Are you new to the subject of research methodology? Are you confused with all the technical jargon you have encountered when researching? Don’t worry! You are not alone in this. In this article, we will discuss how to select a suitable research methodology. Moreover, you will also learn how to craft an ethical scholarship research proposal.
Read More: 10 Tips And Tricks For Writing Excellent Research Papers For Publication
What is Methodology in Research?
Simply put, research methodology refers to how you perform any research study. Now, if we talk about research methodology in specific words, it is how a researcher designs a study. The study design should ensure that the results are valid and reliable. The results of any study must circle back to the aims, objectives and research questions. Here are a few questions that can help you decide the type of research methodology you select:
- The type of data you will collect
- From whom you will collect the data
- How do you plan to collect the data
- How do you plan to analyze the data
Types of Research Methodology
There are three methodological approaches in research that can you choose from. The method you select depends on the nature of your research and its practicalities. These research methodologies are often used separately, but in rare cases, they may overlap.
Read More: How To Write A Research Proposal?
Quantitative Research Methodology
As the name states, quantitative research methodology uses numbers and statistical data analysis. It calculates the variables and justifies them with the help of existing theories and hypotheses.
Quantitative Research Methodology Example
Several quantitative research methodology examples are found on the internet. One example includes finding a relationship between two variables, such as the age bracket and their tendency to consume fast food. Another example includes determining which gender is more likely to commit a crime.
Qualitative Research Methodology
Qualitative research methodology primarily focuses on collecting and analyzing data that is not in numerical form. The research usually involves using words, descriptions, beliefs, ideas, concepts and other similar intangibles.
Read More: How To Write A Research Case Study?
Qualitative Research Methodology Example
An example of this type of methodology includes understanding the perceptions of the general audience about an event that recently happened. Another example includes understanding people’s sentiments about a political candidate running for the presidency.
Mixed Method Research Methodology
The mixed research methodology uses a combination of both qualitative and quantitative methods. It commonly uses qualitative research to analyze a situation and develop an understanding. A quantitative method is then used to test out the data empirically.
How Do You Choose Research Methodology?
The aims and objectives of the research are one of the major influences when it comes to deciding on a research methodology. To select a research methodology, you must know whether your research is exploratory or confirmatory in nature. If your research is exploratory, you must consider qualitative methodology, whereas if your research is confirmatory, you must select a quantitative research methodology.
Steps to Writing a Research Methodology
Step 1
Understand and identify what you need to research. Identify your research goals and objectives. Moreover, it would be best if you also thought about the variables you need to study and the research question you’ll be asking.
Read More: How To Create An Outline For Your Research Paper
Step 2
Reading similar literature or research will help determine the research methodology. This step will help you identify the feasibility and limitations of other research.
Step 3
The research areas of other research may be identical, but the method of data collection may be different. You must identify the method of data collection that is most feasible for you and your research topic.
Step 4
After selecting and going through the above factors, you must determine the approach you will take for your research. The research methodology that you select must help to give you conclusive results.
What is a Scholarship Research Proposal?
A research proposal is essential to the application procedure whenever a student applies for any scholarship. The research proposal that you write will help the readers understand your research topic and the introduction to the problem. It will help guide the readers on your approach to the research and how it differs from existing research.
Read More: How To Write A Research Case Study?
An ideal research proposal is 2000 to 3500 words long and reflects your expertise as a researcher. Although you may be writing a research proposal to explain your point to the readers, there are a few other points that you must keep in mind. One of these factors includes ethical considerations of the research. Let’s discuss how you can consider these considerations when drafting your scholarship research proposal.
Ethical Issues in Research
Some organizations specifically work to investigate and analyze ethics in research work. They believe that it is not something that any researcher should sweep aside. Following are a few common ethical concerns when drafting a research proposal:
Validity
The researcher must design the research methodology in a way that must address the research question. Hence, all the components of the research proposal must also correlate with one another, even the conclusion.
Consent from Participants
The research must always be consensual. There must be no point during the research wherein the participants may feel forced to participate. Unethical practices include persuading or deceiving individuals to gain their trust.
Informed consent means the individual must give written consent to participate in the study. It can be in agreement between the researcher and the participant.
Read More: Research participant information and consent
Sampling
How you will be sampling your data is the first step of research. A researcher must explain why they are selecting a particular group of individuals. They must also describe why they exclude or include a specific group. If the group of participants include animals or people with special needs, then additional consensual agreement is required.
Confidentiality
According to the rules of ethical research, all the responses by the participants must be kept confidential, and anonymity must be maintained. However, in a few cases, this confidentiality must be limited. Moreover, if exposing the result will cause harm to the individual, it must be kept anonymous ethically.
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Read More: Maintaining data confidentiality
Potential Risk of Harm
An ethical researcher always focuses on the risk-to-benefit ratio. In any case, if they feel that the safety of the participants is at risk, they must consider abandoning their research. Additionally, the researcher can redesign the study so as not to harm the participants.
Research Method
There are three primary types of methodological research. However, when considering ethical considerations, you must consider a few questions:
- Which type of method is the most effective in terms of your research?
- What are the pros and cons of the research method you are considering?
- Are there any risks to the participants if you select this research method?
Plagiarism
An ethical misconduct whereby a researcher submits somebody else’s research as their own is referred to as plagiarism. It can be as simple as using information without giving the original researcher due credit for their work. Plagiarism can be unintentional, but it is still unethical since you benefit from somebody else’s research. A significant ethical violation case is when the researcher copies all the data and results from another research.
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What Happens if you do not Follow Ethical Practices?
There are several reasons that researchers are bound to follow ethical practices when it comes to crafting scholarship research proposals. Without the implementation of ethical guidelines, the research will not be considered authentic. Moreover, the participants will suffer as well.
Going against the ethical guidelines will make it harder for others to trust the data you provide in your research. No matter how valuable your research is to society, it will never justify if you violate human rights.
Institutional Review Board
An institutional review board or IRB is a special committee that checks whether your research design and aims are ethically acceptable. They are responsible for checking that your research method, material and procedures are up to ethical standards.
Read More: What is institutional review board
Once you submit your proposal to the IRB for review, you will be approved or rejected after a thorough assessment. After approval, you can begin to collect your research data based on the research you mentioned in the proposal.
In case of rejection, you will be asked to resubmit your proposal after a few modifications. For those who wish to get approval on the first try, you must address IRB’s concerns of ethical issues and let them know how you will tackle them.
The Takeaway
There is no perfect way to write a research proposal. A researcher can select any method to collect data and present their results. There is also no definitive way to present these results. As long as the research follows ethical practices according to the standard guidelines, it will be considered authentic.
It is important to seek approval from the ethical board so that you can begin working on your research work. Also, remember to keep a balance when writing the research proposal. Make sure to address all points of concern so that there is no doubt left in the reader’s mind.
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