diagram of research methodology

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Here's What You Need to Understand About Research Methodology

Table of Contents

Research methodology involves a systematic and well-structured approach to conducting scholarly or scientific inquiries. Knowing the significance of research methodology and its different components is crucial as it serves as the basis for any study.

Typically, your research topic will start as a broad idea you want to investigate more thoroughly. Once you’ve identified a research problem and created research questions , you must choose the appropriate methodology and frameworks to address those questions effectively.

What is the definition of a research methodology?

Research methodology is the process or the way you intend to execute your study. The methodology section of a research paper outlines how you plan to conduct your study. It covers various steps such as collecting data, statistical analysis, observing participants, and other procedures involved in the research process

The methods section should give a description of the process that will convert your idea into a study. Additionally, the outcomes of your process must provide valid and reliable results resonant with the aims and objectives of your research. This thumb rule holds complete validity, no matter whether your paper has inclinations for qualitative or quantitative usage.

Studying research methods used in related studies can provide helpful insights and direction for your own research. Now easily discover papers related to your topic on SciSpace and utilize our AI research assistant, Copilot , to quickly review the methodologies applied in different papers.

The need for a good research methodology

While deciding on your approach towards your research, the reason or factors you weighed in choosing a particular problem and formulating a research topic need to be validated and explained. A research methodology helps you do exactly that. Moreover, a good research methodology lets you build your argument to validate your research work performed through various data collection methods, analytical methods, and other essential points.

Just imagine it as a strategy documented to provide an overview of what you intend to do.

While undertaking any research writing or performing the research itself, you may get drifted in not something of much importance. In such a case, a research methodology helps you to get back to your outlined work methodology.

A research methodology helps in keeping you accountable for your work. Additionally, it can help you evaluate whether your work is in sync with your original aims and objectives or not. Besides, a good research methodology enables you to navigate your research process smoothly and swiftly while providing effective planning to achieve your desired results.

What is the basic structure of a research methodology?

Usually, you must ensure to include the following stated aspects while deciding over the basic structure of your research methodology:

1. Your research procedure

Explain what research methods you’re going to use. Whether you intend to proceed with quantitative or qualitative, or a composite of both approaches, you need to state that explicitly. The option among the three depends on your research’s aim, objectives, and scope.

2. Provide the rationality behind your chosen approach

Based on logic and reason, let your readers know why you have chosen said research methodologies. Additionally, you have to build strong arguments supporting why your chosen research method is the best way to achieve the desired outcome.

3. Explain your mechanism

The mechanism encompasses the research methods or instruments you will use to develop your research methodology. It usually refers to your data collection methods. You can use interviews, surveys, physical questionnaires, etc., of the many available mechanisms as research methodology instruments. The data collection method is determined by the type of research and whether the data is quantitative data(includes numerical data) or qualitative data (perception, morale, etc.) Moreover, you need to put logical reasoning behind choosing a particular instrument.

4. Significance of outcomes

The results will be available once you have finished experimenting. However, you should also explain how you plan to use the data to interpret the findings. This section also aids in understanding the problem from within, breaking it down into pieces, and viewing the research problem from various perspectives.

5. Reader’s advice

Anything that you feel must be explained to spread more awareness among readers and focus groups must be included and described in detail. You should not just specify your research methodology on the assumption that a reader is aware of the topic.  

All the relevant information that explains and simplifies your research paper must be included in the methodology section. If you are conducting your research in a non-traditional manner, give a logical justification and list its benefits.

6. Explain your sample space

Include information about the sample and sample space in the methodology section. The term "sample" refers to a smaller set of data that a researcher selects or chooses from a larger group of people or focus groups using a predetermined selection method. Let your readers know how you are going to distinguish between relevant and non-relevant samples. How you figured out those exact numbers to back your research methodology, i.e. the sample spacing of instruments, must be discussed thoroughly.

For example, if you are going to conduct a survey or interview, then by what procedure will you select the interviewees (or sample size in case of surveys), and how exactly will the interview or survey be conducted.

7. Challenges and limitations

This part, which is frequently assumed to be unnecessary, is actually very important. The challenges and limitations that your chosen strategy inherently possesses must be specified while you are conducting different types of research.

The importance of a good research methodology

You must have observed that all research papers, dissertations, or theses carry a chapter entirely dedicated to research methodology. This section helps maintain your credibility as a better interpreter of results rather than a manipulator.

A good research methodology always explains the procedure, data collection methods and techniques, aim, and scope of the research. In a research study, it leads to a well-organized, rationality-based approach, while the paper lacking it is often observed as messy or disorganized.

You should pay special attention to validating your chosen way towards the research methodology. This becomes extremely important in case you select an unconventional or a distinct method of execution.

Curating and developing a strong, effective research methodology can assist you in addressing a variety of situations, such as:

• When someone tries to duplicate or expand upon your research after few years.
• If a contradiction or conflict of facts occurs at a later time. This gives you the security you need to deal with these contradictions while still being able to defend your approach.
• Gaining a tactical approach in getting your research completed in time. Just ensure you are using the right approach while drafting your research methodology, and it can help you achieve your desired outcomes. Additionally, it provides a better explanation and understanding of the research question itself.
• Documenting the results so that the final outcome of the research stays as you intended it to be while starting.

Instruments you could use while writing a good research methodology

As a researcher, you must choose which tools or data collection methods that fit best in terms of the relevance of your research. This decision has to be wise.

There exists many research equipments or tools that you can use to carry out your research process. These are classified as:

a. Interviews (One-on-One or a Group)

An interview aimed to get your desired research outcomes can be undertaken in many different ways. For example, you can design your interview as structured, semi-structured, or unstructured. What sets them apart is the degree of formality in the questions. On the other hand, in a group interview, your aim should be to collect more opinions and group perceptions from the focus groups on a certain topic rather than looking out for some formal answers.

In surveys, you are in better control if you specifically draft the questions you seek the response for. For example, you may choose to include free-style questions that can be answered descriptively, or you may provide a multiple-choice type response for questions. Besides, you can also opt to choose both ways, deciding what suits your research process and purpose better.

c. Sample Groups

Similar to the group interviews, here, you can select a group of individuals and assign them a topic to discuss or freely express their opinions over that. You can simultaneously note down the answers and later draft them appropriately, deciding on the relevance of every response.

d. Observations

If your research domain is humanities or sociology, observations are the best-proven method to draw your research methodology. Of course, you can always include studying the spontaneous response of the participants towards a situation or conducting the same but in a more structured manner. A structured observation means putting the participants in a situation at a previously decided time and then studying their responses.

Of all the tools described above, it is you who should wisely choose the instruments and decide what’s the best fit for your research. You must not restrict yourself from multiple methods or a combination of a few instruments if appropriate in drafting a good research methodology.

Types of research methodology

A research methodology exists in various forms. Depending upon their approach, whether centered around words, numbers, or both, methodologies are distinguished as qualitative, quantitative, or an amalgamation of both.

1. Qualitative research methodology

When a research methodology primarily focuses on words and textual data, then it is generally referred to as qualitative research methodology. This type is usually preferred among researchers when the aim and scope of the research are mainly theoretical and explanatory.

The instruments used are observations, interviews, and sample groups. You can use this methodology if you are trying to study human behavior or response in some situations. Generally, qualitative research methodology is widely used in sociology, psychology, and other related domains.

2. Quantitative research methodology

If your research is majorly centered on data, figures, and stats, then analyzing these numerical data is often referred to as quantitative research methodology. You can use quantitative research methodology if your research requires you to validate or justify the obtained results.

In quantitative methods, surveys, tests, experiments, and evaluations of current databases can be advantageously used as instruments If your research involves testing some hypothesis, then use this methodology.

3. Amalgam methodology

As the name suggests, the amalgam methodology uses both quantitative and qualitative approaches. This methodology is used when a part of the research requires you to verify the facts and figures, whereas the other part demands you to discover the theoretical and explanatory nature of the research question.

The instruments for the amalgam methodology require you to conduct interviews and surveys, including tests and experiments. The outcome of this methodology can be insightful and valuable as it provides precise test results in line with theoretical explanations and reasoning.

The amalgam method, makes your work both factual and rational at the same time.

Final words: How to decide which is the best research methodology?

If you have kept your sincerity and awareness intact with the aims and scope of research well enough, you must have got an idea of which research methodology suits your work best.

Before deciding which research methodology answers your research question, you must invest significant time in reading and doing your homework for that. Taking references that yield relevant results should be your first approach to establishing a research methodology.

Moreover, you should never refrain from exploring other options. Before setting your work in stone, you must try all the available options as it explains why the choice of research methodology that you finally make is more appropriate than the other available options.

You should always go for a quantitative research methodology if your research requires gathering large amounts of data, figures, and statistics. This research methodology will provide you with results if your research paper involves the validation of some hypothesis.

Whereas, if  you are looking for more explanations, reasons, opinions, and public perceptions around a theory, you must use qualitative research methodology.The choice of an appropriate research methodology ultimately depends on what you want to achieve through your research.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Research Methodology

1. how to write a research methodology.

You can always provide a separate section for research methodology where you should specify details about the methods and instruments used during the research, discussions on result analysis, including insights into the background information, and conveying the research limitations.

2. What are the types of research methodology?

There generally exists four types of research methodology i.e.

• Observation
• Experimental
• Derivational

3. What is the true meaning of research methodology?

The set of techniques or procedures followed to discover and analyze the information gathered to validate or justify a research outcome is generally called Research Methodology.

4. Where lies the importance of research methodology?

Your research methodology directly reflects the validity of your research outcomes and how well-informed your research work is. Moreover, it can help future researchers cite or refer to your research if they plan to use a similar research methodology.

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• All About Thesis Methodology Flowcharts

Methodology flowchart thesis illustrations show how you plan to do your research. They help you understand your research goals and guide you in choosing the right questions, selecting samples, collecting data, and analyzing it.

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When writing a thesis, dissertation, or academic article, you need to present information in a structured way. To do this, researchers use different methods and approaches to gather and analyze data. The methodology section of a thesis is important because it explains what you did and how you conducted your research. This helps readers evaluate the accuracy and trustworthiness of your work.

Most researchers employ methodology flowchart thesis presentations to strategize, structure, portray, and conceptualize their research methodologies. This article demonstrates the importance of thesis methodology flowcharts through real-life thesis flow chart examples and a practical way to construct them.

In this article

• Importance of Thesis Research Methodology Flowcharts
• EdrawMax- A One-Stop Solution to Thesis Methodology Flowchart Designing Needs!
• How to Craft a Detailed Thesis Methodology Flowchart Using EdrawMax?

Part I: Importance of Thesis Research Methodology Flowcharts

The research thesis methodology flowcharts show how you will tackle your research questions, making your research more successful. Creating a thesis flowchart involves studying the theories and ideas that guide the procedures in your field and organizing your activities in a step-by-step order.

Research methodology flowcharts are very important because they provide a clear plan that helps researchers stay focused and makes the process efficient and manageable. It ensures that your conclusions are based on scientific principles and gives your research credibility.

Part II: EdrawMax- A One-Stop Solution to Thesis Methodology Flowchart Designing Needs!

Creating a structure for your dissertation takes a lot of time. You need to organize your ideas and have strong supporting details. If you don't arrange things in order, your ideas can become confused and unclear. To avoid this, you need a modern diagramming tool that can help you save time and focus on writing your dissertation.

