Research methodology vs. research methods
The research methodology or design is the overall strategy and rationale that you used to carry out the research. Whereas, research methods are the specific tools and processes you use to gather and understand the data you need to test your hypothesis.
To further understand research methodology, let’s explore some examples of research methodology:
a. Qualitative research methodology example: A study exploring the impact of author branding on author popularity might utilize in-depth interviews to gather personal experiences and perspectives.
b. Quantitative research methodology example: A research project investigating the effects of a book promotion technique on book sales could employ a statistical analysis of profit margins and sales before and after the implementation of the method.
c. Mixed-Methods research methodology example: A study examining the relationship between social media use and academic performance might combine both qualitative and quantitative approaches. It could include surveys to quantitatively assess the frequency of social media usage and its correlation with grades, alongside focus groups or interviews to qualitatively explore students’ perceptions and experiences regarding how social media affects their study habits and academic engagement.
These examples highlight the meaning of methodology in research and how it guides the research process, from data collection to analysis, ensuring the study’s objectives are met efficiently.
When it comes to writing your study, the methodology in research papers or a dissertation plays a pivotal role. A well-crafted methodology section of a research paper or thesis not only enhances the credibility of your research but also provides a roadmap for others to replicate or build upon your work.
Wondering how to write the research methodology section? Follow these steps to create a strong methods chapter:
At the start of a research paper , you would have provided the background of your research and stated your hypothesis or research problem. In this section, you will elaborate on your research strategy.
Begin by restating your research question and proceed to explain what type of research you opted for to test it. Depending on your research, here are some questions you can consider:
a. Did you use qualitative or quantitative data to test the hypothesis?
b. Did you perform an experiment where you collected data or are you writing a dissertation that is descriptive/theoretical without data collection?
c. Did you use primary data that you collected or analyze secondary research data or existing data as part of your study?
These questions will help you establish the rationale for your study on a broader level, which you will follow by elaborating on the specific methods you used to collect and understand your data.
Now that you have told your reader what type of research you’ve undertaken for the dissertation, it’s time to dig into specifics. State what specific methods you used and explain the conditions and variables involved. Explain what the theoretical framework behind the method was, what samples you used for testing it, and what tools and materials you used to collect the data.
Once you have explained the data collection process, explain how you analyzed and studied the data. Here, your focus is simply to explain the methods of analysis rather than the results of the study.
Here are some questions you can answer at this stage:
a. What tools or software did you use to analyze your results?
b. What parameters or variables did you consider while understanding and studying the data you’ve collected?
c. Was your analysis based on a theoretical framework?
Your mode of analysis will change depending on whether you used a quantitative or qualitative research methodology in your study. If you’re working within the hard sciences or physical sciences, you are likely to use a quantitative research methodology (relying on numbers and hard data). If you’re doing a qualitative study, in the social sciences or humanities, your analysis may rely on understanding language and socio-political contexts around your topic. This is why it’s important to establish what kind of study you’re undertaking at the onset.
Now that you have gone through your research process in detail, you’ll also have to make a case for it. Justify your choice of methodology and methods, explaining why it is the best choice for your research question. This is especially important if you have chosen an unconventional approach or you’ve simply chosen to study an existing research problem from a different perspective. Compare it with other methodologies, especially ones attempted by previous researchers, and discuss what contributions using your methodology makes.
No matter how thorough a methodology is, it doesn’t come without its hurdles. This is a natural part of scientific research that is important to document so that your peers and future researchers are aware of it. Writing in a research paper about this aspect of your research process also tells your evaluator that you have actively worked to overcome the pitfalls that came your way and you have refined the research process.
1. Remember who you are writing for. Keeping sight of the reader/evaluator will help you know what to elaborate on and what information they are already likely to have. You’re condensing months’ work of research in just a few pages, so you should omit basic definitions and information about general phenomena people already know.
2. Do not give an overly elaborate explanation of every single condition in your study.
3. Skip details and findings irrelevant to the results.
4. Cite references that back your claim and choice of methodology.
5. Consistently emphasize the relationship between your research question and the methodology you adopted to study it.
To sum it up, what is methodology in research? It’s the blueprint of your research, essential for ensuring that your study is systematic, rigorous, and credible. Whether your focus is on qualitative research methodology, quantitative research methodology, or a combination of both, understanding and clearly defining your methodology is key to the success of your research.
Once you write the research methodology and complete writing the entire research paper, the next step is to edit your paper. As experts in research paper editing and proofreading services , we’d love to help you perfect your paper!
Here are some other articles that you might find useful:
What does research methodology mean, what types of research methodologies are there, what is qualitative research methodology, how to determine sample size in research methodology, what is action research methodology.
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This is very simplified and direct. Very helpful to understand the research methodology section of a dissertation
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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.
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.
Having a good research methodology in place has the following advantages: 3
Types of research methodology.
There are three types of research methodology based on the type of research and the data required. 1
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.
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:
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
Quantitative research 6
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:
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:
Qualitative research involves an inductive method for data analysis where hypotheses are developed after data collection. The methods include:
Here are some important factors to consider when choosing a research methodology: 8
How to write a research methodology .
A research methodology should include the following components: 3,9
The methods section is a critical part of the research papers, allowing researchers to use this to understand your findings and replicate your work when pursuing their own research. However, it is usually also the most difficult section to write. This is where Paperpal can help you overcome the writer’s block and create the first draft in minutes with Paperpal Copilot, its secure generative AI feature suite.
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Q1. What are the key components of research methodology?
A1. A good research methodology has the following key components:
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
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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In case you are preparing for your final year dissertation, you might be interested in downloading a research methodology question paper PDF.
This article will discuss where to find such a question bank. We have given the direct links to download the question papers .
The links in this article will guide you through the steps needed to download and use the question bank. Moreover, it will help you understand what exactly goes into creating a good research methodology question paper. Here are some tips that will help you succeed in this course.
Interesting
The Research methodology MCQ questions are designed to test the knowledge of the students in their field. They are applicable to competitive and academic MBA, regular, and distance-learning courses. It is important to choose the research question carefully, as it determines the purpose of your study.
The Research Methodology Question Paper questions may be related to a gap in knowledge, analyzing academic assumptions, monitoring a practice development, testing theories, or comparing methods. Ensure that the research question is appropriate for the discipline and institution and is based on a problem-solving framework.
Research Methodology Education Question Paper | |
Research Methodology Question Paper Education | |
Research Methodology Education Question Paper | |
Research Methodology in Education Questions |
The M.Com Accountancy (IDOL) Research Methodology question paper is available in pdf format for download. It is a good practice to download previous year’s question papers from the Internet as this will help you to learn the techniques used in solving them.
Also, you can look up the solutions of the sample papers to know how to do better in your own research. However, be sure to select the right question paper for your course.
Research Methodology in Education Question Paper | |
Research Methodology in Education Papers |
The first step in any research is the formulation of a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a statement regarding a particular population’s size or behaviour. This is followed by research designs. Samples are the group of individuals chosen for a study.
The data collected is analyzed using various techniques. They may be observational or experimental. Regardless of the technique used, the study must answer two research questions. The data collection is based on several methods, including observational research, experimentation, simulation, and derived methodology.
Research Methodology Papers in Education | |
Research Methodology Education Old Papers |
The first thing you need to do is figure out the research methodology. The research methodology includes the methods and procedures for conducting research. These Research Methodology Question Paper may include physical surveys, questionnaires, interviews, or participant observations. Once you have decided what method to use, you can begin preparing for the exam. Here are some things you need to know about this type of exam.
Research Methodology Question Papers | |
Question Paper of Research Methodology |
This article will help you decide what method you want to use. You can also use the research methodology question bank to study various subject aspects.
The objective of the Research Methodology Question Papers is to discover a frequency or an association. It involves collecting data and conducting research using a systematic, logical approach. It involves data analysis, interpretation, and formation of principles.
JUNE 2012 Question Bank | |
DECEMBER 2012 Question Bank |
With the help of Research Methodology Question Papers, you will also need to figure out if the research problem is true or false and whether it’s valid. The process includes steps and criteria for valid research. You will need to know how to gather data, evaluate results, and evaluate findings correctly.
Assignment Questions
Firstly, you need to determine whether you’re conducting an ex post facto study. This type of research design is used to investigate the effects of a situation after it happens.
Question Paper of Research Methodology | |
Research Methodology Model Papers |
In this case, the researcher can use data not relevant to the problem understudies, such as cash register receipts or customer grievance data. Alternatively, you can use a sample from a national survey.
This type of research is very useful for various situations, such as market research, because it allows you to compare different factors, such as cost, quality, and consistency.
Research Methodology Question Paper in English
Question Paper PDF | |
Old Question Papers | |
Past Question Papers | |
Model Question Papers |
Research Methodology Question Paper in Hindi
मॉडल अनुसंधान पद्धति प्रश्न पत्र | |
पहले का अनुसंधान पद्धति प्रश्न पत्र | |
अनुसंधान पद्धति मॉडल प्रश्न पत्र | |
अनुसंधान पद्धति पहले का प्रश्न पत्र |
Ultimately, it would be best if you defined your research question. You need to know your objectives and goals. Once you’ve defined your research question, you need to define your variables. T
hese will result in your final result. By defining your variables and identifying the variables in a study, you will know what to focus on for the final analysis. It’s a must-have tool for any researcher who needs to conduct research. You may take the help of Research Methodology Question Papers.
