Dissertation: Theories, Concepts, Research Literatures, and Methodological Approaches Likely to Guide the Dissertation Study
My dissertation research will use a quantitative mixed methods approach. To address current awareness of and attitudes toward an integrated learning environment based on Open Source Software as well as available business models, I will conduct an Internet based survey among three target audiences within higher education:
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Chief Technology/Information Officers, who the literature states are the primary decision-makers for the acquisition and support of enterprise-wide systems
- Chief Academic Officers, who the literature identifies as key partners in technology decision-making
- Chief Financial Officers, who the literature states provide the ultimate go/no go on technology by virtue of their control over the purse strings
As a director of a technology company, I have access to the Higher Education Directory (HEP) database as well as to the tools and technology required to reach these audiences. The surveys will be coded, tabulated, then analyzed using inferential statistical techniques appropriately indicated by the data.
To test the on-shore outsourcing service concept, I will conduct a series of focus groups among these same target audience segments, selecting participants from among those who participate in the online survey. I will code the focus group comments as well as perform thorough narrative analyses on those comments.
The combination of quantitative and qualitative methods will provide me with a solid foundation against which to evaluate long-term adoption of Open Source Software to build integrated, regulatory compliant learning environments in higher education.