EdrawMax helps you bring your ideas to life when designing thesis flowcharts. It has many useful features like a wide range of symbols, the ability to create multiple pages, helpful alignment tools, easy customization options, and various ways to export your work. Whether you're a student, researcher, teacher, or anyone in education, EdrawMax is a complete solution for all your drawing needs.

Visual Illustration of a Thesis Methodology Flowchart

Consider this practical methodology flowchart thesis example to gain insights into how a well-structured thesis methodology flowchart seems:

When you conduct research, it's important to follow a step-by-step process to ensure accurate and reliable results. This process involves discovering, collecting, evaluating, and presenting ideas in a specific order. By following this standardized procedure, your thesis will be reliable and won't have any incorrect findings. Here is the methodized step-by-step process to help you formulate your thesis research methodology:

Preliminary Strategizing

Before starting your research, it's important to plan ahead. This involves choosing the location, field, and community where you will conduct your research. It's also important to get permission from the community to conduct your research, as it's an ethical concern.

Next, you need to set a clear objective for your thesis and come up with a logical research question. You can do this by observing, studying, or analyzing a situation. Observations can be intentional, where you purposely observe a specific behavior in a community. Sometimes, research questions arise from analyzing current situations, like the coronavirus, pollution, or poverty in a certain town.

Data Collection

Collecting data is an important step in research. It involves observing or measuring things in a systematic way. Before you start collecting data, you need to clearly define your goals. You can do this by explaining the problem you want to address. For example, you might collect data on bomb blast victims or people with aggressive behaviors.

There are two types of data: primary and secondary data. Primary data is information that you collect directly from original sources. Secondary data, on the other hand, is information that has already been gathered or processed by someone else.

Data Processing

After collecting data, the next step is to decide how to process and analyze it. Data processing is when you take the collected data and turn it into useful information that can be used by others. This information can help support or disprove theories, make decisions, or bring about positive changes in a community.

To choose the right data processing method, consider the nature and type of your research and think about your thesis research question. It's important not to get too specific at this stage and avoid discussing any results. Focus on finding a suitable technique that will help you process and analyze your data effectively.

Data Analysis

Researchers use data analysis to make sense of their research findings by organizing, combining, summarizing, and categorizing the data. This helps them identify patterns and themes in the information they have collected.

In the thesis methodology flowchart example mentioned above, the data analysis techniques used are lean and Six Sigma concepts . These methods follow a series of steps, including defining, measuring, analyzing, categorizing, and improving the data to make it more meaningful and valuable.

Evaluation Phase

Data evaluation is a way to check if data is trustworthy, thorough, and consistent. It involves comparing data with specific goals, finding any missing information, and discovering trends, patterns, and connections. Another name for data evaluation is data mining because it uses statistical analysis to uncover valuable insights and generate better information.

Report Writing

Once you have finished your research, it's time to organize and present the information you have gathered. Report writing involves putting all the information together, drawing conclusions based on your findings, and providing recommendations based on the results. It's important to consider who will be reading your report, as the audience plays a significant role in how you present your information.

Part III: How to Craft a Detailed Thesis Methodology Flowchart Using EdrawMax?

EdrawMax is a user-friendly and affordable tool that helps people create detailed diagrams quickly. It's accessible to both small and medium-sized users, making it easy for everyone to make complex diagrams in just a few minutes. Let's see how you can use EdrawMax to create a fantastic flowchart for organizing your thesis.

Download and launch "EdrawMax" on your device for thesis methodology flowchart creation.

Click the "New" tab in the left pane, hover over the "Basic Flowchart" tab, and click the "Create New" button.

Sketch the skeleton of your thesis methodology flowchart by drawing all the required shapes on the canvas at accurate locations.

Embed relevant information in each box to portray your details in exact sequence; you can also rescale the shapes to accommodate larger texts.

Join all the shapes to develop a flow in your thesis methodology flowchart; for this, navigate to the "Connector" tab in the "Home" menu.

You can also personalize the outlook of your thesis research methodology flowchart for enhanced understanding; to do so, navigate to the "Design" tab and apply your desired changes.

To customize an individual item or multiple items simultaneously, select those items and perform your preferred modification.

Click the "Export" option at the top and choose your desired format to save your research thesis methodology flowchart.

Benefits of Using EdrawMax for Thesis Methodology Flowchart Designing

Before using a diagramming application , it's important to consider its features, price, compatibility, and other important factors. Doing thorough research on these aspects will help you make an informed decision and avoid the inconvenience of switching between multiple tools because they don't have the right features for your needs.

EdrawMax is an excellent platform for designing methodology flow chart thesis projects because it offers a wide range of tools that suit everyone's needs. We have listed several reasons why EdrawMax is the best choice for creating your academic diagrams.

• EdrawMax has a Templates Community where you can find ready-made templates to save you the trouble of starting from scratch. It also has a variety of symbol libraries to create different types of flowcharts, making it more fun and expressive.
• With EdrawMax, you can add multiple pages to your thesis flowchart project, keeping your ideas organized and avoiding complexity. You can also enhance your flowcharts by adding pictures, hyperlinks, charts, tables, icons, and other elements to make them insightful and expressive.
• The user interface of EdrawMax is easy to use, with a quick toolbar that allows you to customize shapes and text with just one click. Even the free version of EdrawMax offers customization options like fill and border color, border style, width, rescaling, background type, connector type, and font customization.
• EdrawMax also supports real-time collaboration, which is helpful when you need to discuss and refine your methodology flowchart with your research supervisor. Additionally, you can export your methodology flowchart thesis file in various formats such as PNG, JPG, PDF, SVG, and Visio.
• Overall, EdrawMax provides a user-friendly and versatile platform for creating and customizing methodology flowcharts for your thesis.

Writing a thesis requires careful attention to analyzing and presenting research findings. The methodology you choose for your dissertation plays a crucial role in how you collect data, analyze it, and present your results. Whether you're conducting qualitative or quantitative research, the methodology you use has a significant impact on your entire dissertation.

To make your research more organized, you can create a thesis methodology flowchart . This flowchart helps you outline and visualize the step-by-step process of your research, from selecting techniques and approaches to analyzing data and presenting results. This article offers a detailed guide on how to create a practical and visually appealing thesis methodology flowchart to enhance your research process.

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What Is Research Methodology? A Plain-Language Explanation & Definition (With Examples)

By Derek Jansen (MBA)  and Kerryn Warren (PhD) | June 2020 (Last updated April 2023)

If you’re new to formal academic research, it’s quite likely that you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by all the technical lingo that gets thrown around. And who could blame you – “research methodology”, “research methods”, “sampling strategies”… it all seems never-ending!

In this post, we’ll demystify the landscape with plain-language explanations and loads of examples (including easy-to-follow videos), so that you can approach your dissertation, thesis or research project with confidence. Let’s get started.

Research Methodology 101

• What exactly research methodology means
• What qualitative , quantitative and mixed methods are
• What sampling strategy is
• What data collection methods are
• What data analysis methods are
• How to choose your research methodology
• Example of a research methodology

What is research methodology?

Research methodology simply refers to the practical “how” of a research study. More specifically, it’s about how  a researcher  systematically designs a study  to ensure valid and reliable results that address the research aims, objectives and research questions . Specifically, how the researcher went about deciding:

• What type of data to collect (e.g., qualitative or quantitative data )
• Who  to collect it from (i.e., the sampling strategy )
• How to  collect  it (i.e., the data collection method )
• How to  analyse  it (i.e., the data analysis methods )

Within any formal piece of academic research (be it a dissertation, thesis or journal article), you’ll find a research methodology chapter or section which covers the aspects mentioned above. Importantly, a good methodology chapter explains not just   what methodological choices were made, but also explains  why they were made. In other words, the methodology chapter should justify  the design choices, by showing that the chosen methods and techniques are the best fit for the research aims, objectives and research questions. 

So, it’s the same as research design?

Not quite. As we mentioned, research methodology refers to the collection of practical decisions regarding what data you’ll collect, from who, how you’ll collect it and how you’ll analyse it. Research design, on the other hand, is more about the overall strategy you’ll adopt in your study. For example, whether you’ll use an experimental design in which you manipulate one variable while controlling others. You can learn more about research design and the various design types here .

Need a helping hand?

What are qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods?

Qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods are different types of methodological approaches, distinguished by their focus on words , numbers or both . This is a bit of an oversimplification, but its a good starting point for understanding.

Let’s take a closer look.

Qualitative research refers to research which focuses on collecting and analysing words (written or spoken) and textual or visual data, whereas quantitative research focuses on measurement and testing using numerical data . Qualitative analysis can also focus on other “softer” data points, such as body language or visual elements.

It’s quite common for a qualitative methodology to be used when the research aims and research questions are exploratory  in nature. For example, a qualitative methodology might be used to understand peoples’ perceptions about an event that took place, or a political candidate running for president. 

Contrasted to this, a quantitative methodology is typically used when the research aims and research questions are confirmatory  in nature. For example, a quantitative methodology might be used to measure the relationship between two variables (e.g. personality type and likelihood to commit a crime) or to test a set of hypotheses .

As you’ve probably guessed, the mixed-method methodology attempts to combine the best of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to integrate perspectives and create a rich picture. If you’d like to learn more about these three methodological approaches, be sure to watch our explainer video below.

What is sampling strategy?

Simply put, sampling is about deciding who (or where) you’re going to collect your data from . Why does this matter? Well, generally it’s not possible to collect data from every single person in your group of interest (this is called the “population”), so you’ll need to engage a smaller portion of that group that’s accessible and manageable (this is called the “sample”).

How you go about selecting the sample (i.e., your sampling strategy) will have a major impact on your study.  There are many different sampling methods  you can choose from, but the two overarching categories are probability   sampling and  non-probability   sampling .

Probability sampling  involves using a completely random sample from the group of people you’re interested in. This is comparable to throwing the names all potential participants into a hat, shaking it up, and picking out the “winners”. By using a completely random sample, you’ll minimise the risk of selection bias and the results of your study will be more generalisable  to the entire population. 

Non-probability sampling , on the other hand,  doesn’t use a random sample . For example, it might involve using a convenience sample, which means you’d only interview or survey people that you have access to (perhaps your friends, family or work colleagues), rather than a truly random sample. With non-probability sampling, the results are typically not generalisable .

To learn more about sampling methods, be sure to check out the video below.

What are data collection methods?

As the name suggests, data collection methods simply refers to the way in which you go about collecting the data for your study. Some of the most common data collection methods include:

• Interviews (which can be unstructured, semi-structured or structured)
• Focus groups and group interviews
• Surveys (online or physical surveys)
• Observations (watching and recording activities)
• Biophysical measurements (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, etc.)
• Documents and records (e.g., financial reports, court records, etc.)

The choice of which data collection method to use depends on your overall research aims and research questions , as well as practicalities and resource constraints. For example, if your research is exploratory in nature, qualitative methods such as interviews and focus groups would likely be a good fit. Conversely, if your research aims to measure specific variables or test hypotheses, large-scale surveys that produce large volumes of numerical data would likely be a better fit.

What are data analysis methods?

Data analysis methods refer to the methods and techniques that you’ll use to make sense of your data. These can be grouped according to whether the research is qualitative  (words-based) or quantitative (numbers-based).

Popular data analysis methods in qualitative research include:

• Qualitative content analysis
• Thematic analysis
• Discourse analysis
• Narrative analysis
• Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA)
• Visual analysis (of photographs, videos, art, etc.)

