Topic 2: Research Objectives and Methodologies

Specific Learning Outcome
By the end of this topic you will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the link between research objectives and research methodologies.

Introduction
This topic provides insight into links between your research objectives and your methodologies. In addition to those listed beneath, please access more resources to gain a deeper understanding.

Guidance
To begin, go through the embedded material below - A Guide to Research Methods by Burch-Bynum (2016). This guide provides an in-depth overview of the prominent methods in qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method studies. Thereafter, watch the videos listed in the resources section below: Questionnaire design and research objectives, and Writing a methodology chapter. If necessary, visit SAGE Research methods (and the Methods Map) for additional information and guidance. Thereafter, proceed to complete the learning activities.

Time needed
You'll need approximately 1 hour to engage with the content in this topic.

Resources

 * A Guide to Research Methods (Burch-Bynum, 2016) (PDF – 695KB)
 * SAGE Research methods (External website) - https://methods.sagepub.com/
 * SAGE Research methods: Methods Map (External website) - https://methods.sagepub.com/methods-map
 * Questionnaire design and Research objectives (Video - 2m53s) https://youtu.be/HuEjCTOPPOI
 * Writing a methodology chapter (Video - 7m14s) https://youtu.be/zQFSNB-0sfQ
 * Research Methodology (External website) (SlideShare)

Learning Activities
Activity 3.2.1 : Align your proposed methodology to your possible research problems and objectives. The website, SAGE Research methods, houses a useful methods map and should be visited for this activity. Once your objectives and methods are aligned, write up this important section of your draft proposal/article.

Once you have completed the learning activity, kindly move onto Topic 3: Data Analysis.