What is Research Methodology: Definition, Types, Examples

17 Sep, 2024
Author : Vipul Jain

When thinking of conducting research, you want to understand what research methodology is so that you can conduct your research and get the perfect and accurate result. Any formal writing piece whether it be any academic journal, dissertation, or thesis.

Selecting an appropriate methodology in research gives an explanation of how you should conduct your study and what techniques and methods must be used. Understanding all these things will help you in writing a dissertation, thesis, or any professional or academic writing that either uses primary research or secondary research to find the result. 

This article will give you a brief understanding of complete research methodology. Starting from understanding the definition of research methodology. Further different types of research methodologies will be discussed. For getting an overall understanding of the data collection methods, data analysis methods are also discussed. This article will provide you with complete information and knowledge regarding Research methodology.  

What is Research Methodology?

What is Research Methodology

First let’s Understand what research methodology is, In simple words, Research Methodology is a process that is used to explain how does researcher carry their research. Research methodology explains the intentions of the researcher in a proper way. Research methodologies have always played as most important role in professional and academic fields.

Methodologies in research define the process of gathering, interpreting data, and analyzing the data. It shows a systematic plan for resolving a research problem. Research involves two types, primary research and the other is secondary research, knowing the advantages and disadvantages of secondary research and primary research gives an understanding of when to use which one.

Research Methodology is defined as a theoretical and proper systematic analysis of the particular methods that are applied to our topic/subject. For gathering important data and all the required information on a border level application of various methods and techniques are used. This not only helps the researcher in gathering the data more efficiently but also helps in getting more valid and accurate results through these research techniques.

Using research with proper methodologies in research will always help in developing reliable, valid conclusions and accurate results. It has been very important to understand the research nature to process studies more effectively. 

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Types of Research Methodology 

There are various types of methodologies in research that have been used for research. 

1. Qualitative Research

Qualitative research includes all data that is non-numeric and further analysis of the data is also a non-numeric analysis method. This is mainly used in dissertations depending on the subject of research, subjects like psychology and even paramedic dissertations topics also require qualitative research. need qualitative research only. Techniques in qualitative research include focus groups ethnographic research and face-to-face interviews.

Qualitative also focuses more on visual elements like body language. But this becomes the reason that this type of research methodology becomes more time-consuming and is more subjective than other types. Qualitative methodology in research is used in cases where the objectives and aims of the research are exploratory. 

2. Quantitative research

Opposite to qualitative results is quantitative results as this is used for all the numerical data. It uses all mathematical, statistical, and computation techniques for analyzing the data. The main goal is to determine averages and patterns of these numerical.

It is mainly used when the objective of the study is to research and confirm the result or any particular situation. The main focus of quantitative data is always on measuring, collecting, and testing numerical data usually from large samples. And then further analyze the data using statistical methods. 

Dissertation and thesis research uses Quantitative data to get accurate and valid information in their work. Statistics assignment help for dissertation/thesis is done using some popular methods such as gathering quantitative data for tests, questionnaires, surveys, and databases. 

3. Mixed methods research

As it can be considered by its name, it's a mixture of both types, it combines both qualitative and quantitative research. Even many universities ask students to use Mixed methods methodology a dissertation methodology for their dissertation. The main of this type is to combine the benefits of both the research and neutralize the disadvantages of both.

To use both research for creating a better picture, additional perspective, and getting multiple findings. Using definite and accurate results from using figures and numerical data using quantitative and providing human aspects and reactions using qualitative research, researchers can get a different and more depth result of their researcher.

4. Descriptive Research

Sometimes referred to as a step in exploratory research, this method defines the attributes of the population or phenomena under investigation. However, it fails to shed light on how, when, and why the characteristics developed, although these research questions can be addressed in future studies.

You can simply get an answer for what, and where, but if you expect anything other than that such descriptive research is not the right type of research for you. 

In this researchers do not have any control and neither can they manipulate any of the variables, they just measure and observe these variables. This research methodology is mainly used when you are writing a Law dissertation.