Qualitative data analysis all begins with data coding , after which an analysis method is applied. In some cases, more than one analysis method is used, depending on the research aims and research questions . In the video below, we explore some  common qualitative analysis methods, along with practical examples.  

Moving on to the quantitative side of things, popular data analysis methods in this type of research include:

• Descriptive statistics (e.g. means, medians, modes )
• Inferential statistics (e.g. correlation, regression, structural equation modelling)

Again, the choice of which data collection method to use depends on your overall research aims and objectives , as well as practicalities and resource constraints. In the video below, we explain some core concepts central to quantitative analysis.

How do I choose a research methodology?

As you’ve probably picked up by now, your research aims and objectives have a major influence on the research methodology . So, the starting point for developing your research methodology is to take a step back and look at the big picture of your research, before you make methodology decisions. The first question you need to ask yourself is whether your research is exploratory or confirmatory in nature.

If your research aims and objectives are primarily exploratory in nature, your research will likely be qualitative and therefore you might consider qualitative data collection methods (e.g. interviews) and analysis methods (e.g. qualitative content analysis). 

Conversely, if your research aims and objective are looking to measure or test something (i.e. they’re confirmatory), then your research will quite likely be quantitative in nature, and you might consider quantitative data collection methods (e.g. surveys) and analyses (e.g. statistical analysis).

Designing your research and working out your methodology is a large topic, which we cover extensively on the blog . For now, however, the key takeaway is that you should always start with your research aims, objectives and research questions (the golden thread). Every methodological choice you make needs align with those three components. 

Example of a research methodology chapter

In the video below, we provide a detailed walkthrough of a research methodology from an actual dissertation, as well as an overview of our free methodology template .

Psst... there’s more!

This post was based on one of our popular Research Bootcamps . If you're working on a research project, you'll definitely want to check this out ...

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199 Comments

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Research methodology with a simplest way i have never seen before this article.

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I am writing a APA Format paper . I using questionnaire with 120 STDs teacher for my participant. Can you write me mthology for this research. Send it through email sent. Just need a sample as an example please. My topic is ” impacts of overcrowding on students learning

Thanks for your comment.

We can’t write your methodology for you. If you’re looking for samples, you should be able to find some sample methodologies on Google. Alternatively, you can download some previous dissertations from a dissertation directory and have a look at the methodology chapters therein.

All the best with your research.

Thank you so much for this!! God Bless

Thank you. Explicit explanation

Thank you, Derek and Kerryn, for making this simple to understand. I’m currently at the inception stage of my research.

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excellent explanation

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Very interesting and informative yet I would like to know about examples of Research Questions as well, if possible.

I’m about to submit a research presentation, I have come to understand from your simplification on understanding research methodology. My research will be mixed methodology, qualitative as well as quantitative. So aim and objective of mixed method would be both exploratory and confirmatory. Thanks you very much for your guidance.

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I’m going to write synopsis which will be quantitative research method and I don’t know how to frame my topic, can I kindly get some ideas..

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Thanks Derek. Kerryn was just fantastic!

Great to hear that, Hyacinth. Best of luck with your research!

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Thanks for the feedback, Matobela. Good luck with your research methodology.

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You’re very welcome, Elie. Good luck with your research methodology.

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This is a very helpful site especially for young researchers at college. It provides sufficient information to guide students and equip them with the necessary foundation to ask any other questions aimed at deepening their understanding.

Thanks for the kind words, Edward. Good luck with your research!

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Great to hear that, Ngwisa. Good luck with your research methodology!

Thank you for keeping your presentation simples and short and covering key information for research methodology. My key takeaway: Start with defining your research objective the other will depend on the aims of your research question.

My name is Zanele I would like to be assisted with my research , and the topic is shortage of nursing staff globally want are the causes , effects on health, patients and community and also globally

Thanks for making it simple and clear. It greatly helped in understanding research methodology. Regards.

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Thank you Dr

I was given an assignment to research 2 publications and describe their research methodology? I don’t know how to start this task can someone help me?

Sure. You’re welcome to book an initial consultation with one of our Research Coaches to discuss how we can assist – https://gradcoach.com/book/new/ .

Thanks a lot I am relieved of a heavy burden.keep up with the good work

I’m very much grateful Dr Derek. I’m planning to pursue one of the careers that really needs one to be very much eager to know. There’s a lot of research to do and everything, but since I’ve gotten this information I will use it to the best of my potential.

Thank you so much, words are not enough to explain how helpful this session has been for me!

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Very concise and helpful. Thanks a lot

Thank Derek. This is very helpful. Your step by step explanation has made it easier for me to understand different concepts. Now i can get on with my research.

I wish i had come across this sooner. So simple but yet insightful

really nice explanation thank you so much

I’m so grateful finding this site, it’s really helpful…….every term well explained and provide accurate understanding especially to student going into an in-depth research for the very first time, even though my lecturer already explained this topic to the class, I think I got the clear and efficient explanation here, much thanks to the author.

It is very helpful material

I would like to be assisted with my research topic : Literature Review and research methodologies. My topic is : what is the relationship between unemployment and economic growth?

Its really nice and good for us.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR EXPLANATION, ITS VERY CLEAR TO ME WHAT I WILL BE DOING FROM NOW .GREAT READS.

Short but sweet.Thank you

Informative article. Thanks for your detailed information.

I’m currently working on my Ph.D. thesis. Thanks a lot, Derek and Kerryn, Well-organized sequences, facilitate the readers’ following.

great article for someone who does not have any background can even understand

I am a bit confused about research design and methodology. Are they the same? If not, what are the differences and how are they related?

Thanks in advance.

concise and informative.

Thank you very much

How can we site this article is Harvard style?

Very well written piece that afforded better understanding of the concept. Thank you!

Am a new researcher trying to learn how best to write a research proposal. I find your article spot on and want to download the free template but finding difficulties. Can u kindly send it to my email, the free download entitled, “Free Download: Research Proposal Template (with Examples)”.

Thank too much

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It was very helpful, a well-written document with precise information.

how do i reference this?

MLA Jansen, Derek, and Kerryn Warren. “What (Exactly) Is Research Methodology?” Grad Coach, June 2021, gradcoach.com/what-is-research-methodology/.

APA Jansen, D., & Warren, K. (2021, June). What (Exactly) Is Research Methodology? Grad Coach. https://gradcoach.com/what-is-research-methodology/

Your explanation is easily understood. Thank you

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research methodologies

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hello sir/ma’am, i didn’t find yet that what type of research methodology i am using. because i am writing my report on CSR and collect all my data from websites and articles so which type of methodology i should write in dissertation report. please help me. i am from India.

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Thank you very much for the presentation. I am an MPH student with the Adventist University of Africa. I have successfully completed my theory and starting on my research this July. My topic is “Factors associated with Dental Caries in (one District) in Botswana. I need help on how to go about this quantitative research

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• What Is a Research Design | Types, Guide & Examples

What Is a Research Design | Types, Guide & Examples

Published on June 7, 2021 by Shona McCombes . Revised on November 20, 2023 by Pritha Bhandari.

A research design is a strategy for answering your   research question  using empirical data. Creating a research design means making decisions about:

• Your overall research objectives and approach
• Whether you’ll rely on primary research or secondary research
• Your sampling methods or criteria for selecting subjects
• Your data collection methods
• The procedures you’ll follow to collect data
• Your data analysis methods

A well-planned research design helps ensure that your methods match your research objectives and that you use the right kind of analysis for your data.

Table of contents

Step 1: consider your aims and approach, step 2: choose a type of research design, step 3: identify your population and sampling method, step 4: choose your data collection methods, step 5: plan your data collection procedures, step 6: decide on your data analysis strategies, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about research design.

• Introduction

Before you can start designing your research, you should already have a clear idea of the research question you want to investigate.

There are many different ways you could go about answering this question. Your research design choices should be driven by your aims and priorities—start by thinking carefully about what you want to achieve.

The first choice you need to make is whether you’ll take a qualitative or quantitative approach.

Qualitative research designs tend to be more flexible and inductive , allowing you to adjust your approach based on what you find throughout the research process.

Quantitative research designs tend to be more fixed and deductive , with variables and hypotheses clearly defined in advance of data collection.

It’s also possible to use a mixed-methods design that integrates aspects of both approaches. By combining qualitative and quantitative insights, you can gain a more complete picture of the problem you’re studying and strengthen the credibility of your conclusions.

Practical and ethical considerations when designing research

As well as scientific considerations, you need to think practically when designing your research. If your research involves people or animals, you also need to consider research ethics .

• How much time do you have to collect data and write up the research?
• Will you be able to gain access to the data you need (e.g., by travelling to a specific location or contacting specific people)?
• Do you have the necessary research skills (e.g., statistical analysis or interview techniques)?
• Will you need ethical approval ?

At each stage of the research design process, make sure that your choices are practically feasible.

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See an example

Within both qualitative and quantitative approaches, there are several types of research design to choose from. Each type provides a framework for the overall shape of your research.

Types of quantitative research designs

Quantitative designs can be split into four main types.

• Experimental and   quasi-experimental designs allow you to test cause-and-effect relationships
• Descriptive and correlational designs allow you to measure variables and describe relationships between them.

With descriptive and correlational designs, you can get a clear picture of characteristics, trends and relationships as they exist in the real world. However, you can’t draw conclusions about cause and effect (because correlation doesn’t imply causation ).

Experiments are the strongest way to test cause-and-effect relationships without the risk of other variables influencing the results. However, their controlled conditions may not always reflect how things work in the real world. They’re often also more difficult and expensive to implement.

Types of qualitative research designs

Qualitative designs are less strictly defined. This approach is about gaining a rich, detailed understanding of a specific context or phenomenon, and you can often be more creative and flexible in designing your research.

The table below shows some common types of qualitative design. They often have similar approaches in terms of data collection, but focus on different aspects when analyzing the data.

Your research design should clearly define who or what your research will focus on, and how you’ll go about choosing your participants or subjects.

In research, a population is the entire group that you want to draw conclusions about, while a sample is the smaller group of individuals you’ll actually collect data from.

Defining the population

A population can be made up of anything you want to study—plants, animals, organizations, texts, countries, etc. In the social sciences, it most often refers to a group of people.

For example, will you focus on people from a specific demographic, region or background? Are you interested in people with a certain job or medical condition, or users of a particular product?

The more precisely you define your population, the easier it will be to gather a representative sample.

• Sampling methods

Even with a narrowly defined population, it’s rarely possible to collect data from every individual. Instead, you’ll collect data from a sample.

To select a sample, there are two main approaches: probability sampling and non-probability sampling . The sampling method you use affects how confidently you can generalize your results to the population as a whole.

Probability sampling is the most statistically valid option, but it’s often difficult to achieve unless you’re dealing with a very small and accessible population.

For practical reasons, many studies use non-probability sampling, but it’s important to be aware of the limitations and carefully consider potential biases. You should always make an effort to gather a sample that’s as representative as possible of the population.

Case selection in qualitative research

In some types of qualitative designs, sampling may not be relevant.

For example, in an ethnography or a case study , your aim is to deeply understand a specific context, not to generalize to a population. Instead of sampling, you may simply aim to collect as much data as possible about the context you are studying.

In these types of design, you still have to carefully consider your choice of case or community. You should have a clear rationale for why this particular case is suitable for answering your research question .

For example, you might choose a case study that reveals an unusual or neglected aspect of your research problem, or you might choose several very similar or very different cases in order to compare them.

