You can start the research for your thesis in several ways. In other words, there are different research approaches. The distinction between qualitative and quantitative research approaches is especially important. How exactly do they differ from each other? What are the main research approaches to choose from?
Meaning of your research approach
Based on the purpose of your research and the chosen research question, determine how you want to find out the answer to the question asked. Different types of research are appropriate for different types of research questions. You choose the right approach based on the type of data you need. Sometimes you need qualitative data (such as observations or answers to open interview or survey questions); other times statistics are more appropriate.
Your research approach is not the concrete research method you have chosen. It is about the overall approach you choose for your research: do you opt for a qualitative or quantitative approach? Within a research approach, you can then choose different methods of data collection.
What different research approaches are there?
The most important question is whether you adopt a qualitative or quantitative research approach. In quantitative research, your research results are numerical (statistical analyses, graphs, given figures, etc.). In qualitative research, the results are not numerical.
Qualitative research approaches
The main qualitative research approaches are:
1. Ethnographic research: you become part of the group or organization you are researching to better understand the culture or behavioural patterns.
2. Narrative Investigation: You examine the narrated stories of your chosen participants to learn their experiences and interpretations.
3. Action research: you will put the theory into practice together with the participants to cause a change.
4. Grounded theory: you collect qualitative and extensive information via, for example, observation or interviews and then derive theories from that data (= induction).
5. Phenomenological research: you describe and interpret the experiences of test subjects to investigate an event or phenomenon.
6. Case study: you give an in-depth description of one case and in this way arrive at an explanation or theory.
7. Focus group: you let test subjects discuss a certain topic with each other to gather opinions.
Quantitative research approaches
Are you going to do quantitative research? Then your results will consist of percentages, graphs, statistical comparisons, tables or other numerical data. This allows you to confirm or disprove theories and hypotheses.
The following quantitative research approaches are the most common:
1. Experiment: in an experimental setting you look at what happens when you manipulate variables to draw statistical conclusions from them.
2. Quantitative observations: you observe subjects in a natural setting and extract qualitative data from that observation (such as the number of times someone does X) to arrive at results.
3. Closed Question Surveys: Your subjects answer closed questions and you draw conclusions based on all the results and averages added together.
How do you describe your research approach in your thesis?
In your thesis, you must describe your research design and the method chosen for data analysis as accurately as possible. This is important so that the reader could, in theory, repeat your research to check the results.
Therefore, in your method chapter, describe in detail the research approach you used and explain why you have chosen it. It is also important that you describe your sample, and indicate what you have done to increase the reliability and validity of the results.
Having problems starting your thesis? Check out our tips!
Do you have a lot on your mind now that you are about to start your thesis? Avoid losing track of your progress and start by checking out our helpful thesis tips. They will help you to get off to a flying start.