Corner’s integrative model includes building knowledge, developing measurers, picking analytical technique, and planning data collection (Corner, 2002). I believe that this model would make sense for my Doctoral Study, because it is a tool to thoroughly plan and design your study before engaging in the expensive and time-consuming data-collection process. This approach really encourages the researcher to build a solid foundation of the phenomenon that they are studying before attempting to gather any data, which I think is a very important idea for doctoral researchers to consider. To implement this model, I would align my thinking by being open-minded to what I might find in my initial research process. Initial observations might spark ideas for different avenues for my study and being open-minded would be essential to ensure that the most valuable information is being captured.

I am always interested in learning new things, so the building knowledge aspect of this model would be very intriguing to me. This “first step” in the model will eventually be integrated into other elements and will be reflected upon throughout the study, so I would plan to take a lot of time on planning and reading through numerous references in order to ensure my background knowledge was wholesome prior to beginning the hypothesis-building phase. While I love to learn and build upon my knowledge base, I think I might diverge from the ‘plan data collection’ phase of this model, because I sometimes like to learn from mistakes. I know in doctoral research this can be costly, but I think if I try a couple different data collection techniques even before formally planning them, I might be able to learn a little more than I expected (Green & Salkind, 2017). Overall, I feel that I would be successful using this model particularly for quantitative research, because it would help me keep all my thoughts organized while following the steps, especially when formulating my hypothesis and picking an analytical technique.

When using Corner’s model in my study, I would utilize the exercise that includes mapping measures onto constructs (Corner, 2002). To create sound research, it is important to organize all hypothesized constructs into closely-related formats. This would be beneficial to me because it would encourage me to take a close look at the relationship between the measures I have identified to use and the constructs that have already been proven effective in the research. This would be very helpful in the relatability and validity of my study. I would also utilize the exercise that includes matching analysis to hypothesized relationships (Corner, 2002). Reviewing different options for analytical techniques is important because the researcher can evaluate the fit of the analysis to their hypothesis and outline potential changes to ensure that the analytic technique is a good fit for the study (Saunders, Lewis, & Thornhill, 2015).

Post an explanation of how you would align your thought process for your specific research topic with Corner’s integrative model. In your explanation, be sure to do the following:

• Describe how you would align your current thinking and potential quantitative research approach with the integrative model. Does this approach make sense for your Doctoral Study? Why or why not?
• Explain the aspects of your interests that would benefit from an integrative approach, as well as any areas where your process might diverge. Devote special attention to the portions of the model that particularly apply to quantitative research.
• Identify which two of the proposed exercises from Corner (2002) would be most beneficial to you and why. If you wish, you may choose to attempt the exercises and describe the results in your posting.

Be sure to support your work with a minimum of two specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and at least one additional scholarly source.

Luke

Describe how you would align your current thinking and potential quantitative research approach with the integrative model. Does this approach make sense for your Doctoral Study? Why or why not?

      The integrative model serves as a tool and guide for organizational managers which stems from testing theories-in-use (Corner, 2002). Analyzing how well multiple elements fit together and making changes if applicable if the purpose of the integrative model (Corner, 2002). Given that my study involves employee retention strategies in the healthcare industry, I would align my thinking and potential quantitative approach with the integrative model by first completing each of the five exercises outlined in the integrative model to see if alignment is possible. Honestly, given the nature of my qualitative study and how I plan to utilize interviews to gather my information, the integrative approach does not make sense for my doctoral study. Although I think the integrative model is great for quantitative research, I think the purpose of the model would not mesh well with and strengthen the fundamental research techniques I plan to use. 

Explain the aspects of your interests that would benefit from an integrative approach, as well as any areas where your process might diverge. Devote special attention to the portions of the model that particularly apply to quantitative research.

      Personal aspects of interest that would benefit from using an integrative approach which apply to quantitative research involves the formulate hypotheses step and the plan data collection step (Corner, 2002). According to Walden University (2019), a hypothesis is a conditional statement that demands a more in-depth evaluation. The formulate hypotheses step sparks my interest, even though I cannot incorporate hypotheses in my study since it is qualitative, because I think it would benefit my study by allowing me to make educated predictions about the results of my study. Also, despite not having the ability to use dependent and independent variables due to the fact that my study is qualitative, I think the plan date collection step is interesting because it allows for more definitive data. The fourth element of the integrative model is to pick an analytical technique, where the techniques used have to match with suggested relationships in the hypotheses (Corner, 2002). This is the step where my process might diverge once again due to the fact that hypotheses are used strictly for quantitative research. Therefore, any analytical techniques I may devise would have nothing to match to.   

Identify which two of the proposed exercises from Corner (2002) would be most beneficial to you and why. If you wish, you may choose to attempt the exercises and describe the results in your posting.

      The two exercises from Corner (2002) that would most benefit me, especially if I was conducting a quantitative study, is the diagramming hypotheses and plan for data collection exercises. Nearly all business and management research a researcher may take on use numerical data or some kind of quantifiable data that is used to answer research questions (Saunders, Lewis, & Thornhill, 2015). Therefore, I think having the ability to develop hypotheses would help answer my research question and improve the validity of my research. The plan for data collection exercise leans on the idea that the hypothesis development may continue to change even after the results of the study are acquired (Corner, 2002). This exercise is beneficial to me due to its flexible nature. In our research studies where the outcomes are unknown, having the ability to make changes to the hypotheses at any time provides a degree of comfort to the researcher.