Data collection methods are ways of directly measuring variables and gathering information. They allow you to gain first-hand knowledge and original insights into your research problem.

You can choose just one data collection method, or use several methods in the same study.

Survey methods

Surveys allow you to collect data about opinions, behaviors, experiences, and characteristics by asking people directly. There are two main survey methods to choose from: questionnaires and interviews .

Observation methods

Observational studies allow you to collect data unobtrusively, observing characteristics, behaviors or social interactions without relying on self-reporting.

Observations may be conducted in real time, taking notes as you observe, or you might make audiovisual recordings for later analysis. They can be qualitative or quantitative.

Other methods of data collection

There are many other ways you might collect data depending on your field and topic.

If you’re not sure which methods will work best for your research design, try reading some papers in your field to see what kinds of data collection methods they used.

Secondary data

If you don’t have the time or resources to collect data from the population you’re interested in, you can also choose to use secondary data that other researchers already collected—for example, datasets from government surveys or previous studies on your topic.

With this raw data, you can do your own analysis to answer new research questions that weren’t addressed by the original study.

Using secondary data can expand the scope of your research, as you may be able to access much larger and more varied samples than you could collect yourself.

However, it also means you don’t have any control over which variables to measure or how to measure them, so the conclusions you can draw may be limited.

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As well as deciding on your methods, you need to plan exactly how you’ll use these methods to collect data that’s consistent, accurate, and unbiased.

Planning systematic procedures is especially important in quantitative research, where you need to precisely define your variables and ensure your measurements are high in reliability and validity.

Operationalization

Some variables, like height or age, are easily measured. But often you’ll be dealing with more abstract concepts, like satisfaction, anxiety, or competence. Operationalization means turning these fuzzy ideas into measurable indicators.

If you’re using observations , which events or actions will you count?

If you’re using surveys , which questions will you ask and what range of responses will be offered?

You may also choose to use or adapt existing materials designed to measure the concept you’re interested in—for example, questionnaires or inventories whose reliability and validity has already been established.

Reliability and validity

Reliability means your results can be consistently reproduced, while validity means that you’re actually measuring the concept you’re interested in.

For valid and reliable results, your measurement materials should be thoroughly researched and carefully designed. Plan your procedures to make sure you carry out the same steps in the same way for each participant.

If you’re developing a new questionnaire or other instrument to measure a specific concept, running a pilot study allows you to check its validity and reliability in advance.

Sampling procedures

As well as choosing an appropriate sampling method , you need a concrete plan for how you’ll actually contact and recruit your selected sample.

That means making decisions about things like:

• How many participants do you need for an adequate sample size?
• What inclusion and exclusion criteria will you use to identify eligible participants?
• How will you contact your sample—by mail, online, by phone, or in person?

If you’re using a probability sampling method , it’s important that everyone who is randomly selected actually participates in the study. How will you ensure a high response rate?

If you’re using a non-probability method , how will you avoid research bias and ensure a representative sample?

Data management

It’s also important to create a data management plan for organizing and storing your data.

Will you need to transcribe interviews or perform data entry for observations? You should anonymize and safeguard any sensitive data, and make sure it’s backed up regularly.

Keeping your data well-organized will save time when it comes to analyzing it. It can also help other researchers validate and add to your findings (high replicability ).

On its own, raw data can’t answer your research question. The last step of designing your research is planning how you’ll analyze the data.

Quantitative data analysis

In quantitative research, you’ll most likely use some form of statistical analysis . With statistics, you can summarize your sample data, make estimates, and test hypotheses.

Using descriptive statistics , you can summarize your sample data in terms of:

• The distribution of the data (e.g., the frequency of each score on a test)
• The central tendency of the data (e.g., the mean to describe the average score)
• The variability of the data (e.g., the standard deviation to describe how spread out the scores are)

The specific calculations you can do depend on the level of measurement of your variables.

Using inferential statistics , you can:

• Make estimates about the population based on your sample data.
• Test hypotheses about a relationship between variables.

Regression and correlation tests look for associations between two or more variables, while comparison tests (such as t tests and ANOVAs ) look for differences in the outcomes of different groups.

Your choice of statistical test depends on various aspects of your research design, including the types of variables you’re dealing with and the distribution of your data.

Qualitative data analysis

In qualitative research, your data will usually be very dense with information and ideas. Instead of summing it up in numbers, you’ll need to comb through the data in detail, interpret its meanings, identify patterns, and extract the parts that are most relevant to your research question.

Two of the most common approaches to doing this are thematic analysis and discourse analysis .

There are many other ways of analyzing qualitative data depending on the aims of your research. To get a sense of potential approaches, try reading some qualitative research papers in your field.

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

A research design is a strategy for answering your   research question . It defines your overall approach and determines how you will collect and analyze data.

A well-planned research design helps ensure that your methods match your research aims, that you collect high-quality data, and that you use the right kind of analysis to answer your questions, utilizing credible sources . This allows you to draw valid , trustworthy conclusions.

Quantitative research designs can be divided into two main categories:

• Correlational and descriptive designs are used to investigate characteristics, averages, trends, and associations between variables.
• Experimental and quasi-experimental designs are used to test causal relationships .

Qualitative research designs tend to be more flexible. Common types of qualitative design include case study , ethnography , and grounded theory designs.

The priorities of a research design can vary depending on the field, but you usually have to specify:

• Your research questions and/or hypotheses
• Your overall approach (e.g., qualitative or quantitative )
• The type of design you’re using (e.g., a survey , experiment , or case study )
• Your data collection methods (e.g., questionnaires , observations)
• Your data collection procedures (e.g., operationalization , timing and data management)
• Your data analysis methods (e.g., statistical tests  or thematic analysis )

A sample is a subset of individuals from a larger population . Sampling means selecting the group that you will actually collect data from in your research. For example, if you are researching the opinions of students in your university, you could survey a sample of 100 students.

In statistics, sampling allows you to test a hypothesis about the characteristics of a population.

Operationalization means turning abstract conceptual ideas into measurable observations.

For example, the concept of social anxiety isn’t directly observable, but it can be operationally defined in terms of self-rating scores, behavioral avoidance of crowded places, or physical anxiety symptoms in social situations.

Before collecting data , it’s important to consider how you will operationalize the variables that you want to measure.

A research project is an academic, scientific, or professional undertaking to answer a research question . Research projects can take many forms, such as qualitative or quantitative , descriptive , longitudinal , experimental , or correlational . What kind of research approach you choose will depend on your topic.

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Research Process – Steps, Examples and Tips

Table of Contents

Research Process

Definition:

Research Process is a systematic and structured approach that involves the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data or information to answer a specific research question or solve a particular problem.

Research Process Steps

Research Process Steps are as follows:

Identify the Research Question or Problem

This is the first step in the research process. It involves identifying a problem or question that needs to be addressed. The research question should be specific, relevant, and focused on a particular area of interest.

Conduct a Literature Review

Once the research question has been identified, the next step is to conduct a literature review. This involves reviewing existing research and literature on the topic to identify any gaps in knowledge or areas where further research is needed. A literature review helps to provide a theoretical framework for the research and also ensures that the research is not duplicating previous work.

Formulate a Hypothesis or Research Objectives

Based on the research question and literature review, the researcher can formulate a hypothesis or research objectives. A hypothesis is a statement that can be tested to determine its validity, while research objectives are specific goals that the researcher aims to achieve through the research.

Design a Research Plan and Methodology

This step involves designing a research plan and methodology that will enable the researcher to collect and analyze data to test the hypothesis or achieve the research objectives. The research plan should include details on the sample size, data collection methods, and data analysis techniques that will be used.

Collect and Analyze Data

This step involves collecting and analyzing data according to the research plan and methodology. Data can be collected through various methods, including surveys, interviews, observations, or experiments. The data analysis process involves cleaning and organizing the data, applying statistical and analytical techniques to the data, and interpreting the results.

Interpret the Findings and Draw Conclusions

After analyzing the data, the researcher must interpret the findings and draw conclusions. This involves assessing the validity and reliability of the results and determining whether the hypothesis was supported or not. The researcher must also consider any limitations of the research and discuss the implications of the findings.

Communicate the Results

Finally, the researcher must communicate the results of the research through a research report, presentation, or publication. The research report should provide a detailed account of the research process, including the research question, literature review, research methodology, data analysis, findings, and conclusions. The report should also include recommendations for further research in the area.

Review and Revise

The research process is an iterative one, and it is important to review and revise the research plan and methodology as necessary. Researchers should assess the quality of their data and methods, reflect on their findings, and consider areas for improvement.

Ethical Considerations

Throughout the research process, ethical considerations must be taken into account. This includes ensuring that the research design protects the welfare of research participants, obtaining informed consent, maintaining confidentiality and privacy, and avoiding any potential harm to participants or their communities.

Dissemination and Application

The final step in the research process is to disseminate the findings and apply the research to real-world settings. Researchers can share their findings through academic publications, presentations at conferences, or media coverage. The research can be used to inform policy decisions, develop interventions, or improve practice in the relevant field.

Research Process Example

Following is a Research Process Example:

Research Question : What are the effects of a plant-based diet on athletic performance in high school athletes?

Step 1: Background Research Conduct a literature review to gain a better understanding of the existing research on the topic. Read academic articles and research studies related to plant-based diets, athletic performance, and high school athletes.

Step 2: Develop a Hypothesis Based on the literature review, develop a hypothesis that a plant-based diet positively affects athletic performance in high school athletes.

Step 3: Design the Study Design a study to test the hypothesis. Decide on the study population, sample size, and research methods. For this study, you could use a survey to collect data on dietary habits and athletic performance from a sample of high school athletes who follow a plant-based diet and a sample of high school athletes who do not follow a plant-based diet.

Step 4: Collect Data Distribute the survey to the selected sample and collect data on dietary habits and athletic performance.

Step 5: Analyze Data Use statistical analysis to compare the data from the two samples and determine if there is a significant difference in athletic performance between those who follow a plant-based diet and those who do not.

Step 6 : Interpret Results Interpret the results of the analysis in the context of the research question and hypothesis. Discuss any limitations or potential biases in the study design.

Step 7: Draw Conclusions Based on the results, draw conclusions about whether a plant-based diet has a significant effect on athletic performance in high school athletes. If the hypothesis is supported by the data, discuss potential implications and future research directions.

Step 8: Communicate Findings Communicate the findings of the study in a clear and concise manner. Use appropriate language, visuals, and formats to ensure that the findings are understood and valued.

Applications of Research Process

The research process has numerous applications across a wide range of fields and industries. Some examples of applications of the research process include:

• Scientific research: The research process is widely used in scientific research to investigate phenomena in the natural world and develop new theories or technologies. This includes fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science.
• Social sciences : The research process is commonly used in social sciences to study human behavior, social structures, and institutions. This includes fields such as sociology, psychology, anthropology, and economics.
• Education: The research process is used in education to study learning processes, curriculum design, and teaching methodologies. This includes research on student achievement, teacher effectiveness, and educational policy.
• Healthcare: The research process is used in healthcare to investigate medical conditions, develop new treatments, and evaluate healthcare interventions. This includes fields such as medicine, nursing, and public health.
• Business and industry : The research process is used in business and industry to study consumer behavior, market trends, and develop new products or services. This includes market research, product development, and customer satisfaction research.
• Government and policy : The research process is used in government and policy to evaluate the effectiveness of policies and programs, and to inform policy decisions. This includes research on social welfare, crime prevention, and environmental policy.

