Research Methodologies

Research methodology refers to the overall strategy and set of principles guiding how a piece of research is designed, conducted, and analysed — the reasoning behind why particular methods are chosen, not just a list of techniques. Methodology sits above individual methods: it reflects underlying assumptions about what counts as valid knowledge (epistemology) and how that knowledge should be produced, which in turn shapes whether a study leans Quantitative, Qualitative, or a mix of both.

Broad categories

• Quantitative methodologies — focused on numerical data, measurement, and statistical analysis, typically aiming for generalised findings across a population
• Qualitative methodologies — focused on understanding meaning, experience, and context, often through interviews, observation, or textual analysis rather than numbers
• Mixed methods — deliberately combining quantitative and qualitative approaches within a single study to draw on the strengths of both
• Participatory and action-oriented methodologies — approaches like Action Research and Participatory Action Research, where the people affected by an issue are directly involved in researching and addressing it, rather than being studied as passive subjects
• Design-oriented methodologies — approaches like Codesign, which bring stakeholders directly into the process of designing a solution, not just researching a problem

Analysis approaches

Once data is collected, a methodology also implies (or is paired with) an analysis approach — for qualitative data, Thematic Analysis is one of the most widely used methods for identifying patterns and meaning across a data set.

Relevance

This structural anchors notes on specific research approaches relevant to work in Vocational Education and Training and related fields — including participatory, action-oriented, and design-based methodologies, and the analysis techniques used alongside them.