The Importance of Safety of Elevator and Escalator

The study opted for a mixed research design combining both qualitative and quantitative approaches. It allowed the author to use multiple approaches to examine the research problem and answer the research questions. Considering that the author used a mixed research design, both deductive and inductive approaches were used to obtain background information about the study topic as well as generate new meanings. Both approaches helped the author to generate new knowledge.

Purposive sampling method was used to identify the participants. This method was particularly useful and essential to avoid distributing the questionnaires randomly thereby gathering a collection of inconsistent data. The sampling technique allowed the author to identify the users and experts in escalators and elevators to avoid, including individuals who did not understand these machines. The total population was 24, and the sample size was 16 taken. The number of participants decreased to 16 because the rest failed to return fully completed questionnaires. As a result, they were not included in the study

The data was collected using both interviews and surveys. The participants that included lift users and experts were contacted and requested to participate in the study. They were informed about the purpose of the research to ensure an informed consent. They were assured that their responses would be kept confidential and that they were free to exit the study any time they deemed fit. The survey were administered through online. The interviews took an average of 30 minutes. The participants interviewed were civil defense and SASO team and the responses were captured using an audio device.

The next step entailed data analysis. The survey responses were analyzed using quantitative data analysis methods using SPSS. Descriptive variables were used. The responses from the interviews were examined using qualitative content analysis that involved looking for emergent patterns. The audiotaped information was transcribed and then coded. Key themes were identified from the responses for the purposes of developing conclusions and building the blue ocean strategy.

Justification

The study purpose and objectives informed the choice of the mixed design methodology. A survey is justified as it allows the author to gather quantitative and objective data (Cooper, Schindler and Sun, 2006). It ensures standardization of the data that in turn makes it easy to carry out analysis. The survey is also easy to administer and less costly and it reduces biases thereby increasing the validity and reliability of the results. Apart from studies, interviews are also included to obtain in-depth views and perspectives of users of elevators and escalators as well as from the experts on the safety of these machines. Engaging them in the interview allowed them to open up and voice their concerns. Therefore, the meetings are helpful in enabling the author to find out the reason behind or why something is the way it is (Cooper, Schindler and Sun, 2006). The author picked out observed actions by interacting with the participants. This made it possible to generate themes and meanings out of their actions. Qualitative content analysis was helpful as it helped in analyzing observed actions that could not be captured by the survey. Although qualitative analysis has multiple interpretations, content analysis is the most convincing as it allows the author to analyze the responses in a structured manner.

By combining quantitative and qualitative data, the author was able to develop a comprehensive and holistic view of the importance that individual users attach to escalators and elevators. Therefore, mixed research design is the most appropriate method as it allows the author to gather objective data, as well as provide rich descriptions surrounding elevators from the users’ viewpoint.

Research Objectives

The study focuses on the following objectives:

To determine the value and importance that customers place on the safety of elevators and escalators.

To identify the pains and gains of customers about lifts.

To develop a blue ocean strategy and promote a feasibility study for a third party inspection startup company.

Primary Sources

The data collection methods employed in this study are a questionnaire, internet search and an interview. The survey technique used allows data collection from a different span of respondents. The data that is collected from a wide range of respondents ensure that sufficient evidence is gathered to reach a final recommendation. Apart from a survey, interviews were also carried out involving civil defense experts responsible in SASO. The author also interviewed users of lifts to gather their views and opinions about the safety and value of these machines.

Research Instruments

The study used two main instruments for data collection. It used a survey/questionnaire that comprises of 18 questions that focus on the safety elements of elevators and the importance that the users attach on these machines. The survey also included items that aimed at gathering feedback about the pains and gains for escalators and elevators users for building the business model canvas and the blue ocean strategy. Apart from the poll, the study also employed open-ended interviews to gather feedback or views about escalators. The meeting was conducted face-to-face and recorded using an audio device. The two research instruments enabled the author to collect holistic and comprehensive findings to answer the research questions.

Secondary Sources

Secondary sources refer to information that has been obtained or collected by the study and help in making a definite conclusion of the research study. The authors obtain these sources from already existing data (Sekaran and Bougie, 2016). For this particular study under consideration, the internet is the primary source of its secondary data. Secondary data from published reports and reviews about the safety of elevators and escalators, significant incidents, and the value of these machines were considered in the study.

Type of Obtained Data

The methodology allowed for the collection of two primary type of data, quantitative and qualitative one. Quantitative data refers to quantified data or one in which the author can measure and write down in numbers. Quantitative data was gathered using a survey or the questionnaire. The participants responded to a series of 18 standardized questions. Apart from quantitative data, the author also obtained qualitative data. This data was collected using the interviews in the form of user's views, insights, and feedback about the pains and gains of using escalators and elevators. Besides the two main data types, the author gathered secondary data from published reports and studies about lifts, their safety, and value.

Limitations and Critique of the Methodology

Although the sample size of 16 out of 24 is considerably large, it fails to give a representative figure in the entire community of users of elevators and escalators in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the size from which the sample is drawn is considerably low. Consequently, the findings obtained may not be generalizable to the entire population (Coughlan, Cronin and Ryan, 2007). Another major flaw of the methodology is that the quantitative analysis was prone to multiple interpretations. The fact that the researcher relies on observed actions and verbatim from the participants and uses self-judgement may lead to different conclusions. Since it is a one-time study, it did not capture users’ views and perspectives over time. A longitudinal study would have allowed the author to obtain more consistent results (Sekaran and Bougie, 2016). Another drawback of the research is attributed to the lack of a pilot study. It is always recommended that a author conduct a pilot study to find out the applicability and the appropriateness of the scale to be used in the study (Coughlan, Cronin and Ryan, 2007).

Pilot studies help in introducing constraints and measure, clearness of directions, and assist in defining the variables under study. Despite the limitations, the inclusion of qualitative and quantitative findings plays a significant role in allowing the author to gather more comprehensive data to answer the research objectives. The study limited the biases by including a survey to obtain objective findings and reduce the personal involvement of the author (Denscombe, 2014).

References

Cooper, D.R., Schindler, P.S. and Sun, J., 2006. Business research methods (Vol. 9). New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin.

Coughlan, M., Cronin, P. and Ryan, F., 2007. Step by step guide to critiquing research. Part 1. Quantitative research. British Journal of Nursing, 16(11), pp.658-663.

Denscombe, M., 2014. The excellent research guide: for small-scale social research projects. McGraw-Hill Education (UK), pp.5-358

Sekaran, U. and Bougie, R., 2016. Research methods for business: a skill building approach. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.