Purpose of Research Process

The purpose of the research process is to systematically and scientifically investigate a problem or question in order to generate new knowledge or solve a problem. The research process enables researchers to:

• Identify gaps in existing knowledge: By conducting a thorough literature review, researchers can identify gaps in existing knowledge and develop research questions that address these gaps.
• Collect and analyze data : The research process provides a structured approach to collecting and analyzing data. Researchers can use a variety of research methods, including surveys, experiments, and interviews, to collect data that is valid and reliable.
• Test hypotheses : The research process allows researchers to test hypotheses and make evidence-based conclusions. Through the systematic analysis of data, researchers can draw conclusions about the relationships between variables and develop new theories or models.
• Solve problems: The research process can be used to solve practical problems and improve real-world outcomes. For example, researchers can develop interventions to address health or social problems, evaluate the effectiveness of policies or programs, and improve organizational processes.
• Generate new knowledge : The research process is a key way to generate new knowledge and advance understanding in a given field. By conducting rigorous and well-designed research, researchers can make significant contributions to their field and help to shape future research.

Tips for Research Process

Here are some tips for the research process:

• Start with a clear research question : A well-defined research question is the foundation of a successful research project. It should be specific, relevant, and achievable within the given time frame and resources.
• Conduct a thorough literature review: A comprehensive literature review will help you to identify gaps in existing knowledge, build on previous research, and avoid duplication. It will also provide a theoretical framework for your research.
• Choose appropriate research methods: Select research methods that are appropriate for your research question, objectives, and sample size. Ensure that your methods are valid, reliable, and ethical.
• Be organized and systematic: Keep detailed notes throughout the research process, including your research plan, methodology, data collection, and analysis. This will help you to stay organized and ensure that you don’t miss any important details.
• Analyze data rigorously: Use appropriate statistical and analytical techniques to analyze your data. Ensure that your analysis is valid, reliable, and transparent.
• I nterpret results carefully : Interpret your results in the context of your research question and objectives. Consider any limitations or potential biases in your research design, and be cautious in drawing conclusions.
• Communicate effectively: Communicate your research findings clearly and effectively to your target audience. Use appropriate language, visuals, and formats to ensure that your findings are understood and valued.
• Collaborate and seek feedback : Collaborate with other researchers, experts, or stakeholders in your field. Seek feedback on your research design, methods, and findings to ensure that they are relevant, meaningful, and impactful.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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What is Research Methodology? Definition, Types, and Examples

Research methodology 1,2 is a structured and scientific approach used to collect, analyze, and interpret quantitative or qualitative data to answer research questions or test hypotheses. A research methodology is like a plan for carrying out research and helps keep researchers on track by limiting the scope of the research. Several aspects must be considered before selecting an appropriate research methodology, such as research limitations and ethical concerns that may affect your research.

The research methodology section in a scientific paper describes the different methodological choices made, such as the data collection and analysis methods, and why these choices were selected. The reasons should explain why the methods chosen are the most appropriate to answer the research question. A good research methodology also helps ensure the reliability and validity of the research findings. There are three types of research methodology—quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method, which can be chosen based on the research objectives.

What is research methodology ?

A research methodology describes the techniques and procedures used to identify and analyze information regarding a specific research topic. It is a process by which researchers design their study so that they can achieve their objectives using the selected research instruments. It includes all the important aspects of research, including research design, data collection methods, data analysis methods, and the overall framework within which the research is conducted. While these points can help you understand what is research methodology, you also need to know why it is important to pick the right methodology.

Why is research methodology important?

Having a good research methodology in place has the following advantages: 3

• Helps other researchers who may want to replicate your research; the explanations will be of benefit to them.
• You can easily answer any questions about your research if they arise at a later stage.
• A research methodology provides a framework and guidelines for researchers to clearly define research questions, hypotheses, and objectives.
• It helps researchers identify the most appropriate research design, sampling technique, and data collection and analysis methods.
• A sound research methodology helps researchers ensure that their findings are valid and reliable and free from biases and errors.
• It also helps ensure that ethical guidelines are followed while conducting research.
• A good research methodology helps researchers in planning their research efficiently, by ensuring optimum usage of their time and resources.

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Types of research methodology.

There are three types of research methodology based on the type of research and the data required. 1

• Quantitative research methodology focuses on measuring and testing numerical data. This approach is good for reaching a large number of people in a short amount of time. This type of research helps in testing the causal relationships between variables, making predictions, and generalizing results to wider populations.
• Qualitative research methodology examines the opinions, behaviors, and experiences of people. It collects and analyzes words and textual data. This research methodology requires fewer participants but is still more time consuming because the time spent per participant is quite large. This method is used in exploratory research where the research problem being investigated is not clearly defined.
• Mixed-method research methodology uses the characteristics of both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies in the same study. This method allows researchers to validate their findings, verify if the results observed using both methods are complementary, and explain any unexpected results obtained from one method by using the other method.

What are the types of sampling designs in research methodology?

Sampling 4 is an important part of a research methodology and involves selecting a representative sample of the population to conduct the study, making statistical inferences about them, and estimating the characteristics of the whole population based on these inferences. There are two types of sampling designs in research methodology—probability and nonprobability.

• Probability sampling

In this type of sampling design, a sample is chosen from a larger population using some form of random selection, that is, every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected. The different types of probability sampling are:

• Systematic —sample members are chosen at regular intervals. It requires selecting a starting point for the sample and sample size determination that can be repeated at regular intervals. This type of sampling method has a predefined range; hence, it is the least time consuming.
• Stratified —researchers divide the population into smaller groups that don’t overlap but represent the entire population. While sampling, these groups can be organized, and then a sample can be drawn from each group separately.
• Cluster —the population is divided into clusters based on demographic parameters like age, sex, location, etc.
• Convenience —selects participants who are most easily accessible to researchers due to geographical proximity, availability at a particular time, etc.
• Purposive —participants are selected at the researcher’s discretion. Researchers consider the purpose of the study and the understanding of the target audience.
• Snowball —already selected participants use their social networks to refer the researcher to other potential participants.
• Quota —while designing the study, the researchers decide how many people with which characteristics to include as participants. The characteristics help in choosing people most likely to provide insights into the subject.

What are data collection methods?

During research, data are collected using various methods depending on the research methodology being followed and the research methods being undertaken. Both qualitative and quantitative research have different data collection methods, as listed below.

Qualitative research 5

• One-on-one interviews: Helps the interviewers understand a respondent’s subjective opinion and experience pertaining to a specific topic or event
• Document study/literature review/record keeping: Researchers’ review of already existing written materials such as archives, annual reports, research articles, guidelines, policy documents, etc.
• Focus groups: Constructive discussions that usually include a small sample of about 6-10 people and a moderator, to understand the participants’ opinion on a given topic.
• Qualitative observation : Researchers collect data using their five senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing).

Quantitative research 6

• Sampling: The most common type is probability sampling.
• Interviews: Commonly telephonic or done in-person.
• Observations: Structured observations are most commonly used in quantitative research. In this method, researchers make observations about specific behaviors of individuals in a structured setting.
• Document review: Reviewing existing research or documents to collect evidence for supporting the research.
• Surveys and questionnaires. Surveys can be administered both online and offline depending on the requirement and sample size.

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What are data analysis methods.

The data collected using the various methods for qualitative and quantitative research need to be analyzed to generate meaningful conclusions. These data analysis methods 7 also differ between quantitative and qualitative research.

Quantitative research involves a deductive method for data analysis where hypotheses are developed at the beginning of the research and precise measurement is required. The methods include statistical analysis applications to analyze numerical data and are grouped into two categories—descriptive and inferential.

Descriptive analysis is used to describe the basic features of different types of data to present it in a way that ensures the patterns become meaningful. The different types of descriptive analysis methods are:

• Measures of frequency (count, percent, frequency)
• Measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode)
• Measures of dispersion or variation (range, variance, standard deviation)
• Measure of position (percentile ranks, quartile ranks)

Inferential analysis is used to make predictions about a larger population based on the analysis of the data collected from a smaller population. This analysis is used to study the relationships between different variables. Some commonly used inferential data analysis methods are:

• Correlation: To understand the relationship between two or more variables.
• Cross-tabulation: Analyze the relationship between multiple variables.
• Regression analysis: Study the impact of independent variables on the dependent variable.
• Frequency tables: To understand the frequency of data.
• Analysis of variance: To test the degree to which two or more variables differ in an experiment.

Qualitative research involves an inductive method for data analysis where hypotheses are developed after data collection. The methods include:

• Content analysis: For analyzing documented information from text and images by determining the presence of certain words or concepts in texts.
• Narrative analysis: For analyzing content obtained from sources such as interviews, field observations, and surveys. The stories and opinions shared by people are used to answer research questions.
• Discourse analysis: For analyzing interactions with people considering the social context, that is, the lifestyle and environment, under which the interaction occurs.
• Grounded theory: Involves hypothesis creation by data collection and analysis to explain why a phenomenon occurred.
• Thematic analysis: To identify important themes or patterns in data and use these to address an issue.

How to choose a research methodology?

Here are some important factors to consider when choosing a research methodology: 8

• Research objectives, aims, and questions —these would help structure the research design.
• Review existing literature to identify any gaps in knowledge.
• Check the statistical requirements —if data-driven or statistical results are needed then quantitative research is the best. If the research questions can be answered based on people’s opinions and perceptions, then qualitative research is most suitable.
• Sample size —sample size can often determine the feasibility of a research methodology. For a large sample, less effort- and time-intensive methods are appropriate.
• Constraints —constraints of time, geography, and resources can help define the appropriate methodology.

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How to write a research methodology .

A research methodology should include the following components: 3,9

• Research design —should be selected based on the research question and the data required. Common research designs include experimental, quasi-experimental, correlational, descriptive, and exploratory.
• Research method —this can be quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method.
• Reason for selecting a specific methodology —explain why this methodology is the most suitable to answer your research problem.
• Research instruments —explain the research instruments you plan to use, mainly referring to the data collection methods such as interviews, surveys, etc. Here as well, a reason should be mentioned for selecting the particular instrument.
• Sampling —this involves selecting a representative subset of the population being studied.
• Data collection —involves gathering data using several data collection methods, such as surveys, interviews, etc.
• Data analysis —describe the data analysis methods you will use once you’ve collected the data.
• Research limitations —mention any limitations you foresee while conducting your research.
• Validity and reliability —validity helps identify the accuracy and truthfulness of the findings; reliability refers to the consistency and stability of the results over time and across different conditions.
• Ethical considerations —research should be conducted ethically. The considerations include obtaining consent from participants, maintaining confidentiality, and addressing conflicts of interest.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the key components of research methodology?

A1. A good research methodology has the following key components:

• Research design
• Data collection procedures
• Data analysis methods
• Ethical considerations

Q2. Why is ethical consideration important in research methodology?

A2. Ethical consideration is important in research methodology to ensure the readers of the reliability and validity of the study. Researchers must clearly mention the ethical norms and standards followed during the conduct of the research and also mention if the research has been cleared by any institutional board. The following 10 points are the important principles related to ethical considerations: 10

• Participants should not be subjected to harm.
• Respect for the dignity of participants should be prioritized.
• Full consent should be obtained from participants before the study.
• Participants’ privacy should be ensured.
• Confidentiality of the research data should be ensured.
• Anonymity of individuals and organizations participating in the research should be maintained.
• The aims and objectives of the research should not be exaggerated.
• Affiliations, sources of funding, and any possible conflicts of interest should be declared.
• Communication in relation to the research should be honest and transparent.
• Misleading information and biased representation of primary data findings should be avoided.

