Download a glossary of terms used in this course.
When you start to think about your choice of collection methods for research materials or data, you need to consider your
During the past decades,
Select each character to learn about the researchers' methodological choices and how these shape their research design.
Continue on to learn about four researchers' methodological choices and how these shape their research design.
“As I'm a practising artist, the opportunity to do a practice-based doctorate really appealed to me. In addition to producing artworks that communicate my results and findings, I will also produce a 30,000-word submission. I'm going to be working with a museum, looking at a private collection that belonged to a family who collected pieces on their travels. I'm combining art-based methodology and archival research methods as this will enable me to explore both the tension between the cultural rhetoric of the individual pieces and the collection as a whole, and my own positionality and responses. For the latter, I'll be using autoethnographic methods – in other words, self-reflection – to explore my process of creating new knowledge through my art.”
“I became interested in feminist literary criticism during my Master's and will be using the methodologies I studied in order to deconstruct the way women characters are described in 1940s detective literature. I'm particularly keen to explore how the genre informed, and was informed by, cultural stereotypes and assumptions, particularly in relation to the intersectionality of factors including race and class. Textual analysis methods will enable me to explore the language and symbols. In addition to novels, I've decided to consider literature serialised in magazines. A lot of these examples include illustrations, so incorporating methods for analysing visual semiotics will add a further dimension to my work and give clarity and depth to the findings.”
“I've worked for a faith-based support group for five years. We work primarily with hospitals and care homes. My methodological framework is postmodern and I'm focused on exploring the interiority of faith, in particular how practitioners who provide spiritual or compassionate care understand their role in healthcare. I'm based in the Department of Theology and Religion but I'm employing sociopolitical discourse analysis and ethnographic methods that are more commonly associated with social sciences. My initial thought was to conduct focus groups but after discussion with my supervisors about research design we agreed that individual interactive interviews would enable the same level of exchange and discussion, while providing an environment in which participants could speak more openly.”
“As a historian, I've found it important to think carefully about the decolonising research methodology that underpins and informs my work. I'm researching cross-border mobility and the transformative nature of interactions. I think that the theory of 'entangled history' encapsulates the complexity of this and is key for me in framing my research. I've decided that microhistory, in this case working with two families, will be my approach. I'm currently talking to a couple of researchers in my department who are already engaged in this type of research, to get their advice on research methods.”
The following examples illustrate how methodology is integrated into application requirements:
The following resources will also be useful:
In these examples, you can see how methodology shapes and guides your choice of collection method: for example, arts-based research methodology combined with autoethnographic methods such as self-reflection, or sociopolitical discourse analysis combined with ethnographic methods such as interactive interviewing.
There are other factors, in addition to methodology, which you need to consider when making your choices about collection methods for research materials and data.
Reflect on each question, select the hint to prompt your thoughts, then continue on for feedback. Select 'Next' to move to the next question.
Reflect on each of the three questions and hints, consider your response and then continue for feedback.
How does your research question influence your choice of collection methods for data or research materials?
Think about the focus of your research question.
The focus of your research question has considerable influence on your choice of collection methods. For example, if your focus is how literary themes evolve over time, you might choose textual analysis or a comparative study. If your focus is oral traditions or community knowledge, you might choose storytelling or life history interviews. If your focus is on creative practice, you might choose the creation of original work, alongside critical writing, theory and reflection. See the module Developing a research question in the course Principles of Research Methods for more information.
How does your theoretical framework influence your choice of collection methods for research materials or data?
Think about how you conceptualise and approach your research.
Your theoretical framework has considerable influence on your choice of collection methods. For example, if you are working within feminist theory, gender studies or decolonial theory, you might choose discourse analysis, critical reading, Indigenous knowledge systems or ethnographic methods to explore issues of power, identity and marginalisation. If your research is framed by critical race theory, you might use oral histories or narrative inquiry to explore experiences of racism and identity. See the module Framing your research in the course Principles of Research Methods for more information.
How might interdisciplinary approaches influence your choice of collection methods for research materials or data?
Think about the integration of multiple methodologies, mixed or hybrid methods and specific tools, for example.
Interdisciplinary research has considerable influence on your choice of methods. Combining methodological approaches might provide more choice of data collection methods (qualitative, quantitative and mixed approaches, for example). There might also be more opportunity for mixed or hybrid approaches, combining collection methods such as case studies, textual analysis and questionnaires, for example. Although different disciplines might have favoured data collection methods, interdisciplinary research provides the opportunity to adapt and blend methods from various fields.
There are many collection methods for research materials and data available in the arts and humanities. Take time to consider all the possibilities, ensuring that your choices will enable you to answer your research question and meet your objectives.
The ability to engage in research across and beyond disciplines has become an increasingly important attribute for arts and humanities researchers. In recent years, there has been an increase in funding, at all levels of arts and humanities research, that focuses on providing opportunities to engage in disciplinary connections and collaborations, within and beyond higher education.
When exploring these opportunities, you will come across the following four terms. Though linked, they all refer to different ways in which researchers can engage in disciplinary connections and collaborations:
The Australian Research Council's (ARC's) Linkage Program plays a key role in funding and supporting international collaborations. The ARC is also committed to supporting interdisciplinary research; more details can be found in the ARC Statement of Support for Interdisciplinary Research.
The UK Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) collaborates with other research councils to fund multidisciplinary research. Consider the cross-council programmes.
The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) provides support to establish collaborative research through the Research Development Fund.