standardized, narrative (written Standardized, numerical

word), ongoing (measurements, numbers), at the end

Design and Flexible, specified only in general terms Structured, inflexible, specified in
Method in advance of study Nonintervention, detail in advance of study
minimal disturbance All Descriptive— Intervention, manipulation, and

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History, Biography, Ethnography, control Descriptive Correlation

Phenomenology, Grounded Theory, Case Causal-Comparative Experimental
Study, (hybrids of these) Consider many Consider few variables, large group
variable, small group

Data Document and artifact (something Observations (non-participant).

Collection observed) that is collection (participant,
Strategies non-participant). Interviews/Focus
Groups (un-/structured, in-/formal).
Administration of questionnaires (open
ended). Taking of extensive, detailed
field notes.
Interviews and Focus Groups (semi-
structured, formal). Administration of
tests and questionnaires (close
ended).

Data Analysis Raw data are in words. Essentially Raw data are numbers Performed at
ongoing, involves using the end of study, involves statistics (using
observations/comments to come to a numbers to come to conclusions).
conclusion.

Data Conclusions are tentative (conclusions Conclusions and generalizations

Interpretation can change), reviewed on an ongoing
basis, conclusions are generalizations.
The validity of the
inferences/generalizations are the
reader’s responsibility.
formulated at end of study, stated
with predetermined degree of
certainty. Inferences/generalizations
are the researcher’s responsibility.
Never 100% certain of our findings.

Table 3 qualitative and quantitative data

3.6.3. Data Collection and Analyze Tools

The term "data collecting tools" refers to the tools/devices used to gather data, such as a paper
questionnaire or a system for computer-assisted interviews. Tools used to gather data include
case studies, checklists, interviews, occasionally observation, surveys, and questionnaires.

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 Interview
A face-to-face talk between two people conducted only for the goal of gathering pertinent
data is known as an interview. There are three main categories of interviews: organized,
semi-structured, and unstructured. Each category differs slightly from the others.

1. Audio Recorder
An audio recorder is used for recording sound on disc, tape, or film. Audio information can
meet the needs of a wide range of people, as well as provide alternatives to print data
collection tools.

2. Digital Camera
An advantage of a digital camera is that it can be used for transmitting those images to a
monitor screen when the need arises.

3. Camcorder
A camcorder is used for collecting data through interviews. It provides a combination of
both an audio recorder and a video camera. The data provided is qualitative in nature and
allows the respondents to answer questions asked exhaustively. If you need to collect
sensitive information during an interview, a camcorder might not work for you as you
would need to maintain your subject’s privacy.

 Questionnaires
This is the procedure for gathering data using a tool that asks a series of questions and
prompts from the people it is administered to in order to get a response. Surveys are made to
gather information from a group of people.

For the avoidance of doubt, a questionnaire is not a survey; rather, it is a component of one.
A survey is a form of data collection that uses a number of techniques, including a
questionnaire.

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1. Formplus Online Questionnaire

Formplus lets you create powerful forms to help you collect the information you need.
Formplus helps you create the online forms that you like. The Formplus online
questionnaire form template to get actionable trends and measurable responses. Conduct
research, optimize knowledge of your brand or just get to know an audience with this form
template. The form template is fast, free and fully customizable.

2. Paper Questionnaire
A paper questionnaire is a data collection tool consisting of a series of questions and/or
prompts for the purpose of gathering information from respondents. Mostly designed for
statistical analysis of the responses, they can also be used as a form of data collection

 Reporting
data reporting is the process of gathering and submitting data to be further subjected to
analysis. The key aspect of data reporting is reporting accurate data because of inaccurate
data reporting leads to uninformed decision making.

1. NGO Reports
Contained in NGO reports is an in-depth and comprehensive report on the activities carried
out by the NGO, covering areas such as business and human rights. The information
contained in these reports is research-specific and forms an acceptable academic base for
collecting data. NGOs often focus on development projects which are organized to promote
particular causes.

2. Newspapers
Newspaper data are relatively easy to collect and are sometimes the only continuously
available source of event data. Even though there is a problem of bias in newspaper data, it
is still a valid tool in collecting data for Reporting.

3. Website Articles

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Gathering and using data contained in website articles is also another tool for data
collection. Collecting data from web articles is a quicker and less expensive data collection
Two major disadvantages of using this data reporting method are biases inherent in the data
collection process and possible security/confidentiality concerns.

