If you’re struggling with how to choose research methodology for your study, you are not alone. A wrongly chosen research methodology impacts the quality and success of a research study, which makes it critical to know how to choose the right research methodology. Early career researchers are often confused over the choice of correct study research methods that will help them accomplish the goals of their study. So, what is methodology in research papers? How to select research methodology that works? First of all, even before thinking about how to choose research methods, a researcher must pose the right research question/hypothesis or a well-defined problem statement.
In general, when asking yourself ‘how to choose the right research methodology’ be sure to consider the following essentials. A good study research method must
- Align with the intended scope of research and its objectives
- Allow completion of the research project within the stipulated time and with available resources
- Align with the norms of the specific research area
- Include appropriate data-collection tools
- Include data-analysis strategies compatible with the dataset
- Include an appropriate sampling design that takes into account access to the target group/population
Types of Research Methodology
If you’re considering how to choose research methods, you need to understand the types of research methodology. Here’s an overview of the types of research methodology, with examples, you must know when you’re confused about how to choose a methodology for research.
- Research on identifying consumer preferences for types of face mask is an example of descriptive research. In this type of research, a researcher simply reports the present state of affairs and has no control over the variables. It’s not difficult to decide how to choose the right research methodology for descriptive studies; most researchers use surveys as data-collection tools.
- Research on the possible future emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants is analytical research. In this type, researchers study existing data on the origin of the variants. The study research method must consider data sourcing and data-mining tools, comparative and correlational assessments, and predictive modelling approaches.
- Studies in fields such as space sciences, ecology, and archaeology are examples of fundamental research. There is no single answer to how to select a research method here as these are aimed at creating a broad knowledge base to be utilized in future for other types of research.
- The testing of antiviral drugs, analysis of political trends (polls), and the mapping of market trends (e.g., use of cryptocurrency) fall in the domain of applied research. These are aimed at finding solutions for problems or enabling the planning of outcomes for a business or political agenda so, if you’re wondering how to choose the right research methodology, make sure it reflects this.
- A meteorologist gathers quantitative measurements of variables that influence weather. Such research is quantitative research and is characterized by the use of rigorous statistical methods, with outcomes presented in the form of graphs and tables.
- Studies on peoples’ ideas and opinions on social, political, or economic issues is qualitative research. It is exploratory in nature, and data are collected through interviews.
- Research aimed at developing hypotheses and theories or reinterpreting abstract concepts is called conceptual research, for example, a review of Einstein’s theory of relativity after the discovery of gravitational waves.
- Testing of a hypothesis falls in the category of empirical research—which involves experiments to gather evidence to either prove or disprove the hypothesis. The experimental results of empirical research are fact-based, reliable, and reproducible.
Now that you’ve understood the types of research, it’s time to decide how to choose the research methodology for your work. Keep in mind that the type of research you are conducting should be matched with the three broad categories of study research methods.
1. Quantitative methods test hypotheses or problem statements and involve:
- Close-ended and structured data collection
- Large sample sizes
- Deductive reasoning and objective approaches
Common study research methods under this are:
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- Laboratory experiments. These are conducted in controlled environments by manipulating variables to collect numerical data.
- Meta-analysis. This is a statistical method used to deduce a universal conclusion from multiple scientific studies trying to answer the same question. It minimizes disparities across studies owing to differences in sampling strategies and other variables.
- Surveys. These consist of a list of questions specifically designed to collect quantifiable information from a target group/population. For surveys, researchers should:
- Select a sample representative of the target population
- Pre-test the survey on a small number of people before rolling it out on a large scale
- Adopt robust data-entry approaches such as a two-pass verification to avoid errors and discrepancies
- Design a survey from scratch or use publicly available survey data
- Secondary data collection. This study research method uses existing data from government reports, press releases, corporate reports, etc. to add significance to the primary research.
