What are Different Research Approaches? Comprehensive Review of Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Method Research, Their Applications, Types, and Limitations

There are different ways to examine and explain a study and its findings based on using numbers as a measure, a descriptive style, or a mixture of both. These three research approaches are quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods that are commonly used by researchers in various research studies. However, with many options regarding the research design, it seems challenging for researchers to select the most appropriate approach based on the study and realize differences. This study provides a comprehensive review of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research methods. Each method is clearly defined and specifically discussed based on applications, types, advantages, and limitations to help researchers identify select the most relevant type based on each study and navigate accordingly

Analysis of Simple Additive Weighting Method (SAW) as a MultiAttribute Decision-Making Technique: A Step-by-Step Guide

The simple additive weighting (SAW) method is one of the oldest and most widely used decision-making methods. It has a simple process that can be utilized in different subject areas such as engineering, environmental sciences, and energy. The main concepts of the SAW method are introduced in this paper and then a step-by-step guide to using SAW technique for decision-making and ranking purposes in multi-attribute cases is presented

Determination of Business Strategies Using SWOT Analysis; Planning and Managing the Organizational Resources to Enhance Growth and Profitability

A SWOT analysis is the method to evaluate the internal weaknesses and strengths of an organization as well as evaluating the threats and opportunities of its external environment. This is considered as an effective framework to plan and manage the organizational resources to achieve certain goals in a specific period of time. The purpose of implementing SWOT analysis in an organization is to formulate the strategy of a business based on existing internal and external factors. There may be several disadvantages associated with running a SWOT analysis; however, its efficiency in determining the future strategy of a business is more indeed. Although the origin of SWOT analysis is uncertain, there is a long historical background about its uses to facilitate the decision-making process in every complex environment. The final result of a SWOT analysis can be presented in a matrix which is a combination of the four factors and determines strengths and weaknesses that a company involves, with opportunities and threats that it may face. This article provides a study of SWOT analysis basics and provides several practical insights of steps to provide a SWOT matrix

Development of an instrument to measure smart card technology acceptance

Recently smart card is used all over the world in different applications such as financial, telecommunication, network, and physical access where the security is considered very crucial. User acceptance is very significant in successful implementation of smart card technology. Thus, in order to investigate the user adoption of the technology, the instrument to identify the user acceptance is needed.The aim of this study is to develop an instrument to measure the user acceptance of smart card technology in Iran environment. Factors which can affect on user acceptance are presented and discussed

Role of Effective Leadership on Empowerment, Effective Communication, and Motivation in Customer Service

Customer service is the act of supporting customers of a business that can break a business or generate profit in the competitive environment with growing customers’ expectations. Regarding the critical role of customer service to differentiate between businesses, it is considered as one of the top considerations in businesses. However, there is a range of key factors that are tied to the success of a customer service provider in offering quality customer service that will eventually lead the business through exceeding or falling short in responding to customers’ expectations. Besides, businesses are prone to face some challenges in the employment of customer services that are required to be addressed. This paper aims to discuss the importance of customer service and the establishment of an efficient customer service strategy in business considering different influential factors that affect offering quality customer services. It also explains challenges that businesses may face in providing amazing customer services and how to address them

A secure audio steganography approach

A wide range of steganography techniques has been described in this paper. Beside the evaluation of embedding parameters for the existing techniques, two problems -weaknesses- of substitution techniques are investigated which if they could be solved, the large capacity - strength- of substitution techniques would be practical. Furthermore, a novel, principled approach to resolve the problems is presented. Using the proposed genetic algorithm, message bits are embedded into multiple, vague and higher LSB layers, resulting in increased robustness

Different domains of dengue research in Malaysia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of questionnaire-based studies

This review provided a systematic overview of the questionnaire-related dengue studies conducted in Malaysia and evaluated their reliability and validity used in the questionnaires. An extensive literature search was conducted using various electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, and ScienceDirect. Systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) were selected as the preferred item reporting method. Out of 88 identified dengue-related, 57 published from 2000 to April 2020 met the inclusion criteria and were included. Based on the meta-analysis, a poor mean score was obtained for knowledge (49%), attitude (44%), and preventive practice (55%). The study showed that the level of knowledge on cardinal signs and modes of transmission for dengue virus were highest among health care workers, followed by students (international and local) and lastly community residents. In treatment-seeking behaviours, only half of the respondents (50.8%) would send their child to the nearest health clinics or hospitals when a child became restless or lethargic. The acceptance rate for dengue vaccine, bacteria (Wolbachia), as a vector for dengue control and self-test diagnostic kit for dengue showed considerably high (88.4%, 70%, and 44.8%, respectively). Health belief model (HBM) constructs, such as perceived barriers, perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy, and perceived benefit influence prevention practices. Lastly, only 23 articles (40.3%) had piloted or pretested the questionnaire before surveying, in which three reported Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (0.70–0.90). A need for active participation of communities and healthcare personnel, promotion of awareness, and safe complementary medicines, as well as assessment of psychometric properties of questionnaire use in dengue surveys in Malaysia, in order for assessing dengue reliably and valid

Research in progress - evaluation of smart card acceptance : security, technology and usage

Today smart cards are used all over the world as personal identification cards for corporate building security systems and personal computer equipment access control. Governments, financial services, telecommunications, healthcare, education, retail, and many other industries are using smart cards as a means of providing better security and improved services to its customers and users. In this context, user acceptance is a key for successful implementation of the smart card program. The purpose of this study is to present an overview of smart cards, and evaluate user’s acceptance in terms of security, technology and usage of smart cards. A pilot study was carried out, and a total of 50 questionnaires were distributed to graduate students in the field of computer science (major in Information Security and Software Engineering) of the University Technology Malaysia. The questions asked included five areas comprised of characteristics of smart card, usage, technology, security and acceptance. The open-ended questions are also included to examine users’ opinion regarding the current use of smart card

A Critical Review of Blockchain Acceptance Models—Blockchain Technology Adoption Frameworks and Applications

Blockchain is a promising breakthrough technology that is highly applicable in manifold sectors. The adoption of blockchain technology is accompanied by a range of issues and challenges that make its implementation complicated. To facilitate the successful implementation of blockchain technology, several blockchain adoption frameworks have been developed. However, selecting the appropriate framework based on the conformity of its features with the business sector may be challenging for decision-makers. This study aims to provide a systematic literature review to introduce the adoption frameworks that are most used to assess blockchain adoption and realize business sectors that these models have been applied. Thus, the blockchain adoption models in 56 articles are reviewed and the results of the studies are summarized by categorizing the articles into five main sections including supply chain, industries, financial sector, cryptocurrencies, and other articles (excluded from the former fields). The findings of the study show that the models based on the technology acceptance model (TAM), technology–organization–environment (TOE), and new conceptual frameworks were the focus of the majority of selected articles. Most of the articles have focused on blockchain adoption in different industry fields and supply chain areas

Enhancing Social Media Platforms with Machine Learning Algorithms and Neural Networks

Network analysis aids management in reducing overall expenditures and maintenance workload. Social media platforms frequently use neural networks to suggest material that corresponds with user preferences. Machine learning is one of many methods for social network analysis. Machine learning algorithms operate on a collection of observable features that are taken from user data. Machine learning and neural network-based systems represent a topic of study that spans several fields. Computers can now recognize the emotions behind particular content uploaded by users to social media networks thanks to machine learning. This study examines research on machine learning and neural networks, with an emphasis on social analysis in the context of the current literature