Research Methodology Past Question Papers | |
Research Methodology Old Question Papers |
Experimentation is another method you’ll need to know. In this method, you can establish a causal relationship among variables. The method is also known as experimental research. You can also perform qualitative research, which is mostly exploratory and relies on subjective data. By collecting data, you can develop testable hypotheses and make predictions about the outcome. These results then prove the hypotheses. This method can be used for any research, whether you’re experimenting with science or social work.
Question Paper 2018 | |
Question Paper 2017 |
A problem is usually defined. Once you’ve defined the problem and chosen the methodology, you can begin collecting data. Research Methodology Question Paper will help you develop the problem, gather data, and test hypotheses. You’ll also need to write a study plan. After that, you’ll need to write the hypothesis, which outlines the methodology you’ll use for your research. If you’re unsure, refer to a research methodology question bank with answers pdf.
Model Answer/suggested solution Research Methodology | Download |
The PhD entrance exam for research methodology focuses on the principles of a research project. It includes questions on the following: the characteristics of a good researcher, the types of research, case study research, and statistical applications. It also covers the types of research reports, their structure, and their reasoning. The exam will also cover current affairs. Here are some tips to help you ace the research methodology section of the entrance exam with the help of Research Methodology Question Papers.
Answer any TWO of the following
(2 x20 = 40 Marks)
Attempt Research Methodology Question Paper: Attempt a PHD entrance exam in research methodology to familiarize yourself with the topics. By doing this, you will have an idea of the types of questions you will be asked during the examination.
This is also a good time to get advice from senior students. Ask them for help and clarification on any question that they feel is tricky. In this way, you can maximize your chances of acing the PhD entrance exam.
PhD Research Methodology E-Questions |
Are you planning to write your PhD in Research Methodology? Are you wondering how to prepare for the PhD research methodology question paper? You can learn how to prepare from the below tips.
The research methodology syllabus consists of several topics that cover the qualities of a good researcher. Other topics in this section are the various types of research and their merits. The topics also cover logic and reasoning, the structure of a research report, and its components.
Previous Question Paper 2018 | |
Previous Question Paper 2017 |
Class Test Questions
In the PhD research methodology question paper 2020, students must explain the main reasons behind their chosen data collection and analysis method.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY PAPERS | Download |
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY PAPERS |
They must also highlight the practical limitations of the method used. This information should be limited to the reasons for the choice of the methodology, which should not include irrelevant details.
For instance, basic procedures should only be explained when the research subject is unfamiliar with them. This will help them score a high mark in the research methodology section.
Old Question Paper 2020 | |
Past Question Paper 2019 |
A key feature of a PHD research methodology question paper is that it should be based on an academic question that is of interest to researchers and practitioners in the subject. It should be derived from the literature, current situation, or practice of the subject.
Research Methodology Question Papersuld has a clearly stated purpose and can be anything from filling a knowledge gap to analyzing academic assumptions and monitoring developments in practice. It can also be about testing theories within a certain population. The question should also be appropriate for the discipline, institution, and community.
अनुसंधान पद्धति प्रश्न पत्र (1) | |
अनुसंधान पद्धति प्रश्न पत्र (2) |
SECTION – A
(10 x 2 = 20 Marks)
Answer ALL questions
In the recent UGC NET exam, questions were asked about the research methods. Research Methodology Question Papers covered critical features of research methods, the definition of the research question, hypotheses, data collection, analysis, and reporting procedures.
Students should familiarize themselves with these topics and the questions that will be asked during the examination. If you are preparing for the UGC NET exam, you should prepare by referring to UGC NET mock tests.
In addition to studying the UGC NET syllabus, it is also important to learn the different referencing styles. The UGC NET Research methodology question paper includes study notes on the various accepted referencing styles. The study notes also feature a list of helpful ICT tools to aid you in your preparation. These include tools such as Mendeley and IBM SPSS. Also, the notes include information about the application of ICT to research.
अनुसंधान पद्धति प्रश्न पत्र -I | |
अनुसंधान पद्धति प्रश्न पत्र -II |
SECTION – B
(4X 10 = 40 Marks)
Answer any four of the following
The MBA research methodology question paper is for the first year of the course and has a simple pattern. Each question carries the same number of marks and includes long answer types. The questions in the question paper cover different aspects of the research process, such as the types of experimental designs, the scales used for measuring variables, and the different factor analyses.
The research methodology question paper also includes the format and layout of a research report. To ensure a good score, candidates are advised to read previous year’s papers to familiarize themselves with the format and content of the exam.
पुराना अनुसंधान पद्धति प्रश्न पत्र | |
अनुसंधान पद्धति पुराना प्रश्न पत्र |
Students should understand the importance of selecting the appropriate statistical technique for the analysis. They must be able to distinguish between non-parametric statistical techniques and parametric statistics. They must also be able to define the research report, thesis, and the significance of the research work.
The question paper also requires the students to understand the format and pattern of the Business Research methodology question paper. The syllabus of the course is available for download in pdf format.
Business Research Methods | |
MBA Semester II Research Methods |
Students preparing for MBA exams should familiarize themselves with Research methodology MCQ questions. Research Methodology Question Papers may be asked in the regular or distance mode. They can be asked about academic, competitive, and managerial research topics. Identifying the problem is the first step in designing a research study.
This process will help you develop a hypothesis and plan of investigation. Then you will have to reduce the problem to a more manageable one.
मॉडल अनुसंधान पद्धति प्रश्न पत्र | Download |
अनुसंधान पद्धति मॉडल प्रश्न पत्र |
Moreover, you should understand that Secondary data does not necessarily have to be relevant to the problem under study. For example, you can use cash register receipts or customer grievances data.
Secondary data may also be obtained from national surveys, such as the Statistical Abstracts of India. The purpose of secondary data is to inform decision-makers and make them aware of the importance of their findings. The next step is to analyze the data.
This article will teach you how to answer the research methodology MCQs on the UGC NET and MBA research methodology question papers. Hopefully, this will make the task a little easier. But, first, you should be familiar with how the research methodology question paper is formatted.
Below are some questions to keep in mind. When possible, make sure to use an example question paper to illustrate the different methods. If possible, you should also record your research methods. This will ensure that you capture all the small details.
1. “One of the methods of logical reasoning process” is called
a) Induction b) Deduction c) Research d) Experiment
2. “A systematic step-by-step Procedure following the logical process of reasoning” called
a) Experiment b) Observation c) Deduction d) Scientific method
3. An essential Criterion of Scientific study is called
a) Belief b) Value c) Objectivity d) Subjective
4. “Reasoning from general to particular “is called
a) Induction b) deduction c) Observation d) experience
5“Deduction and induction are a part of the system of reasoning” – stated by
a) Caroline b) P.V.Young c) Dewey John d) Emory
6 ……….. is a “systematically conceptual structure of interrelated elements in some schematic form”
a) Concept b) Variable c) Model d) Facts
7 The method by which a sample is chosen
a) Unit b) design c) Random d) Census
8 Research conducted to find a solution for an immediate problem is ………….
a) Fundamental Research b) Analytical Research
c) Survey. d) Action Research
9 Fundamental Research is otherwise called
a) Action Research b) Survey c) Pilot study d) Pure Research
10 A research which follows the case study method is called
a) Clinical or diagnostic b) Causal
c) Analytical d) Qualitative
11 Research conducted in a classroom atmosphere is called
a) Field study b) Survey
c) Laboratory Research d) Empirical Research
12. Research through experiment and observation is called
a) Clinical Research b) Experimental Research
c) Laboratory Research d) Empirical Research
13 ………….. is a way to systematically solve the research problem
Question paper guru.
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Lawrence mbuagbaw.
1 Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada
2 Biostatistics Unit/FSORC, 50 Charlton Avenue East, St Joseph’s Healthcare—Hamilton, 3rd Floor Martha Wing, Room H321, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 4A6 Canada
3 Centre for the Development of Best Practices in Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Livia puljak.
4 Center for Evidence-Based Medicine and Health Care, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 242, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
5 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health – Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405 USA
6 Departments of Paediatrics and Anaesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada
7 Centre for Evaluation of Medicine, St. Joseph’s Healthcare-Hamilton, Hamilton, ON Canada
8 Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, ON Canada
Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.
Methodological studies – studies that evaluate the design, analysis or reporting of other research-related reports – play an important role in health research. They help to highlight issues in the conduct of research with the aim of improving health research methodology, and ultimately reducing research waste.
We provide an overview of some of the key aspects of methodological studies such as what they are, and when, how and why they are done. We adopt a “frequently asked questions” format to facilitate reading this paper and provide multiple examples to help guide researchers interested in conducting methodological studies. Some of the topics addressed include: is it necessary to publish a study protocol? How to select relevant research reports and databases for a methodological study? What approaches to data extraction and statistical analysis should be considered when conducting a methodological study? What are potential threats to validity and is there a way to appraise the quality of methodological studies?
Appropriate reflection and application of basic principles of epidemiology and biostatistics are required in the design and analysis of methodological studies. This paper provides an introduction for further discussion about the conduct of methodological studies.
