When making a preliminary choice regarding the research methodology, the type of study, and data collection methods, weigh the following factors: 1. The nature of the research problem. This is probably the most important factor of all. In fact, the identification of the problem and the choice of methodology may be seen as interactive processes, with each influencing the other. For example, if you are concerned with identifying a possible causal relationship between parents’ reading to children in the home and children’s interest in reading, the study would obviously call for a causal comparative study. 2. Your research skills. Though it is always possible to develop new skills, you will find that designing and completing the study will be easier if you have mastered the required skills. If you do not understand advanced statistics, you probably should not undertake a quasi-experimental study unless you have a research consultant who can guide you. 3. The research skills of your dissertation committee. It is essential that at least one of your committee members has expertise in the methodology you have chosen. 4. Your career plans. If you aspire to a career in higher education, you might be wiser to use one of the quantitative types or a mixed-research design, since many university faculty members may be biased in favour of quantitative studies. However, more and more prospective dissertation committee members are becoming well-versed in qualitative research design. 5. The time available. In general, qualitative studies take more time than quantitative ones. Ethnographic studies are extremely time-intensive. 6. Access to the research site. In general, school administrators will not grant access for experimental studies, since parents are reluctant to have their children participate in any experiment, regardless of its promise. #researchmethodology #dissertation #research #datacollectionmethods #thesis