Research is the creative and systematic work undertaken to increase knowledge. It involves exploring and documenting the evidence, with a specific emphasis on controlling sources of error and bias. Research is applied in many ways and can be found across disciplines.
Before you begin your research, identify the specific questions you want to answer and determine what resources you have available. Choose a methodology that best fits your research question and complies with the guidelines established by your field and/or school. Qualitative and quantitative methodologies have different strengths and weaknesses, and both can be used in combination. Quantitative research organizes data into numbers and patterns to answer questions. Examples of quantitative research include descriptive studies and correlational analyses, which allow you to identify trends or relationships between variables. However, correlation does not imply causation.
Depending on your research goal, you may use existing information (such as data sets or archival documents) to investigate your topic. If so, explain how you obtained this information and how it is relevant to your investigation.
Throughout the research process, keep in mind that not everyone will share your perspective or approach. Be transparent about your methods and rationale, especially if they differ from the established rules of your discipline. This will help readers to better understand your methodology and, if they wish, replicate your findings. It also helps potential critics to understand the reasoning behind your methods. For instance, if you chose to interview your subjects instead of using a statistical analysis, explain why.