The field of meta-research (or research-on-research) has proliferated in recent years in response to issues with research quality and conduct [ 1 – 3 ]. As the name suggests, this field targets issues with research design, conduct, analysis and reporting. Various types of research reports are often examined as the unit of analysis in these studies (e.g. abstracts, full manuscripts, trial registry entries). Like many other novel fields of research, meta-research has seen a proliferation of use before the development of reporting guidance. For example, this was the case with randomized trials for which risk of bias tools and reporting guidelines were only developed much later – after many trials had been published and noted to have limitations [ 4 , 5 ]; and for systematic reviews as well [ 6 – 8 ]. However, in the absence of formal guidance, studies that report on research differ substantially in how they are named, conducted and reported [ 9 , 10 ]. This creates challenges in identifying, summarizing and comparing them. In this tutorial paper, we will use the term methodological study to refer to any study that reports on the design, conduct, analysis or reporting of primary or secondary research-related reports (such as trial registry entries and conference abstracts).
In the past 10 years, there has been an increase in the use of terms related to methodological studies (based on records retrieved with a keyword search [in the title and abstract] for “methodological review” and “meta-epidemiological study” in PubMed up to December 2019), suggesting that these studies may be appearing more frequently in the literature. See Fig. 1 .
Trends in the number studies that mention “methodological review” or “meta-
epidemiological study” in PubMed.
The methods used in many methodological studies have been borrowed from systematic and scoping reviews. This practice has influenced the direction of the field, with many methodological studies including searches of electronic databases, screening of records, duplicate data extraction and assessments of risk of bias in the included studies. However, the research questions posed in methodological studies do not always require the approaches listed above, and guidance is needed on when and how to apply these methods to a methodological study. Even though methodological studies can be conducted on qualitative or mixed methods research, this paper focuses on and draws examples exclusively from quantitative research.
The objectives of this paper are to provide some insights on how to conduct methodological studies so that there is greater consistency between the research questions posed, and the design, analysis and reporting of findings. We provide multiple examples to illustrate concepts and a proposed framework for categorizing methodological studies in quantitative research.
Any study that describes or analyzes methods (design, conduct, analysis or reporting) in published (or unpublished) literature is a methodological study. Consequently, the scope of methodological studies is quite extensive and includes, but is not limited to, topics as diverse as: research question formulation [ 11 ]; adherence to reporting guidelines [ 12 – 14 ] and consistency in reporting [ 15 ]; approaches to study analysis [ 16 ]; investigating the credibility of analyses [ 17 ]; and studies that synthesize these methodological studies [ 18 ]. While the nomenclature of methodological studies is not uniform, the intents and purposes of these studies remain fairly consistent – to describe or analyze methods in primary or secondary studies. As such, methodological studies may also be classified as a subtype of observational studies.
Parallel to this are experimental studies that compare different methods. Even though they play an important role in informing optimal research methods, experimental methodological studies are beyond the scope of this paper. Examples of such studies include the randomized trials by Buscemi et al., comparing single data extraction to double data extraction [ 19 ], and Carrasco-Labra et al., comparing approaches to presenting findings in Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) summary of findings tables [ 20 ]. In these studies, the unit of analysis is the person or groups of individuals applying the methods. We also direct readers to the Studies Within a Trial (SWAT) and Studies Within a Review (SWAR) programme operated through the Hub for Trials Methodology Research, for further reading as a potential useful resource for these types of experimental studies [ 21 ]. Lastly, this paper is not meant to inform the conduct of research using computational simulation and mathematical modeling for which some guidance already exists [ 22 ], or studies on the development of methods using consensus-based approaches.
Methodological studies occupy a unique niche in health research that allows them to inform methodological advances. Methodological studies should also be conducted as pre-cursors to reporting guideline development, as they provide an opportunity to understand current practices, and help to identify the need for guidance and gaps in methodological or reporting quality. For example, the development of the popular Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were preceded by methodological studies identifying poor reporting practices [ 23 , 24 ]. In these instances, after the reporting guidelines are published, methodological studies can also be used to monitor uptake of the guidelines.
These studies can also be conducted to inform the state of the art for design, analysis and reporting practices across different types of health research fields, with the aim of improving research practices, and preventing or reducing research waste. For example, Samaan et al. conducted a scoping review of adherence to different reporting guidelines in health care literature [ 18 ]. Methodological studies can also be used to determine the factors associated with reporting practices. For example, Abbade et al. investigated journal characteristics associated with the use of the Participants, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Timeframe (PICOT) format in framing research questions in trials of venous ulcer disease [ 11 ].
There is no clear answer to this question. Based on a search of PubMed, the use of related terms (“methodological review” and “meta-epidemiological study”) – and therefore, the number of methodological studies – is on the rise. However, many other terms are used to describe methodological studies. There are also many studies that explore design, conduct, analysis or reporting of research reports, but that do not use any specific terms to describe or label their study design in terms of “methodology”. This diversity in nomenclature makes a census of methodological studies elusive. Appropriate terminology and key words for methodological studies are needed to facilitate improved accessibility for end-users.
Methodological studies provide information on the design, conduct, analysis or reporting of primary and secondary research and can be used to appraise quality, quantity, completeness, accuracy and consistency of health research. These issues can be explored in specific fields, journals, databases, geographical regions and time periods. For example, Areia et al. explored the quality of reporting of endoscopic diagnostic studies in gastroenterology [ 25 ]; Knol et al. investigated the reporting of p -values in baseline tables in randomized trial published in high impact journals [ 26 ]; Chen et al. describe adherence to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement in Chinese Journals [ 27 ]; and Hopewell et al. describe the effect of editors’ implementation of CONSORT guidelines on reporting of abstracts over time [ 28 ]. Methodological studies provide useful information to researchers, clinicians, editors, publishers and users of health literature. As a result, these studies have been at the cornerstone of important methodological developments in the past two decades and have informed the development of many health research guidelines including the highly cited CONSORT statement [ 5 ].
Methodological studies can be found in most common biomedical bibliographic databases (e.g. Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science). However, the biggest caveat is that methodological studies are hard to identify in the literature due to the wide variety of names used and the lack of comprehensive databases dedicated to them. A handful can be found in the Cochrane Library as “Cochrane Methodology Reviews”, but these studies only cover methodological issues related to systematic reviews. Previous attempts to catalogue all empirical studies of methods used in reviews were abandoned 10 years ago [ 29 ]. In other databases, a variety of search terms may be applied with different levels of sensitivity and specificity.
In this section, we have outlined responses to questions that might help inform the conduct of methodological studies.
Q: How should I select research reports for my methodological study?
A: Selection of research reports for a methodological study depends on the research question and eligibility criteria. Once a clear research question is set and the nature of literature one desires to review is known, one can then begin the selection process. Selection may begin with a broad search, especially if the eligibility criteria are not apparent. For example, a methodological study of Cochrane Reviews of HIV would not require a complex search as all eligible studies can easily be retrieved from the Cochrane Library after checking a few boxes [ 30 ]. On the other hand, a methodological study of subgroup analyses in trials of gastrointestinal oncology would require a search to find such trials, and further screening to identify trials that conducted a subgroup analysis [ 31 ].
The strategies used for identifying participants in observational studies can apply here. One may use a systematic search to identify all eligible studies. If the number of eligible studies is unmanageable, a random sample of articles can be expected to provide comparable results if it is sufficiently large [ 32 ]. For example, Wilson et al. used a random sample of trials from the Cochrane Stroke Group’s Trial Register to investigate completeness of reporting [ 33 ]. It is possible that a simple random sample would lead to underrepresentation of units (i.e. research reports) that are smaller in number. This is relevant if the investigators wish to compare multiple groups but have too few units in one group. In this case a stratified sample would help to create equal groups. For example, in a methodological study comparing Cochrane and non-Cochrane reviews, Kahale et al. drew random samples from both groups [ 34 ]. Alternatively, systematic or purposeful sampling strategies can be used and we encourage researchers to justify their selected approaches based on the study objective.
Q: How many databases should I search?
A: The number of databases one should search would depend on the approach to sampling, which can include targeting the entire “population” of interest or a sample of that population. If you are interested in including the entire target population for your research question, or drawing a random or systematic sample from it, then a comprehensive and exhaustive search for relevant articles is required. In this case, we recommend using systematic approaches for searching electronic databases (i.e. at least 2 databases with a replicable and time stamped search strategy). The results of your search will constitute a sampling frame from which eligible studies can be drawn.
Alternatively, if your approach to sampling is purposeful, then we recommend targeting the database(s) or data sources (e.g. journals, registries) that include the information you need. For example, if you are conducting a methodological study of high impact journals in plastic surgery and they are all indexed in PubMed, you likely do not need to search any other databases. You may also have a comprehensive list of all journals of interest and can approach your search using the journal names in your database search (or by accessing the journal archives directly from the journal’s website). Even though one could also search journals’ web pages directly, using a database such as PubMed has multiple advantages, such as the use of filters, so the search can be narrowed down to a certain period, or study types of interest. Furthermore, individual journals’ web sites may have different search functionalities, which do not necessarily yield a consistent output.
Q: Should I publish a protocol for my methodological study?
A: A protocol is a description of intended research methods. Currently, only protocols for clinical trials require registration [ 35 ]. Protocols for systematic reviews are encouraged but no formal recommendation exists. The scientific community welcomes the publication of protocols because they help protect against selective outcome reporting, the use of post hoc methodologies to embellish results, and to help avoid duplication of efforts [ 36 ]. While the latter two risks exist in methodological research, the negative consequences may be substantially less than for clinical outcomes. In a sample of 31 methodological studies, 7 (22.6%) referenced a published protocol [ 9 ]. In the Cochrane Library, there are 15 protocols for methodological reviews (21 July 2020). This suggests that publishing protocols for methodological studies is not uncommon.