4. Hospital Care records

Health care involves a diverse set of public and private data collection systems, including
health surveys, administrative enrollment and billing records, and medical records, used by
various entities, including hospitals, CHCs, physicians, and health plans. The data provided
is clear, unbiased and accurate, but must be obtained under legal means as medical data is
kept with the strictest regulations.

 Existing Data
This is the insertion of additional or different investigative questions from those that were
initially utilized when the data was acquired. It entails incorporating measurement into a
research or study. A case in point would be getting information from an archive.

1. Research Journals – Unlike newspapers and magazines, research journals are

intended for an academic or technical audience, not general readers. A journal is a
scholarly publication containing articles written by researchers, professors, and other
experts.

2. Surveys – A survey is a data collection tool for gathering information from a sample
population, with the intention of generalizing the results to a larger population.
Surveys have a variety of purposes and can be carried out in many ways depending
on the objectives to be achieved.

 Observation
This is a data collection method by which information on a phenomenon is gathered through
observation. The nature of the observation could be accomplished either as a complete

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observer, an observer as a participant, a participant as an observer, or as a complete

participant. This method is a key base for formulating a hypothesis.

1. Checklists – state-specific criteria, allow users to gather information and make

judgments about what they should know in relation to the outcomes. They offer
systematic ways of collecting data about specific behaviors, knowledge, and skills.

2. Direct observation – This is an observational study method of collecting evaluative

information. The evaluator watches the subject in his or her usual environment
without altering that environment.

 Focus Groups
This data gathering strategy places a stronger emphasis on qualitative research, which is the
opposite of quantitative research, which employs data that is numerical in nature. It fits
within the main category for information that is based on the thoughts and feelings of the
respondents. In order to get input for this study, a group of participants, often between 6 and
10, will be asked open-ended questions.

1. Two-Way – One group watches another group answer the questions posed by the
moderator. After listening to what the other group has to offer, the group that listens
are able to facilitate more discussion and could potentially draw different
conclusions.

2. Dueling-Moderator – There are two moderators who play the devil’s advocate. The
main positive of the dueling-moderator focus group is to facilitate new ideas by
introducing new ways of thinking and varying viewpoints.

 Combination Research
This type of data collection includes the application of cutting-edge techniques to increase
both individual and group engagement. Additionally falling under the primary category, this

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method combines focus groups and interviews to get qualitative data. This approach is
crucial when dealing with delicate issues.

1. Online Survey – The two tools combined here are online interviews and the use of
questionnaires. This is a questionnaire that the target audience can complete over the
Internet. It is timely, effective and efficient. Especially since the data to be collected
is quantitative in nature.

2. Dual-Moderator – The two tools combined here are focus groups and structured
questionnaires. The structured questioners give a direction as to where the research
is headed while two moderators take charge of proceedings. Whilst one ensures the
focus group session progresses smoothly, the other makes sure that the topics in
question are all covered. Dual-moderator focus groups typically result in a more
productive session and essentially leads to an optimum collection of data.

2.9. Sampling

Sampling allows large-scale research to be carried out with a more realistic cost and time-
frame because it uses a smaller number of individuals in the population to stand in for the
whole.

However, when you decide to sample, you take on a new task. You have to decide who part
of your sample is and how to choose the people who will best represent the whole
population. How you go about that is what the practice of sampling is all about.

Sampling definitions:

Population

The total number of people or things you are interested in

Sample

A smaller number within your population that will represent the whole

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Sampling

The process and method of selecting your sample

2.10. The selection of participants

To gather the needed data for the research the open university Kandy branch was taken
as the population group, the number of people within the population was about seventy five.
The web address of the survey was spread out in among peers and colleagues and all
that who took the survey sent the link of the online form to their friends willingly.

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REFERENCES

(Lister, n.d.)
(Research Support: Research Methodology, n.d.)
(Saunders’ Research Onion: Explained Simply, n.d.)
(Analysis of Saunders Research Onion, n.d.)
(Public Health Research Guide: Secondary Data Sources, n.d.)
(7 Data Collection Methods & Tools For Research, n.d.)
(Qualitative vs. Quantitative, n.d.)
(Advantages and Disadvantage of Primary Data and Secondary Data, n.d.)
( , n.d.)

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