Research methods are the strategies, processes or techniques utilized in the collection of data or evidence for analysis in order to uncover new information or create better understanding of a topic. Show
There are different types of research methods which use different tools for data collection. Types of research
Qualitative Research gathers data about lived experiences, emotions or behaviours, and the meanings individuals attach to them. It assists in enabling researchers to gain a better understanding of complex concepts, social interactions or cultural phenomena. This type of research is useful in the exploration of how or why things have occurred, interpreting events and describing actions. Quantitative Research gathers numerical data which can be ranked, measured or categorised through statistical analysis. It assists with uncovering patterns or relationships, and for making generalisations. This type of research is useful for finding out how many, how much, how often, or to what extent. Mixed Methods Research integrates both Qualitative and Quantitative Research. It provides a holistic approach combining and analysing the statistical data with deeper contextualised insights. Using Mixed Methods also enables Triangulation, or verification, of the data from two or more sources. Finding Mixed Methods research in the Databases
Data collection tools
Techniques or tools used for gathering research data include:
SAGE research methods
Published on April 12, 2019 by Raimo Streefkerk. Revised on August 17, 2022. When collecting and analyzing data, quantitative research deals with numbers and statistics, while
qualitative research deals with words and meanings. Both are important for gaining different kinds of knowledge. Common quantitative methods include experiments, observations recorded as numbers, and surveys with closed-ended questions. Common qualitative methods include interviews with open-ended questions, observations described in words, and literature reviews that explore concepts and theories. Quantitative and qualitative research use different research methods to collect and analyze data, and they allow you to answer different kinds of research questions. Quantitative and qualitative data can be collected using various methods. It is important to use a data collection method that will help answer your research question(s). Many data collection methods can be either qualitative or quantitative. For example, in surveys, observations or
case studies, your data can be represented as numbers (e.g. using rating scales or counting frequencies) or as words (e.g. with open-ended questions or descriptions of what you observe). However, some methods are more commonly used in one type or the other. A rule of thumb for deciding whether to use qualitative or quantitative data is: For most research topics you can choose a qualitative,
quantitative or mixed methods approach. Which type you choose depends on, among other things, whether you’re taking an inductive vs. deductive research approach; your research
question(s); whether you’re doing experimental, correlational, or descriptive research; and practical considerations such as time, money, availability of
data, and access to respondents. Quantitative research approachYou survey 300 students at your university and ask them questions such as: “on a scale from 1-5, how satisfied are your with your professors?” You can perform statistical analysis on the data and draw conclusions such as: “on average students rated their professors 4.4”. Qualitative research approachYou conduct in-depth interviews with 15 students and ask them open-ended questions such as: “How satisfied are you with your studies?”, “What is the most positive aspect of your study program?” and “What can be done to improve the study program?” Based on the answers you get you can ask follow-up questions to clarify things. You transcribe all interviews using transcription software and try to find commonalities and patterns. Mixed methods approachYou conduct interviews to find out how satisfied students are with their studies. Through open-ended questions you learn things you never thought about before and gain new insights. Later, you use a survey to test these insights on a larger scale. It’s also possible to start with a survey to find out the overall trends, followed by interviews to better understand the reasons behind the trends. How to analyze qualitative and quantitative dataQualitative or quantitative data by itself can’t prove or demonstrate anything, but has to be analyzed to show its meaning in relation to the research questions. The method of analysis differs for each type of data. Analyzing quantitative dataQuantitative data is based on numbers. Simple math or more advanced statistical analysis is used to discover commonalities or patterns in the data. The results are often reported in graphs and tables. Applications such as Excel, SPSS, or R can be used to calculate things like:
Analyzing qualitative dataQualitative data is more difficult to analyze than quantitative data. It consists of text, images or videos instead of numbers. Some common approaches to analyzing qualitative data include:
Frequently asked questions about qualitative and quantitative researchWhat is data collection? Data collection is the systematic process by which observations or measurements are gathered in research. It is used in many different contexts by academics, governments, businesses, and other organizations. Sources in this articleWe strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below. This Scribbr article
Is this article helpful?You have already voted. Thanks :-) Your vote is saved :-) Processing your vote... What research design should be used if you want to study the experiences of people?Phenomenology. The aim of a phenomenological approach to qualitative research is to describe accurately the lived experiences of people, and not to generate theories or models of the phenomenon being studied.
Which type of research explores the meaning of an experience?“Qualitative research invites researchers to inquire about the human condition, because it explores the meaning of human experiences and creates the possibilities of change through raised awareness and purposeful action” (Taylor, 2013, p.
Which research method do researchers use to study a group of respondents?Survey Research is a quantitative research method used for collecting data from a set of panel or respondents.
How do you choose which type of research to use?How do I decide which research methods to use?. If you want to measure something or test a hypothesis, use quantitative methods. ... . If you want to analyze a large amount of readily-available data, use secondary data. ... . If you want to establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables, use experimental methods.. |
What type of research do you choose to study the experiences of a particular group of people?
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