Lesson 2: Refining Your Research Approach

In this lesson, you will move from a research idea to a specific research question and learn more about how a methodologyMethodology The theoretical framework that informs how a researcher approaches their work and what methods are used to collect data. can affect your research design.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Combine personal considerations from lessons so far with methodological considerations, in order to consider how the two intersect to influence the research design process
  • Produce one or more narrowed research questions that incorporate an evolving understanding of research design
  • Identify strengths and weaknesses of various quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches
  • Compare how research designs answer your narrowed question(s), in order to draft a preliminary research design with which to move forward

Lesson originally created by Nina Exner.

About libparlor

The Librarian Parlor (aka LibParlor or #libparlor) is a space for conversing, sharing expertise, and asking questions about the process of developing, pursuing, and publishing library research. We feature interesting research methodologies, common challenges, in progress work, setbacks and successes. In providing this space, LibParlor aspires to support the development of a welcoming community of new researchers.