Review and Critique 2 Based on epistemological stance, researchers can obtain knowledge from objective observation. Research methods are the techniques and tools used to collect data and information for analyzing proposed questions. By utilizing appropriate research methods, data and information can be collected, analyzed and interpreted to test hypothesizes and defend the outcomes (Williams, 2007). Easterby-Smith, Thorpe and Jackson (2012) indicated that there are three major methods, quantitative, qualitative and a triangulation method that combines the two. I prefer to use survey research with quantitative method in my study. Pinsonneault and Kraemer (1993) defined a survey as a “means for gathering information about the characteristics, actions, or opinions of a large group of people”. Pinsonneault and Kraemer (1993) and Easterby-Smith, Thorpe and Jackson (2012) indicated that surveys can gather demographic data of the sample with minimal investment. According to Easterby-Smith, Thorpe and Jackson (2012), the methodology of survey research is positivism. They indicate that positivism can provide a positive way of observing people and social behavior, which help researcher to develop creative thinking that goes beyond the boundaries of existing views. Survey research methodology tends to measure multiple factors of a problem or a phenomenon and observe the underlying relationships by taking large samples. There are three major survey types, factual, inferential and exploratory (Easterby-Smith, Thorpe and Jackson, 2012). Factual survey is associated with market research and to collect factual data from different target group of people. This survey collects the feedbacks based on participants’ own behavior and view. Inferential survey helps researchers to identity the dependent variables and predictor variables related to the proposed questions. Exploratory surveys aim to develop a set of principles universally by using cluster analysis and factor analytic techniques. Gary (2004) indicated that researchers should prioritize the criteria that may influence the research process in the planning and framework-designing phase. These criteria can be the timescales of data collecting, availability of information access and resources to support the research fulfillment. The author suggests that survey methodology with cross-sectional design will be ideal to adopt because it offers a snapshot of the collected data at one point of time. Moreover, Easterby-Smith, Thorpe and Jackson (2012) mentioned that cross-sectional surveys help to analyze the interaction between some of the variables or the relationship amongst different organizations/groups of people, such as the relationship between the level of stakeholder engagement and firms’ sustainable performance. Comparing with professional scholars, the time of preparing and collecting data for my research is limited. In the research, I plan to discuss the stakeholder engagement in both MNCs and local chemical firms when implementing sustainable and CSR strategies, which is the cross-sectional study to investigate the problem from different types of companies and stakeholders, as well as evaluate stakeholder sustainable performance under different circumstance. I propose to use a structured questionnaire and planned interviews with some of the target stakeholders. Quantitative approach is to collect and analyze large amounts of numerical data from the samples. The use of questionnaire and interviews enable researchers to have a direct interaction with participants to access the raw data. I plan to adopt non-random sampling strategy on questionnaire survey and random sampling on interviews. The questionnaire will be sent to as many chemical firms as possible to collect sufficient data, invalid response will be removed by reviewing. I propose to choose representatives from different types of stakeholders for interviewing, such as government related organization, local private firm and MNC, which can help to investigate in depth of the problem. When the data and information are accessed, statistics method can be used to analyze and explain the data (Easterby-Smith, Thorpe and Jackson, 2012). By statistics, the proposed hypotheses can be tested and differences can be identified between the groups, which help me to observe the problem at certain level. Williams (2007) indicated that theoretical frameworks and the foundation of quantitative approach. The author explained that the theory helps to generate the hypotheses that lead to identify the sample to collect data for the research analysis. As I have proposed last week, I plan to use resource dependence theory and leadership network theory to observe the relationship between stakeholder engagement and firms’ global sustainable sourcing strategy in Chinese chemical industry. Based on the chosen theoretical framework, the questionnaire and interviews will focus on the demand and pressure from internal and external stakeholders, behavior difference between multinational and local stakeholders, local firms buy-in capability and barriers, and sustainable strategies in government-owned and private firms. In conclusion, I propose to investigate different stakeholders’ behavior on organizational sustainable sourcing strategy and the driving forces in improving Chinese chemical manufactures’ CSR and sustainable performance. Survey research with quantitative method can help me to collect data from target groups of individuals, identify the factors impacting stakeholder engagement and the relationship between stakeholder engagement and global sustainable sourcing strategies. However, due to Chinese firms characteristics and government regulations, I should consider how to choose the ideal sample for interviews. And I need to design a structured questionnaire to increase the validity and reliability of collected data and information, which will be helpful to evaluate my assumptions and defend more credible outcomes. Moreover, I need to study more details in statistics method to learn the techniques, how it can help me to test the hypothesis and categorize the outcomes. References: Easterby-Smith, M., Thorpe, R. & Jackson, P. (2012) Management research. 4th ed. London: SAGE Publications. Grey, D.E. (2004), “Chapter 2: Theoretical perspectives and research methodologies”, Doing research in the real world, Third Edition, London: SAGE Publications Pinsonneault, A., & Kraemer, K. L. (1993). “Survey research methodology in management information systems: An assessment”. Journal of Management Information Systems, 10, 75-105. Williams, C. (2007), ‘Research methods’, Journal of Business & Economic Research, Vol. 5, No. 3, p.65-75