Research Process
No matter the depth of your study or the specific requirements of your assignment, you will be participating in the research process. This involves multiple stages and the standard flow is:
- Choosing a topic.
- Your proposal.
- Literature review - Exploration of existing literature/ evidence, its quality and predominant methodology.
- Identification of gaps in the research.
- [Ethical and funding applications].
- Your Project.
- Data analysis.
- Publication and dissemination of findings.
Research methods
You will be choosing an appropriate research method as part of this process. The research method is the tool used to conduct the research. Traditionally the method was either quantitative (positivist) or qualitative (interpretivist).
In recent years, however, multiple new methodologies have emerged and many have developed into accepted practice, e.g. mixed methods and arts-based research (practice as research).
Explore options with Sage Research Methods
- Read overviews on different methods
- Find definitions
- Watch studies come to life
- Hear from the experts
- Practice data analysis
- SAGE Research Methods This link opens in a new windowSAGE Research Methods is a collection of resources - e-books, case studies, videos and data sets - designed to answer your research methods and statistics questions
- Guide to SAGE Research MethodsPublisher's guide to using SAGE Research Methods including video introductions and discipline specific resources.
Qualitative research
Qualitative approaches are common in the social and behavioural sciences as research concentrates on experiences - resulting thoughts and feelings are open to interpretation. Commonly used qualitative research designs are:
- Phenomenological
- Ethnographic
- Grounded theory
Quantitative research
Quantitative or positivist approaches predominate in the physical sciences as hypotheses involving one situation can be posited to be fact for others.
Commonly used quantitative designs often involving the scientific variables (volume, speed, density, strength and weight) are:
- Case reports
- Cohort studies
- Randomised controlled trials
- Systematic reviews
- Meta-analysis
Mixed methods
Mixed methods studies use both quantitative and qualitative approaches. This approach allows for an explanation of unexpected results.
Primary or secondary research
Primary research is usually considered to be first hand accounts, i.e. the people involved in the actual events or study, or the original sources. Sources of primary research include:
- Letters/ diaries.
- Data from research studies.
- Original works.
Secondary research provides commentary, interpretation or analysis of original studies. Examples of secondary research are:
- Literature reviews.
- Commentaries.
- Textbooks.
- Discussion and review articles in newspapers and journals.
Practice-based research
Arts-based research and other examples of practice as research merge traditional qualitative and more modern person-centred therapy-based activities. This enables a more holistic approach to research.
Open access collection of research methods resources
Some research methods resources are published on an open access (free to all) basis and have been collated into a Google Drive collection.