WHO ARE THE ROMANIAN MANAGERS AND HOW THEY IDENTIFY THEMSELVES?

This article will focus on the importance of studying the identity aspects of managers in the idea that the identity potential of individuals determines their managerial potential and their managerial performance potential. I will describe the way the “Who Are You?” test has been applied (on a number of 184 Romanian subjects – high performance and low performance manager and nonmanagers) and the results of this test. The mentioned test is the most known sociological research tool in studying identity. This test has not been applied previously to Romanian managers, moreover socio-psychological researches having as subjects managers have not been conducted in Romania. The limit of the research is the nonprobabilistic sampling (but the research results may be used as hypotheses for extended studies). The conclusion reached is that there are differences between the manager’s self-identification and non-managers’ self-identification, between the high performance manager’s self-identification and the one of low performance managers; the article also suggests that the study of these differences can lead to the possibility of managerial diagnosis and prognosis.managers, performance in management, self-identity, the WAY test, theoretical coding.

SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY REGARDING THE ROMANIAN MANAGER’S MOTIVATION

The article presents the results of a qualitative research (conducted in 2008) on the Romanian manager’s identity (insisting only on the motivational aspects). 45 managers were interviewed and the data obtained were analysed and interpreted qualitatively (using grounded theory procedures). The motivational factors identified were then tested by means of a pilot study (a questionnaire applied on 207 subjects). The methodological aspects of the researches (concerning data collection, analysis, and interpretation) are detailed in the article. Here are some hypotheses resulted from the pilot study: managers unlike non-managers are motivated by difficult tasks, with great responsibilities and by the need for increased power; the performed managers unlike those that are not so performing are motivated by an even more increased need for power and by the strong wish to be promoted.managers; motivation; qualitative research; pilot study

From Sample to Population Generalization in Qualitative Research

The split of methodology into qualitative and quantitative had all sorts of negative consequences, including the neglecting of some important scientific goals, such as generalizing research results in qualitative studies. Even if they don’t talk about generalizations, many qualitative researchers illegitimately extend their research results to populations much wider than those investigated. The article shows that the generalization of research results (from sample to population) is possible in qualitative research but that it can only be achieved through a sampling procedure that complies with specific rules. The article describes this procedure of internal generalization of results through a logical or scientific inference process. It is a theoretical sampling process in four steps that does not place emphasis on the size of the sample, but on the criteria for choosing the participants and seeks to obtain the generalization of findings following data variations. The procedure offers some advantages such as the transparency of the sampling process, provocative novelties such as the possibility to adjust the research population during the research but has also significant limitations such as the effects generated by the difficulty of anticipating the complexity of the studied phenomena

How I became a qualitative researcher?