Q3. What is the difference between methodology and method?

A3. Research methodology is different from a research method, although both terms are often confused. Research methods are the tools used to gather data, while the research methodology provides a framework for how research is planned, conducted, and analyzed. The latter guides researchers in making decisions about the most appropriate methods for their research. Research methods refer to the specific techniques, procedures, and tools used by researchers to collect, analyze, and interpret data, for instance surveys, questionnaires, interviews, etc.

Research methodology is, thus, an integral part of a research study. It helps ensure that you stay on track to meet your research objectives and answer your research questions using the most appropriate data collection and analysis tools based on your research design.

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• Research methodologies. Pfeiffer Library website. Accessed August 15, 2023. https://library.tiffin.edu/researchmethodologies/whatareresearchmethodologies
• Types of research methodology. Eduvoice website. Accessed August 16, 2023. https://eduvoice.in/types-research-methodology/
• The basics of research methodology: A key to quality research. Voxco. Accessed August 16, 2023. https://www.voxco.com/blog/what-is-research-methodology/
• Sampling methods: Types with examples. QuestionPro website. Accessed August 16, 2023. https://www.questionpro.com/blog/types-of-sampling-for-social-research/
• What is qualitative research? Methods, types, approaches, examples. Researcher.Life blog. Accessed August 15, 2023. https://researcher.life/blog/article/what-is-qualitative-research-methods-types-examples/
• What is quantitative research? Definition, methods, types, and examples. Researcher.Life blog. Accessed August 15, 2023. https://researcher.life/blog/article/what-is-quantitative-research-types-and-examples/
• Data analysis in research: Types & methods. QuestionPro website. Accessed August 16, 2023. https://www.questionpro.com/blog/data-analysis-in-research/#Data_analysis_in_qualitative_research
• Factors to consider while choosing the right research methodology. PhD Monster website. Accessed August 17, 2023. https://www.phdmonster.com/factors-to-consider-while-choosing-the-right-research-methodology/
• What is research methodology? Research and writing guides. Accessed August 14, 2023. https://paperpile.com/g/what-is-research-methodology/
• Ethical considerations. Business research methodology website. Accessed August 17, 2023. https://research-methodology.net/research-methodology/ethical-considerations/

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Research process flowchart

The research process flowchart outlines the steps involved in conducting a research study. The first step is to define the research problem and develop  research questions  that are clear, concise, and relevant to the field of study.

After developing the research questions, the next step is to conduct a  literature review  to identify any gaps in knowledge and provide a foundation for the study. The next step is to formulate  research hypotheses  that predict the relationship between the independent and dependent variables in the study.

Once the research hypotheses have been developed, the next step is to select an appropriate research design that can test the hypotheses and provide a clear answer to the research questions. The  research design  should be based on the research question and should be able to provide a rigorous and effective study.

The next steps in the  research process flowchart  are to collect and analyze data using appropriate  statistical methods , interpret the results, and draw conclusions. The results should be interpreted in light of the  research question  and hypotheses, and any limitations and implications of the study should be discussed.

Finally, the findings should be communicated to the appropriate audience in a clear and concise manner. By following this research process flowchart, researchers can conduct a rigorous and effective research study that contributes to the field of study and advances knowledge in their area of interest.

Advantages of creating this flowchart

First, it helps to ensure that all necessary steps are taken and that the research study is conducted in a consistent and standardized manner . By outlining the steps involved in the research process, researchers can ensure that the study is conducted in a rigorous and effective manner, and that all necessary steps are taken. This can help to improve the quality of the study and increase the chances of achieving successful outcomes.

Second, creating a  research process flowchart  can help to improve efficiency and reduce the time and cost involved in conducting a research study. By following a structured and standardized approach, researchers can streamline the process and reduce the time and effort required to conduct a research study. This can help to reduce costs for research teams and increase the overall effectiveness of the study.

Overall, creating a research process flowchart is an important step for ensuring that research studies are conducted in a consistent, efficient, and effective manner . By following the flowchart, researchers can conduct a rigorous and effective research study, improve efficiency, and achieve successful outcomes.

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• Research article
• Open access
• Published: 27 January 2011

A multidisciplinary systematic review of the use of diagrams as a means of collecting data from research subjects: application, benefits and recommendations

• Muriah J Umoquit 1 ,
• Peggy Tso 1 , 2 ,
• Helen ED Burchett 3 &
• Mark J Dobrow 1 , 2  

BMC Medical Research Methodology volume  11 , Article number:  11 ( 2011 ) Cite this article

18k Accesses

40 Citations

4 Altmetric

Metrics details

In research, diagrams are most commonly used in the analysis of data and visual presentation of results. However there has been a substantial growth in the use of diagrams in earlier stages of the research process to collect data. Despite this growth, guidance on this technique is often isolated within disciplines.

A multidisciplinary systematic review was performed, which included 13 traditional healthcare and non-health-focused indexes, non-indexed searches and contacting experts in the field. English-language articles that used diagrams as a data collection tool and reflected on the process were included in the review, with no restriction on publication date.

The search identified 2690 documents, of which 80 were included in the final analysis. The choice to use diagrams for data collection is often determined by requirements of the research topic, such as the need to understand research subjects' knowledge or cognitive structure, to overcome cultural and linguistic differences, or to understand highly complex subject matter. How diagrams were used for data collection varied by the degrees of instruction for, and freedom in, diagram creation, the number of diagrams created or edited and the use of diagrams in conjunction with other data collection methods. Depending on how data collection is structured, a variety of options for qualitative and quantitative analysis are available to the researcher. The review identified a number of benefits to using diagrams in data collection, including the ease with which the method can be adapted to complement other data collection methods and its ability to focus discussion. However it is clear that the benefits and challenges of diagramming depend on the nature of its application and the type of diagrams used.

Discussion/Conclusion

The results of this multidisciplinary systematic review examine the application of diagrams in data collection and the methods for analyzing the unique datasets elicited. Three recommendations are presented. Firstly, the diagrammatic approach should be chosen based on the type of data needed. Secondly, appropriate instructions will depend on the approach chosen. And thirdly, the final results should present examples of original or recreated diagrams. This review also highlighted the need for a standardized terminology of the method and a supporting theoretical framework.

Peer Review reports

Diagrams are graphic representations used to explain the relationships and connections between the parts it illustrates. There are many subcategories of the broader term 'diagram', which are distinguished by the elements they incorporate or their overall topic. Two dominant subcategories include 'concept maps' and 'mind maps'[ 1 ]. Diagrams are typically brought into the research process in later stages of data analysis or when summarizing and presenting final results. It is commonplace to see a diagram illustrating how concepts or themes relate to each other or to explain how the research data relates to an underlying theory. These diagrams can be developed through the researchers' inductive reasoning of the data collected or may be assisted by computer software[ 2 ].

The use of diagrams in earlier stages of the research process (i.e. to collect data) is a relatively new method and is not a common data collection approach at present. However, their use is developing in multiple disciplines, including healthcare research. Diagrams have been used to collect data from research subjects by asking them to either draw a diagram themselves or modify a prototypic diagram supplied by the researcher. The use of diagrams in data collection has been viewed favorably in helping to gather rich data on healthcare topics. These research topics are widely varied and include collecting information to improve patient safety with medication[ 3 ], understanding neighborhood characteristics related to mental well-being[ 4 ], mapping out healthcare networks[ 5 ], evaluating patient educational programs[ 6 , 7 ], understanding how different populations view microbial illnesses[ 8 ], diagramming as part of nursing education that is evidence-based[ 9 ] and involves critical thinking[ 10 , 11 ], to engage youth in healthcare consultations[ 12 ], and to gain insights on physician professional growth[ 13 ] and their accountability relationships[ 14 ].

Despite the increasing use of diagrams in data collection, there lacks a strong "supportive structure" (pg. 343) for researchers choosing this method[ 15 ]. The use of diagrams in data collection has developed independently in multiple disciplines under a number of different names, making knowledge transfer regarding this technique difficult. For example, little has been published on process mapping outside of the organizational literature until fairly recently[ 5 , 16 , 17 ]. This has limited the exchange of best practices between disciplines. Researchers are often starting from scratch when designing their diagramming data collection approaches and their analysis of the unique data collected[ 15 ].

By conducting a multidisciplinary systematic review, as defined in the PRISMA statement[ 18 ], we hope to consolidate lessons learned and offer recommendations for researchers in healthcare and other disciplines about how diagrams may be incorporated into their data collection process. The questions that guided our search for relevant studies were:

(1) What drives the selection of a diagramming approach for data collection?

(2) What are the different approaches to diagramming for data collection?

(3) What are the different approaches to analyzing data collected with diagramming?

(4) What are the benefits and challenges of using diagramming for data collection?

Diagramming techniques used for data collection in the research process is a challenging area to review, given the variable terminology across, and even within, fields. A preliminary survey of the literature helped identify some key terminology used in different disciplines (e.g. "graphic elicitation" or "participatory diagramming"). The terms used in the titles and abstracts of the preliminary articles identified, as well as the keywords used to index them in databases, formed the basis of our multidisciplinary search strategy. We combined these specific terms with general 'diagram' terms and with general 'data collection' and/or 'analysis' terms.

In December 2009, we electronically searched 13 indexed sources, including traditional health care related indexes and non-health focused indexes (EMBASE; HealthSTAR; Medline; Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature; GEOBASE; InfoTrac Environmental Issues & Policy eCollection; ProQUEST Dissertations; Design and Applied Arts Index; Education Resources Information Center; International Bibliography of the Social Sciences; PsychINFO; Public Affairs Information Services; and Social Science Citation Index). To ensure that all appropriate references were identified and to limit publication bias, non-indexed sources were also searched via general search tools (i.e. Google Scholar and Google Books) to uncover any additional publications. To supplement the search, 35 experts, identified by our searches, were contacted and asked to identify additional relevant articles and grey literature.

Reference Manager 11 was used to support the review. Following the removal of duplicates, articles were screened based on their title and abstract. The full-text was then screened for articles not excluded based on their title/abstract. Articles were excluded if they were not written in English, did not use diagramming techniques in the data collection process (i.e. research subjects did not create or edit diagrams) or were not evaluative or reflective about the data collection process and/or analysis of data collected from diagramming methods. No publication date or publication type restrictions were imposed; research studies, theoretical articles, method articles and opinion pieces were included if they met the above criteria.

The screening was undertaken by two authors (MJU, PT). Double screening was done at regular intervals to ensure inter-rater reliability. Further, the two researchers met weekly during the screening and data extraction phases to discuss the nuances of the articles and to resolve differences by deliberation until consensus was reached.

A total of 2690 references were identified, after the removal of duplicates. Given our search had no publication date restrictions and included dissertations, full-text articles were sometimes difficult to retrieve. Authors were contacted when the article could not be found online or through the University of Toronto's library system. While 4 articles were retrieved in this manner, 27 full-text articles still could not be found and were ultimately excluded. In total, 233 full-text articles were screened and a total of 80 articles were included in the study's review. Figure 1 presents a flow diagram of our search and screening. Data was extracted on the general characteristics of the articles and the four objectives detailed earlier (see Table 1 ).

