GHRM MBA / MAY 24, 2022

Dr. David McConville is an Assistant Professor in the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM), College of Management, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan

There are various kinds of methodology that have been applied in academic research. Qualitative methodology is one big theme among them and it is very important to know and learn from an expert in this field. It was a great opportunity for our students in the GHRM509: Research Methodology course, instructed by Professor Jeeyeon Kim to have a guest lecture from Dr. David McConville. His lecture was conducted in two sessions on Tuesday, May 10th and 17th. Qualitative research methodology is Prof. Conville’s specialty and through his experience he helped students understand what they need to know while pursuing qualitative research.

Dr. McConville’s background is a Ph.D. Degree in Organizational Psychology and Chartered Psychologist of the British Psychological Society in the UK. He teaches and works on research about employee attitudes, human resource development, and work psychology. At present, he is an Assistant Professor in the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM), College of Management, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan. His lecture covered insightful research ideas such as the difference between qualitative and quantitative methods, especially data collection, reliability and validity in qualitative research. He also delivered how to collect, analyze and interpret qualitative data. Lastly, he did not forget to give students the key things that students need to consider when conducting qualitative research.

To inspire students that want to conduct research with qualitative methods, he provided a basic introduction to qualitative research. He also suggested the book, “Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners by Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2013)”. Students were inspired and instructed about the unfamiliar point of this type of research. The guest sessions helped students to enhance their knowledge and be confident while doing their thesis.

Thank you, Dr. David McConville for giving an informative lecture to the students and Professor Jeeyeon Kim for inviting experts like Prof. Conville, to give students the opportunity to learn from the best in the field. Students learned a lot through the session and surely got some ideas as a quote that Dr. McConville shared, “The wisest is he who realizes, like Socrates, that in respect of wisdom he knows nothing” (Plato).