5. Experimental Research

This type of research is used to establish causal relationships between the variables under study. It entails carrying out experiments involving the use of two variables where one is manipulated to study the influence of the other known as the dependent variable.

Experimental research is always conducted with a scientific approach. Getting access to such two variables becomes hard for students that’s why students look for Dissertation writers.

This study requires proper data to support your decision. This methodology in research helps in collecting information about the participants by making them go through post-tests and pre-tests to get more information on the process. 

Process of Research Methodology 

There are several key stages while processing of research methodology: The process of research methodology involves several key stages:

Identifying and Defining the Research Proposal The first and foremost requirement of any research is to write a research proposal to identify the topic, which has to be studied. This calls for an appreciation of the facets of the problem and the consequences that are associated with it.
Literature Review Searching for all relevant background information and data to the topic under consideration in the course of literature research. This helps in the development of the research questions or hypotheses.
Designing the Study This involves an understanding of the type of research to be conducted, the method of research to be used, and the number of participants as well as the methods of data collection to be employed.
Data Collection This is one of the most important part of research as whole research depends on your capability of collecting data. This is the stage where most students seek masters dissertation help for research. This stage involves the use of selected methods to obtain data that may be qualitative, quantitative, or a combination of the two.
Data Analysis Data collected are then sorted and evaluated to establish patterns and revelation of resolved patterns. Based on the type of data collected and research questions or hypotheses, this can be quantitative analysis, thematic analysis, or any other form of analysis.
Interpreting the Results Afterward data analysis is performed by relating it to the research questions and the formulated hypothesis. This stage assists in making meaning of the finding and the implication of the process.
Reporting and Evaluation The last one is the development of a structured report of the findings and assessment of the research process and the method that has been used.

Data Collection Methods

Selecting Methodologies in Research depends on the data that you want to collect. There are many ways of getting data and the choice of the method of research will depend on the topic of investigation, or you can seek help from the top 5 resources to get help for dissertation in the collection of data. Although there are many ways to collect data:

  1. Interviews: Interviews can be conducted in structured, semi-structured, and unstructured manners depending on the formality of the questions that is, structured interviews have embossed questions while semi-structured and unstructured interviews have questions with some guidelines.

  2. Surveys: Surveys are online or face-to-face and can contain open-ended questions and/or essay or closed-ended questions or those in multiple-choice format. In case the data required is diverse a survey could also employ the use of a mixture.

  3. Focus groups:Focus groups involve interviewees to express, discuss, and elaborate their views on certain issues. There is always a moderator who can help the group steer the conversation and make sure that everyone has an opportunity to express himself or herself. Using this method is not possible for students, that’s why they choose some other method but in case it’s mandatory they seek help from an Assignment Helper

  4. Observations: Direct observation is the observation of the participants when they are going about their normal activities with less or no influence from the researcher whereas participant observation is slightly influenced and the researcher engages the participants.

  5. Documents and records: The information may be in the form of documented information in published reports, International bodies's official documents, private institutes, or government agencies, as well as internal records in the form of employee payroll records, raw material quantities, and cash receipts. 

Most of the time students don’t have access to these documents for this reason most of the students seek help from research paper writing services as they provide such documents.

Data Analysis Method

Having an understanding of what is the research methodology will help you in selecting the data analysis method as well. 

1. Qualitative Data Analysis

The most commonly used qualitative data analysis methods are:

  1. Content analysis: This is one of the most popular methods regarding documented information analysis and it is generally applied to interviewees’ responses analysis.

  2. Narrative analysis: This method is adopted by researchers to analyze information obtained from several sources such as interviews, observations, and questionnaires. Students have limited resources for conducting this research so if its compulsory to use narrative analysis for thesis/dissertation you can seek expert advice and tips for your dissertation.

  3. Discourse analysis: This method involves focusing on the language used by people in their social interactions through spoken or written words and its goal is to study how language is used in daily life.

  4. Grounded theory: This method entails the utilization of qualitative data to examine or generate a hypothesis that states why the event occurred. They make use of explanatory relationships derived from a comparison of data of similar cases in dissimilar settings.

