Dissertation Methodology On A. Research Philosophy

1.7 Proposed Methodology

My research philosophy encompasses unravelling the extent to which the Nigerian Petroleum Bill can help improve the oil and gas sector of the country. The goal of my research is to apply certain metrics to measure the efficiency, productivity, and output of the petroleum bill.

B. Research Design

The descriptive method of research will be used in this study. Descriptive method of research involves seeking facts with precision and proper interpretation of the facts found (Kothari 2005). A descriptive method describes with importance what is happening, including present situations conditions, practices, or phenomena. This paper specifically makes use of a case study. The case study method is a strategy by which individual component whether it is an establishment or simply a scene in the life of an individual or a gathering is examined in its relationship to events (Charles & Mertler 2002).
C. Research Strategy
This study will utilize a qualitative method of research. The application of qualitative research will aid in achieving the objective of this paper. Past research studies will be used and analysed and linked to the Nigerian energy sector, and private oil firms. A combined research method with secondary and primary research is planned. Primary research will be in the form of semi-structured interview with senior personnel in the Nigerian energy sector, and private oil firms. Secondary research will be carried out by reviewing journals, books, and information from reliable websites (Berg & Lune 2012). Findings from these sources will be analysed to answer the research question.
Supplementary information will be looked into first through the college library utilizing a scope of data sources, such as scholarly articles and business related compositions, bibliographic databases, and Internet web indexes (Gerring 2006; Gerring 2004). To support the inquiry, a table of key terms will be built and the sources found will be corresponded with this. An optional cross-reference table will be created so information can be seen from alternate points of view.
D. Research Justification

E. Limitations

A single case study investigation has, in any case, been liable to various reactions; the most widely recognized of which concern the related issues of methodological meticulousness, specialist subjectivity, and outside legitimacy. Concerning the first point, the prototypical view here is that of Zeev Maoz (2002: 164-165), who proposes that the utilization of the contextual investigation clears the creator from any sort of methodological contemplations. Contextual investigations have ended up by and large an equivalent word for freestyle research where anything goes. The nonattendance of orderly methodology for contextual analysis examination is something that Yin (2009, p. 14-15) sees as customarily the best concern because of a relative nonappearance of methodological rules. As the past area recommends, this investigation appears to be to some degree unjustifiable; numerous contemporary contextual investigation specialists – and speaking to different strands of IR hypothesis – have progressively tried to clear up and build up their methodological strategies and epistemological establishing (Bennett & Elman 2010, p. 499-500). A second issue concerns that of the dependability and replicability of different types of single case study examination.

Interview Questions

Q1. Opinion of PIB for downstream sector
The question asked is "What is your opinion of the proposed measures of PIB for the downstream sector?" Do you believe that PIB carries any advantage?

Q2. PIB and reforms in the upstream sector

The question asked is "In what ways will PIB reform the upstream sector?"
Q3. PIB attracting foreign investments for midstream and downstream
The question asked is "How will these PIB proposals attract foreign oil firms to invest in the midstream and downstream sectors?"

Q4. Job creation with PIB

The question asked is "What is the potential for job creation if PIB measures are implemented?" How will this impact the environment?

Q5. IJV proposals in PIB

The question asked is "How effective are the proposals of IJV, as given in the PIB?"
Q6. PIB will solve oil sector problems
The question asked is "Is PIB the best solution in solving the problems of the Nigerian oil and gas sector? How?"

Q7. PIB and environmental problems

The question asked is "How will PIB aid in solving environmental problems caused by oil exploration?"

References

Bennett, A. and Elman, C. (2010) Case Study Methods. In C. Reus-Smit and D. Snidal (eds) The Oxford Handbook of International Relations. Oxford University Press: Oxford. Ch. 29.
Berg, B. and Lune, H. (2012) Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences. Pearson: London.
Charles, C. M. & Mertler, C. A. (2002). Introduction to educational research (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Creswell, J. W. (2002). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative approaches to research. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Pearson Education.
Gerring, J. (2004) ‘What is a Case Study and What Is It Good for?’, American Political Science Review, 98, 2, 341-354.
Gerring, J. (2006a) Case Study Research: Principles and Practices. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.
Kothari, C.R., 2005. Research methodology: Methods & techniques. Research methodology: Methods & techniques..
Maoz, Z. (2002) Case study methodology in international studies: from storytelling to hypothesis testing. In F. P. Harvey and M. Brecher (eds) Evaluating Methodology in International Studies. University of Michigan Press: Ann Arbor.
Seawright, J. and Gerring, J. (2008) ‘Case Selection Techniques in Case Study Research: A Menu of Qualitative and Quantitative Options’, Political Research Quarterly, 61, 2, 294-308.
Yin, R. K. (2009) Case Study Research: Design and Methods. SAGE Publications Ltd: London.