Flow of articles through the systematic review .

General characteristics

Of the 80 articles included in our review, 53 were published studies[ 1 , 4 – 15 , 19 – 58 ], 19 were dissertations[ 59 – 77 ], 2 were books[ 78 , 79 ] and 6 represented grey literature[ 3 , 80 – 84 ], including unpublished working papers submitted by key experts and reports available on the internet. These articles were published between 1986 and 2010, with the majority published after 2000 and a substantial increase after 2006. This suggests that interest in these techniques has been increasing in recent years.

The most common discipline, determined by the lead author's affiliation and/or publication title, was from the education field. Other disciplines included healthcare, engineering, environmental science, geography, industrial design, psychology, and social science. The majority of articles clearly specified the study sample size, which averaged 36 research subjects, with a range of 2 to 243. Diagramming methods were used with a wide variety of research subjects, including students (elementary to graduate school), farmers, nurses, physicians, engineers, administrators and graphic designers.

What drives the selection of a diagramming approach for data collection?

The majority of articles specified at least one explicit reason why a form of diagramming was selected for data collection. These reasons fall into two broad categories: requirements or challenges of the research topic and the unique dataset that results from using diagrams.

The specific research topic examined was the most common reason for researchers choosing a diagramming technique for data collection. For some research topics, past studies have validated diagramming data collection techniques as a useful way to collect data. For example, research has established the usefulness of diagrams in collecting data about research subjects' knowledge or cognitive structures[ 19 – 22 , 59 , 80 ]. Diagrams in data collection have also been validated as a means of measuring changes over time[ 6 , 10 , 20 , 22 – 24 , 60 , 85 ] and differences between participant groups[ 20 , 25 , 61 , 81 ]. Diagramming methods were also sought out when research topics were not conducive to the more common qualitative data collection methods, such as interviews alone. These reasons include a research topic that deals with a population with linguistic, cultural, social or intuitional barriers the researcher wants to overcome[ 12 , 14 , 15 , 26 – 29 , 79 ] or with highly complex subject matter[ 12 , 14 , 25 , 30 – 32 , 85 ]. Examples of highly complex subject matters include the abstract nature of the research topic of 'pedagogical constructs'[ 25 ] and the multifaceted and diverse nature of 'clinical accountability relationships'[ 14 ].

Secondly, researchers sought out diagramming data collection methods because of the benefits previous studies found regarding the quality and uniqueness of the collected dataset. When research subjects drew diagrams without prompts, previous studies concluded that it minimized the influence of the researcher on the participant and their responses[ 1 , 33 – 35 , 61 , 62 , 81 , 82 ]. Studies have also found that diagramming is a reflective tool for the research subjects[ 28 , 29 , 36 , 63 ]. Since diagrams can represent both concrete and theoretical notions[ 37 ], diagramming offers a more holistic coverage of the topic[ 29 , 38 , 61 ], with more uncensored and unique data gathered[ 1 , 24 , 28 , 35 , 39 , 40 , 58 ] than more traditional qualitative data collection methods.

What are the different approaches to diagramming for data collection?

A range of applications were identified, which varied widely based on the degree of instruction, degree of freedom in diagram creation, the number of diagrams created or edited and the use of diagram in conjunction with other data collection methods.

Half of the studies did not report the details of the instructions provided to the research subjects, except for describing the basic request to create a diagram. One study explicitly observed that specific instructions are needed to ensure the research participants create a diagram and not another form of written material[ 32 ], such as a drawing or table. Simple or short instructions were often given to research subjects when the diagram sought by the researchers did not have to conform to a rigid structure, such as life-cycle[ 13 ] and professional practice diagrams[ 32 ].

When the researcher sought highly structured diagrams, the degree of instruction provided to the research subjects ranged from the preferred method of giving specific and detailed instructions on what elements should be included (e.g. hierarchies, arrows) to showing an example of the type of diagram the researcher would like the participant to create. For example, in comparison to other diagramming techniques, concept maps have a fairly rigid definition and a very specific set of elements that the end diagram should contain. Such diagrams may require more detailed instructions. One study had associate nursing degree students draw their own concept maps after a 20-minute introductory tutorial, presentation of a sample diagram, discussion and question period, and instructions listing all elements to be included (e.g. arrangement of items, hierarchal order, linking concepts with arrow, labeling propositions, identifying cross-links/relationships)[ 9 ]. In some instances, research subjects were given the opportunity to practice the diagramming method and receive corrective feedback prior to data collection[ 19 , 23 , 41 , 64 ].

It was most common for research subjects to create an original diagram on their own, in groups or a combination of both. Alternatively, some studies had the participant edit either a designated diagram provided by the researcher[ 3 , 14 , 15 , 42 ] or a researcher-created diagram generated by the researcher during the interview with participant input[ 4 , 5 , 7 , 43 ]. A few studies also chose the middle ground between original and prepared diagrams. For example, some provided a central concept or word to create the diagram around[ 14 , 44 ], or included some words or shapes to fill in on a prepared diagram[ 45 ] and others gave research subjects a list of words to use in the creation of their diagram[ 65 , 80 ].

Half of the studies used diagrams at multiple times within the data collection process as a means of comparison. A subset used a pre-/post- (or time series) approach to data collection, allowing researchers to track changes before, after, and sometimes during an intervention. This was found primarily within the discipline of education. For example, Rios asked a sample of teachers to create concept maps at multiple time intervals in order to identify their conceptual models and examine the impact of student interactions on the teachers' subject matter structure or vice versa[ 66 ].

Some researchers explicitly expressed the idea that diagrams alone would not capture complete perspectives from the research subjects[ 57 , 77 ], suggesting that diagrams should be used in combination with other data collection methods. The majority of the studies did use diagramming data collection techniques in addition to other methods. In some cases the additional data collection methods were used explicitly in conjunction with the diagramming techniques, such as creating the diagram within interviews or discussion of the diagrams in later focus groups or interviews[ 8 , 23 , 39 , 59 , 60 , 67 ].

What are the different approaches to analyzing data collected with diagramming?

The majority of the articles reported details about the analysis of diagram data. The use of only quantitative or qualitative analysis, or a mixture of both types of analysis was fairly equally distributed among the articles. Within each of these three categories of analysis, there were a variety of different techniques used that are briefly outlined below.

The majority of studies comparing diagrams across time or across research subjects chose either quantitative techniques only or a mix of qualitative and quantitative techniques for their analysis. Quantitative analysis techniques included counting (e.g. number of concepts identified, number of links between concepts, number of examples given, levels in hierarchy) and scoring. The two most common scoring methods were structural scoring and relational scoring[ 22 ]. Structural scoring refers to when weights are assigned to hierarchical structures, links between concepts and other elements. For example, a link between two concepts may be 10 points, an example 1 point and invalid examples and cross links 0 points[ 40 ]. Relational scoring reflects the quality or importance of each concept or link as determined by the researcher, by comparison to a similar diagram created by an expert or by other research subjects[ 36 , 38 , 60 , 62 , 68 ]. Some studies using quantitative analysis showed diagrams to illustrate how the final counting and scoring of a diagram was completed in the presentation of final study results[ 35 , 40 , 41 , 46 – 49 , 54 , 62 ]. For example, Kesby had focus groups in Zimbabwe create scored diagrams with local materials of rocks, string and bottle caps[ 54 ]. These diagrams were photographed and also reproduced on computer for legibility. Including an original diagram in the presentation of results also helps to orient the reader to the type of diagram that was used.

Studies which had diagrams completed or edited in the presence of the researcher, included additional data collection methods, and/or studies using less structured diagrams to collect data were likely to use either qualitative techniques only or a mix of qualitative and quantitative techniques for their analysis. For example, Haidet et al. gave medical school research subjects less structure and encouraged creativity in their diagramming exercise within interviews[ 13 ]. The diagram was used as a prompt to stimulate discussion, which was then analyzed through the interview transcripts. The diagram itself was then displayed in the final results to visually summarize the verbal exchange. Qualitative analysis included thematic and content analysis of the diagrams and additional data sources, such as transcripts, to identify prominent topics, themes and patterns in the diagrams[ 13 , 25 , 26 , 34 , 63 , 66 , 69 – 71 ].

In some studies that used mixed-methods, the collected diagrams were the primary source of data and guided the analysis of additional data sources, for example, by providing the core themes for transcript analysis. In other cases the additional data sources played the dominant role in analysis and the diagrams were used almost as verification or visual representation to illustrate conclusions[ 72 ].

What are the benefits and challenges of using diagramming for data collection?

Some of the benefits to using diagrams for data collection have already been discussed in the section on why researchers chose diagramming data collection approaches. In addition to these, diagramming approaches that were seen as complementary to other data collection approaches were commonly used in interviews and focus groups[ 60 , 73 ]. They were found to help focus discussions on particular themes[ 32 ] and enabled research subjects to more easily reflect on a topic or their beliefs by helping them to express thoughts in a more structured and organized manner[ 50 , 51 ]. The use of diagrams was also seen to increase recall[ 52 ] and self-reflectiveness[ 53 , 54 ]. In 1992, Powell found that interviews which made use of diagramming approaches were more introspective and tended to be more theoretical and philosophical than those that did not use diagramming methods[ 25 ].

Over half of the articles discussed at least one challenge of using a diagramming method for data collection. Interestingly, these challenges were often contradicted by other articles. All studies completed their data collection with diagrams, with some reporting that the diagramming allowed research subjects to overcome challenges of verbal communication[ 12 , 14 , 15 , 26 – 29 , 75 , 79 ]. However, many studies found that at least some of the research subjects expressed difficulty or discomfort with the diagramming task[ 1 , 9 , 10 , 14 , 28 , 35 , 55 , 56 , 58 , 62 , 74 , 76 , 83 ]. Some identified the ease and speed of data collection as benefits of using diagramming approaches[ 24 , 31 , 54 ], while others saw it as being time-intensive, particularly for analysis[ 6 , 11 , 26 , 62 ]. Related to the visual organization and structure of knowledge that the diagrams presented, an advantage to using diagramming approaches for data collection is their ability to obtain unique and unsolicited data[ 7 , 14 , 15 , 26 , 29 , 33 , 42 , 43 , 58 ]. In contrast, there were also concerns regarding the data it did not collect, such as non-verbal communication, that require the discretion and experience of researchers to identify and interpret[ 15 , 24 , 84 ]. These contradictions illustrate that the benefits and challenges to using diagramming approaches for data collection depend on the application and type of diagram used in each research study.

This systematic review represents the first overview of diagrams being used as a data collection approach in multiple disciplines. In 2006, Nesbit & Adesope[ 86 ] conducted a widely cited meta-analysis looking at peer-reviewed articles focusing on learning with concept and knowledge maps and found that the interest in using diagrams appeared to be on the rise[ 86 ]. While our systematic review concurs that interest is growing, it differs from their meta-analysis in two ways. Firstly our definition of a diagram is much broader, encompassing a variety of diagrams that extend beyond concept and knowledge maps. As well as the structured diagrams that Nesbit & Adescope focused on, our review also includes less structured diagrams, such as the life-cycle and professional practice discussed in our results section. Secondly, our focus is solely on diagrams being used as a data collection approach, whereas their meta-analysis included diagrams used as analysis techniques as well.

