How to find information on research methods

Table of contents

Research methods are tools for acquiring and analysing especially empirical research data. Research methods can be qualitative or quantitative. In empirical research, concrete observations are made, the object of research is analysed and measured. The opposite of empirical research is theoretical research.

Find information on research methods

Information about research methods can be found here:

If you want to see examples of research using a specific method, SAGE Research Methods Cases is great for this purpose. Many databases do contain studies carried out using different methods, but usually searching for information by the name of the method produces information about the method itself and does not provide example studies.

How do I choose a suitable research method?

  • When choosing a method, the starting point is the research questions and the research data obtained for answering them, as well as the theoretical framework of the research, not the discipline as such. The researcher must be able to justify their methodological decisions.

IMRD formula for a scientific article based on empirical research: I = Introduction, M = Materials &; Methods, R = Results, D = Discussion.

Note the difference:

  • Research method = how you acquire and analyse research data.
  • Research data = the data you are analysing, such as interview data.
  • Research literature = scientific publications, such as articles and books on your topic.

Technical support is available from digital services:

  • Research support: software, services, statistical advice, online surveys, qualitative data analysis (ATLAS) and quantitative statistical programs (SPSS, SAS).

Research data

There is a separate study material on research data management, as well as a separate course LIBEDATA Introduction to Research Data Management course. 

If you collect your own research data, make a data management plan before starting data collection together with your supervisor as part of other research plan work. For example, plan issues related to personal data and ethical questions: they usually cannot be fixed afterwards.

Research data refers to all data produced and used in research.

  • Typical data include, for example, interviews and surveys.
  • There can be many other different kinds of data, such as newspaper articles and social media data
    • Social media data can be interesting to research, but contains both data protection, contract law and copyright issues.