Research methods

Research is interesting and important when it fills gaps in
existing knowledge, offers new knowledge, solves a well-
defined problem, questions or refutes established beliefs,
highlights a previously unrecognized problem, and/or
contributes toward progress in one’s chosen discipline. A
research method is the set of tools and techniques used to
gather and analyse data to serve these ends.
There are three main types of research:
• Exploratory: research investigating a problem or
issue about which little is known, seeking to discover
new knowledge.
• Testing: research examining the limits of a
previously proposed generalization, seeking to show
the inadequacy of a hypothesis.
• Problem-solving: research aimed at finding a valid
solution to a theoretical or practical problem.
Tools may include textual exegesis; reading, summarising
and comparing academic articles on a given topic; and
gathering information through interviews, surveys or
focus groups.
For more information on research methods see Research
Guide 3.

Table 1 – Key differences between Qualitative and quantitative approaches to research methodology 3

3
Hesse-Biber, Sharlene Nagy, The Practice of Qualitative Research (3rd edn; Los Angeles: Sage, 2017), 12.