The 9 Most Common Types of Research Methods

The Research Methods Are tools for collecting data, formulating and answering questions to reach conclusions through a systematic and theoretical analysis applied to some field of study.

The research comprises a number of useful techniques for sociologists, Psychologists , Historians, journalists, academics, scientists, writers, among other researchers.

Young man carrying out one of the types of research methods

Access to information requires in many cases exhaustive searches, using documentary and human sources through different methods of collection and scales of statistical measurement to evaluate results.

Research methods locate and delimit a problem, allowing the collection of important data to generate hypotheses that are subsequently tested or backed up. In this way you can make the decisions that are more in line with the case study.

The methodology to be used may include in many cases: Interviews , Surveys , Demographic analysis, risks or threats, historical and contemporary data, publications, books and other research avenues.

Using a variety of procedures, research stimulus Find the truth that has not been discovered so far or has simply not been defined or studied in depth to obtain reliable conclusions.

Although each research has defined purposes, a series of goals can be included in these searches: to reach new knowledge, to know the characteristics of a situation, group or person, to determine the frequency of a fact or to test a hypothesis according to causes and variables, among others .

Types of research methods

The motivators of an investigation are important to know the path that will lead to the encounter of answers in understanding the hypotheses thrown by deduction, observation or experimentation of the case.

Each research method to be used will depend on the characteristics of the situation to be studied and its requirements in order to be able to select the procedure that best suits the objectives set out in the study.

Quantitative method

The intention of this method is to expose and find the extended knowledge of a case through detailed data and theoretical principles.

It requires a compression of human behavior and the reason for it. In this method the object of study is considered external, separate from any individual thought to guarantee the greatest possible objectivity.

His research is normative, pointing to general laws related to the case study.

The collection of data usually consists of objective tests, measuring instruments, statistics, tests, among others. It is divided into participatory, action and ethnographic research.

Qualitative method

It is based on the positivist and neopositivist principle and its objective is the study of values ​​and quantitative phenomena to establish and strengthen an established theory.

It focuses on the subjective and individual from a humanistic perspective, through interpretation, observation, interviews and reports.

In this method we use mathematical models and theories related to situations. It is used regularly in the natural sciences, biology, physics, among others.

You may be interested Qualitative and Quantitative Research: Characteristics and Differences .

Inductive Method

Through this method particular situations can be analyzed through an individual study of the facts that formulates general conclusions, that help to the discovery of generalized topics and theories that start from the systematic observation of the reality.

That is, it refers to the formulation of hypotheses based on what is experienced and observed of the elements of study to define general laws. It consists of the collection of data ordered in variables in search of regularities.

Deductive method

It refers to a method from the general to focus on the specific through logical reasoning and hypotheses that can support final conclusions.

This process is based on the above analyzes, laws and principles validated and proven to be applied to particular cases.

In this method the whole research effort is based on the collected theories, not on the observed or experienced; Is part of a premise to outline and conclude the study situation, deducing the way to take to implement the solutions.

You may be interested Inductive and Deductive Method: Characteristics and Differences .

Analytical method

It is responsible for disaggregating the sections that make up the whole case to be studied, establishing the relationships of cause, effect and nature. On the basis of the analyzes carried out, analogies and new theories can be generated to understand behaviors.

It develops in the understanding of the concrete to the abstract, decomposing the elements that constitute the general theory to study in greater depth each element separately and in this way to know the nature of the phenomenon of study to reveal its essence.

Synthetic method

Look for the reconstruction of dispersed components of an object or event to study them in depth and create a summary of each detail.

The process of this method is developed from the abstract to the concrete, to bring together each segment that makes up a unit and to be able to understand it.

By means of reasoning and synthesis the depths of the analysis are emphasized in a methodical and concise way to obtain a thorough understanding of each part and particularity of the studied.

You may be interested What is the analytical-synthetic method?

Scientific method

It offers a Set of techniques and procedures To obtain a theoretical knowledge with validity and scientific verification through the use of reliable instruments that do not give rise to subjectivity.

Some experiments demonstrate the ability to reproduce the same fact by using the same mechanisms in different contexts driven by different individuals.

This method has the ability to provide effective and proven responses to a case study.

It is considered one of the most useful procedures since it allows the explanation of phenomena objectively, which provides solutions to research problems and prompts to declare laws.

Its development is rigorous and clearly logical in an orderly way with pure and complete principles seeking correction and improvement to conquer, order and understand the knowledge collected.

Comparative method

It is a search of similarities and systematic comparisons that serves for the verification of hypotheses in order to find kinship and is based on the documentation of multiple cases to perform comparative analyzes.

Basically consists of placing two or more elements next to each other to find differences and relationships and thus to define a case or problem and to be able to take action in the future.

Using the comparison is useful in understanding a topic as it may lead to new hypotheses or theories of growth and improvement. It has several stages in which it highlights the observation, description, classification, comparison itself and its conclusion.

References

  1. Bisquerra, R. Classification of Research Methods. (1989). Retrieved from: dip.una.edu.ve.
  2. Derek Garrison. Methods of Investigation. Source: nersp.nerdc.ufl.edu.
  3. C.R Kothari. Research Methodology. (2004). Retrieved from: modares.ac.ir.
  4. Investigation methods. Source: teach-ict.com.
  5. Martyn Shuttleworth. Different methods of research. Source: explorable.com.
  6. Francisco Bijarro Hernández. Strategic Development for Scientific Research. Retrieved from: eumed.net.


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