When we delve into research, the world opens up. It is very difficult to map out where your research will lead you. Columbus thought he was heading to India, and where he landed changed the entire course of the world. Sometimes over planning can impact the intention of your research. And sometimes lack of planning can make your research seem without purpose.
Yet the more you dig the more you will find, and considerations you initially did not even acknowledge will become apparent before your eyes.
Researchers who published the Generic Qualitative Approaches: Pitfalls and Benefits of Methodological Mixology (2014) in fact delve into the topic of generic approaches to research and the on going debate about a structured research process.
It might be useful to view generic studies broadly as studies that intentionally refuse to claim full allegiance to any one established methodology. Instead, researchers may choose to draw on a single established methodology, but deviate from its intent, rules, or guidelines in a way that they see as beneficial to the study.
Renate Kahlke, “Generic Qualitative Approaches: Pitfalls and Benefits of Methodological Mixology” ( 2014)
In the process of research, however, there are two types of objectives.
- There is the research done just to preface and give a general idea of a notion. This research is foundational, generic, and at the surface of the topic. This is usually done when educating people on basic tenants of that subject before they jump into deeper applications of it.
- There is the research done to make an analytical stride, pursue multi subject comparisons, and extend concepts to abstract or new areas.
It is important that when you are researching or hiring a freelancer to do research, that you keep the above in mind. Where a basic framework is needed, make that aware to your freelancer. And where you want to see a new idea to put your findings at the forefront of research, it is important to articulate that as well.
Assuming that all available resources have a certain timeline can obstruct researchers from accessing older evidence in this field. A lot of professors, for example, tell their students to find research based in the past four years. This is to promote relevancy, but that does not mean that the foundational research done in this field should not be read. Some time will go into researching the pioneers–since most recent researchers still rely on the definitions, methods, and models of these pioneers to shape their current pursuits. So rather than quote a researcher who quotes the pioneer, it is better to quote the pioneer directly. Being aware and comfortable with these early studies grounds you more as you pursue your own research.
When it comes to researching or appointing someone to do research, it is either the discovery that is important or your deadline. This is the bold truth. If you have a deadline to meet, keep in mind you are probably going to miss out on a discovery that would only occur organically.
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