Search by Methodology


Finding articles and dissertations that use the same methodology you want to use in your research can:

  • Help you understand your chosen methodology
  • Can provide justification for using the particular methodology to address your research question

Research studies usually indicate they are using a quantitative, qualitative or mixed method (studies that have a qualitative and quantitative component) methodology. The study will also specific the specific type of qualitative or quantitative methodology the researcher used.

Here are some examples of different types of Qualitative methodology:

  • Case Study
  • Ethnography
  • Phenomenological Study
  • Grounded Theory Study
  • Content Analysis

Here are some examples of different types of Quantitative methodology:

  • Correlational Research
  • Developmental Design – such as longitudinal or cross-sectional
  • Observation Study
  • Survey Research

The methodology of a particular study is described in the abstract of the article or dissertation. Therefore the best way to find articles on a particular topic and methodology in the Library databases is to use the field searching technique (changing the drop down menus across from the search terms to search the abstracts of articles). Here is an example:

This technique will bring up some mixed method studies (studies which have a qualitative and quantitative component). You can eliminate them using the Boolean operator NOT. Here is an example:

A few databases allow you to limit by methodology on the search screen. Here is an example of using a limiter to search by methodology in the PsycINFO database.

Mixed Method Studies may use the words “mixed method” to describe the study, however many will not use this term. They will state instead the study has a qualitative and quantitative component. Field searching in the abstract for the words mixed methods, qualitative and quantitative and using the Boolean operator OR will bring up these types of studies and dissertations. Use the following search statement in the search box:

Mixed Method* OR (qualitative AND quantitative)