What is tool in research?

What is tool in research?

The Research tool in scientific research can be defined as: "The ways in which information and data related to research are collected, which assist in the study and analysis of the research problem, and then arrive at the results".

Research tools are divided into two main categories namely qualitative tools and quantitative tools. Both qualitative tools and quantitative tools serve the purpose of collecting the needed data for the researcher. The data collected through qualitative tools and quantitative tools will aid the researcher to completing his research and providing answers to his research question. Both qualitative tools and quantitative tools are of great value combined, where qualitative tools and quantitative tools validate each other, a research that do not contain qualitative tools and quantitative tools will be subject for criticizing.

Designing Research tools (designing questionnaire, designing interviews, etc.) is of great importance for the researcher. When the researcher start the process of designing Research tools (designing questionnaire, designing interviews, etc.), he should keep in mind that this stage will affect further stages of the research. The quality of designing Research tools (designing questionnaire, designing interviews, etc.) depend on the researcher's understanding of the nature of the study. To be successful in designing Research tools (designing questionnaire, designing interviews, etc.), the researcher should understand the specification of designing Research tools (designing questionnaire, designing interviews, etc.), where each tool has its unique nature. In addition to that, designing Research tools (designing questionnaire, designing interviews, etc.) should be planned ahead in earlier stages of the research. Moreover, designing Research tools (designing questionnaire, designing interviews, etc.) should involve coordination with the supervisor.

Here, we will present what is meant by Research tools and what are the different categories of qualitative tools and quantitative tools. The main Research tools (qualitative tools and quantitative tools) are as follow:  

 Questionnaire (quantitative tool) 

One of the Research tools (quantitative tools) is the questionnaire. The questionnaire can be defined as: "A tool of study in scientific research is inquiries or questions that are related to each other, to form the goal that the researcher aspires by raising the problem of research."

 Stages related to designing questionnaire 

• Determine the nature of the data and information that the researcher wants to collect in order to solve the problem of scientific research.
• Transform and translate scientific research objectives into a number of queries or questions.
• Formulate the questionnaire paragraphs in their final form, according to the observations and amendments.

 Questionnaire components 

Introduction: The introduction to the questionnaire includes:

• The objective of the questionnaire
• Explain how the respondent should respond to the questionnaire.
• Encouraging and sensitizing the respondents about the importance of answering the questionnaire in all objectivity and clarity, reassuring them that this information is used for scientific purpose only, and will not be seen by any one of the confidentiality of information.
• Clarifying the usefulness of the subject of the research.

 Advantages of the designing questionnaire 

• Helps to collect answers explicitly.
• Respondents can choose when they want to give answers.
• The lack of any means of pressure on the researcher on the respondents in order to obtain answers on a particular problem or topic.
• All respondents are equal; the questions are uniform, there is no discrimination or preference for one person over another
• Low cost of designing questionnaire

 Disadvantages of designing questionnaire 

• Some sample members may not be able to submit their questionnaire forms, thus affecting the outcome of the study.
• Respondents may be confused in understanding questionnaires
• Negligence of respondents
• The respondent may consider that the questions are not good and should not be preoccupied with them (eg, the questionnaire is obvious or not important).

 Interview (qualitative tool) 

The interview is one of the tools of study in scientific research, which can be defined as "dialogue or conversation between the researcher and respondents; in order to access data and information that clarify the positions and facts required by scientific research".

 Advantages of designing interview 

• When designing interview, the information and data obtained through the interview are accurate, as the answers can be clearly obtained and the ambiguity inquired.
• Designing interview tools can enable the researcher to better understand the nature of the target group
•  When designing interview, respondents or the sample of the study feel more important.

 Observations (qualitative tool) 

The observation can be defined as "a tool of study of scientific research that relies on observation of a particular phenomenon or behavior, thus recording the results".

 Advantages of the observation method 

• Obtain more accurate data or information than any other Research tool.
• The data obtained by the researcher through this method is detailed and more comprehensive, but that information may not be expected for the researcher and contribute to clarify an aspect that the researcher did not realize
• The observation method helps record the behaviors of respondents as they occur.

 Watch: Types of Research Tools: Super Easy Explanation 

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