Among all the parts of the methodology in research, the research approach is the most vital as it is the backbone of the research. In other words, the research design is the actual plan and procedure of a researcher that will help to fulfil the research aims and objectives and answer the formulated research question. This would in turn help to analyze data and interpret results and provide conclusions (Singh et al., 2015).
The quantitative research approach is used to test hypotheses by assessing the relationship between the study variables that are measured on instruments and the numbered data is analyzed and interpreted using statistical and numerical operations. Researchers opting for this approach make assumptions about hypothesis testing, protect against bias and look for alternate findings and explanations that are generalizable in nature as well as reproducible in other similar studies (Östlund et al., 2011). This approach uses statistical methods for analysis and interpretation so that relationships can be established between the study variables and hypotheses can be tested. For drawing inferences between the study participants and hypothesis testing, statistical methods are a must. Descriptive statistics could help in developing a theoretical framework and reach a conclusion which has no generalized perspectives. Drawn from the empiricist philosophy, this research approach involves experiments and surveys which are white-specific. As the approach utilizes quantitative data, it cannot be manipulated and is not under the influence of the researcher.
For the present study, the chosen research approach was quantitative. As the present study was aimed at analyzing the EMS adoption and implementation in the manufacturing
industries of UAE, a quantitative research approach helped analyze the current status of EMS implementation in the manufacturing firms in UAE. Moreover, a quantitative research approach was pertinent for enhancing the understanding of the various key drivers and challenges for successful EMS implementation in the manufacturing industries in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
A questionnaire survey was the main methodology employed in this research which allowed the gathering of a large number of data from a significant amount of population easily and more economically. The first phase of this survey was the questionnaire design process in which the questionnaire has been designed for evaluating the current status of the implementation of EMS by the manufacturing industries in Abu Dhabi, identifying and analysing the key drivers and challenges related to the implementation of Environmental Management System by the manufacturing industries in Abu Dhabi, UAE and developing the process/improvements required to overcome the challenges in implementing EMS.
3.4 Research Design
Research design guides the researcher in answering research questions as well as in fulfilling the research aims and objectives. Choosing the right research design is important as it provides accuracy as well as reliability of the collated data (Sileyew, 2019). An inappropriate research design will not help the researcher to draw conclusive results and derive meanings. Research design is of four types:
3.4.1 Descriptive Research Design
This research design is used for describing the identified variable and provides systematic information about a phenomenon or an event. The "why" aspect of any
development at the beginning of the research, but rather develops after the secondary data collection stage. The characteristics of a phenomenon can be explained using this method under the scope of research (Marczyk et al., 2010).
3.4.2 Correlational Research Design:
This research design helps the researcher in studying the extent of the relationship between the variables of the study and could be interpreted by recognizing the trends and patterns in the collected data. This research design collects data in the natural setting of the participant; however, it does not help to know the "why" aspect behind the observed trends or patterns. This design does not involve experiments in which the study variables are interdependent and the results could be generalized and replicated in other similar studies (Thompson et al., 2005).
3.4.3 Experimental Research Design
In this research design, the cause-and-effect relationship studied by the researcher has been established between the study variables. In this, the study variables can be identified, but manipulations cannot be done when the researcher studies the influence of independent variables on the dependent variable (Marczyk et al., 2010). There are two groups in such research designs; the experimental group or intervention group or the control group on which the experiment is not being conducted. This is a scientific approach that is conducted in a laboratory for testing the experiment or intervention and as quantitative data is collected, statistical analysis is a must for all the collected data.
3.4.4 Explanatory Research Design
This research design is utilized by the researcher when much is not known about the research problem and requires further investigations into the operational definitions that
could help to explore the research problem or topic more succinctly (Ivankova et al., 2006).
In other words, this research design acts as a tool for gathering details or information about the research topic not explored earlier.
3.4.5 Chosen Research Design
For the present study, the descriptive research design was chosen as the study involved hypothesis formulation after data collection. Therefore, the descriptive research design is useful for accepting or rejecting developed hypotheses and also helps to develop theories. A questionnaire survey was the main methodology employed in this research which allowed the gathering of large numbers of data from a significant amount of population easily and more economically. The first phase of this survey was the questionnaire design process in which the questionnaire has been designed for evaluating the current status of the implementation of EMS by the manufacturing industries in Abu Dhabi, identifying and analysing the key drivers and challenges related to the implementation of Environmental Management System by the manufacturing industries in Abu Dhabi, UAE and developing the process/improvements required to overcome the challenges in implementing EMS.