THE “WHITE SPACE” OF LOGISTICS RESEARCH: A LOOK AT THE ROLE OF METHODS USAGE

✍ Scribed by Robert Frankel; Dag Naslund; Yemisi Bolumole

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 2005
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 140 KB
• Volume: 26
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0735-3766
• DOI: 10.1002/j.2158-1592.2005.tb00211.x

✦ Synopsis

Logisticians approach research from different perspectives and therefore utilize different research methods. Many logisticians would say that their research tends to be more positivist in nature and utilizes variations of quantitative approaches as the primary research method. Conversely, other logisticians tend to be more interpretative in nature which leads to a greater use of qualitative approaches.

The purpose of this article is not to argue for, or against, a particular research method. On the contrary, we believe, as do others (e.g., McGrath 1982) that all forms of research are needed since all research problems cannot be solved with one research approach. We also suggest that "good research is good research" regardless of method, and different types of research problems require different solutions in terms of research approach and choice of method.