What is a study tool?

Research, whether scientific, social or literary in nature, requires access to relevant and credible information. Researchers use a variety of ways to obtain information, for example through research journals and the Internet, which is called the secondary data for the research. Researchers can search for secondary and information obtained from other studies and from other researchers, or use methods to obtain primary resources such as quantitative data collection methods or qualitative data collection methods.

The term "research methods" usually refers to the researcher's strategy or plan for data collection (study tools). While "research methodology" looks similar to "research methodology", the research methodology refers to a set of practices that govern the acquisition of knowledge in a particular field. In this context, we will review the research method (study tools).

Data collection tools or study tools are defined as any mean to collect data that support the claims of the study. Study tools include Qualitative tools and Quantitative tools. Under these broad categories of the study tools (i.e. Qualitative tools and Quantitative tools) lies different study tools including questionnaire, interviews and Focus Group Discussions.

 Quantitative tools (quantitative study tools) 

The use of Quantitative tools as study tools involve data, often in digital form. The search design is determined before data collection is started. Research, interventions and Quantitative tools (such as questionnaires) are standardized to reduce or control potential bias. Questionnaire is considered of the main Quantitative tools in study tools, Quantitative tools (quantitative  study tools) provides data and indication from large samples.

The collection of quantitative data using Quantitative tools (quantitative study tools) help the researcher obtain abundant data to support his claims. However, Quantitative tools such as questionnaire needs to be verified by other data such as qualitative data collected from Qualitative tools.

Despite the fact that many researcher depend on Quantitative tools (mainly questionnaire), many researcher believe that the use of questionnaire should be supported by other sources of data. This is called triangulation of data, where Quantitative tools such as questionnaire are supported and validated by Qualitative tools such as interviews, and Focus Group Discussions.

The use of Quantitative tools (such as questionnaires) involve selecting a sample that represent the population. The design of Quantitative tools (such as questionnaires) involve also validating the reliability and stability of the Quantitative tools (such as questionnaires) to ensure that the quality of the collected data.

 Qualitative tools (qualitative study tools) 

Qualitative tools (qualitative study tools) are used to explore many dimensions and features within a set of data and to provide answers to the pre drafted questions. Researchers who use Qualitative tools are seeking to capture the perceptions of individuals about certain issues, or phenomena and the meanings that they assign in their lives. This type of research is useful when trying to generate theory, or when wanting to develop policy, or seeking to improve certain practice, justifying alterations for a certain practice, and pinpointing social problems. It is also useful in regard to explaining the results of Quantitative tools (such as questionnaire).

If a researcher opted to utilize Qualitative tools, it is important to describe how to provide qualitative methods of data that respond to the claims of the research.

The collection of "qualitative data" such as interviews and Focus Group Discussions, it is best to diversify the methods (i.e. using a combination of interviews and Focus Group Discussions). Collecting data pertaining to the same issue being studies enable the researcher to triangulate the data (triangulating Qualitative tools such as interviews and Focus Group Discussions with Quantitative tools such as questionnaire), increasing the accuracy of the search.

Qualitative tools use data collection techniques including  "interviews, observation, Focus Group Discussions and review of documents".Unlike Quantitative tools, Qualitative tools especially interviews and Focus Group Discussions are considered more flexible in which it allows the  researcher to include emerging issues in current data collection process.

 Sample selection 

After chosen the most appropriate techniques and tools to collect your data, it is important to know how many people need an approach to participate in the search. This is called "sample size". In general, when using Quantitative tools, you need to make sure that you recruit enough people to provide an accurate and reliable estimate of what you are studying. When using Qualitative tools, the goal is to reach a sufficient number of individuals so that you can represent the opinions, experiences, and knowledge prevailing in the study population.

 Design samples in quantitative methods 

Quantitative studies require a representative sample of the study population to be able to accurately visualize the characteristics of the population and maximize the accuracy of these population parameters.

Sampling strategy

Since quantitative studies require a representative sample in terms of population characteristics, "probability" sampling is preferable. This gives each member of the population a specific opportunity to be included in the sample. Probability sampling also allows calculation of sampling error estimates.

 Watch: Types of Research Tools: Super Easy Explanation 

With greetings: Al - Manara Consulting to help researchers and graduate students