The Layers of Research Design By, Mark Saunders and Paul Tosey.

Most researchers design a piece of research to answer a question or address a problem.

1) Research Philosophy

2) Research Approach

3) Research Strategy

4) Choices

5) Time Horizons

6) Data Collection and Analysis

1) Research Philosophy

Use of the right philosophy holds much significance in planning and carrying out a research. So, let’s take
a look at the philosophies first, Research philosophy refers to the set of beliefs concerning the nature of
the reality being investigated.

 Philosophy of Ontology

This philosophy makes you aware of the nature of reality. You ask yourself different questions while
using this research method. You try to find out how the world operates. It also makes you learn the
process of the construction of the society. It also helps you in knowing how society impacts our
surroundings.

 Philosophy of Epistemology

Epistemology is mostly used in scientific research and it is like that because it helps you in finding the
information that you can prove without a doubt; in other words, it tries to find the common acceptable
knowledge and address the facts accordingly. Here, you have to define the acceptable knowledge about
the field of your research and give information on results after rigorous testing.

 Philosophy of Axiology

Axiology helps you learn how valuables and opinions impact the collection and analysis of your research.
Here, you don’t have to eliminate or balance the impact of it.
First layer of the research onion

1) Objectivism

In the research onion, objectivism makes you aware of a social phenomenon. It helps you to learn the
different meanings social phenomena may have on the social actors. For example, a sunny day is a social
phenomenon. Some people may find it pleasing and others may not.

2) Constructivism

Constructivism discusses the opposite of what objectivism says. It says that social actors are responsible
for creating social phenomena. Hence, you must use constructivism philosophy if you have to research
such a topic.

3) Positivism

Next in the research onion is the positivism. Positivism comes up with the research questions and
hypotheses that you can test. With positivism, you can find the explanations measuring the accepted
knowledge of the world. An example of it is the law of gravity.

4) Realism

Realism and Positivism are quite similar. It says that social reality and you are not dependent on each
other. It will not let them give biased results. However, realism says that scientific methods are
improper. It separates the realism and positivism.

5) Interpretivism

Interpretivism helps you in interpreting how people participate in the social and cultural life. In other
words, you can learn what people understand about their own and others’ actions.

6) Pragmatism

Pragmatism is a deconstructive paradigm that advocates the use of mixed methods in research.

Second layer of the research onion

Approaches

1) The Deductive Approach

The deductive approach develops the hypothesis or hypotheses upon a pre-existing theory and then
formulates the research approach to test it. The deductive approach can be considered particularly
suited to the positivist approach, which permits the formulation of hypotheses and the statistical testing
of expected results to an accepted level of probability. It is characterized as the development from
general to particular.

In this study, the different stages of the research onion were described. Given the
research onion comprises different stages of many research projects and

can be effectively adapted to different models, this report has necessarily been
summative and restricted in depth. However, the stages defined by Saunders et
al. (2007) have been expounded upon, and the usefulness of the staged development of
the onion demonstrated. The most effective model of its

effectiveness, however, lies in its use.

This study has been able to describe the different layers of the Research onion
by Saunders et al., 2007. Although surface, the study critically examines the
onion and how it can be used as a guide to successfully develop a research
work.

You will need to make your research design clear, with valid justifications for
each stage. This provides a framework which includes the considerations that
led to the appropriate methodology being adopted, the way in which the
respondents were selected, and how the data will be analysed.

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You will also cover research samples in this inner layer of the research onion.
A sample is a representative segment of a larger population. In this instance it
is referring to the people who participated in your study. You will need to
explain who was selected and why, supported by sampling theory, which you
will find in most research methods textbooks. The reader will also want to
know about your sample size.
Lastly, it is worthwhile addressing the ethics of your research in this last
section of the research onion. This demonstrates that you have been an
ethical researcher and that you comply with any regulations set upon you by
your university. 

So, that sums up the research onion. And in actual fact it sums up your overall
methodology chapter for your research project! I have a number of posts
covering each of the areas mentioned in the research onion further, so read
on should you require further guidance. I also recommend that you use some
of the excellent research methods books available to you- I recommend Social
Research Methods by Bryman and Research Methodology: A Step by Step
Guide for Beginners by Kumar.

Lastly, I have also included a handy YouTube video below that explains the

Conclusions
In this study, the different stages of the research onion were described. Given the
research onion comprises different stages of many research projects and

can be effectively adapted to different models, this report has necessarily been
summative and restricted in depth. However, the stages defined by Saunders et
al. (2007) have been expounded upon, and the usefulness of the staged development of
the onion demonstrated. The most effective model of its

effectiveness, however, lies in its use.