Abstract: The present article presents the personal experience of the author with research methodologies.Some limits of the social scientific research are being analyzed, regarding two of the stages of research:theoretical framework and operationalization; this is the way in which the validity of the criteria and theconstruct validity came into discussion. At the same time, the character of sociological theories and theirutility in scientific research are under discussion. Reasons for which qualitative is chosen are listed despitethe constant disapproval of this method in Romanian sociology (and it’s marginalization in Central – EastEurope). The advantages of qualitative research in socio-human sciences are presented (what is being researched,through what methods, with what results). The special case of using the focus-group at a large scaleis being analyzed (its use without following two of the major qualitative principals: theoretical samplingand theoretical saturation). The article advocates for the usage of qualitative and it is written in a personaland provocative style.Key words: sociological research methodology, qualitative research, quantitative research, validity. SANTRAUKAKODĖL AŠ PASIRINKAU KOKYBINIO TYRIMO BŪDĄ?Straipsnis parengtas remiantis asmenišku autorės, dirbančios tyrimo metodologijų srityje, patyrimu.Analizuojami sociologinio mokslinio tyrimo trūkumai, susiję su dviem tyrimo pakopomis: teorine struktūrair operacionalizacija. Viena vertus, svarbu kriterijų ir konstrukcijų pagrįstumas, kita vertus, sociologiniųteorijų taikymo moksliniams tyrimams patikimumas. Aptariamos kokybinio metodo pasirinkimo priežastysir aplinkybės, rodančios, kad šis metodas Rumunijoje ir Centrinėje Rytų Europoje yra marginalizuojamas.Svarstomi įvairūs kokybinio metodo privalumai, įskaitant plačios apimties focus-grupių pavyzdžius. Straipsnioautorė nevengia kokybinio tyrimo būdo apologijos provokacinio stiliaus.Abstract: The present article presents the personal experience of the author with research methodologies.Some limits of the social scientific research are being analyzed, regarding two of the stages of research:theoretical framework and operationalization; this is the way in which the validity of the criteria and theconstruct validity came into discussion. At the same time, the character of sociological theories and theirutility in scientific research are under discussion. Reasons for which qualitative is chosen are listed despitethe constant disapproval of this method in Romanian sociology (and it’s marginalization in Central – EastEurope). The advantages of qualitative research in socio-human sciences are presented (what is being researched,through what methods, with what results). The special case of using the focus-group at a large scaleis being analyzed (its use without following two of the major qualitative principals: theoretical samplingand theoretical saturation). The article advocates for the usage of qualitative and it is written in a personaland provocative style.Key words: sociological research methodology, qualitative research, quantitative research, validity. SANTRAUKAKODĖL AŠ PASIRINKAU KOKYBINIO TYRIMO BŪDĄ?Straipsnis parengtas remiantis asmenišku autorės, dirbančios tyrimo metodologijų srityje, patyrimu.Analizuojami sociologinio mokslinio tyrimo trūkumai, susiję su dviem tyrimo pakopomis: teorine struktūrair operacionalizacija. Viena vertus, svarbu kriterijų ir konstrukcijų pagrįstumas, kita vertus, sociologiniųteorijų taikymo moksliniams tyrimams patikimumas. Aptariamos kokybinio metodo pasirinkimo priežastysir aplinkybės, rodančios, kad šis metodas Rumunijoje ir Centrinėje Rytų Europoje yra marginalizuojamas.Svarstomi įvairūs kokybinio metodo privalumai, įskaitant plačios apimties focus-grupių pavyzdžius. Straipsnioautorė nevengia kokybinio tyrimo būdo apologijos provokacinio stiliaus

SIGNIFICANCES OF VOLUNTEERING FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS OF BRASOV (ROMANIA)

Considering the need of engaging elder people from Romania in formal volunteering activities, we tried to understand what volunteering means for the senior citizens of Brasov and to gather valuable information for further strategies to recruit and to retain elders in volunteering activities. We found out what is volunteering for our participants, what are the type of volunteering in their view, who volunteers and why, for whom do people volunteer, what volunteering activity would they like to do, why don’t they volunteer and how could elders be convinced to volunteer in their opinion. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and a thematic analysis was performed. By gathering qualitative data, the study managed to capture in depth elements concerning the significances that elders associate to volunteering and to complete the existing statistical data about this topic

Sociological study regarding Romanian manager’s motivation

The article presents the results of a qualitative research (conducted in 2008) on the Romanian manager’s identity (insisting only on the motivational aspects). 45 managers were interviewed and the data obtained were analysed and interpreted qualitatively (using grounded theory procedures). The motivational factors identified were then tested by means of a pilot study (a questionnaire applied on 207 subjects). The methodological aspects of the researches (concerning data collection, analysis, and interpretation) are detailed in the article. Here are some hypotheses resulted from the pilot study: managers unlike non-managers are motivated by difficult tasks, with great responsibilities and by the need for increased power; the performed managers unlike those that are not so performing are motivated by an even more increased need for power and by the strong wish to be promoted

Qualitative study of Romanian managers’ identity

The article presents the process of grounding a theory about Romanian managers’ identity. It shows the manner in which the stages of data collection, data analysis and sampling have been conceived and implemented. It also describes in detail the decisions taken in each of these stages (the choice of methods and techniques, their combining and so on), the procedures followed and the difficulties encountered. The research was done in 2008 having as subjects 20 Romanian managers; it aimed at identifying identity aspects which are typical to managers. The article is based on the idea that describing the way in which the findings were reached is as important as expressing the conclusions themselves. It shows that qualitative research is suitable in understanding managerial aspects