Research is the process of gathering and analyzing information in order to learn something new. It can be used to answer questions, make predictions or solve real-world problems. Researchers use different methods and levels of rigor depending on the type of research they are conducting. For example, a designer may investigate design principles as a purely theoretical exercise while an engineer might perform a market analysis for a client’s product launch.
The five most common research methods are ethnographic, qualitative, case study, quantitative and experimental. Each has its own distinctive qualities, but they are all useful in the quest to understand people and their behaviors.
Ethnographic research involves observing and interacting with participants in their natural environment over an extended period of time. This immersive approach helps researchers better understand cultural contexts and real-world behaviors, making it popular in UX research, anthropology and education.
Qualitative research uses interviews and other methods to gather data from participants. It’s often more subjective, but it allows researchers to get in-depth insights into specific subjects.
Quantitative research focuses on collecting and analyzing numerical data. It’s typically used to test causal relationships and make predictions, and it can be very effective when analyzing large datasets.
Longitudinal research tracks the same participants over an extended period of time (months, years or even decades). It’s ideal for studying a phenomenon over time and is frequently used in medical, social and marketing studies.
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