Research Terminology

True research requires some investigation using a variety of sources. There are many different ways to research your topic including reading material, talking to people, dealing with numerical data and experimentation. If you conduct research using these different methods and properly analyse the information gained, your findings will be far more reliable!

There are 4 main types of research:

Archival Research (Written and Visual)

Archival research is basically ‘reading’ information from a variety of sources (WRITTEN: books, newspapers, magazines, journals, blogs, pamphlets, online forums, reports, journal articles, interview transcripts).

(VISUAL: photographs, websites, videos, documentaries, YouTube, movies, art galleries, posters, field trips, products/food labels, television, news reports)

Qualitative Research

Qualitative research involves communicating with people. Face-to-face (interview, phone calls, surveys with extended responses etc.) or using technology (Facebook, emails, online forums etc.)

Quantitative Research

Quantitative research involves working with numbers/numerical data. Data or statistics relating to your topic can be useful for supporting your opinions or observations, and lending credibility to your overall project. Eg. Statistics, surveys, scientific data, graphs, tables, charts, costs etc. (**Check to ensure data is recent and relevant.)

Experimental Research

Depending on your research topic, conducting some form of experimentation or observation could be a useful form of research. Be sure to check the ethics of involving people or animals in any sort or experimentation though!! Eg. Experimentation with products, computer programs, materials, designs, environmental conditions, people (such as diet, exercise etc.)