Research Methods – Effective Techniques for Performing Investigation

Research methods are tools that researchers use to collect, analyze, and interpret information. They can be qualitative or quantitative, and they can be designed for a variety of purposes. The choice of research method depends on the type of study being conducted. This blog post will provide an overview of research methods.

The research method is basically the technique that is used by the researcher for performing different activities during the investigation. The selection of an appropriate research method is very much essential as it has a significant influence on the outcome. The reliability and validity of the research are also based on a method used for performing an investigation on a specific topic.

What is the research method?

Research methods are specific procedures for collecting and analyzing data. Developing your research methods is an integral part of the process to create a successful research design. As you’re developing your own methods, there are two key decisions to make: how you’ll collect data and how you’ll analyze it. Sometimes these choices can depend on what type of information needs to be collected or analyzed for a project

Different types of research methods

There are different types of research methods, shown below:

Qualitative research methods

Qualitative research is a method that employs informal and conversational methods to collect data. This form of information gathering allows researchers to get an understanding of what the participants think, why they think it, as well as other factors influencing their responses. Qualitative research can be referred to as a scientific technique of collecting non-numerical data. Such type of investigation mainly involves great detail about the subject.
For instance, a structured questionnaire has been designed for gathering information about the views of employees about the effect of globalization on their company.

There are different types of qualitative research methods:

1. Face-to-face interview: To collect facts on a specific topic.
2. Focus group: To gain more in-depth knowledge on a specific topic.
3. Ethnographic research: To develop an understanding of the people in a natural setting.
4. Case study research: To get a better knowledge of a certain population or situation.
5. Observations: To equating Quality differences.

Quantitative research methods

Quantitative research methods are a systematic way of investigating events or data. These types of research answers questions to justify relationships with measurable variables in order to explain, predict, and control phenomena. You can perform quantitative research for gathering numerical data.

There are different types of quantitative research methods:

1. Survey Research: It is a type of research that you can execute on a particular target group.
2. Correlational Research: It is for developing an understanding of the relationship between two different elements.
3. Causal Comparative Research: It generally utilizes for concluding cause-effect equations between two or more variables.
4. Experimental Research: It is a research method that mainly relies on theory.

Read Also: Qualitative & Quantitative Research Method Differences 

Research methods for analyzing data

Data analysis can be defined as the refinement of raw data in order to extract meaningful information. The data analysis activity in the investigation process assists investigators in reaching a conclusion. There are different types of methods for analyzing data:

1. Content analysis:  It is used to analyze documented information in the form of texts, media, or even physical items.
2. Thematic analysis: Thematic Analysis involves collecting the data that were made about a specific medium.
3. Textual analysis: It is the process of determining the meaning of a written text.
4. Discourse analysis: It is utilized for analyzing interactions with people.
5. Statistical analysis: To analyze data collected in a statistically valid manner.
6. Meta-analysis: To statistically analyze the results of a large collection of studies.

Design used for research

Research design is the strategy that a researcher uses to combine different variables in order to identify and test the research problem. This process includes selecting an appropriate methodology for acquiring, analyzing, interpreting the information gathered from data sources. There are different types of research designs, as follows:

1. Exploratory research design: To develop an in-depth understanding of the issue.
2. Explanatory research design: To discover the unseen fact of the issue.
3. Descriptive research design: To provide a description of the phenomenon or attitude of people.
4. Experimental research design: To develop the relationship between cause and effect.

Sampling technique

Sampling techniques are a way of gathering data or figuring out what people think about something. Different sampling techniques vary on which issues the researcher hopes to uncover. There are mainly two types of sampling methods, as follows:

1. Probability sampling: Probability sampling is a method in which you need to select participants randomly. The probability sampling method enables you to make statistical assumptions about the population as it does not rely on your judgment and biases, but rather random selection alone.
2. Non-probability sampling: Non-probability sampling is a type of research where the population does not get to choose who participates in the study. As such, it can be difficult for researchers because you cannot guarantee that all members of an entire group are represented fairly by your sample and have equal opportunities to participate.

Conclusion

It is important to not only know how to perform research but also what techniques are most effective and why. Knowing the different methods of data collection will enable you to make a more informed decision about the method that’s best for your particular situation. If any questions come up while reading through this information, please feel free to reach out! We’re always here for our customers and will do whatever we can to help answer their questions in an efficient manner.