All Set To Conduct Primary Research For Your Dissertation?

For a large number of students pursuing their Masters or Ph.D. degree in any prestigious university in the world, the process of conducting extensive primary research for their dissertation can turn up to be somewhat daunting and frustrating.

Do not worry anymore as we have identified the perfect way to calm your anxious nerves if you are faced with conducting primary research for your dissertation document. 

A quick brief about primary research

Before digging into the tips and methods of conducting intensive primary research, let us understand what exactly it is.

Primary research refers to the process of collecting data from primary, i.e. original, sources. For instance, your dissertation research may involve questioning a certain group of participants via survey or interview, it might need you to analyze an organization’s data or the government documents, or it may expect you to review the impact of one variable on another.

Just like any other research methodology, primary research also has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. The benefits of conducting primary research are that it is up to date and current. It is 100% accurate to the topic and directly answers your research question.

The disadvantage of this research methodology is that it can be time-consuming to collect, analyze, and organize the information. 

All you need to know about the primary research procedure for your dissertation 

The reason why a large number of students feel heedful of the primary research process can be multiple. Starting right from the lack of knowledge about the research methodology, the inability to manage statistics,  to the absence of the necessary skills.

The extra stress they have to bear amidst their regular assessments and examinations leads them to face a harsh blow to the grades. 

Despite of all the hurdles in the process of conducting primary research is definitely engaging, rewarding, varied, and even fun. Students can feel extremely satisfied after making this small contribution to their area of study. This research is the initial step of moving towards becoming a researcher from a learner. 

As stated above, there are distinct types of primary research methodologies that you can choose from for your dissertation as per its overall feel and requirements.

Some steps might be the same irrespective of which methodology you are opting for while some might differ as per the option you have selected. Without any further delay, let’s get you in on the stress-free take on the primary research process mapped out by the diligent experts of the MyAssignmentHelpAU platform.

Step 1: Determine the type of data you will use in your study

The foremost step of dissertation writing is to identify and be sure of the type of data that will suit your paper. You can opt for big data, primary data, or secondary data as per your requirements.

Primary data is collected by the researcher himself and most of the students rely on this during their college years. It is referred to as real-time data as it is current and up-to-date. This is directly under the control of the researcher.

Secondary data refers to the information collected by the researchers in past and is accessible via multiple official and governmental documents and records accessible by the students. Big data is the most complex version of data that is rarely ever used by Ph.D. or Master’s students for their dissertation. 

Step 2: Determine the particular primary research method you will use

After choosing primary data as the foundation of your dissertation, you will have to make the choice of relying either on quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methodologies to complete your study proficiently. 

1. Quantitative Research: Quantitative methodologies are confirmatory in nature and thus are mainly used when a student wants to confirm or disconfirm his hypothesis or research statement. These generally include modes of self-report measurement and there is often a sense of un-surety that the participants were 100% honest. Descriptive research, experiments, and correlational research are the major forms of quantitative research methodologies.
2. Qualitative Research: These methods are exploratory in nature and are immediately taken into account when there are no quantitative investigations been taken in the past for the topic. It includes methods like interviews, observations, focus groups, and case studies.
3. Mixed Research: This research methodology often combines the best of both worlds, that is qualitative as well as quantitative methodologies. The object is to gain an elaborate understanding of the topic. 

Step 3: Identify the strengths and limitations of your research methodology

It is important for you to get familiar with the extent of your research methodology so that you can understand specific meanings, occurrences, behavioral changes, and circumstances associated with your dissertation research study. The information obtained from distinct methodologies can vary in terms of their detailing and depth. 

Step 4: Select trustworthy and suitable participants who can do justice to your dissertation data

Depending upon the type of research you are opting for, select a suitable sample for your dissertation research to carry forward the observation or analysis process. This will help you to generalize your findings to the entire population belonging to the described category of individuals.

Keep in mind your target population while selecting the participants for your study. Informed consent of your participants is also important, hence, before moving ahead make sure they have agreed to take part in your dissertation research.

Step 5: Select adequate measures to validate your dissertation data 

A dissertation research is all about measuring the outcomes received from your selected audience. Use specific measures to operationalize the variables used in your dissertation research.

You might have to measure the results by using a checklist on which you were observing your participants or you might have to use reliable and valid questionnaires that have been used in past studies to validate the details collected.

Step 6: Select analysis on the basis of the research method of your dissertation project

Qualitative research often requires the students to thematically analyze the collected data whereas quantitative research requires the students to opt for statistical analysis. 

Depending upon the type of research design you are opting for in your dissertation, you will have to follow a specific set of procedures all of which have been briefly described above. Do not forget to think about ethics, your level of study,  and subject area while drawing conclusions for your primary research. 

If you are still finding it hard to conduct intensive primary research for your academic dissertation, you can get in touch with the Ph.D. and Masters qualified dissertation help experts of the MyAssignmentHelpAU platform and get a thoroughly researched document in your inbox within the stipulated timeframe without paying hefty charges.