Key Parts of The Research Methodology – 4 Things You Need to Know About

The key parts of the research methodology contain a specific way a researcher proposes to complete their research.

Research methodology explores all those fields necessary to handle different kinds of things. Such as:

Data collection approach, analysis tools, and recording of the observations of the participants.

It is just like a formula having two parts; the initial one is the approach through which the data has been gathered, and the other is for processing the collected data.

Finally, the researcher can solve the research question by properly using research methodology components.

Read the blog ahead to know various aspects of the research methodology in detail.

4 Key Parts Of The Research Methodology

Every research has a scientific structure hidden in the research methodology section, such as the scientific framework that explores the details of the research process.

Mostly, the research methodology reveals the validity and overall quality of the research.

Writing a research methodology is not easy, and there are several important parts involved in explaining the true consideration of research questions.

Following are the things a researcher should know about before starting the research:

The Logic of Inquiry (either qualitative or quantitative)

The first important thing to note is the logic of inquiry. The researcher needs to mention the straightforward inquiry logic he/she wants to apply, either qualitative or quantitative.

In such a situation, the first inquiry logic is theory-driven and referred to as deductive inference.

The deductive logic of inquiry is about prediction testing.

On the contrary, the other inquiry logic is inductive inference, a data-driven logic. Inductive logic is referred to as initiating the latest theoretical constructs.

Selection of Population and Research Setting

The second amongst other key parts of the research methodology, is to describe the research setting with the details of the participants (from the selected population).

In such a section, there is a piece of appropriate information about historical, social, economic, and other political situations from where the research population has been selected.

There is information on the targeted population:

• Why did the researcher choose such an area or location?
• On what grounds is the locality good for research purposes?
• Are the selected participants considered ideal for research questions, and
• How can they faithfully participate in the research?

Furthermore, in a research setting, there is proper information about gender, ethnicity, age, demography, socio-economic issues, and other information about the population.

It is important to note that two methods can select the target population.

Non-Probability Sampling:

Here, every participant has an equal opportunity of participating in the research questions and inquiries.

Probability Sampling:

In this sampling technique, a random sample has been selected from the population. However, it is more complicated and time-consuming than non-probability sampling.

If you have any confusion about the above sampling methods, you can get the right dissertation proposal help from experts.

Data Collection Method

The third amongst the other key parts of the research methodology in the research methodology is the data collection method.

The researcher needs to explain which method he/she is using in research to gather data from the targeted population.

It is also necessary for the researcher to explain the selection procedure, so the reader can easily pick the point and understand why the researcher uses such a data collection approach.

There are several data collection methods research can use in research methodology. Following are the most important methods:

Primary Data Collection

Primary data in research is data that never existed before. It contains all those findings and research material which are the effort of the researcher to find out through different research participants.

Due to different approaches, it takes more time, effort, and cost to collect accurate data from participants.

Qualitative and quantitative data collection approaches are the core of primary data collection. Qualitative data does not contain any integer, number, or calculations; it is only based on feelings, words, emotions, and other non-quantifiable elements.

On the contrary, quantitative data generally consists of numbers and mathematical formulas.

Secondary Data Collection

All kinds of magazines, publications, books, internet sources, and other web-based articles are famously known as secondary data.

Such data contains authors’ credentials, source reliability, analysis depth, discussion level in the publication or article, and other relevant material.

Data Analysis Approaches and Procedures

In research methodology, the next one of the famous key parts of the research methodology is data analysis.

It’s a process of changing, cleaning, finishing, and processing gathered raw data and then turning it into a useful data source.

Data analysis minimizes the risks involved in decision-making due to the use of raw data and extracting useful insights from such data.

In research methodology, those approaches are required, which are considered essential in data analysis. Following is the procedure of data analysis to convert raw data into useful information:

Gathering of Data

The important aspect among the total key parts of the research methodology is gathering data properly.

The researcher needs to decide which kinds of data he/she wants to utilize and what the actual requirement of the research is.

In the same way, the collection of data needs several other things to consider, such as:

• Sources of data collection,
• Surveys or interviews, and
• Direct observations or questionnaires etc.

Cleaning of Data

No data is useful; hence, the researcher may separate it from that material that is not necessary.

Duplicate records and other basic flaws must be removed from the data. It is worthy to note that data must be aligned with research questions. And there is no unnecessary information included.

Analysis of Data

Different tools are necessary to analyze data and shape it properly.

Different software and tools are available for data analysis, such as Python, Rapid Miner, Meta-base, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Power BI.

Interpretation and Visualization

After the data analysis, it is time to interpret and visualize the analyzed data sets.

Data visualization has a graphical representation so the reader or public can read the data properly.

For this, researchers use graphs, charts, and other visualization methods. So, it’s one of the essential key parts of the research methodology. Without learning and implementing visualization techniques, it’s hard to convey the right message.

Readers would not know what you want to commit and conclude if the visuals are not apt or relatable. Therefore, extra care and attention are required when preparing visuals based on the researched database.

Conclusion

We hope you understood the importance of the key parts of the research methodology. Carry this knowledge forward to complete your projects on the professional and educational front.

From data collection to data interpretation, the research methodology section helps the researcher (like you) maintain the validity and quality of his/her research.

Ethical issues are also included in the research methodology. Therefore, it is vital to understand all such troubles before publishing any research paper.