RESEARCH APPROACHES AND RESEARCH DESIGNS

RESEARCH APPROACH:

Research approach are plans & procedures for research that provides an idea or description about the steps in research from broad Assumptions to detail methods of data collection, Analysis & Interpretation of the results.

RESEARCH DESIGN:

The research design is the blue print or the method to perform a research that integrate the different components of the study in a coherent and logical way, so that the research problem is addressed effectively; it illustrates the method for collection, measurement, and analysis of data in such a way that the research problem is clear & relevant

Types of Research Approach

• Qualitative Research Approach: 
  • It is an approach for exploring the understanding of the population regarding a social or human problem.
  • The process of research involves emerging questions and procedures, data typically collected in the participant’s setting, data analysis inductively building from particulars to general themes, and the researcher making interpretations of the meaning of the data.
  • This form of approach provides an inductive style that focuses on Individual problem that can lead to more complex situations
• Quantitative Research Approach:
  • Quantitative research is an approach for testing objective theories by examining the relationships among the variables.
  • These variables can be measured with Instruments that have Numerical data which are analyzed with statistical Procedures.
  • This form of approach have assumptions about testing theories deductively, & be able to generalize & replicate the findings.
• Mixed Approach: 
  • This Approach involves collection of data both in Qualitative & Quantitative & then integrating both the data using distinct designs that involves philosophical Assumptions & Theoretical Framework.
  • The combination of both Qualitative & Quantitative approaches provides a complete understanding of the research problem.

Components of Research Approaches

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH APPROACHES:

• Historical Research
  • Historical research design is a qualitative technique that studies the meaning of past events in an attempt to interpret the facts and explain the cause of events, and their effect in the present events.
  • Historical research tries to collect, verify, and synthesize evidence from the past to establish facts that defend or prove a hypothesis.
  • It uses secondary sources and a variety of primary documentary evidence, such as, diaries, official records, reports, archives, and non-textual information [maps, pictures, audio and visual recordings].
• Narrative Research
  • It is a literary form of research that is concerned with collecting & telling stories
  • Narrative research is created & constructed from life experiences of the Individuals by discussing with them the meaning of those life experiences & interpreting them so that it helps to make sense of the ambiguity & complexity of lives
• Phenomenological Research:
  • It is a type of Qualitative Research that involves inquiry obtained from philosophy & psychology in which the researcher describes the a phenomenon as described by the participants
  • phenomenological Research approach is done by understanding the universal phenomenon & exploring the views of those who have experienced the phenomenon
  • It is used to study lived experience & gain a deeper understanding of the people's thoughts & views, so that the researcher obtains a wide knowledge about the phenomenon
• Ethnographical Research:
  • Ethnography is the study of people in their own environment by using participant Observation & face-face Interviews.
  • Ethnography documents cultural similarities & differences through empirical field work and can help with scientific Generalizations about human behavior & the operation of social & cultural Systems
• Grounded Theory
  • Grounded theory refers to a set of systematic inductive methods for conducting qualitative research aimed toward theory development by a method that uses flexible methodological strategies for collecting and analyzing data.
• Case Study Research
  • Case Study is a research approach that examines the complex issue by generating in-depth comprehensive understanding of the real life contexts or situation.
  • It establishes a naturalistic research design as the central theme of case studies is to explore an event or phenomenon in depth and in its natural context.

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH APPROACHES

• Experimental Research Designs
  • Experimental research is a scientific approach to research, in which the independent variables are manipulated and applied to the dependent variables to measure their effect on these dependent variables.
  • The effect of the independent variables on the dependent variables is measured & analyzed using statistical methods to help the researchers to identify the relationships between the variables by drawing conclusions and generalizing the findings of the study.
• Non-Experimental Research Designs:
  • Non-experimental research study is done when the researcher cannot control, manipulate or alter the subjects but relies on interpretation or observations to conclude.
  • The non-experimental study totally depends on the variables that are out of the scope of the researcher’s control. They cannot control, manipulate or alter the subjects by any means. So that leaves them with just keep observing and interpreting their subjects along the research.
  • The researchers use non-experimental research design when they do not have any particular cause-effect research problem at hand and they just study the matter naturally by understanding a topic in depth without bounding it with variables.
• Survey Research approach:
  • Surveys are used both in quantitative & Qualitative Research approaches frequently used to provide an overall picture of a group’s characteristics. Surveys require that the researchers identify variables of interest and determine how variables are measured.
  • Surveys are primary research tools that provide data of overall research strategies. Survey researches are easy to conduct & cost-effective and the data can be obtained by using various methods like interviews, observations, through posts or online etc.

MIXED APPROACHES

• Convergent Research:
  • Convergence research is a means of solving critical or frustrating research problems, that are focusing on societal needs. convergence is a research strategy adopted when a particularly challenging or unfamiliar problem arises & has to be solved scientifically.
  • The issue may be rooted in the need to address a profound scientific question, or it may be linked to more practical needs. In either case, convergent research is typically used as a tool for problem-solving rather than a means for exploration of broader scientific concepts.
• Explanatory Sequential studies:
  • The explanatory-sequential approach is used when the researcher is interested in following up the quantitative results with qualitative data. Thus, the qualitative data is used in the subsequent interpretation and clarification of the results from the quantitative data analysis.
  • This research study explores why something occurs when limited information is available. It can enhance the understanding of a given topic, ascertain how or why a particular phenomenon is occurring, and predict future occurrences
• Exploratory Sequential Research:
  • An exploratory sequential design is a mixed methods study design, where the quantitative phase of data collection and analysis  is done followed by the qualitative phase of data collection and analysis
  •  The exploratory sequential technique is distinct from the explanatory sequential technique because it explores a concept before validating it, allowing for greater versatility in discovering novel ideas offered by the Qualitative approach
• Multiphase Research Approach:
  • Multiphase design is a complex research design that uses several designs over several studies. It involves combining several mixed method studies under one General Research Problem.
  • This method combines concurrent and/or sequential qualitative and quantitative data collection strategies over three or more phases, typically during a multi-year study.