The study is on the investigation of different start-ups and how the same plays out between the different genders. In this study the researcher will adopt mixed methods of research. This means that the researcher will adopt both qualitative and quantitative methods (Creswell, 2013). The qualitative methods will be adopted in the study with an intention of accounting for the nominal and numerical variables. On the other hand the quantitative methods will be adopted to take care of the opinions and views of the respondents.
Sampling and Sample size
The sample size of survey population was very big (n>30). The researcher will adopt the random sampling method in order to identify the sample members. The researcher will adopt the random sampling method. The researcher will adopt the random sampling methods with an intention of giving all the people in the population a chance to be selected as a sample member.
The participants would be recruited from the private Facebook group. I would make a post asking if anyone with a start-up business would like to participate in an online questionnaire. I would ask them to comment on the post or send me a direct message should they be interested. I would then divide the participants into two categories, being male and female onto a password protected Microsoft Word document. After this has been completed, I will randomly select 10 females and 10 males from the list and contact them directly through Facebook. The researcher will select 50sample members from the male group in the population. After the 50men were selected the researcher will concentrate on the female respondents and select 50respodnets so that both genders will have a chance.
Research Approach
This study is meant to investigate the different start-ups and how the same works out between the different genders. This means that the researcher considered the sample members from Portsmouth (male and female) and how the individuals have applied their skills on business and the relative success of such businesses. Even though there are several types of research as have been applied by previous studies on the study in question. One of the research approaches is the deductive approach. This type of research is where the exploration of facts is follows general information heading to specific information. That is micro to macro. The method also explores different theories in an effort of to create provision for the researcher to form a valid conclusion and findings thereafter. On the other hand the second approach that is inductive approach is different. This is because the inductive approach enables the researcher to commence with the specific to general in an effort to get new theories and as such new information. The researcher will diversify from the communication including those which are private and those which have produced (Easton, 2010). The current study will adopt the deductive approach so that to know the business that experiences more success assuming all factors are constant in the markets.
Research Philosophy
According to a study by White & McBurney (2012) research philosophy can be used to refer to what the two researchers. The researchers argued that research philosophy which eventually leads to people treating the older generation with contempt. They found that the research philosophy is the beliefs and concept assumed by a particular study to be true. Research philosophy are the merging and incorporation of different concepts and ideas which will be used for other purposes.
There are different research philosophies that is; realism, interpretivism and positivism. In the first one which is the Realism it denotes that scientific information must be used and applied effectively and efficiently. The realism philosophy is also found in most traditions and societal norms of the people. Interpretivism on the other hand is the philosophy assumes that the view of realists is present (Walliman, 2015). The last one is positivism which was defined by previous scholars in the following words that it is important and okay for a researcher to be able to make decisions in a research study by use of facts and figure collected from the filed for the purposes of the current study. The current study made use of positivism philosophy since the same is in accordance with this study where the researcher will go out in the field to collect information for decision making about the problem of the study.
3.2 Target population
The study will consider the 100 sample members who reside in the Portsmouth community. These people will be given questionnaires and interviewed on if the start-ups success differ between those of male investors and female investors. The information collected from these people selected as sample members will be used for decision making and analysed in order to come up with the findings of the study. The collected information will be used to establish the extent that non-financial success impacts the financial success of the firm. The information will also be used to explore why individuals start businesses and their perception on success based on their motive.
The study will use primary methods, this is because primary methods are more direct and linked to the people. The same also means that the researcher will be able to have primary information about the situation on the ground. The study is on a serious issues which entails dealing with human subjects. This means that the researcher would not be fair to get the secondary information and use it because to would be detrimental business operators and the sole proprietors who are in operation in Portsmouth. Instead of using the historical data the researcher saw it necessary to make use of primary data in order for the study to use current information as opposed to historical data which would limit the study findings t the specific period within which the secondary data was collected.
Research tools
The study will adopt the different research tools in an effort of getting the answers as to which start-ups have high chances of success between those started by men and those started by women. This means that the study will adopt both the interviews and questionnaires which will be administered by the researcher on the respondents to get more information on the non-financial success impacts the financial success of the firm. The same will also enable the researcher to explore what drives individuals to start businesses and their perception of success based on their motives.
Data collection
The data collection will be performed by the researcher with the help of research assistants in order for the activity to be carried effectively and efficiently. The researcher will use interview guide questions to get more information from the respondents on their take on the business start-ups. The interviews will enable the researcher get more information from the sample members. This is because the same will be on one basis which will create room for clarification and confirmation of response given by the respondents. The researcher will also distribute the questionnaires to the respondents. These questionnaires will be made of short concise questions, the same will be coupled with fact that the researcher would have combined close ended and open ended questions in the questionnaire in order to enable the respondents to give their mind on the study. The researcher will also endeavour to reach out to the respondents from their place of operation. If one of the respondents is too busy then the researcher will mail then the questionnaires and follow up on the same in order to get the responses emailed back. The researcher will also look for time and conduct some telephone interviews on those sample members who are not within reach at the time of data collection.
Data Analysis and Presentation
The quantitative data that will be collected by the researcher from the respondents will be sorted. The researcher will add dummy variables so that the researcher can be able to use the same with the qualitative variables in the analysis. The study will adopt the statistical packages for social sciences to do the analysis of the data collected. The researcher will present the data analysis results in form of tables and figures so that the same can shows the distribution of the responses and other characteristics sought by the researcher. The researcher will use SPSS software to perform different analysis techniques. This include correlation analysis of different variables in order to check the linear relationship between the variables. The researcher will also perform regression analysis with an intention of checking the influence of the explanatory variables on the dependent variable. The descriptive statistic will be performed with an intention of checking the feel of the data that the measure of central tendency, the measures of dispersion and quartiles and percentiles.
Ethical consideration
The current study aims at getting the findings and establishing whether the success of a start-up of different genders had any specific distinction. This means that the researcher sort to find out the start-ups that are deemed to be more successful between those started by men and those started by women. The confidentiality of the information provided by the respondents will be kept confidential with no chance of breach. I will keep this information in a password protected Word document. The researcher will assure the respondent of unwavering efforts to ensure that the information provided will not be published in any platform. That the information provided by the respondents will be used solely for the purposes of this study. This means that the information will not be given to any sales and marketing firms and that the information will only be applied in the data analysis of the study. The researcher will also assure the respondents that their participation is voluntary and they are free to continue or forfeit the study at any time as they deem fit.
REFERENCES
Creswell, J. W. (2013). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approach. Sage Publications: Thousand Oak.
Denscombe, M. (2014). The good research guide: for small-scale social research projects. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Silverman, D. (Ed.). (2016). Qualitative research. Sage publication: Thousand Oak.
Smith, J. A. (Ed.). (2015). Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods. Sage publication: Thousand Oak.
