It took me time to learn and choose the research methods I would be using for my ARP. Casual conversations and Surveys for a quantitative research.

I believe in the moment I defined my research methods I was too optimistic in regards to the level participation of the current and former MA’s Fashion Design Management students in the survey. In total there are 112 students between both courses, 2022/23 & 2023/24, however so far only 18 have participated in the Microsoft Form I released few weeks ago. Which is below the sample size recommended by Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2019) Research methods for business students. I informed the current students via the course group created on Microsoft Teams and the formers ones through the private group created by the LCF on Linkedln. I will send a soft reminder, but at this stage I can’t rely on them.

This scenario forces me to focus on the casual conversations. That means two rounds of discussions per each of the 8 participants participants. The could be by Microsoft Teams, in person or by e-mail.

I will reflect further in how this situation positions my research inside The Action Research Cycle.

Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2019) Research methods for business students. 8th edn. Harlow: Prentice Hall. (Pages 297 & 298)