Download a glossary of terms used in this course.
Data collection methods are the tools and techniques that you will use to collect your data:
- Qualitative methods are used to observe, collect, describe, explore, create and/or interpret opinions, perceptions, worldviews, artefacts or objects, for example
- Quantitative methods are used to collect, create, organise and/or examine numerical (statistical, mathematical or computational) data that can be measured and analysed.
In practice, qualitative and quantitative methods can be used together. This is referred to as mixed, multiple or hybrid methods research.
Categorise the following research methods, and then continue on for the correct answers and a short description of each method.
Here are the groups you are asked to place items into:
- Qualitative
- Quantitative
- Mixed
Here are the items that you are asked to place in the groups provided:
- Digital storytelling
- Open-ended questionnaires
- Art as research
- Life history interviews
- Closed-ended questionnaires
- Big data analytics
- Sensor-based methods
- Controlled observations
- Virtual world analysis
- Online panel research
- Time-use apps
- Online research communities
The correct answers are:
- Qualitative
- Digital storytelling
A collaborative method that uses digital equipment to enable people and communities to communicate, share their lives and illustrate their lived realities, from their perspectives. - Open-ended questionnaires
Questions are left open so that respondents are free to answer them in any way that they want, based on their personal experiences, beliefs and understanding. - Art as research
Art is seen to be a method of inquiry in which art creation, art activities and/or art installations are simultaneous processes of creating and researching. - Life history interviews
In-depth interviews used to document the lives, or parts of the lives, of participants. - Quantitative
- Closed-ended questionnaires
Participants choose from a number of fixed responses so that answers can be quantified. - Big data analytics
A method used to capture, examine, store and analyse data to discover patterns, highlight trends and gain deeper insight. - Sensor-based methods
Methods used to detect, measure, record and respond to some type of input from machinery, people or the environment. - Controlled observations
An observational method that is contrived by the researcher and carried out in a controlled environment. - Mixed
- Virtual world analysis
A combination of methods used to investigate human action, interaction, relationships and behaviour in computer-based simulated environments. - Online panel research
Pre-recruited and pre-selected panel members complete open-ended and closed-ended questionnaires over a period of time. - Time-use apps
Respondents record their activity at random points during the day, along with contextual information such as who they were with and how they felt at the time. - Online research communities
Participants are brought together to form an online community in which they can discuss ideas and answer questions, and numerical data can be collected.
Feedback:
The term 'mixed methods' refers to research that combines methods from both qualitative and quantitative approaches. This type of study integrates qualitative and quantitative methods and data (concurrently or sequentially), enabling the researcher to gain deeper insight and greater understanding, and to generate new knowledge.
Your choice of research methods is framed and guided by your chosen
The European Survey Research Association (ESRA) is a membership organisation for those interested in survey research. Survey Research Methods is the official journal of the ESRA. It is peer-reviewed and published electronically, with free and open access.
Other organisations relevant to research methods include:
- The Social Research Association
- The Society for Artistic Research
- The Arts in Society Research Network
- The Design Research Society
- The Market Research Society
- The European Society of Opinion and Marketing Research
- The Royal Statistical Society
- The Royal Society of Chemistry
- The Analytics and Big Data Society
- The International Educational Data Mining Society
Click on your disciplinary icon to see examples of methodology in your area (these are just possibilities and many more are available). Then click on each methodology card for examples of appropriate research methods. If you are interested in interdisciplinary or cross-disciplinary research, you might find it useful to click on all three icons to view similarities and differences in methodology and methods.
Click on your disciplinary icon to see examples of methodology in your area (these are just possibilities and many more are available). Then click on each methodology card for examples of appropriate research methods. If you are interested in interdisciplinary or cross-disciplinary research, you might find it useful to click on all three icons to view similarities and differences in methodology and methods.
Continue on for examples of methodology in your disciplinary area (these are just possibilities and many more are available). Each methodology is followed by examples of appropriate research methods. If you are interested in interdisciplinary or cross-disciplinary research, you might find it useful to read all three lists to consider similarities and differences in methodology and methods.
Humanities
STEM
Social sciences- Digital storytelling
- Participatory film-making
- Narrative analysis
- Source criticism
- Historical reasoning
- Document analysis
- Self-observation
- Reflexive investigation
- Fieldwork
- Randomised double-blind trial
- Controlled experiment
- One-shot case study
- SMS questionnaire
- Closed-ended questionnaire
- Telephone interviewing
- Agent-based modelling
- Predictive modelling
- Spatial modelling
- Key informant interviews
- Participant observation
- Fieldwork
- In-depth interviews
- Memoing
- Essay production and analysis
- Online questionnaire
- Mobile phone interviews
- Trend analysis
Methodologies and methods in the humanities
Narrative inquiry
- Digital storytelling
- Participatory film-making
- Narrative analysis
Historical method
- Source criticism
- Historical reasoning
- Document analysis
Autoethnography
- Self-observation
- Reflexive investigation
- Fieldwork
Methodologies and methods in STEM
Experimental research
- Randomised double-blind trial
- Controlled experiment
- One-shot case study
Survey research
- SMS questionnaire
- Closed-ended questionnaire
- Telephone interviewing
Computer modelling and simulation
- Agent-based modelling
- Predictive modelling
- Spatial modelling
Methodologies and methods in the social sciences
Ethnography
- Key informant interviews
- Participant observation
- Fieldwork
Phenomenological research
- In-depth interviews
- Memoing
- Essay production and analysis
Survey research
- Online questionnaire
- Mobile phone interviews
- Trend analysis
When choosing your data collection methods, you must ensure that they are appropriate to your methodology. However, for some qualitative approaches it may be difficult to state specific methods at the beginning of your project. Your methods might be developed, modified or changed as themes emerge from your research.