Research is systematic work undertaken to increase knowledge — it’s more than simply gathering information about a topic. It involves using tools to gather data and then analyzing that data to make informed predictions about relationships between factors. Research is iterative, meaning the hypothesis that a researcher begins with may change by the end of a study.
The first step in any research project is choosing a subject area. Once you’ve identified your subject, start reading journal articles and researching the topic online to get a better understanding of the current state of the literature. This will also help you identify gaps in existing knowledge about your subject that you can fill with new research.
Depending on your subject, you can choose to focus on Exploratory or Constructive research. Exploratory research looks at a number of different aspects of a problem or question without offering specific conclusions, while Constructive research is designed to handle a specific problem with concrete results. You can also choose between Quantitative and Qualitative research. Quantitative research organizes data into numbers and patterns and uses statistical methods to answer questions, while qualitative research looks at the voice of participants in order to gain a deeper understanding of an issue or person’s experience.
Non-experimental research describes observed events without influencing the experience, while experimental designs use controlled manipulations in order to measure cause and effect. Other common research tools include surveys, interviews, and focus groups. In a survey, researchers ask a set of questions to a group of people who then respond to the questions in writing. Interviews allow you to talk to a small group of people at one time about their experiences. Lastly, a focus group is a loosely structured discussion with a few people at a time where you can discuss topics and brainstorm together.