Authors can consider publishing their study protocol in a scholarly journal as a manuscript. Advantages of such publication include obtaining peer-review feedback about the planned study, and easy retrieval by searching databases such as PubMed. The disadvantages in trying to publish protocols includes delays associated with manuscript handling and peer review, as well as costs, as few journals publish study protocols, and those journals mostly charge article-processing fees [ 37 ]. Authors who would like to make their protocol publicly available without publishing it in scholarly journals, could deposit their study protocols in publicly available repositories, such as the Open Science Framework ( https://osf.io/ ).
Q: How to appraise the quality of a methodological study?
A: To date, there is no published tool for appraising the risk of bias in a methodological study, but in principle, a methodological study could be considered as a type of observational study. Therefore, during conduct or appraisal, care should be taken to avoid the biases common in observational studies [ 38 ]. These biases include selection bias, comparability of groups, and ascertainment of exposure or outcome. In other words, to generate a representative sample, a comprehensive reproducible search may be necessary to build a sampling frame. Additionally, random sampling may be necessary to ensure that all the included research reports have the same probability of being selected, and the screening and selection processes should be transparent and reproducible. To ensure that the groups compared are similar in all characteristics, matching, random sampling or stratified sampling can be used. Statistical adjustments for between-group differences can also be applied at the analysis stage. Finally, duplicate data extraction can reduce errors in assessment of exposures or outcomes.
Q: Should I justify a sample size?
A: In all instances where one is not using the target population (i.e. the group to which inferences from the research report are directed) [ 39 ], a sample size justification is good practice. The sample size justification may take the form of a description of what is expected to be achieved with the number of articles selected, or a formal sample size estimation that outlines the number of articles required to answer the research question with a certain precision and power. Sample size justifications in methodological studies are reasonable in the following instances:
For example, El Dib et al. computed a sample size requirement for a methodological study of diagnostic strategies in randomized trials, based on a confidence interval approach [ 40 ].
Q: What should I call my study?
A: Other terms which have been used to describe/label methodological studies include “ methodological review ”, “methodological survey” , “meta-epidemiological study” , “systematic review” , “systematic survey”, “meta-research”, “research-on-research” and many others. We recommend that the study nomenclature be clear, unambiguous, informative and allow for appropriate indexing. Methodological study nomenclature that should be avoided includes “ systematic review” – as this will likely be confused with a systematic review of a clinical question. “ Systematic survey” may also lead to confusion about whether the survey was systematic (i.e. using a preplanned methodology) or a survey using “ systematic” sampling (i.e. a sampling approach using specific intervals to determine who is selected) [ 32 ]. Any of the above meanings of the words “ systematic” may be true for methodological studies and could be potentially misleading. “ Meta-epidemiological study” is ideal for indexing, but not very informative as it describes an entire field. The term “ review ” may point towards an appraisal or “review” of the design, conduct, analysis or reporting (or methodological components) of the targeted research reports, yet it has also been used to describe narrative reviews [ 41 , 42 ]. The term “ survey ” is also in line with the approaches used in many methodological studies [ 9 ], and would be indicative of the sampling procedures of this study design. However, in the absence of guidelines on nomenclature, the term “ methodological study ” is broad enough to capture most of the scenarios of such studies.
Q: Should I account for clustering in my methodological study?
A: Data from methodological studies are often clustered. For example, articles coming from a specific source may have different reporting standards (e.g. the Cochrane Library). Articles within the same journal may be similar due to editorial practices and policies, reporting requirements and endorsement of guidelines. There is emerging evidence that these are real concerns that should be accounted for in analyses [ 43 ]. Some cluster variables are described in the section: “ What variables are relevant to methodological studies?”
A variety of modelling approaches can be used to account for correlated data, including the use of marginal, fixed or mixed effects regression models with appropriate computation of standard errors [ 44 ]. For example, Kosa et al. used generalized estimation equations to account for correlation of articles within journals [ 15 ]. Not accounting for clustering could lead to incorrect p -values, unduly narrow confidence intervals, and biased estimates [ 45 ].
Q: Should I extract data in duplicate?
A: Yes. Duplicate data extraction takes more time but results in less errors [ 19 ]. Data extraction errors in turn affect the effect estimate [ 46 ], and therefore should be mitigated. Duplicate data extraction should be considered in the absence of other approaches to minimize extraction errors. However, much like systematic reviews, this area will likely see rapid new advances with machine learning and natural language processing technologies to support researchers with screening and data extraction [ 47 , 48 ]. However, experience plays an important role in the quality of extracted data and inexperienced extractors should be paired with experienced extractors [ 46 , 49 ].
Q: Should I assess the risk of bias of research reports included in my methodological study?
A : Risk of bias is most useful in determining the certainty that can be placed in the effect measure from a study. In methodological studies, risk of bias may not serve the purpose of determining the trustworthiness of results, as effect measures are often not the primary goal of methodological studies. Determining risk of bias in methodological studies is likely a practice borrowed from systematic review methodology, but whose intrinsic value is not obvious in methodological studies. When it is part of the research question, investigators often focus on one aspect of risk of bias. For example, Speich investigated how blinding was reported in surgical trials [ 50 ], and Abraha et al., investigated the application of intention-to-treat analyses in systematic reviews and trials [ 51 ].
Q: What variables are relevant to methodological studies?
A: There is empirical evidence that certain variables may inform the findings in a methodological study. We outline some of these and provide a brief overview below:
Q: Should I focus only on high impact journals?
A: Investigators may choose to investigate only high impact journals because they are more likely to influence practice and policy, or because they assume that methodological standards would be higher. However, the JIF may severely limit the scope of articles included and may skew the sample towards articles with positive findings. The generalizability and applicability of findings from a handful of journals must be examined carefully, especially since the JIF varies over time. Even among journals that are all “high impact”, variations exist in methodological standards.
Q: Can I conduct a methodological study of qualitative research?
A: Yes. Even though a lot of methodological research has been conducted in the quantitative research field, methodological studies of qualitative studies are feasible. Certain databases that catalogue qualitative research including the Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) have defined subject headings that are specific to methodological research (e.g. “research methodology”). Alternatively, one could also conduct a qualitative methodological review; that is, use qualitative approaches to synthesize methodological issues in qualitative studies.
Q: What reporting guidelines should I use for my methodological study?
A: There is no guideline that covers the entire scope of methodological studies. One adaptation of the PRISMA guidelines has been published, which works well for studies that aim to use the entire target population of research reports [ 71 ]. However, it is not widely used (40 citations in 2 years as of 09 December 2019), and methodological studies that are designed as cross-sectional or before-after studies require a more fit-for purpose guideline. A more encompassing reporting guideline for a broad range of methodological studies is currently under development [ 72 ]. However, in the absence of formal guidance, the requirements for scientific reporting should be respected, and authors of methodological studies should focus on transparency and reproducibility.
Q: What are the potential threats to validity and how can I avoid them?
A: Methodological studies may be compromised by a lack of internal or external validity. The main threats to internal validity in methodological studies are selection and confounding bias. Investigators must ensure that the methods used to select articles does not make them differ systematically from the set of articles to which they would like to make inferences. For example, attempting to make extrapolations to all journals after analyzing high-impact journals would be misleading.
Many factors (confounders) may distort the association between the exposure and outcome if the included research reports differ with respect to these factors [ 73 ]. For example, when examining the association between source of funding and completeness of reporting, it may be necessary to account for journals that endorse the guidelines. Confounding bias can be addressed by restriction, matching and statistical adjustment [ 73 ]. Restriction appears to be the method of choice for many investigators who choose to include only high impact journals or articles in a specific field. For example, Knol et al. examined the reporting of p -values in baseline tables of high impact journals [ 26 ]. Matching is also sometimes used. In the methodological study of non-randomized interventional studies of elective ventral hernia repair, Parker et al. matched prospective studies with retrospective studies and compared reporting standards [ 74 ]. Some other methodological studies use statistical adjustments. For example, Zhang et al. used regression techniques to determine the factors associated with missing participant data in trials [ 16 ].
With regard to external validity, researchers interested in conducting methodological studies must consider how generalizable or applicable their findings are. This should tie in closely with the research question and should be explicit. For example. Findings from methodological studies on trials published in high impact cardiology journals cannot be assumed to be applicable to trials in other fields. However, investigators must ensure that their sample truly represents the target sample either by a) conducting a comprehensive and exhaustive search, or b) using an appropriate and justified, randomly selected sample of research reports.
Even applicability to high impact journals may vary based on the investigators’ definition, and over time. For example, for high impact journals in the field of general medicine, Bouwmeester et al. included the Annals of Internal Medicine (AIM), BMJ, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Lancet, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), and PLoS Medicine ( n = 6) [ 75 ]. In contrast, the high impact journals selected in the methodological study by Schiller et al. were BMJ, JAMA, Lancet, and NEJM ( n = 4) [ 76 ]. Another methodological study by Kosa et al. included AIM, BMJ, JAMA, Lancet and NEJM ( n = 5). In the methodological study by Thabut et al., journals with a JIF greater than 5 were considered to be high impact. Riado Minguez et al. used first quartile journals in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) for a specific year to determine “high impact” [ 77 ]. Ultimately, the definition of high impact will be based on the number of journals the investigators are willing to include, the year of impact and the JIF cut-off [ 78 ]. We acknowledge that the term “generalizability” may apply differently for methodological studies, especially when in many instances it is possible to include the entire target population in the sample studied.
