The different types of research methods

Research methods specify the direction of the procedure of the research. Choosing quantitative, qualitative or mixed type directly affects the results of the study. Arguably, research methods are the tip of the iceberg. Without it, the researcher can’t find the results he or she is looking for. It becomes imperative to decide the exact nature of the research method for achieving better outcomes. After all, contemplating rigorous research is a mammoth task.

Modern technology and evolution of data sciences have created a space for new research methods. Enhancement in analyzing abilities have made it certain that a better research method is being adopted for the formulation of results.

These are different types of research methods which researchers are using extensively for better results;

1) Quantitative

Early 20th century inquiries associated with quantitative invoked the post-positivist worldview which are cultivated especially in psychology. The strategies included less conscientious and true experimental researches which are also called Quasi-experiments.

There is another type of research for an event or cause that has happened is called casual-comparative research. To discover the correlation between two variables, the investigator often undergoes another no experimental research which is famous as correlational research.

In the modern era, quantitative research design has included complex experiments which accumulate many treatments and variables e.g. repeated measure design and factorial design. There are two kinds of data synthesis involved in quantitative research.

A. Experimental research

Experimental research is carried out to find if some specific treatment affects the outcome. In this kind of quantitative research, the researcher makes the one set of data go through from a treatment and then researcher applies the same method to another set of data to determine if any changes occur in the outcome.

B. Survey research

Survey research includes numeric and statistical information of attitudes, trends, behavior, and opinions of a population. Survey research can be performed through questionnaires or making an interview keeping in view the targeted audience.

2) Qualitative

Qualitative research has been used extensively throughout history in the fields of sociology, humanities, anthropology, and evaluation. Four sub-categories have been designed for qualitative research e.g. narrative research, ethnography, phenomenological research, and grounded theory.

A. Narrative research

In narrative research, the researcher asks about views and life stories of the individuals or of a group. These stories can be evaluated in comparison to the story of the researcher considering the context of the research.

B. Ethnography

This kind of research is widely associated with sociology and anthropology for examining the language, actions, and behavior of the intact cultural group. Ethnicity is regarded as a core entity in ethnography.

C. Phenomenological research

Phenomenological research has been extensively used in psychology and philosophy. In phenomenological research, the researcher tends to explain the life experiences of an event of an individual or of a group.

D. Grounded theory

An abstract from an action, interaction or a process is generally drawn in this kind of research method. Grounded theory is a very interesting kind of research in which data and information undergo several kinds of analysis and treatments.

3) Mixed method

Mixed method is a combination of both research methods i.e. qualitative and quantitative. The characteristic of quantitative data is that it encloses close-ended responses while characteristics of qualitative data pertain open-ended responses. Therefore, it becomes easy to integrate both kinds of research methodologies to access the exact results which a researcher is seeking. Mixed method is being used extensively in the modern world studies.

Previously, it has been argued that both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies have a weakness. Coexistence of quantitative and qualitative research makes the research accurate to a maximum limit. However, mixed method research has following sub-categories;

A. Convergent parallel

In the convergent parallel mixed method, the researcher tries to merge or converge both quantitative and qualitative data to formalize a detailed analysis of a research problem.

B. Explanatory sequential

The explanatory sequential mixed method is a kind of research in which a researcher tends to conduct a quantitative research then he will analyze the results obtained from quantitative research. At the last phase, the researcher explains the results after mixing it with qualitative research.

C. Exploratory research

Exploratory sequential research is the reverse form of explanatory sequential mixed method research. In this research, the researcher starts with qualitative research and analyzes the outcome. In the end, the researcher explains the outcomes on the basis of quantitative research.

D. Transformative research

This method includes theoretical lens drawn from a power or social justice as an overarching perspective in the design that pertains both qualitative and quantitative data. Transformative research can be merged either way. It means that a researcher can use both qualitative and quantitative research for finding results. The researcher can use both for the explanation.

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