AP Research
Advanced Placement Research developing research skills and academic inquiry.
Types of Research Methods
Exploring Different Ways to Research
There are many ways to approach a research question, and the method you choose depends on what you want to discover. Each method has its strengths and is suited to different kinds of questions.
Qualitative Methods
These methods focus on understanding meaning, experience, or concepts.
- Interviews
- Focus groups
- Observations
- Content analysis
Quantitative Methods
These methods use numbers and statistics to measure and analyze variables.
- Surveys with closed-ended questions
- Experiments
- Statistical analysis
Mixed Methods
Sometimes, combining both approaches gives you a fuller picture!
Choosing the Right Method
- Use qualitative methods for exploring "how" or "why" questions.
- Use quantitative methods for measuring "how much," "how many," or "to what extent."
Try It Out
Next time you have a question, think: Would interviews or a survey get you better answers?
Examples
Conducting interviews with teachers to understand their experiences with remote learning (qualitative).
Using a survey to measure how many students prefer online classes to in-person classes (quantitative).
In a Nutshell
Different research methods help answer different types of questions.