Research methods are the specific research methods, techniques or tools (such as surveys, experiments, case studies, and interviews) used to gather and analyze data. Researchers may select appropriate methods based on the the research question, type of data needed, and the resources available.
A research method refers to the specific techniques, procedures, or processes that researchers use to collect, analyze, and interpret data for their research projects.
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Research methods include activities such as surveys, experiments, interviews, observations, content analysis, and data mining, among others. These methods are the practical steps or tools that researchers employ to gather information and answer research questions.
Related: Understand the complete research process here
Qualitative Research Methods
This is a descriptive approach that is non-numerical which tries to analyze unique cases that occur in the world. The most common techniques (but not the only ones) used in this kind of research are: Interviews, Case Studies, Action Research
Surveys
Surveys can take the form of Interviews and/or Questionnaires and are associated with the deductive approach. Both enable the researcher to gather information from a large population (questionnaires) or to collect in-depth information with a higher degree of flexibility (interviews). Both are time consuming (preparing the questionnaire vs. interviewing people), and not all those approached will be ready to participate.
Case Studies
A case study is an extensive inquiry into a single situation. Rather than analyzing a small number of variables within a large sample to fit within the sampling criteria, a case study concentrates on a single (hopefully representative) case in which many variables are examined in-depth.
Action Research
Action research is an inquiry-based research that follows a process of examining existing practices, implementing new practices, and evaluating the results ,leading to an improvement cycle. It is basically about learning by doing. Action research is also known as Participatory research, Collaborative research, Emancipatory research or Contextual research.
White (2002) suggests the Plan, Act, Observe, Reflect cyclic process to action research:
- Plan: Identify the issues to be investigated and gather information
- Act: Work out a plan of action and implement it.
- Observe: Collect data and note the findings.
- Reflect: Analyze the outcomes and the results which should inform your next cycle of action.
In action research, the performance and actions of the researcher are studied so that it may be improved upon. Action research is therefore an iterative undertaking, shifting from actions to their study, improvement, and implementation, and back again to a new study. The concept of improvement is an essential part of the process.
Quantitative Research Methods
The quantitative approach is a method that is more commonly used in scientific research. It involves the use of measurable (and numerical) quantities that are analysed to prove hypothesizes and to formulate laws. Analysis can be just the simple presentation of tables and diagrams showing the collected data (descriptive statistics), or it can be a rigorous mathematical treatment of the data (inferential statistics).
Related: Data collection techniques are a part of research methods