Editing Research (section)

== Research methods ==
[[File:NYC Public Library Research Room Jan 2006-1- 3.jpg|thumb|The research room at the New York Public Library, an example of [[secondary research]] in progress]]
[[File:Hilleman-Walter-Reed.jpeg|thumb|[[Maurice Hilleman]], a 20th century [[vaccinologist]] credited with saving more lives than any other scientist of his era<ref>{{cite news |author=Sullivan P |date=13 April 2005 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48244-2005Apr12.html |title=Maurice R. Hilleman dies; created vaccines |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=10 September 2017 |archive-date=20 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020102622/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48244-2005Apr12.html |url-status=live }}</ref>]]

The goal of the research process is to produce new knowledge or deepen understanding of a topic or issue. This process takes three main forms (although, as previously discussed, the boundaries between them may be obscure):
* [[Exploratory research]], which helps to identify and define a problem or question.
* [[Constructive research]], which tests theories and proposes solutions to a problem or question.
* [[Empirical research]], which tests the feasibility of a solution using [[empirical evidence]].
There are two major types of empirical research design: qualitative research and quantitative research. Researchers choose qualitative or quantitative methods according to the nature of the research topic they want to investigate and the research questions they aim to answer:

'''Qualitative research'''
[[Qualitative research]] refers to much more subjective non-quantitative, use different methods of collecting data, analyzing data, interpreting data for meanings, definitions, characteristics, symbols metaphors of things. Qualitative research further classified into the following types: ''Ethnography:'' This research mainly focus on culture of group of people which includes share attributes, language, practices, structure, value, norms and material things, evaluate human lifestyle. Ethno: people, Grapho: to write, this disciple may include ethnic groups, ethno genesis, composition, resettlement and social welfare characteristics. ''Phenomenology'': It is very powerful strategy for demonstrating methodology to health professions education as well as best suited for exploring challenging problems in health professions educations.<ref>{{cite book  |last1=Pawar |first1=Neelam |date=December 2020 |chapter=6. Type of Research and Type Research Design |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352055750 |title=Research Methodology: An Overview |publisher=KD Publications |volume=15 |pages=46–57 |isbn=978-81-948755-8-1 }}</ref> In addition, [[Project Management Institute|PMP]] researcher Mandy Sha argued that a [[project management]] approach is necessary to control the scope, schedule, and cost related to [[qualitative research]] design, participant recruitment, data collection, reporting, as well as [[Stakeholder management|stakeholder engagement]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sha |first1=Mandy |last2=Childs |first2=Jennifer Hunter |date=2014-08-01 |title=Applying a project management approach to survey research projects that use qualitative methods |url=https://www.surveypractice.org/article/2865-applying-a-project-management-approach-to-survey-research-projects-that-use-qualitative-methods |journal=Survey Practice |language=en |volume=7 |issue=4 |pages=1–8 |doi=10.29115/SP-2014-0021 |doi-access=free |access-date=3 December 2023 |archive-date=25 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231125171133/https://www.surveypractice.org/article/2865-applying-a-project-management-approach-to-survey-research-projects-that-use-qualitative-methods |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last1=Sha |first1=Mandy |last2=Pan |first2=Yuling |date=2013-12-01 |title=Adapting and Improving Methods to Manage Cognitive Pretesting of Multilingual Survey Instruments |url=https://www.surveypractice.org/article/2888 |journal=Survey Practice |language=en |volume=6 |issue=4 |pages=1–8 |doi=10.29115/SP-2013-0024 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

'''Quantitative research'''
[[Quantitative research]] involves systematic empirical investigation of quantitative properties and phenomena and their relationships, by asking a narrow question and collecting numerical data to analyze it utilizing [[Descriptive statistical technique|statistical]] methods. The quantitative research designs are experimental, correlational, and survey (or descriptive).{{sfn|Creswell|2008}} Statistics derived from quantitative research can be used to establish the existence of associative or causal relationships between variables. Quantitative research is linked with the philosophical and theoretical stance of [[positivism]].

The quantitative data collection methods rely on random sampling and structured data collection instruments that fit diverse experiences into predetermined response categories. These methods produce results that can be summarized, compared, and generalized to larger populations if the data are collected using proper sampling and data collection strategies.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|author=Eyler, Amy A. |title=Research Methods for Public Health|date=2020|publisher=Springer Publishing Company|isbn=978-0-8261-8206-7|location=New York|oclc=1202451096}}</ref> Quantitative research is concerned with testing hypotheses derived from theory or being able to estimate the size of a phenomenon of interest.<ref name=":2" />

If the research question is about people, participants may be randomly assigned to different treatments (this is the only way that a quantitative study can be considered a true experiment).{{citation needed|date=December 2012}} If this is not feasible, the researcher may collect data on participant and situational characteristics to statistically control for their influence on the dependent, or outcome, variable. If the intent is to generalize from the research participants to a larger population, the researcher will employ probability sampling to select participants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://people.uwec.edu/piercech/ResearchMethods/Data%20collection%20methods/DATA%20COLLECTION%20METHODS.htm|title=Data Collection Methods<!-- Bot generated title -->|website=uwec.edu|access-date=26 October 2011|archive-date=20 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020151015/http://people.uwec.edu/piercech/ResearchMethods/Data%20collection%20methods/DATA%20COLLECTION%20METHODS.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In either qualitative or quantitative research, the researcher(s) may collect primary or secondary data.<ref name=":2" /> Primary data is data collected specifically for the research, such as through interviews or questionnaires. Secondary data is data that already exists, such as census data, which can be re-used for the research. It is good ethical research practice to use secondary data wherever possible.{{sfn|Kara|2012|p=102}}

Mixed-method research, i.e. research that includes qualitative and quantitative elements, using both primary and secondary data, is becoming more common.{{sfn|Kara|2012|p=114}} This method has benefits that using one method alone cannot offer. For example, a researcher may choose to conduct a qualitative study and follow it up with a quantitative study to gain additional insights.<ref name="Creswell Book">{{cite book |last=Creswell |first=John W. |title=Research design : qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches |date=2014 |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|Sage]] |location=[[Thousand Oaks]] |isbn=978-1-4522-2609-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PViMtOnJ1LcC |edition=4th |access-date=11 December 2018 |archive-date=16 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116101007/https://books.google.com/books?id=PViMtOnJ1LcC |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Big data]] has brought big impacts on research methods so that now many researchers do not put much effort into data collection; furthermore, methods to analyze easily available huge amounts of data have also been developed.

'''Non-empirical research'''
Non-empirical ([[theory|theoretical]]) research is an approach that involves the development of theory as opposed to using observation and experimentation. As such, non-empirical research seeks solutions to problems using existing knowledge as its source. This, however, does not mean that new ideas and innovations cannot be found within the pool of existing and established knowledge. Non-empirical research is not an absolute alternative to empirical research because they may be used together to strengthen a research approach. Neither one is less effective than the other since they have their particular purpose in science. Typically empirical research produces observations that need to be explained; then theoretical research tries to explain them, and in so doing generates empirically testable hypotheses; these hypotheses are then tested empirically, giving more observations that may need further explanation; and so on. See [[Scientific method]].

A simple example of a non-empirical task is the prototyping of a new drug using a differentiated application of existing knowledge; another is the development of a business process in the form of a flow chart and texts where all the ingredients are from established knowledge. Much of [[cosmology|cosmological research]] is theoretical in nature. [[Mathematics]] research does not rely on externally available data; rather, it seeks to prove [[theorem]]s about [[mathematical object]]s.