Given our broad definition of a diagram, we have reviewed approaches for collecting data through a wide spectrum of diagrams, from highly structured concept maps to less defined diagrams. We have provided an overview of the instruction options for research subjects, the creation and analysis of diagramming as a data collection approach, as well as highlighted some of the benefits and challenges. While there is variation regarding the guidance in instructions and approaches to the construction of different diagrams, use of diagrams as a data collection tool as a whole is clearly increasing in healthcare and in other disciplines. This systematic review is the first step in consolidating this information to assist in the refinement of this approach. For those considering using diagramming as a data collection approach, we offer three recommendations. Firstly, the diagrammatic approach should be chosen based on the type of data needed to answer the research question(s). Secondly, based on the diagrammatic approach chosen, it is important to select the appropriate instructions needed. Finally, presentation of final results should include examples of the original or recreated diagrams.

Choice of Diagramming Approach

The most important considerations for choosing the diagramming approach is the type of data needed to answer the research question (e.g., examining change over time, exploring people's experiences or views) and the type of analysis preferred by the researcher. For example, highly structured diagrams allowed for valid quantitative analysis, such as counting and ranking, which could be compared across research subjects. It should be noted that there is some controversy whether items should even be counted and that both an over- or under-reliance may be dangerous to the final research conclusions[ 28 ]. In comparison, other approaches that used a less structured diagrams relied heavily on qualitative analysis.

Instruction and Creation

The appropriateness of different approaches to instructions to guide diagram creation is an important consideration in ensuring the validity of data. It is clear from our review that the initial instructions given to research subjects varied in structure but had a great impact on the resulting diagrams and their potential for different analysis techniques. If researchers require highly structured diagrams it may be useful to give research subjects more detailed instructions and the opportunity for practice and feedback[ 30 , 64 ].

Presentation of results

The last recommendation is that studies using diagramming data collection approaches should include visual presentations of the findings in their results sections. The use of diagrams often results in the collection of unique and unsolicited data through a visual component, which can then be displayed along with the final analysis. Just as diagrams can provide data not easily obtained through verbal data collection techniques, visual presentation of the collected diagrams may provide insights not as easily grasped through verbal communication of study results. While providing a scanned image of the original diagram can be difficult at times, it is also possible to present a photograph of the original diagram or a computer-generated recreation of the diagram. This is especially important given the variation in terminology between disciplines, as it relays to the reader the type and structure of diagrams created or used.

In addition to the recommendations for researchers considering the use of diagramming data collection approaches, this multidisciplinary review also identifies areas where future research is needed. This review required a substantial amount of preliminary work to understand the terminology used to describe diagrams and this data collection approach across different disciplines and fields. The intent was to devise a sensitive search, so as to cast a wide net in order to capture articles in a range of disciplines where the terminology is not standardized. Cole et al. illustrate this issue by identifying over a dozen different terms that are used to describe concept maps[ 56 ]. Thus far, development of terminology has focused on the end result, i.e. what type of diagram is created based on the elements it contains, rather than focusing on the actual data collection approach itself. This has created different data collection approaches that use diagrams separately, isolating research done across disciplines and even within disciplines. Therefore, it is our recommendation that efforts are directed towards standardizing the terminology for this data collection method. This would allow researchers to maintain the work they have done regarding specific types of diagrams, whilst providing an umbrella term to help with the sharing of best practices. Future research should also be directed at identification of the underpinning theory of the method as the review demonstrated a gap in this area[ 15 , 32 , 35 ]. Such a theory may help to further inform researchers regarding the appropriate use and applications for diagramming data collection approaches.

A limitation of our review is that the database search strategy did not capture general articles on visual data collection methods, which may include specific information on diagramming data collection approaches. However the non-indexed searches and articles identified by experts did pick up some of these articles. While efforts were made to contact authors to retrieve articles from our search, twenty-seven full-text articles were irretrievable. Ten of these were dissertations and five were books. This may have contributed to an incomplete representation of what the literature has to offer about diagramming data collection approaches.

There has been a growing interest in the use of diagrams for data collection in the research process over recent years, as shown by the increase in publications and the wide range of approaches developed for diagramming data collection and diagram data analysis. As noted earlier, diagrams have been used to collect rich data on a variety of healthcare topics and it is expected that the use of this method will continue to grow. The results of this multidisciplinary systematic review provide an overview of the application of diagrams in research data collection and the methods for analyzing the unique datasets elicited. Recommendations are presented to assist researchers considering the use of diagrams in their data collection process. This review also highlighted the need for a standardized terminology of the method and a supporting theoretical framework.

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Muriah J Umoquit, Peggy Tso & Mark J Dobrow

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MJU, MJD, HEDB participated in the conception and design of the study. Data collection, abstraction and analysis was carried out by MJU and PT. MJU and PT prepared the original draft of the manuscript, and all authors reviewed and critically revised the original and subsequent manuscript drafts and approved the final manuscript.

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Umoquit, M.J., Tso, P., Burchett, H.E. et al. A multidisciplinary systematic review of the use of diagrams as a means of collecting data from research subjects: application, benefits and recommendations. BMC Med Res Methodol 11 , 11 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-11-11

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How To Make Schematic Diagram In Research Methodology

Creating detailed schematic diagrams is a vital part of research methodology. A schematic diagram is a visual representation of a process or system that helps to explain and illustrate the relationships between components within the system. It is used to provide an overview of the process along with a clear understanding of the components involved. As such, it serves as an invaluable tool for researchers who need to understand the intricate details of a process or system. In this article, we will discuss the importance of schematic diagrams and provide step-by-step instructions on how to create them. With these tips, you will be able to create schematic diagrams quickly and effectively for your research projects. The Benefits of Using Schematic Diagrams One of the key benefits of using schematic diagrams in research is that they provide a clear and concise visual representation of a complex system. By mapping out the components and their relationships, schematic diagrams make it easier to understand and explain the system and its processes. This can help researchers identify patterns and correlations that may not be immediately apparent when studying the data alone. Moreover, schematic diagrams help to convey information in a more organized and visually appealing manner, which can help to capture the attention of readers and make findings more easily understood. Last but not least, schematic diagrams can be used to easily compare and contrast different systems or processes. Creating a Schematic Diagram Creating a schematic diagram is a relatively simple process that involves just four steps: Step 1: Identify the components of the system. Before you can begin creating the schematic diagram, you must first identify and list all of the components of the system. This includes both tangible elements (e.g., machines, parts, etc.) and intangible elements (e.g., external forces, regulations, etc.). Step 2: List the relationships between components. The next step is to list the relationships between the various components. This includes any connections, interactions, or dependencies that exist between the components. Step 3: Draw the schematic diagram. Once all of the components and relationships have been identified and listed, you can begin drawing the schematic diagram. Make sure to include arrows to represent the direction of the relationship between components. Step 4: Label the diagram. Finally, label each component of the diagram with its corresponding name. This will help to ensure that the diagram is easily understood by readers. By following these simple steps, you can quickly and easily create a schematic diagram for your research. They serve as an invaluable tool for researchers who need to understand the intricate details of a process or system, providing a visual representation that can help to uncover patterns and correlations that may not be immediately apparent when studying the data alone.

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Research Flowchart

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Flowcharts used to be the most popular method to represent computer algorithms before computer terminals and third-generation programming languages started to take over in the late 1970s. According to the New World Encyclopedia, these programming languages express computer algorithms in a more concise and readable way. Despite technological advances, though, many still use flowcharts for various projects, such as clinical research project plans , etc.

What Is Research Flowchart?

A flowchart, in general, is a sequential graphical representation of the processes involved in solving a problem. This diagram contains connecting lines or arrows and boxes that represent a process workflow. Through this diagram, you can quickly analyze, design, and document a process or program, which makes it an essential part of research projects in various fields such as qualitative researches and case studies. This chart also helps your audience to effectively understand research proposals, data collection, research design, literature review, abstract, research questionnaires, and other sections of a research paper, since it can provide an overview of each part more quickly.

Different Types of Flowcharts

As a researcher, there are many types of flowchart that you can create to organize your research project . Provided below are the most common diagrams you can use.

Basic Flowchart

This type of flowchart represents a systematic step-by-step process that leads to certain conclusions. It contains different shapes and arrows which show the sequence and direction of a process. Moreover, you can use it to execute a more effective study analyzation, design, documentation , and process management.

Swimlane Flowchart

Unlike the basic flowchart, the swimlane flowchart shows the connection of different objects in the chart. An excellent example of this flowchart is an organizational chart. This type of chart usually highlights the positions and responsibilities of every individual who belongs to an organization. Aside from that, it shows how these people will work hand-in-hand to accomplish the ultimate  corporate goal .

Workflow Flowchart

The workflow diagram plays a vital role in the business process. This visualization tool allows you to represent the necessary tasks to obtain a specific goal. You may also indicate in the chart the people you assigned to execute the tasks. In research, you can use it to show the functionalities of particular objects.

Data Flowchart

Through a data flowchart, you can illustrate the connection of the information from the system and external sources. A data flowchart is also an essential tool in representing the flow of information or data into and out of a system.

18+ Research Flowchart Examples

Now that you know the most common types of research flowcharts, download the following samples to get more knowledge on how you can effectively use these diagrams.

1. Quantitative Research Flowchart Template

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2. Sample Research Flowchart Template

3. Research Proposal Flowchart Template

4. Research Process Flowchart Template

5. Market Research Flowchart Template

6. Editable Research Flowchart Template

7. Research Design Flowchart Template

8. Research Project Flowchart Template

9. Flowchart  for Writing Research Papers Examples

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10. Research Application Process Flowchart Example

Size: 170 KB

11. Statutory Research Flow Chart Example

Size: 17 KB

12. Research Proposal Evaluation and Process Flowchart Example

Size: 772 KB

13. External Research Proposal Flow Chart Example

Size: 158 KB

14. Clinical Study Research Flowchart Example

Size: 93 KB

15. Flow Chart of Research Strategies Example

Size: 186 KB

16. Conservation Area Research Flowchart Example

Size: 129 KB

17. Sample Flow Chart For Research Paper Example

Size: 32 KB

18. Research Commissioning Flowchart Example

Size: 241 KB

19. Research Governance Flowchart Example

How to Create a Process Flowchart?

As mentioned earlier, you can use flowcharts, such as a process flowchart , in various research sections. With that said, you need to follow an organized guide in creating a great flowchart, whether you are creating it for medical research or other scientific studies. Follow the steps provided below for you to come up with a functional research flowchart.

1. Do Your Research

Before doing anything else, you have to understand the environment of your research project. Determine if you need to learn specific research skills to carry out the investigation or research method accordingly.

2. Evaluate

In this step, you will determine if the existing researches have used flowcharts. You will also find out if there is a need to use a flowchart for your research project. You will then decide the best diagram that you can apply.

3. Create the Flowchart

There are many online tools that you can use to create a diagram for your project. You can use either the free or the paid versions. These paid versions may come with additional features. However, it is essential to know that usually, free versions will get the job done. You don’t want to pay for something that you don’t really need, right?

4. Modify and Enhance

To make your flowchart functional, include essential information such as the details or explanation of each content that you incorporate in your chart. However, keep in mind that in the real world, processes can be complex, so fitting all the materials on one page can be a challenge. Be creative. Summarize the process details, but do not omit the essential parts.

A flowchart is indeed vital in creating more strategic research in many aspects. Improving the flow of the project both in reader’s and the researcher’s end is just an example of what it can do. With that said, it can be helpful if you know how to incorporate this type of visualization to the research methodology that you are using.

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