For many students, it might be a daunting task to write a dissertation, but picking the right research method can make it a lot easier. Dissertation research methods refers to the ways you collect, evaluate, and make sense of information to answer your research question.
The method you choose will affect how reliable and useful your results are. The research method you choose is important for your success, whether you use interviews, surveys, or something else.
This blog will go over the different research methods that you can choose for your dissertation.
Types of Research Methods with Examples
1. Qualitative Methods
Qualitative approaches are focused on understanding thoughts, motivations, and experiences of people. This method doesn’t incorporate numbers or calculations; it gathers open-ended information including interviews, podcasts or group discussions.
Example: A marketing student may opt for this approach to reach out to small-business owners. Through group discussion or interviews, students can learn how storytelling can help build brands and shape identity and trust in front of end-users, customers or any audience.
2. Quantitative Methods
The approach entails the use of numbers and statistical testing to test hypotheses or examine relations. It is popular in economics, business and social sciences.
Example: A researcher may question 300 consumers to examine the effect of discount percentages on purchasing behaviour.
3. Mixed Methods Research
Mixed methods research is a study that incorporates both qualitative and quantitative data to make it profound and quantifiable. It is best when you desire balanced insights.
Example: A survey on employee satisfaction may adopt data collection methods such as surveys and follow-up on interviews in order to get an insight into the feelings behind the data.
4. Case Study Approach
The case study method is more specific to a specific individual, event or group. This approach is used for in depth investigaion that involve real world situations.
Examples: A business student could do a case study on a UK-based fintech startup to find out how it added digital onboarding for new employees and customers after a big change, like how the COVID-19 pandemic affected its business. This lets the researcher really understand how certain strategies work in real life.
5. Experimental Design
Experimental design concerns testing the cause-and-effect relationships. It uses control and test groups in measuring results under particular conditions.
Example: A researcher separates the participants into two groups to determine whether personalised marketing messages drive sales more than usual advertisements.
6. Longitudinal Study
A Longitudinal study monitors the same group throughout an extended time to notice the change and patterns. It is applicable in tracking development, performance, or behaviour.
Example: Tracking the performance of employees three years following the adoption of remote-work policies.
7. Cross-Sectional Study
A Cross-sectional study involves the collection of data by various groups at a given point in time. It is effective and used to determine differences among the demographics.
Example: Comparing the social media usage habits of varying age groups across diverse regions in the UK. This helps identify patterns, like whether younger people are more likely to use social media for news consumption.
Other Common Approaches
Here are two additional dissertation research methods that are worth noting:
- Descriptive research is the explanation of features or tendencies of a phenomenon (what is happening).
- Exploratory research, a research that examines a little-studied field to reveal how or why something may be happening (what could be happening).
Final Word
Any methodology you choose must be in line with your objectives, resources and the results you require. All in all, well-written Dissertation Research Methods not only address the academic need but they also make your research count and credible.
