Methodological Research Design
The methodological design of research involves a series of key decisions made to build an appropriate strategy to explore, understand, and analyze the research problem. These methodological decisions aim to ensure the internal coherence of the study, making sure that the chosen methods are the most suitable for accessing, collecting, and analyzing data to engage with the assumed or identified relationships in the research problem.
Models for understanding methodological design
These decisions must be well-reasoned and based on a combination of theoretical assumptions (which guide what is intended to be known and how the problem is conceptualized) and procedural assumptions (which determine how to proceed in order to obtain and analyze information). Thus, methodological design is not merely a technical aspect but responds to a critical and reasoned reflection on the study’s objectives and approach.
There are various ways to understand the flow of information and the construction of the methodological design. Based on these ways of understanding methodology, concrete models have been developed. These models agree that the process should not be understood as a sequence of isolated steps, but as a coherent set of interconnected stages. In this sense, it is proposed that each phase of the methodological design supports and continues from the previous one, as if they were the layers of an onion, the segments of an orange, the floors of a building under construction, or the steps of a staircase. In all cases, the decisions we make are related to each other and must be justified. We choose specific materials to build the columns of our building, just as we choose research techniques, because these are the best options to reach the end of our project. In the case of construction, it is about having a solid, safe, and habitable building; in the case of research, it is about answering a big question and achieving a general objective.
Below, some of these models are presented, along with the relevant references for further understanding and application.
1. Onion Model
This model is one of the most common for understanding the methodological design of research. It proposes a layered structure, where each layer represents a methodological decision that must be made when planning research. The layers are developed as follows, from the outermost (most general) to the innermost (most specific):
- Outer layer: Research paradigm (positivist, interpretive, critical, etc.).
- Middle layer: Methodological strategy (quantitative, qualitative, mixed).
- Inner layer: Data collection methods (interviews, surveys, observation, etc.).
- Center of the onion: Data analysis techniques (statistical analysis, content analysis, etc.).
This model is useful for visualizing how all the methodological decisions are connected and how each layer influences the next, providing a comprehensive approach to the research process (Saunders, Lewis, & Thornhill, 2019).
2. Inverse Pyramid Model
In this model, research is viewed as an inverted pyramid where the methodological decisions become more specific as you go down. Just like the onion model, the purpose is to start with a broad view that narrows down, allowing for a more detailed analysis as the research process progresses:
- Broad base: Epistemological paradigm, general theories, and approaches.
- Second layer: General methods (quantitative or qualitative).
- Third layer: Data collection techniques.
- Top of the pyramid: Specific data analysis, which will allow detailed responses to the research questions.
This model is useful for understanding how each methodological decision should be made progressively, from general to specific (Creswell, 2014).
3. Three Elements Model
This simplified model proposes three key elements that guide the research:
- What: The research problem, objectives, and key questions.
- How: The methods, strategies, and techniques that will be used to collect and analyze data.
- When: The temporal and spatial context of the research, such as the timeline and available resources.
This model is especially useful for a quick understanding of the essential components of methodological design, helping ensure that the most important aspects of the study are covered (Maxwell, 2012).
4. Research Cycle Model
This model focuses on the idea that research is a cyclical and non-linear process. The stages of the cycle include:
- Problem formulation: Identifying and clearly defining the research problem.
- Methodological design: Choosing the approaches, methods, and techniques.
- Data collection: Implementing the selected methods.
- Analysis and interpretation: Processing the data obtained and analyzing it based on the research problem.
- Conclusions and dissemination: Drawing conclusions and sharing the results of the research.
- Review: Evaluating the findings and the process, which may lead to new questions or changes in the methodological design.
This approach is useful because it highlights the flexibility of the research process, recognizing that adjustments may be needed as more information is obtained (Bryman, 2016).
5. Spiral Model
The spiral model is similar to the cycle but with a focus on continuous improvement. This model emphasizes how, as the research progresses, adjustments are made along the way. Instead of considering research as a series of fixed steps, the spiral reflects that stages can be revisited and adjusted constantly as new data and reflections emerge.
This model is useful for those advocating for a flexible methodology that allows revisiting and modifying the research as needed (Schwandt, 2014).
6. Toolbox Model
This model is based on the idea that research design should be considered as a toolbox. The researcher selects and uses tools (methods and techniques) depending on the needs and context of the research. The “tools” include quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods, as well as specific techniques such as surveys, interviews, observations, content analysis, among others.
This model allows for great flexibility, as each research can use different tools depending on its specific needs (Guba & Lincoln, 1994).
Each of these models offers a unique way of approaching and understanding the methodological design in research. Some focus on the logical sequence of decisions (like the inverse pyramid), while others consider research as a cyclical or flexible process (like the spiral model). The onion model, for example, allows for visualizing how each methodological decision interacts and affects the others, while the toolbox model provides a view of adaptability, depending on the study’s needs.
It is crucial for researchers to understand the flexibility and importance of making methodological decisions based on their objectives, context, and theoretical framework. These models help structure and organize those decisions clearly, ensuring that the study is coherent and relevant.
Fundamental Components of Methodological Design
In the methodological section of a research study, the following aspects are generally defined:
- Research Paradigm: Refers to the epistemological framework guiding the entire study, i.e., the perspective on the nature of knowledge and how it can be obtained. Common paradigms include the positivist/post-positivist, interpretive, critical, postmodern, and Indigenous paradigms. The choice of paradigm defines how the researcher positions themselves in relation to their study object and what type of evidence is considered valid.
- Methodological Approach: Refers to the general strategy that guides the research, whether qualitative, quantitative, or mixed. Each approach has its own techniques, validity criteria, and forms of analysis. The choice of methodological approach should align with the research objectives and the nature of the problem.
- Techniques and Instruments: Specific tools for data collection are selected, such as interviews, surveys, focus groups, observation, document analysis, among others. The choice of techniques depends on the methodological approach and the type of data required for the study.
- Sample: Defines the group or phenomenon being studied, i.e., who or what will be investigated. The selection of the sample can be intentional, probabilistic, or theoretical, depending on the research objectives and the chosen methodological approach.
- Data Analysis: Defines how the collected data will be handled. In qualitative research, for instance, one might opt for content analysis, grounded theory, or discourse analysis. In quantitative research, descriptive or inferential statistical analysis could be used. In mixed approaches, both types of analysis are articulated.
Coherence with Context and Theoretical Framework
A key aspect is that all methodological decisions must be consistent with the theoretical framework and, above all, with the researched context. This means that the chosen strategies and tools should be appropriate for the reality and characteristics of the context so that the researcher can capture the complexity of the phenomenon being studied. Ensuring adequacy to the context guarantees that the interpretations and conclusions of the research are relevant and meaningful for the people or situations involved.
Justification and Argumentation of Decisions
Each of these methodological decisions must be adequately justified to explain why a particular strategy or approach was chosen and how these choices allow the researcher to access the knowledge of the problem in a rigorous way. This includes not only technical reasoning but also theoretical and ethical considerations, taking into account the impact of the decisions on the participants and the possible outcomes of the research.
The methodological design of a research study is a reflective and well-reasoned process in which each methodological decision aims to ensure the validity and relevance of the results in coherence with the study’s objectives, theoretical framework, and context. This comprehensive and well-reasoned approach allows the research to have a solid, coherent, and meaningful foundation to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the researched problem.
In this chapter, we will go step by step, reflecting on all these elements.
