Research

If you are conducting research with human subjects, you will most likely need to get the approval of your university’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) to conduct your research. This is an important part of your research process and requires time and preparation, as well as attention to detail. Your IRB’s role is to make sure […]

Approaching and recruiting potential study participants can prove a challenging task for students, researchers and research groups. Your study idea might be very original and worthy, but it’s the participants that will make it all happen. So you need to make sure you find people that will be able to provide you with rich data […]

Choosing an advisor for your dissertation is a big decision; maybe as big as deciding on your topic. Your advisor will be your Sherpa, a person who will operate as your mentor and supervisor. Much of the success of your dissertation depends on the relationship you built with him or her. If you choose wisely […]

Your research question guides your study and determines whether you are going to use a quantitative or qualitative research methodology. It reflects the direction and epistemological underpinnings of your research path. Both methodologies have merit, but you need to decide which one is more appropriate to use for your specific research problem. By looking at […]

Presumably you are working on a research topic that interests you. You have done a great deal of literature searching and reading (or alternatively, you have observed a practical problem) and you identified a gap in knowledge (also known as a “knowledge gap”). It is now time to form a good research question that will […]

Researchers used to be equipped with pen and paper, and if lucky, a handheld recording device.  Now, researchers have a whole world of mobile and digital technology at their disposable, must of which is free to use. Collecting, analyzing and sharing data has never before been so accessible. Here is a list of some great online tools […]

Quantitative and qualitative paradigms are two research approaches that look at the world through different lenses. The quantitative approach is interested in objectivity and generalization of results, while qualitative approach wants to understand the experience of a phenomena and dig deep, not concerning itself (as much) with making generalizations and predictions. A stereotypical quantitative researcher […]

Identifying a research gap is one of the crucial parts of many research projects. In fact, spotting a knowledge gap and setting out to address it is generally what makes your research worthwhile. It enables you to truly contribute to the existing body of knowledge as well as sets you up to produce findings that […]