Research

Mixed methods research is becoming an increasingly popular methodology, especially in social and human sciences. It refers to combining both quantitative and qualitative approaches to answer your research question. In this article, we will present the definition of mixed methods research and some of the main reasons for using it. We will also look at […]

When conducting quantitative research, it is very important to determine the sample size for your study. Your sample needs to represent the target population you plan to examine. Sample size calculation should be done before you set off to collect any of your data. Almost all researchers generally like to work with large samples. However, […]

In some ways, appraisal of quantitative and qualitative work follows the same guideline — we need to establish whether a study has the required rigor needed to trust its results and conclusions (regardless of whether they are positive or negative). While there is some overlap, there are also some pointers specific to quantitative research methods. […]

Scientific knowledge is generally disseminated in peer-reviewed journals. However, this does not mean that everything that gets published is necessarily meeting the highest standard of scientific rigor. We need to be able to sieve through articles and decide for ourselves whether the paper’s topic is relevant and the findings are trustworthy. There are certain strategies […]

If your research involves gathering data by interviewing people, you will probably need to create an interview guide. An interview guide contains a list of questions you want to cover during your interview(s). It is meant to keep you on track and ensures that you cover all the topics needed to answer your research question(s). Interview guides are […]

If your doctoral work involves a quantitative project, you will likely need dissertation statistics help. Writing your methods and results sections might prove to be arduous task otherwise. Many graduate students feel that their knowledge of statistics does not meet the needs of their research project. Also, it is not uncommon for your paper to […]

In quantitative research, it is all about numerical data and running some type of statistical analysis. Your research question guides your research and your choice of methodology, so you need to make sure you get this step right early. If you are uncertain about the differences between quantitative and qualitative research and research questions, you […]

Qualitative research, sometimes also referred to as naturalistic inquiry, is a distinct field of research with its own research philosophy, theory and methodology. If your desire is to perform a qualitative study, it will probably be a lot easier to develop your research question if you first become familiar with some of qualitative research’s basic […]

Things to Consider about Ethics in Research Many values inherent in research are congruent with general moral and social values. They include things like human and animal rights, health and safety, honesty, respect and responsibility — to name just a few. If a researcher breaches their institution’s established code of ethics, the consequences are often […]

To some qualitative data analysis may seem like a daunting task. Some quantitative researchers openly admit they would not know where to begin if given the job, and that the unfamiliar process scares them a bit. Unlike most quantitative methodologies, qualitative analysis does not follow a formula-like procedure that can be systematically and analytically applied. […]