Your Vantage Point Should Be Clear

Looking to conduct an empirical research project? Where should you start in order ensure a quality project in the end. I posit that one should start with a clear and deliberate understanding of their respective vantage point in relation to a selected phenomenon. Look to answer the following questions: is the problem internal and external or rather how close or far are you in relation to the problem or phenomenon; what is the time frame of the problem or is the problem new or something that has existed over a long period of time; what is the unit of analysis or are you studying individuals, groups, organizations, social artifacts, or systems; what is the expected scope of the study or are you taking a broad or narrow view in relation to the phenomenon; and what method or methods would be the best approach to better understand the connections between the problem, research question, design, analysis, and outcomes? Are you able to observe and articulate the relationship among the core concepts or variables in the study process from your vantage point? The answer to these and many other questions will subsequently reveal the overall validity and reliability of your study.

Thus, a clear and deliberate vantage point, reflects what the researcher observes and or believes they observe in relation to a given phenomenon. From a selected vantage point, the view should be articulated that a correlation, association, or relationship exists based on selected observations and study design (i.e. qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods). The observation should be clear and deliberate. The observation should be opinion based in empirical research not general opinion. Thus a vantage point should be viewed from a selected position that is based on measurable evidence,