Saunders Research Onion Model: A Complete Guide

Recognised as a reputable and informative model in academic research, the Saunders research onion is often shared to help students develop a systematic and effective research method and work through the research process. In the research onion, the research process and methodology are presented in layers to help students make some educated decisions at each level of the research process.  

In this blog, we will simplify this research model and its layers in an easy way. So, read it till the end to get a clear understanding of this research model. And if you need any assistance with your assignments, our UK assignment writer is at your service at any time.

What is the Saunders Research Onion?

This is a constructed model for understanding the different stages of developing a research strategy. Mark Saunders and his colleagues refined the model to make it easier for students to learn about research in the form of layers, as in an onion. Each layer in the onion represents a step in the thinking around planning research.

The research onion model is widely accepted in academic writing and dissertations at UK universities, and students use it because it provides a gradual, structured process for making their research methods, philosophies, and strategies etc. It makes the process of research manageable, regardless of whether it is a business dissertation project or simply doing research for a social science project.

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Layers of Research Onion Model

There are 6 layers in the Saunders Research Onion. Each layer describes different stages of developing a strategy. Let’s break it down into each layer:

Research Philosophy

This is the outer layer of the research onion. Your research philosophy is about the way that you think about the world and knowledge; it impacts every decision you make. 

Positivism: This approach focuses on facts and observable facts and is used in a scientific type of research.

Interpretivism: This is an approach that focuses on understanding social context and human behaviours.

Pragmatism: This approach relies on a mix of other philosophical positions based on what works best in answering your research question.

Realism: This approach accepts an independent reality outside of our thinking, but also accepts that the social world influences our understanding.

Not sure whether to use positivism, interpretivism, or something else in your assignment? Our team can help you choose the right philosophy based on your assignment topic.

Research Approach

After deciding upon the philosophy you will take, the next layer of the onion is the research approach. This is all about how you plan to generate your theory and collect data.

Deductive Approach: You will start with a theory or hypothesis and test it using data collection.

Inductive Approach: You will start with observations and develop a new theory based on your data.

Abductive Approach: You will work back and forth between theory and data to find the best explanation.

Research Strategy

A research strategy is quite literally a plan of action. It states how you’re going to answer your research question.

Experimentation: Look at using a variety of methods to manipulate factors and see effects (often favoured in the sciences).

Survey: Collect and analyse a large amount of data from a group using questionnaires or interviews.

Case Study: Undertake a lengthy study of one case (or of a small number of cases).

Ethnography: Immerse yourself in a certain group, organisation or context to come to understand it.

Grounded Theory: Develop a theory from a dataset you collected.

Action Research: Solve a problem while also studying that problem and the process.

The research onion philosophy is also helpful in terms of how to select a strategy that meets your research aims and the resources you have available to you. 

Picking the right strategy can be tough. If you're unsure between a survey, case study, or something else, we’re here to help you make the best choice for your assignment.

Research Choices

This layer is about how you combine the methods of data collection.

Mono Method - Use only one method (e.g., only quantitative or only qualitative). 

Mixed Methods - Combine quantitative data with qualitative data.

Multi-Method - Use multiple methods within one approach (e.g., use multiple qualitative methodologies).

Making good research choices strengthens the credibility of your research onion model and makes it more solid.

Time Horizon

This refers to the period over which your data is collected. The choice of time horizon is based upon whether you are looking for a situational snapshot or want to see how things change over time.

Cross-sectional: The cross-sectional method is the method of data collection completed at one moment in time. A cross-sectional method provides a snapshot of a phenomenon; it is cheap, fast, and easy; however, in a cross-sectional design, you cannot see changes or trends. 

Longitudinal: Longitudinal studies collect data or information over long periods, so you can see developments and trends. Longitudinal studies cost and take more time, but they can be able to collect more information from dynamic situations and processes.

Techniques and Procedures

We are now at the outermost layer of this research onion model: the actual techniques and procedures you will use to collect and analyse your data. This layer is where your methodological blueprint moves to a specific set of practices to collect and analyse your data. This layer incorporates and operationalises all of the decisions you have made in the previous layers.

Data Collection Methods: The techniques for data collection vary depending on the research questions, strategy, and approach. 

Common techniques include the use of questionnaires/surveys to collect quantitative data, interviews to collect qualitative data, observation to collect data on behaviors systematically, focus groups to gain a variety of participant perspectives on topics or questions, or document analysis to reconsider and draw relevant information from documents developed by other people for a different purpose. The choice of techniques depends on the research questions, strategy, and approach to qualitative research.

Data analysis procedures: It involves the systematic processing and interpretation of collected data to derive meaningful findings. 

Key procedures include statistical analysis (quantitative), thematic analysis (qualitative), content analysis (quantitative/qualitative), and discourse analysis (quantitative). Statistical analysis uses statistical tests to identify patterns and relationships in numerical data, while thematic analysis identifies and reports patterns within qualitative data. Content analysis systematically analyses text, images, and social contexts to construct meaning and power relations.

Applications of the Saunders Research Onion

This research model is often transferable and can be used in many disciplines in UK universities. Here are some practical examples: 

Business: used for market research, organisational analysis, and leadership studies, where structured strategies with timeframes were required.

Social Sciences: ideal for consideration of human behaviour, social practice and policy influence from either or both interpretive or pragmatic perspectives. 

Health: taken from studies examining patient care practices, healthcaretreatment effectiveness, or an evaluation of public health research using mixed methods. 

Marketing: useful for consumer behaviour studies, brand analysis, and campaign evaluation, using consumer surveys or cross-sectional research. 

Whether you are in business, social sciences, health, or marketing, this model will help you achieve and provide a structured approach for conducting systematic research that you can also justify academically. If you need help applying it to your subject, our assignment helpers are ready to support you.

Common Challenges and Drawbacks of Saunders Research Onion Model

The Saunders research onion is a useful resource for choosing a research methodology, but it can be confusing and time-consuming for new students. It has a number of interrelated layers that require adequate planning and critical thinking to ensure that the choices made are coherently aligned. 

Some researchers might utilise the framework more rigidly when adopting the research onion sequentially, and by doing this, they may feel that they must avoid flexibility or creativity. The onion is developed as a guide, not a rule, and even though it aligns with a positivist study, it might at times require extensive time to apply each layer and to substantiate these choices. 

Misinterpretation or the surface application of the framework may occur when students are not aware of the philosophy behind their decisions, which results in a weaker methodology section. In addition, when using the research onion method with interdisciplinary or non-typical research topics, it may take additional thought to see if it still provides a useful path to a useful research framework.

Conclusion

The Saunders research onion is an essential tool for any university student working on any research project. By reviewing each of the layers of the onion, you can build a sound, logical and impressive methodology section. Each layer is important for developing a research strategy. 

By using this method, any sector (business, marketing, education, health) will get a comprehensive understanding of how to do research.

If you’re working on a research project and don’t know where to begin or how to apply the Saunders model properly, our UK assignment helper at Locus Assignments are here to help. Get in touch and make your assignment easier and better!