Finally, methodological studies are not exempt from information bias which may stem from discrepancies in the included research reports [ 79 ], errors in data extraction, or inappropriate interpretation of the information extracted. Likewise, publication bias may also be a concern in methodological studies, but such concepts have not yet been explored.
In order to inform discussions about methodological studies, the development of guidance for what should be reported, we have outlined some key features of methodological studies that can be used to classify them. For each of the categories outlined below, we provide an example. In our experience, the choice of approach to completing a methodological study can be informed by asking the following four questions:
A methodological study may be focused on exploring sources of bias in primary or secondary studies (meta-bias), or how bias is analyzed. We have taken care to distinguish bias (i.e. systematic deviations from the truth irrespective of the source) from reporting quality or completeness (i.e. not adhering to a specific reporting guideline or norm). An example of where this distinction would be important is in the case of a randomized trial with no blinding. This study (depending on the nature of the intervention) would be at risk of performance bias. However, if the authors report that their study was not blinded, they would have reported adequately. In fact, some methodological studies attempt to capture both “quality of conduct” and “quality of reporting”, such as Richie et al., who reported on the risk of bias in randomized trials of pharmacy practice interventions [ 80 ]. Babic et al. investigated how risk of bias was used to inform sensitivity analyses in Cochrane reviews [ 81 ]. Further, biases related to choice of outcomes can also be explored. For example, Tan et al investigated differences in treatment effect size based on the outcome reported [ 82 ].
Methodological studies may report quality of reporting against a reporting checklist (i.e. adherence to guidelines) or against expected norms. For example, Croituro et al. report on the quality of reporting in systematic reviews published in dermatology journals based on their adherence to the PRISMA statement [ 83 ], and Khan et al. described the quality of reporting of harms in randomized controlled trials published in high impact cardiovascular journals based on the CONSORT extension for harms [ 84 ]. Other methodological studies investigate reporting of certain features of interest that may not be part of formally published checklists or guidelines. For example, Mbuagbaw et al. described how often the implications for research are elaborated using the Evidence, Participants, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Timeframe (EPICOT) format [ 30 ].
Sometimes investigators may be interested in how consistent reports of the same research are, as it is expected that there should be consistency between: conference abstracts and published manuscripts; manuscript abstracts and manuscript main text; and trial registration and published manuscript. For example, Rosmarakis et al. investigated consistency between conference abstracts and full text manuscripts [ 85 ].
In addition to identifying issues with reporting in primary and secondary studies, authors of methodological studies may be interested in determining the factors that are associated with certain reporting practices. Many methodological studies incorporate this, albeit as a secondary outcome. For example, Farrokhyar et al. investigated the factors associated with reporting quality in randomized trials of coronary artery bypass grafting surgery [ 53 ].
Methodological studies may also be used to describe methods or compare methods, and the factors associated with methods. Muller et al. described the methods used for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies [ 86 ].
Some methodological studies synthesize results from other methodological studies. For example, Li et al. conducted a scoping review of methodological reviews that investigated consistency between full text and abstracts in primary biomedical research [ 87 ].
Some methodological studies may investigate the use of names and terms in health research. For example, Martinic et al. investigated the definitions of systematic reviews used in overviews of systematic reviews (OSRs), meta-epidemiological studies and epidemiology textbooks [ 88 ].
In addition to the previously mentioned experimental methodological studies, there may exist other types of methodological studies not captured here.
Most methodological studies are purely descriptive and report their findings as counts (percent) and means (standard deviation) or medians (interquartile range). For example, Mbuagbaw et al. described the reporting of research recommendations in Cochrane HIV systematic reviews [ 30 ]. Gohari et al. described the quality of reporting of randomized trials in diabetes in Iran [ 12 ].
Some methodological studies are analytical wherein “analytical studies identify and quantify associations, test hypotheses, identify causes and determine whether an association exists between variables, such as between an exposure and a disease.” [ 89 ] In the case of methodological studies all these investigations are possible. For example, Kosa et al. investigated the association between agreement in primary outcome from trial registry to published manuscript and study covariates. They found that larger and more recent studies were more likely to have agreement [ 15 ]. Tricco et al. compared the conclusion statements from Cochrane and non-Cochrane systematic reviews with a meta-analysis of the primary outcome and found that non-Cochrane reviews were more likely to report positive findings. These results are a test of the null hypothesis that the proportions of Cochrane and non-Cochrane reviews that report positive results are equal [ 90 ].
Methodological reviews with narrow research questions may be able to include the entire target population. For example, in the methodological study of Cochrane HIV systematic reviews, Mbuagbaw et al. included all of the available studies ( n = 103) [ 30 ].
Many methodological studies use random samples of the target population [ 33 , 91 , 92 ]. Alternatively, purposeful sampling may be used, limiting the sample to a subset of research-related reports published within a certain time period, or in journals with a certain ranking or on a topic. Systematic sampling can also be used when random sampling may be challenging to implement.
Many methodological studies use a research report (e.g. full manuscript of study, abstract portion of the study) as the unit of analysis, and inferences can be made at the study-level. However, both published and unpublished research-related reports can be studied. These may include articles, conference abstracts, registry entries etc.
Some methodological studies report on items which may occur more than once per article. For example, Paquette et al. report on subgroup analyses in Cochrane reviews of atrial fibrillation in which 17 systematic reviews planned 56 subgroup analyses [ 93 ].
This framework is outlined in Fig. 2 .
A proposed framework for methodological studies
Methodological studies have examined different aspects of reporting such as quality, completeness, consistency and adherence to reporting guidelines. As such, many of the methodological study examples cited in this tutorial are related to reporting. However, as an evolving field, the scope of research questions that can be addressed by methodological studies is expected to increase.
In this paper we have outlined the scope and purpose of methodological studies, along with examples of instances in which various approaches have been used. In the absence of formal guidance on the design, conduct, analysis and reporting of methodological studies, we have provided some advice to help make methodological studies consistent. This advice is grounded in good contemporary scientific practice. Generally, the research question should tie in with the sampling approach and planned analysis. We have also highlighted the variables that may inform findings from methodological studies. Lastly, we have provided suggestions for ways in which authors can categorize their methodological studies to inform their design and analysis.
Abbreviations.
CONSORT | Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials |
EPICOT | Evidence, Participants, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Timeframe |
GRADE | Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations |
PICOT | Participants, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Timeframe |
PRISMA | Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses |
SWAR | Studies Within a Review |
SWAT | Studies Within a Trial |
LM conceived the idea and drafted the outline and paper. DOL and LT commented on the idea and draft outline. LM, LP and DOL performed literature searches and data extraction. All authors (LM, DOL, LT, LP, DBA) reviewed several draft versions of the manuscript and approved the final manuscript.
This work did not receive any dedicated funding.
Ethics approval and consent to participate.
Not applicable.
Competing interests.
DOL, DBA, LM, LP and LT are involved in the development of a reporting guideline for methodological studies.
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Reference management. Clean and simple.
Why do you need a research methodology, what needs to be included, why do you need to document your research method, what are the different types of research instruments, qualitative / quantitative / mixed research methodologies, how do you choose the best research methodology for you, frequently asked questions about research methodology, related articles.
When you’re working on your first piece of academic research, there are many different things to focus on, and it can be overwhelming to stay on top of everything. This is especially true of budding or inexperienced researchers.
If you’ve never put together a research proposal before or find yourself in a position where you need to explain your research methodology decisions, there are a few things you need to be aware of.
Once you understand the ins and outs, handling academic research in the future will be less intimidating. We break down the basics below:
A research methodology encompasses the way in which you intend to carry out your research. This includes how you plan to tackle things like collection methods, statistical analysis, participant observations, and more.
You can think of your research methodology as being a formula. One part will be how you plan on putting your research into practice, and another will be why you feel this is the best way to approach it. Your research methodology is ultimately a methodological and systematic plan to resolve your research problem.
In short, you are explaining how you will take your idea and turn it into a study, which in turn will produce valid and reliable results that are in accordance with the aims and objectives of your research. This is true whether your paper plans to make use of qualitative methods or quantitative methods.
The purpose of a research methodology is to explain the reasoning behind your approach to your research - you'll need to support your collection methods, methods of analysis, and other key points of your work.
Think of it like writing a plan or an outline for you what you intend to do.
When carrying out research, it can be easy to go off-track or depart from your standard methodology.
Tip: Having a methodology keeps you accountable and on track with your original aims and objectives, and gives you a suitable and sound plan to keep your project manageable, smooth, and effective.
With all that said, how do you write out your standard approach to a research methodology?
As a general plan, your methodology should include the following information:
In any dissertation, thesis, or academic journal, you will always find a chapter dedicated to explaining the research methodology of the person who carried out the study, also referred to as the methodology section of the work.
A good research methodology will explain what you are going to do and why, while a poor methodology will lead to a messy or disorganized approach.
You should also be able to justify in this section your reasoning for why you intend to carry out your research in a particular way, especially if it might be a particularly unique method.
Having a sound methodology in place can also help you with the following:
A research instrument is a tool you will use to help you collect, measure and analyze the data you use as part of your research.