2. Quantitative Data Analysis

Quantitative data analysis is the process of converting numbers into useful data through the processes of rational-critical thinking. The majority of researchers apply software tools to help in the assessment of quantitative data.

This is majorly used in subject statistics, in case you don’t have any software tools for analyzing the data you can seek help from statistics assignment help who can provide you with the result, or with such tools. The first step involves validating, editing, and coding the obtained data. After this step, the data may be used in the analysis process.

The most commonly used quantitative data analysis methods are:

  1. Descriptive analysis: This class of methods involves the application of tools such as mean, median, mode, percentage, frequency, and range to make a pattern.

  2. Inferential analysis: This method displays the correlation, regression, and variance analysis of one or many variables with another or many.

Research Methodology Examples

Below are the methodology examples of each research methodology are followed:

1. Qualitative Research Example

It can be used when you need to understand human behavior, including healthcare research, market research, academic research, and many more. Thesis all are examples of Qualitative research. This is mostly used in dissertations and can be used in the thesis as well. So if you have limited resources you can seek help from Dissertation writing services.

2. Quantitative Research Example

It is used for analyzing data using statistics, this includes computerized and mathematical tools. For example, if you want to conduct research on likes and dislikes of customers regarding clothing. When gathering data from a large population and data that represents a big amount of audience. 

3. Descriptive Research

The focus of this methodology is on finding out the characteristics that the phenomenon shows. For example, social science kind of research applies to this type of research. 

4. Experiment Research

This research is used for measuring the case-effect relationship as in this two variables are used. For example: using a new drug on a patient. This is used to determine the cause of any particular effect between two variables. Experiment research is mostly used in the thesis as we have to write this on our own understanding only. So you can seek help form Thesis writing services.

All these example of a research methodology will help you in defining which research methodology to use in what condition, and always remember the type of data you want for your research will define the research methodology. 

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Conclusion 

In conclusion, the answer to the question of what the research methodology is, research methodology helps get an overview of how the researcher is going to carry out their study and how will they find out the result.

Starting from deciding on what type of methodology to use, deciding on what methods to use for collecting the data, and then further deciding on the methods for analyzing the data collected. This article gives an overall understanding of the whole topic. 

Conducting proper research has always been a major priority for every researcher starting from how to write research questions to find out the accurate result of the question, depending on your selection of research methodology.

Leaving no gap for any confusion and proper process that is required to be followed while doing your research is also discussed, As this will help you to understand the whole process step by step with complete accuracy and valid results. 

FAQs 

Q.1 Is literature review important in research methodology?

Ans. Yes, using systematic literature review plays an important role in research methodology as it defines gaps in previous research, what questions to answer, and understanding the previous research.

Q.2 Can research methodology improve my credibility?

Ans. Yes, methodologies in research enhance validity, accuracy, and reliability as they use systematic standardized methods. 

Q.3 Can I seek help from thesis writing services to get my research part only in my dissertation?

Ans. Yes, you can seek help from an online dissertation writer service, just to get your research part and the other part can be done by yourself.

Q.3 Is research methodology and research method the same thing?

Ans. No, they are not research methods are simply tools for gathering the data for research whereas research methodology helps you with the framework of how research will be conducted. 

Q.4 How to decide which research methods you must use for your research?

Ans. This depends on the type of question and the data you need to answer those questions.

Q.5 How long does it take to write the dissertation with proper research?

Ans. If you are writing a dissertation with proper research you will need 10 to 12 months, as research will need a lot of time and it needs to be conducted very precisely.

Q.5 What is the definition of Problem-oriented research?

Ans. Problem-oriented research is the type of research that targets determining the exact answer to your problem and finding the perfect solution to it.

Q.6 What is the methodology in research?

Ans. Methodology in research helps in understanding the process through which data collection and analysis of the data is to be done.

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Author Bio
Workingment

Hi, I am Vipul Jain ( Founder of Workingment). I have contributed my writing expertise and collaborated with a team of experts to support UK students in achieving higher grades. My mission is to assist students who face various challenges in completing their academic writing projects.

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