Research Methodology Toolkits

Below is a curated collection of resources related to research methodology. These resources, from many different sources, have been organized into seven toolkits. These toolkits are organized from foundational concepts to more advanced techniques, while also providing perspectives on diverse research paradigms and knowledge mobilization.  

Research Methodology Toolkits Overview

Test Card Section

Research Quality

Focused on enhancing the quality of research, this toolkit offers resources on research design, methodological rigor, and best practices for ensuring validity and reliability.

Knowledge Mobilization

Effectively translating and disseminating findings is a whole separate skill set from analysis. Resources here provide strategies and tools for engaging with stakeholders, building data stories and maximizing research impact.

Basic Qualitative Toolkit

All the basics from how to think about collecting data with different groups, the perspective you as the researcher bring, and the decisions that shape data collection experiences to resources on interviews, focus groups, surveys and observation, plus resources for analysis.

Basic Quantitative Toolkit

Focused on introductory resources for exploring mathematical foundations of statistics, basic data analysis in software, and an introduction to a range of statistical methods from t-tests through regression methods.

Empowerment, Equity, and Community Engagement

Beyond the basics of Qualitative Research is a world of approaches and methods but also inviting a fundamental shift in the relationships underlying research. Resources in this toolkit highlight both practices and creative options for engaging in co-creation of research.

Advanced Quantitative Toolkit

Picking up from the basic regression section in the Basic Quantitative Toolkit, this dives into the range of both frequentist and Bayesian methods commonly used in the social sciences including some trickier areas of analysis like survey analysis and time series.

 

Addressing Complexity and Systems Thinking

Both in Qualitative and Quantitative traditions, there is a recognition that some systems of interest are not consistent, linear, or well-behaved. Here are resources for understanding complex and dynamic issues or systems.