The choice of research instrument will usually be yours to make as the researcher and will be whichever best suits your methodology.
There are many different research instruments you can use in collecting data for your research.
Generally, they can be grouped as follows:
These are the most common ways of carrying out research, but it is really dependent on your needs as a researcher and what approach you think is best to take.
It is also possible to combine a number of research instruments if this is necessary and appropriate in answering your research problem.
There are three different types of methodologies, and they are distinguished by whether they focus on words, numbers, or both.
Data type | What is it? | Methodology |
---|---|---|
Quantitative | This methodology focuses more on measuring and testing numerical data. What is the aim of quantitative research? | Surveys, tests, existing databases. |
Qualitative | Qualitative research is a process of collecting and analyzing both words and textual data. | Observations, interviews, focus groups. |
Mixed-method | A mixed-method approach combines both of the above approaches. | Where you can use a mixed method of research, this can produce some incredibly interesting results. This is due to testing in a way that provides data that is both proven to be exact while also being exploratory at the same time. |
➡️ Want to learn more about the differences between qualitative and quantitative research, and how to use both methods? Check out our guide for that!
If you've done your due diligence, you'll have an idea of which methodology approach is best suited to your research.
It’s likely that you will have carried out considerable reading and homework before you reach this point and you may have taken inspiration from other similar studies that have yielded good results.
Still, it is important to consider different options before setting your research in stone. Exploring different options available will help you to explain why the choice you ultimately make is preferable to other methods.
If proving your research problem requires you to gather large volumes of numerical data to test hypotheses, a quantitative research method is likely to provide you with the most usable results.
If instead you’re looking to try and learn more about people, and their perception of events, your methodology is more exploratory in nature and would therefore probably be better served using a qualitative research methodology.
It helps to always bring things back to the question: what do I want to achieve with my research?
Once you have conducted your research, you need to analyze it. Here are some helpful guides for qualitative data analysis:
➡️ How to do a content analysis
➡️ How to do a thematic analysis
➡️ How to do a rhetorical analysis
Research methodology refers to the techniques used to find and analyze information for a study, ensuring that the results are valid, reliable and that they address the research objective.
Data can typically be organized into four different categories or methods: observational, experimental, simulation, and derived.
Writing a methodology section is a process of introducing your methods and instruments, discussing your analysis, providing more background information, addressing your research limitations, and more.
Your research methodology section will need a clear research question and proposed research approach. You'll need to add a background, introduce your research question, write your methodology and add the works you cited during your data collecting phase.
The research methodology section of your study will indicate how valid your findings are and how well-informed your paper is. It also assists future researchers planning to use the same methodology, who want to cite your study or replicate it.
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Methodology
Research methods are specific procedures for collecting and analyzing data. Developing your research methods is an integral part of your research design . When planning your methods, there are two key decisions you will make.
First, decide how you will collect data . Your methods depend on what type of data you need to answer your research question :
Second, decide how you will analyze the data .
Methods for collecting data, examples of data collection methods, methods for analyzing data, examples of data analysis methods, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about research methods.
Data is the information that you collect for the purposes of answering your research question . The type of data you need depends on the aims of your research.
Your choice of qualitative or quantitative data collection depends on the type of knowledge you want to develop.
For questions about ideas, experiences and meanings, or to study something that can’t be described numerically, collect qualitative data .
If you want to develop a more mechanistic understanding of a topic, or your research involves hypothesis testing , collect quantitative data .
Qualitative | to broader populations. . | |
---|---|---|
Quantitative | . |
You can also take a mixed methods approach , where you use both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Primary research is any original data that you collect yourself for the purposes of answering your research question (e.g. through surveys , observations and experiments ). Secondary research is data that has already been collected by other researchers (e.g. in a government census or previous scientific studies).
If you are exploring a novel research question, you’ll probably need to collect primary data . But if you want to synthesize existing knowledge, analyze historical trends, or identify patterns on a large scale, secondary data might be a better choice.
Primary | . | methods. |
---|---|---|
Secondary |
In descriptive research , you collect data about your study subject without intervening. The validity of your research will depend on your sampling method .
In experimental research , you systematically intervene in a process and measure the outcome. The validity of your research will depend on your experimental design .
To conduct an experiment, you need to be able to vary your independent variable , precisely measure your dependent variable, and control for confounding variables . If it’s practically and ethically possible, this method is the best choice for answering questions about cause and effect.
Descriptive | . . | |
---|---|---|
Experimental |
Research method | Primary or secondary? | Qualitative or quantitative? | When to use |
---|---|---|---|
Primary | Quantitative | To test cause-and-effect relationships. | |
Primary | Quantitative | To understand general characteristics of a population. | |
Interview/focus group | Primary | Qualitative | To gain more in-depth understanding of a topic. |
Observation | Primary | Either | To understand how something occurs in its natural setting. |
Secondary | Either | To situate your research in an existing body of work, or to evaluate trends within a research topic. | |
Either | Either | To gain an in-depth understanding of a specific group or context, or when you don’t have the resources for a large study. |
Your data analysis methods will depend on the type of data you collect and how you prepare it for analysis.
Data can often be analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. For example, survey responses could be analyzed qualitatively by studying the meanings of responses or quantitatively by studying the frequencies of responses.
Qualitative analysis is used to understand words, ideas, and experiences. You can use it to interpret data that was collected:
Qualitative analysis tends to be quite flexible and relies on the researcher’s judgement, so you have to reflect carefully on your choices and assumptions and be careful to avoid research bias .
Quantitative analysis uses numbers and statistics to understand frequencies, averages and correlations (in descriptive studies) or cause-and-effect relationships (in experiments).
You can use quantitative analysis to interpret data that was collected either:
Because the data is collected and analyzed in a statistically valid way, the results of quantitative analysis can be easily standardized and shared among researchers.
Research method | Qualitative or quantitative? | When to use |
---|---|---|
Quantitative | To analyze data collected in a statistically valid manner (e.g. from experiments, surveys, and observations). | |
Meta-analysis | Quantitative | To statistically analyze the results of a large collection of studies. Can only be applied to studies that collected data in a statistically valid manner. |
Qualitative | To analyze data collected from interviews, , or textual sources. To understand general themes in the data and how they are communicated. | |
Either | To analyze large volumes of textual or visual data collected from surveys, literature reviews, or other sources. Can be quantitative (i.e. frequencies of words) or qualitative (i.e. meanings of words). |
If you want to know more about statistics , methodology , or research bias , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
Research bias
Quantitative research deals with numbers and statistics, while qualitative research deals with words and meanings.
Quantitative methods allow you to systematically measure variables and test hypotheses . Qualitative methods allow you to explore concepts and experiences in more detail.
In mixed methods research , you use both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods to answer your research question .
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.
The research methods you use depend on the type of data you need to answer your research question .
Methodology refers to the overarching strategy and rationale of your research project . It involves studying the methods used in your field and the theories or principles behind them, in order to develop an approach that matches your objectives.
Methods are the specific tools and procedures you use to collect and analyze data (for example, experiments, surveys , and statistical tests ).
In shorter scientific papers, where the aim is to report the findings of a specific study, you might simply describe what you did in a methods section .
In a longer or more complex research project, such as a thesis or dissertation , you will probably include a methodology section , where you explain your approach to answering the research questions and cite relevant sources to support your choice of methods.
Other students also liked, writing strong research questions | criteria & examples.
