{"id":1145,"date":"2023-02-03T11:33:44","date_gmt":"2023-02-03T10:33:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hausarbeiten.de\/?post_type=module&p=1145"},"modified":"2023-03-09T10:19:54","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T09:19:54","slug":"research-methodology","status":"publish","type":"module","link":"https:\/\/www.hausarbeiten.de\/en\/tutorials\/finding-a-topic\/research-methodology\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing the right research methodology"},"content":{"rendered":"
\r\n
What’s most important?<\/div>\r\n
    \n
  • Which research methodology is right for your paper depends on your question as well as your objectives.<\/li>\n
  • Be aware of the most common approaches in your discipline.<\/li>\n
  • Keep in mind the length of your paper and the resources at hand when choosing your methodological approach.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    Empirical analysis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The systematic gathering of data is referred to as empirical research<\/strong>. It is usually applied within advanced academic work, like bachelor\u2019s or master\u2019s theses. Keep in mind that you still need to consider findings from other researchers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One sub-category of empirical research is the quantitative approach<\/strong>, which is used to examine one particular aspect of the topic using standardized measurements and statistical verification. Simply put, the focus is on having a big group of people fill out a questionnaire, for example, that is made up of very specific questions. The results are then used to confirm or reject a hypothesis based on an already existing theory instead of one you have developed yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    On the other side of the spectrum is the qualitative approach<\/strong> to obtain an in-depth understanding of the topic at hand. The issue is thoroughly explored by conducting interviews, for example, or similar methods that prioritize the individual characteristics of a person or issue over the sheer number. In some cases, the results may be the basis for the construction of a new theory or approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The two procedures are not mutually exclusive. The mixed methods approach<\/strong> is a combination of quantitative and qualitative research, enabling you to look at your research question from different points of view that complement each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Literature review<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    A literature review is more common with shorter papers<\/strong>, as it\u2019s not as time- and resource-consuming. It focuses on analyzing studies that have been conducted in the past to answer your research question. Those are called secondary sources<\/strong>. It\u2019s also possible to focus on a specific group of sources<\/strong>, for example, articles published in journals within a certain period. The objective is to identify common or frequently discussed theories and trends<\/strong> as well as experts who are referred to in other papers. You can then develop a thesis and analyze the material in more detail and with a critical eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Which method(ology) works best for me?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    When choosing a methodology and methods for your paper, it\u2019s crucial not to lose sight of your objective and be realistic<\/strong>. For example, if you create a questionnaire as part of your empirical analysis, you need to be aware that your participants need time to complete it, and that certain statistical skills<\/strong> are needed to evaluate the results. It may be useful to identify the approaches most common in your discipline<\/strong> by means of preliminary research<\/strong>. You also need to be able to explain your choice and the reasoning behind it. Writing this part beforehand can help you make sure your plan makes sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Methodology vs. method – What’s the difference?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    Methodology <\/strong>
    = overarching approach and rationale of your research<\/td>    		Method <\/strong>
    = specific tools and procedured for data collection<\/td><\/tr>
    – includes studying the principles behind methods<\/td>– examples: literature review, interview, close reading, SWOT-analysis<\/td><\/tr>
    – examples: qualitative or quantitative research<\/td>– method section is often included in shorter papers to ensure replicability and scientific rigor<\/td><\/tr>
    – methodology section is often included in longer theses to justify the choice of methods<\/td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n
    \r\n
    ⚠ Don’ts<\/div>\r\n
      \n
    • Don’t underestimate the effect the research methodology will have on the success of your paper.<\/li>\n
    • Don’t choose an approach that you are not at all familiar with.<\/li>\n
    • Don’t decide on the methodology before being absolutely sure what the objective of your research is. <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n

      test yourself<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Are you familiar with the different kinds of research? Then the following questions shouldn’t be a problem!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Which method should be used to answer the question \u201cAre there more poisonous spiders in Australia or South America?\u201d?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. Quantitative research<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Qualitative research<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Neither<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        \n    Solution:<\/summary>

        \n   A – The research question is asking for a numerical comparison between the two regions.<\/p><\/details>\n\n\n\n

        What is the main disadvantage of a literature review?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        1. It\u2019s time-consuming and therefore frustrating<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. There may be a lack of recent or high-quality sources<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Reading that much can cause severe eye-strain<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          \n    Solution:<\/summary>

          \n   B – There’s a potential for bias or incomplete coverage of the literature.<\/p><\/details>\n\n\n\n

          Do you have to explain your method in your paper?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          1. No, readers can assume that you used an appropriate method to collect and analyze your data<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          2. Yes, because it provides a clear and detailed explanation of how you came up with your results<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          3. Only briefly, as most readers will not be interested in the technical details<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
            \n    Solution:<\/summary>

            \n   B – The research method or methodology provides the framework for the entire research process, including data collection, data analysis, and interpretation of results.<\/p><\/details>\n\n\n\n

            Which method should be applied when writing a short paper?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
              \n
            1. Qualitative research<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            2. Quantitative research<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            3. Literature review<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
              \n    Solution:<\/summary>

              \n   C – A literature review can be an effective way to summarize the current state of knowledge on a particular topic within a shorter paper format.<\/p><\/details>\n\n\n\n

              What is an example of qualitative research?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                \n
              1. Interviews<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              2. Yoga<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              3. Counting all the e\u2019s in this article<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                \n    Solution:<\/summary>

                \n   A – Interviews are a data collection method that focuses on gaining a deep understanding of people’s perspectives, experiences, and behaviors.<\/p><\/details>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                Learn more about different research methodologies and methods. We’ll help you answer the question: Which method(ology) works best for my paper?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1495,"menu_order":2,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"tutorial":[26],"module-tag":[145,144,148],"class_list":["post-1145","module","type-module","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tutorial-finding-a-topic","module-tag-method","module-tag-methodology","module-tag-topic"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hausarbeiten.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/module\/1145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hausarbeiten.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/module"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hausarbeiten.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/module"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.hausarbeiten.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/module\/1145\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1633,"href":"https:\/\/www.hausarbeiten.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/module\/1145\/revisions\/1633"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hausarbeiten.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hausarbeiten.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"tutorial","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hausarbeiten.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tutorial?post=1145"},{"taxonomy":"module-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hausarbeiten.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/module-tag?post=1145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}