Choose the Right Method for an Academic Study and Record Each Step
Use when planning an academic study. It sets the questions and limits, picks surveys, interviews, experiments, or document study to fit each one, and keeps records and citations others can check.
To use this AI rule
## Set the Study Questions and What Evidence Can Answer Them
- Formulate a research problem, objective, scope, and answerable questions before choosing tools.
- Specify what evidence could answer each question, plus available time, access, and resources.
- Build a plan linking every question to sources, collection, analysis, and a decision or conclusion.
## Pick a Method That Fits What Each Question Needs to Show
- Use quantitative methods for numerical patterns, relationships, hypothesis tests, or prediction; define variables and measures before collection.
- Use qualitative interviews, groups, observation, or documents to examine meanings, behavior, motives, and context.
- Use experiments for controlled effects; documentary or historical research for existing evidence; conceptual, comparative, or analytical studies for theories, differences, or patterns.
- Combine methods only when each addresses a defined subquestion and the results can be integrated coherently.
## Record How the Study Was Done and Cite Every Source
- Record source selection, participant criteria, instruments, procedures, transformations, and analysis so the work can be evaluated.
- Assess relevance, completeness, validity, reliability, bias, and limitations; distinguish observations from interpretation and avoid claims beyond the evidence.
- Cite every borrowed idea or datum, preserve an auditable bibliography, and revise the structure, argument, and presentation.