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1. | |
A. | Wilkinson |
B. | CR Kothari |
C. | Kerlinger |
D. | Goode and Halt |
Answer» D. Goode and Halt |
2. | |
A. | Marshall |
B. | P.V. Young |
C. | Emory |
D. | Kerlinger |
Answer» C. Emory |
3. | |
A. | Young |
B. | Kerlinger |
C. | Kothari |
D. | Emory |
Answer» A. Young |
4. | |
A. | Experiment |
B. | Observation |
C. | Deduction |
D. | Scientific method |
Answer» D. Scientific method |
5. | |
A. | Deduction |
B. | Scientific method |
C. | Observation |
D. | experience |
Answer» B. Scientific method |
6. | |
A. | Objectivity |
B. | Ethics |
C. | Proposition |
D. | Neutrality |
Answer» A. Objectivity |
7. | |
A. | Induction |
B. | Deduction |
C. | Research |
D. | Experiment |
Answer» A. Induction |
8. | |
A. | Belief |
B. | Value |
C. | Objectivity |
D. | Subjectivity |
Answer» C. Objectivity |
9. | |
A. | Induction |
B. | deduction |
C. | Observation |
D. | experience |
Answer» B. deduction |
10. | |
A. | Caroline |
B. | P.V.Young |
C. | Dewey John |
D. | Emory |
Answer» B. P.V.Young |
11. | |
A. | Facts |
B. | Values |
C. | Theory |
D. | Generalization |
Answer» C. Theory |
12. | |
A. | Jack Gibbs |
B. | PV Young |
C. | Black |
D. | Rose Arnold |
Answer» B. PV Young |
13. | |
A. | Black James and Champion |
B. | P.V. Young |
C. | Emory |
D. | Gibbes |
Answer» A. Black James and Champion |
14. | |
A. | Theory |
B. | Value |
C. | Fact |
D. | Statement |
Answer» C. Fact |
15. | |
A. | Good and Hatt |
B. | Emory |
C. | P.V. Young |
D. | Claver |
Answer» A. Good and Hatt |
16. | |
A. | Concept |
B. | Variable |
C. | Model |
D. | Facts |
Answer» C. Model |
17. | |
A. | Objects |
B. | Human beings |
C. | Living things |
D. | Non living things |
Answer» B. Human beings |
18. | |
A. | Natural and Social |
B. | Natural and Physical |
C. | Physical and Mental |
D. | Social and Physical |
Answer» A. Natural and Social |
19. | |
A. | Causal Connection |
B. | reason |
C. | Interaction |
D. | Objectives |
Answer» A. Causal Connection |
20. | |
A. | Explain |
B. | diagnosis |
C. | Recommend |
D. | Formulate |
Answer» B. diagnosis |
21. | |
A. | Integration |
B. | Social Harmony |
C. | National Integration |
D. | Social Equality |
Answer» A. Integration |
22. | |
A. | Unit |
B. | design |
C. | Random |
D. | Census |
Answer» B. design |
23. | |
A. | Objectivity |
B. | Specificity |
C. | Values |
D. | Facts |
Answer» A. Objectivity |
24. | |
A. | Purpose |
B. | Intent |
C. | Methodology |
D. | Techniques |
Answer» B. Intent |
25. | |
A. | Pure Research |
B. | Action Research |
C. | Pilot study |
D. | Survey |
Answer» A. Pure Research |
26. | |
A. | Pure Research |
B. | Survey |
C. | Action Research |
D. | Long term Research |
Answer» B. Survey |
27. | |
A. | Survey |
B. | Action research |
C. | Analytical research |
D. | Pilot study |
Answer» C. Analytical research |
28. | |
A. | Fundamental Research |
B. | Analytical Research |
C. | Survey |
D. | Action Research |
Answer» D. Action Research |
29. | |
A. | Action Research |
B. | Survey |
C. | Pilot study |
D. | Pure Research |
Answer» D. Pure Research |
30. | |
A. | Quantitative |
B. | Qualitative |
C. | Pure |
D. | applied |
Answer» B. Qualitative |
31. | |
A. | Empirical research |
B. | Conceptual Research |
C. | Quantitative research |
D. | Qualitative research |
Answer» B. Conceptual Research |
32. | |
A. | Clinical or diagnostic |
B. | Causal |
C. | Analytical |
D. | Qualitative |
Answer» A. Clinical or diagnostic |
33. | |
A. | Field study |
B. | Survey |
C. | Laboratory Research |
D. | Empirical Research |
Answer» C. Laboratory Research |
34. | |
A. | Clinical Research |
B. | Experimental Research |
C. | Laboratory Research |
D. | Empirical Research |
Answer» D. Empirical Research |
35. | |
A. | Survey |
B. | Empirical |
C. | Clinical |
D. | Diagnostic |
Answer» A. Survey |
36. | |
A. | Ostle |
B. | Richard |
C. | Karl Pearson |
D. | Kerlinger |
Answer» C. Karl Pearson |
37. | |
A. | Redmen and Mory |
B. | P.V.Young |
C. | Robert C meir |
D. | Harold Dazier |
Answer» A. Redmen and Mory |
38. | |
A. | Technique |
B. | Operations |
C. | Research methodology |
D. | Research Process |
Answer» C. Research methodology |
39. | |
A. | Slow |
B. | Fast |
C. | Narrow |
D. | Systematic |
Answer» D. Systematic |
40. | |
A. | Logical |
B. | Non logical |
C. | Narrow |
D. | Systematic |
Answer» A. Logical |
41. | |
A. | Delta Kappan |
B. | James Harold Fox |
C. | P.V.Young |
D. | Karl Popper |
Answer» B. James Harold Fox |
42. | |
A. | Problem |
B. | Experiment |
C. | Research Techniques |
D. | Research methodology |
Answer» D. Research methodology |
43. | |
A. | Field Study |
B. | diagnosis tic study |
C. | Action study |
D. | Pilot study |
Answer» B. diagnosis tic study |
44. | |
A. | Social Science Research |
B. | Experience Survey |
C. | Problem formulation |
D. | diagnostic study |
Answer» A. Social Science Research |
45. | |
A. | P.V. Young |
B. | Kerlinger |
C. | Emory |
D. | Clover Vernon |
Answer» B. Kerlinger |
46. | |
A. | Black James and Champions |
B. | P.V. Young |
C. | Mortan Kaplan |
D. | William Emory |
Answer» A. Black James and Champions |
47. | |
A. | Best John |
B. | Emory |
C. | Clover |
D. | P.V. Young |
Answer» D. P.V. Young |
48. | |
A. | Belief |
B. | Value |
C. | Confidence |
D. | Overconfidence |
Answer» D. Overconfidence |
49. | |
A. | Velocity |
B. | Momentum |
C. | Frequency |
D. | gravity |
Answer» C. Frequency |
50. | |
A. | Research degree |
B. | Research Academy |
C. | Research Labs |
D. | Research Problems |
Answer» A. Research degree |
51. | |
A. | Book |
B. | Journal |
C. | News Paper |
D. | Census Report |
Answer» D. Census Report |
52. | |
A. | Lack of sufficient number of Universities |
B. | Lack of sufficient research guides |
C. | Lack of sufficient Fund |
D. | Lack of scientific training in research |
Answer» D. Lack of scientific training in research |
53. | |
A. | Indian Council for Survey and Research |
B. | Indian Council for strategic Research |
C. | Indian Council for Social Science Research |
D. | Inter National Council for Social Science Research |
Answer» C. Indian Council for Social Science Research |
54. | |
A. | University Grants Commission |
B. | Union Government Commission |
C. | University Governance Council |
D. | Union government Council |
Answer» A. University Grants Commission |
55. | |
A. | Junior Research Functions |
B. | Junior Research Fellowship |
C. | Junior Fellowship |
D. | None of the above |
Answer» B. Junior Research Fellowship |
56. | |
A. | Formulation of a problem |
B. | Collection of Data |
C. | Editing and Coding |
D. | Selection of a problem |
Answer» D. Selection of a problem |
57. | |
A. | Fully solved |
B. | Not solved |
C. | Cannot be solved |
D. | half- solved |
Answer» D. half- solved |
58. | |
A. | Schools and Colleges |
B. | Class Room Lectures |
C. | Play grounds |
D. | Infra structures |
Answer» B. Class Room Lectures |
59. | |
A. | Observation |
B. | Problem |
C. | Data |
D. | Experiment |
Answer» B. Problem |
60. | |
A. | Solution |
B. | Examination |
C. | Problem formulation |
D. | Problem Solving |
Answer» C. Problem formulation |
61. | |
A. | Very Common |
B. | Overdone |
C. | Easy one |
D. | rare |
Answer» B. Overdone |
62. | |
A. | Statement of the problem |
B. | Gathering of Data |
C. | Measurement |
D. | Survey |
Answer» A. Statement of the problem |
63. | |
A. | Professor |
B. | Tutor |
C. | HOD |
D. | Guide |
Answer» D. Guide |
64. | |
A. | Statement of the problem |
B. | Understanding the nature of the problem |
C. | Survey |
D. | Discussions |
Answer» B. Understanding the nature of the problem |
65. | |
A. | Statement of the problem |
B. | Understanding the nature of the problem |
C. | Survey the available literature |
D. | Discussion |
Answer» C. Survey the available literature |
66. | |
A. | Survey |
B. | Discussion |
C. | Literature survey |
D. | Re Phrasing the Research problem |
Answer» D. Re Phrasing the Research problem |
67. | |
A. | Title |
B. | Index |
C. | Bibliography |
D. | Concepts |
Answer» A. Title |
68. | |
A. | Questions to be answered |
B. | methods |
C. | Techniques |
D. | methodology |
Answer» A. Questions to be answered |
69. | |
A. | Speed |
B. | Facts |
C. | Values |
D. | Novelty |
Answer» D. Novelty |
70. | |
A. | Originality |
B. | Values |
C. | Coherence |
D. | Facts |
Answer» A. Originality |
71. | |
A. | Academic and Non academic |
B. | Cultivation |
C. | Academic |
D. | Utilitarian |
Answer» B. Cultivation |
72. | |
A. | Information |
B. | firsthand knowledge |
C. | Knowledge and information |
D. | models |
Answer» C. Knowledge and information |
73. | |
A. | Alienation |
B. | Cohesion |
C. | mobility |
D. | Integration |
Answer» B. Cohesion |
74. | |
A. | Scientific temper |
B. | Age |
C. | Money |
D. | time |
Answer» A. Scientific temper |
75. | |
A. | Secular |
B. | Totalitarian |
C. | democratic |
D. | welfare |
Answer» D. welfare |
76. | |
A. | Hypothesis |
B. | Variable |
C. | Concept |
D. | facts |
Answer» C. Concept |
77. | |
A. | Abstract and Coherent |
B. | Concrete and Coherent |
C. | Abstract and concrete |
D. | None of the above |
Answer» C. Abstract and concrete |
78. | |
A. | 4 |
B. | 6 |
C. | 10 |
D. | 2 |
Answer» D. 2 |
79. | |
A. | Observation |
B. | formulation |
C. | Theory |
D. | Postulation |
Answer» D. Postulation |
80. | |
A. | Formulation |
B. | Postulation |
C. | Intuition |
D. | Observation |
Answer» C. Intuition |
81. | |
A. | guide |
B. | tools |
C. | methods |
D. | Variables |
Answer» B. tools |
82. | |
A. | Metaphor |
B. | Simile |
C. | Symbols |
D. | Models |
Answer» C. Symbols |
83. | |
A. | Formulation |
B. | Calculation |
C. | Abstraction |
D. | Specification |
Answer» C. Abstraction |
84. | |
A. | Verbal |
B. | Oral |
C. | Hypothetical |
D. | Operational |
Answer» C. Hypothetical |
85. | |
A. | Kerlinger |
B. | P.V. Young |
C. | Aurthur |
D. | Kaplan |
Answer» B. P.V. Young |
86. | |
A. | Same and different |
B. | Same |
C. | different |
D. | None of the above |
Answer» C. different |
87. | |
A. | Greek |
B. | English |
C. | Latin |
D. | Many languages |
Answer» D. Many languages |
88. | |
A. | Variable |
B. | Hypothesis |
C. | Data |
D. | Concept |
Answer» B. Hypothesis |
89. | |
A. | Data |
B. | Concept |
C. | Research |
D. | Hypothesis |