2. Qualitative methods explore intangible occurrences and are used to form themes or develop theories or concepts. These involve:
- Smaller samples
- Mostly semi-structured data collection
- Inductive reasoning and subjective and open-ended approaches
Most widely adopted study research methods under this are
-
- Interviews. Researchers ask open-ended questions to participants and collect qualitative data.
- Focus groups. These allow researchers to
- Facilitate or prompt a thematic discussion among a group of people
- Collect opinions and thoughts via recordings and prepare transcripts
- Segregate information into sets and subsets
- Analyze information and interpret conclusions, themes, or patterns
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- Case studies. These are used to study a phenomenon using multiple data sources and uncover all of its facets to fine precision.
- Literature review. This involves sourcing information from published articles, research reports, abstracts, and monographs. This study research method allows researchers to
- Collect authentic information
- Discover research methodology suited to their research
- Find data-collection approaches
- Interpret their results in light of related research
3. Combination or mixed study research methods are used in studies where one approach may not suffice for obtaining in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the research problem. In these cases, researchers often adopt mixed study research methods. A combination of both qualitative and quantitative study research methods enhances the overall strength of research outcomes.
Conclusion
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to how to choose the right research methodology. While the quantitative approach is commonly believed to be the strongest study research method, but this may not always be so. In certain scenarios, numbers may lead to oversimplified conclusions and compromise in-depth contextualized understanding. Some believe that mixed research methodology is most powerful; however, it may not be applicable across all settings and is restricted by time and resource limitations. Thus, the final decision of how to select research methodology must match the research objectives and proposed outcomes.
R Discovery as a useful tool in choosing study research methods
R Discovery, is an AI-powered mobile app designed to help researchers find all the recent and relevant literature they need at different stages of research, particularly when they are framing their research questions and thinking of how to choose the right research methodology to answer them.
What R Discovery does:
- Finds and delivers top three articles most relevant to a researcher based on their topic preferences every day, so that they don’t miss out on any important literature
- Saves reading time by providing easy-to-follow summaries of research papers
- Allows researchers to access full texts through their institutional credentials
Suggested readings for how to choose research methods
- Choosing appropriate research methodologies
- Hannah Snyder Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines, Journal of Business Research. (2019) Volume 104, Pages 333-339, ISSN 0148-2963,
- Baxter, Pamela & Jack, Susan. (2010). Qualitative Case Study Methodology: Study Design and Implementation for Novice Researchers. Qualitative Report. 13. 10.46743/2160-3715/2008.1573.
- Rebolj, A. Biba. (2013). The case study as a type of qualitative research. Journal of Contemporary Educational Studies. 28–43.
- Mishra, Dr. Shanti Bhushan & Alok, Dr. Shashi. (2017). Handbook of research methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on research methodology
Q: What is research methodology?
Research methodology refers to the systematic and structured approach used to conduct research. It encompasses the overall framework, strategies, and techniques employed to gather data, analyze information, and draw conclusions. Research methodology guides researchers in designing and executing their studies, ensuring that the research process is rigorous, logical, and aligned with the research objectives.
Q: What is the purpose of research methodology?
The purpose of research methodology is to provide researchers with a systematic and structured approach to conducting research. It ensures that researchers maintain a high level of rigor and quality in their studies, guides decision-making, and enhances research efficiency by providing a clear roadmap for conducting the study. It is also a great way of validating research findings.
Q: Why is research methodology important for research?
One cannot deny the role and importance of research methodology in conducting high-quality and reliable research. It provides researchers with a systematic and structured framework that ensures the research study is well-planned, properly executed, and yields valid and trustworthy results.
Q: What is the difference between research methodology and research methods?
Research methodology refers to the overarching approach and framework used to conduct research, including the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of the study. It addresses questions such as the research design, data collection methods, sampling techniques, and data analysis procedures. Research methods refer to the specific techniques, tools, and procedures employed within the research methodology to gather and analyze data. Research methods can include qualitative or quantitative approaches, surveys, interviews, experiments, or case studies.
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