Today there are many different problems related to the workplace. Some of them are more explicit than others; one of such problems is overworking and working with weak health conditions. Health disorders, exhaustion, poor energy, melancholy, lack of focus, anger, and anxiety are all symptoms of a chronic overworking habit or spending too much time at work. In order to address the issue, different types of research approaches might be used. Qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-design methodologies give an opportunity to research, discuss, and analyze the problem from different perspectives.
Quantitative denotes the use of numerical data, which is equivalent to the word quantity. Quantitative approaches rely on experiments and surveys to collect measurable data in order to apply statistical procedures (Hong et al., 2018). Quantitative methods have the advantage of being able to generalize their findings to bigger groups. Quantitative research methods aim for objectivity and generalizability of findings (Hong et al., 2018). Generalizations from tests of statistical hypotheses lead to general inferences about population features, and quantitative approaches are typically regarded as deductive in nature.
Takahashi (2019) handles quantitative research in order to research the issue of overworking and its health-related consequences. The research question is related to the overwork-related disorders and deaths in Japan. The quantitative research design allowed the author to provide numerical data about different health disorders among employees in Japan and use these statistics in order to provide a strong analysis and conclusions. Another study conducted by Tominaga (2018) also uses a quantitative research method in order to refer to the labor issue in Japan. Different statistical data regarding labor was used, and a number of statistical and analytical and statistical models were implemented in the research. A quantitative research method allowed the author to compare data regarding labor in different countries and address disparities in wages.
Non-numeric data is analyzed and evaluated using a qualitative approach. Qualitative research aims to understand intangible evidence such as emotions and behaviors. Qualitative approaches can be used in studies that include interpersonal relationships, motivations to drive individual behaviors, and individual environmental interactions. Unlike the quantitative approach, qualitative methods do not enforce strict rules or procedures (Hong et al., 2018). Qualitative research is usually defined as allowing researchers to use case studies, interviews, ethnographic studies, and other methods to conduct in-depth research on topics of interest (Hong et al., 2018). Explaining the interaction between participants and researchers in a less constrained naturalistic context is unique to this approach and provides a flexible and open research process (Hong et al., 2018). Since the results are formed by the participants and the researchers in a particular situation, these unique interactions indicate that different results may be obtained from the same participant depending on who the researchers are.
A study conducted by Richard & Durand (2019) addresses the problem of employees overworking with pain. The study uses a qualitative research design and implies an interpretive descriptive method. Researchers conducted interviews of a number of workers, and that allowed them to identify both work-related and personal factors regarding overworking with the presence of some kind of pain. The research uses several conceptual frameworks in order to analyze the gathered information from the participants. The next research conducted by Zhao et al. (2021) also uses a qualitative research design in order to discuss issues in human resource management and address problems at the workplace. A number of organizational phenomena were used and analyzed in the research. By using a qualitative research method, Zhao et al. were able to provide a conclusion, identifying the problems at the workplace and human resource management in China.
In a mixed-methods study, quantitative and qualitative data are collected and analyzed simultaneously. In order to identify research questions or gain subject familiarization, mixed-method studies may begin with a qualitative approach (Hong et al., 2018). Gaining a better understanding of the research issue allows the researcher to interpret research findings more accurately. When it comes to mixing quantitative and qualitative techniques, there are no set protocols or standards (Hong et al., 2018). Mixed methods designs appear to be particularly well-established in the assessment literature. Antosz et al. (2020) use a mixed-design research method in order to identify the adverse consequences of overworking. Computational models applied in the research were mixed with the qualitative data. That allowed the researchers to integrate both quantitative and qualitative data to draw a conclusion. Another study handled by Prasad & Takur (2019) used numerical data from other studies and mixed it with disruptive data. The work briefly reflects the main consequences that chronic overworking has for health and quality of life. Integrating information from different studies allowed the author to make an analysis on a topic of the research and make a conclusion about the impact of overworking.
In order to address the issue of overworking and working with health problems and their consequences on the employee, I would choose to conduct a qualitative research method. I think that this approach is the most relevant for the research topic since it requires an analysis of different individual behaviors and emotions. Overworking primarily influences mental and physical state; however, because employees are influenced by different factors at various workplaces, it would be worth having a more deep approach to the environment and emotions of individual employees. The qualitative method allows to have a more flexible approach and not to generalize and structure data in order to suit it to the numbers and statistics. It would be relevant to conduct interviews and research the working environment and its effects on several individual employees from different groups. Moreover, such a topic may require some interpretation of personal experience, which also might be included in qualitative research.
References
Antosz, P., Rembiasz, T., & Verhagen, H. (2020). Employee shirking and overworking: modelling the unintended consequences of work organisation.Ergonomics, 63(8), 997-1009. Web.
Hong, Q. N., Gonzalez‐Reyes, A., & Pluye, P. (2018). Improving the usefulness of a tool for appraising the quality of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods studies, the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).Journal of evaluation in clinical practice, 24(3), 459-467. Web.
Prasad, B., & Thakur, C. (2019). Chronic Overworking: Cause Extremely Negative Impact on Health and Quality of Life. Int. J. Adv. Microbiol. Health. Res, 3(1), 11-15. Web.
Richard, M. C., & Durand, M. J. (2020). Workers age 55 and over working with pain. A descriptive interpretive study.Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 30(2), 211-220. Web.
Takahashi, M. (2019). Sociomedical problems of overwork-related deaths and disorders in Japan. Journal of occupational health, 61(4), 269-277. Web.
Tominaga, K. (2018). A Legal Study on Equal or Balanced Treatment for Regular and Non-Regular Workers in Japan: With Particular Focus on the Relationship between Anti-Discrimination Principle and Policy-Based Regulations for Equal or Balanced Treatment. Japan labor issues, 2(5), 3-18. Web.
Zhao, C., Cooke, F. L., & Wang, Z. (2021). Human resource management in China: what are the key issues confronting organizations and how can research help?. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources. Web.