Answer» D. Hypothesis |
90. | |
A. | Lund berg |
B. | Emory |
C. | Johnson |
D. | Good and Hatt |
Answer» D. Good and Hatt |
91. | |
A. | Good and Hatt |
B. | Lund berg |
C. | Emory |
D. | Orwell |
Answer» B. Lund berg |
92. | |
A. | Descriptive |
B. | Imaginative |
C. | Relational |
D. | Variable |
Answer» A. Descriptive |
93. | |
A. | Null Hypothesis |
B. | Working Hypothesis |
C. | Relational Hypothesis |
D. | Descriptive Hypothesis |
Answer» B. Working Hypothesis |
94. | |
A. | Relational Hypothesis |
B. | Situational Hypothesis |
C. | Null Hypothesis |
D. | Casual Hypothesis |
Answer» C. Null Hypothesis |
95. | |
A. | Abstract |
B. | Dependent |
C. | Independent |
D. | Separate |
Answer» C. Independent |
96. | |
A. | Independent |
B. | Dependent |
C. | Separate |
D. | Abstract |
Answer» B. Dependent |
97. | |
A. | Causal |
B. | Relational |
C. | Descriptive |
D. | Tentative |
Answer» B. Relational |
98. | |
A. | One |
B. | Many |
C. | Zero |
D. | None of these |
Answer» C. Zero |
99. | |
A. | Statistical Hypothesis |
B. | Complex Hypothesis |
C. | Common sense Hypothesis |
D. | Analytical Hypothesis |
Answer» C. Common sense Hypothesis |
100. | |
A. | Null Hypothesis |
B. | Casual Hypothesis |
C. | Barren Hypothesis |
D. | Analytical Hypothesis |
Answer» D. Analytical Hypothesis |
Done Reading?
20RMI17 Question Paper
Research methodology and ipr question papers, last updated : monday january 23, 2023.
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Title: broad versus narrow research questions in evidence synthesis: a parallel to (and plea for) estimands.
Abstract: There has been a transition from broad to more specific research questions in the practice of network meta-analysis (NMA). Such convergence is also taking place in the context of individual registrational trials, following the recent introduction of the estimand framework, which is impacting the design, data collection strategy, analysis and interpretation of clinical trials. The language of estimands has much to offer to NMA, particularly given the "narrow" perspective of treatments and target populations taken in health technology assessment.
Comments: | 6 pages, discussion paper based on Ades et al. (2024), accepted for publication by Research Synthesis Methods |
Subjects: | Applications (stat.AP) |
Cite as: | [stat.AP] |
(or [stat.AP] for this version) | |
Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration) | |
: | Focus to learn more DOI(s) linking to related resources |
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hy. might one be preferred over the other?3. Explain the steps involved in the research process, from selecting a. re. earch topic to reporting the findings.4. What is a rese. rch hypothesis, and how is it formulated? Provide examples o. r. search hypotheses in different fields.5. Discuss the sign.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY - PAST EXAM PAPERS 2016 - Regular Examination Question 1 Write short notes on the following concepts:[20] a) Research question b) Hypothesis c) Theoretical framework d) Methodology a) Research Question: - A research question is a fundamental inquiry that defines the scope and purpose of a research project. It is a clear ...
1. Focus on your objectives and research questions. The methodology section should clearly show why your methods suit your objectives and convince the reader that you chose the best possible approach to answering your problem statement and research questions. 2.
research proposal is a comprehensive plan for a research project. It is a written description of a research plan that has to be undertaken. It determines the specific areas of research, states the purpose, scope, methodology, overall organization and limitations of the study. It also estimates its requirements for equipment (if necessary ...
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 ... Before deciding which research methodology answers your research question, you must invest significant ...
Explain how the research methodology addresses the research question(s) and objectives; Research Methodology Types. ... The research methodology is an important section of any research paper or thesis, as it describes the methods and procedures that will be used to conduct the research. It should include details about the research design, data ...
I. Groups of Research Methods. There are two main groups of research methods in the social sciences: The empirical-analytical group approaches the study of social sciences in a similar manner that researchers study the natural sciences.This type of research focuses on objective knowledge, research questions that can be answered yes or no, and operational definitions of variables to be measured.
Here is an ultimate guide on research methodology to help you ace your research. Learn about its definition, importance, and types. ... tools, and techniques that will be used to answer the research questions. Quantitative Research Methods. ... In the methodology section of a research paper, describe the study's design, data collection, and ...
Revised on 10 October 2022. Your research methodology discusses and explains the data collection and analysis methods you used in your research. A key part of your thesis, dissertation, or research paper, the methodology chapter explains what you did and how you did it, allowing readers to evaluate the reliability and validity of your research.
The first question asks for a ready-made solution, and is not focused or researchable. The second question is a clearer comparative question, but note that it may not be practically feasible. For a smaller research project or thesis, it could be narrowed down further to focus on the effectiveness of drunk driving laws in just one or two countries.
27 Jun 2023. Answer. Research, research methodology, and publication ethics are all essential components of scientific inquiry. Conducting research using rigorous methodology and adhering to ...
1. Qualitative research methodology. Qualitative research methodology is aimed at understanding concepts, thoughts, or experiences. This approach is descriptive and is often utilized to gather in-depth insights into people's attitudes, behaviors, or cultures. Qualitative research methodology involves methods like interviews, focus groups, and ...
The methodology section of your paper describes how your research was conducted. This information allows readers to check whether your approach is accurate and dependable. A good methodology can help increase the reader's trust in your findings. First, we will define and differentiate quantitative and qualitative 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 question is essential to guide your research paper, dissertation, or thesis. All research questions should be: Focused on a single problem or issue. Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources. Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints. Specific enough to answer thoroughly.
The exam will also cover current affairs. Here are some tips to help you ace the research methodology section of the entrance exam with the help of Research Methodology Question Papers. Answer any TWO of the following. (2 x20 = 40 Marks) Write an essay on the preparation of a manuscript for publications.
Even though methodological studies can be conducted on qualitative or mixed methods research, this paper focuses on and draws examples exclusively from quantitative research. The objectives of this paper are to provide some insights on how to conduct methodological studies so that there is greater consistency between the research questions ...
A research methodology encompasses the way in which you intend to carry out your research. This includes how you plan to tackle things like collection methods, statistical analysis, participant observations, and more. You can think of your research methodology as being a formula. One part will be how you plan on putting your research into ...
Research Methodology (TE, VLSI&ES & ASP) Roll No Time: 3 hours Max. Marks: 70 Note: This question paper Consists of 5 Sections. Answer FIVE Questions, Choosing ONE Question from each SECTION and each Question carries 14 marks. *** SECTION-I 1 Define research, motives for business research, and distinguish
It has open ended questions; Discuss the steps of the research report. Also, highlight the criteria of good research. Answer: The research follows eight-step process: 1. Topic selection 2. Literature review 3. Develop a theoretical and conceptual framework 4. clarify the research question, 5. Develop a research design, 6. Collection of data, 7 ...
Research methods are specific procedures for collecting and analyzing data. Developing your research methods is an integral part of your research design. When planning your methods, there are two key decisions you will make. First, decide how you will collect data. Your methods depend on what type of data you need to answer your research question:
Solved MCQs for Research Methodology (RM), with PDF download and FREE Mock test Solved MCQs for Research Methodology (RM), with PDF download and FREE Mock test ... News Paper: D. Census Report: Answer» D. Census Report discuss (2) ... Question and answers in Research Methodology (RM), Research Methodology (RM) multiple choice questions and ...
VTU Research Methodology and IPR FEB 2021 Question Paper Research Methodology and IPR Question Papers Download VTU 20RMI17 Feb 2021 Question paper. A d v e r t i s e m e n t. Last Updated : Monday January 23, 2023. Categories. VTU last year question papers; VTU E Learning; VTU Time Table New; Model Question Papers New;
Research methodology is the specific procedures or techniques used to identify, select, process, and analyze information/data about a topic. In a research paper, the research methodology section ...
There has been a transition from broad to more specific research questions in the practice of network meta-analysis (NMA). Such convergence is also taking place in the context of individual registrational trials, following the recent introduction of the estimand framework, which is impacting the design, data collection strategy, analysis and interpretation of clinical trials. The language of ...