7.9 How to Do Primary Research

A Guide for Doctoral Students on Planning and Conducting Original Research

Introduction

Primary research involves the collection of original data to address specific research questions or hypotheses. It is a cornerstone of doctoral study, providing new insights and evidence. This article offers a systematic guide for doctoral candidates on designing and conducting primary research ethically and effectively.

Understanding Primary Research

Primary research differs from secondary research, which analyses existing data or literature. It includes various methods such as surveys, interviews, experiments, observations, and case studies (Creswell & Creswell, 2017).

Steps to Conduct Primary Research

Step 1: Define Research Objectives and Questions

  • Clearly articulate what you intend to investigate and why.
  • Ensure questions are specific, measurable, and feasible within your resources (Kumar, 2019).

Step 2: Select Appropriate Methodology

  • Choose qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods based on research aims.
  • Consider strengths and limitations of each approach and align with disciplinary standards (Cohen, Manion & Morrison, 2017).

Step 3: Obtain Ethical Approval

  • Prepare detailed ethics applications outlining participant recruitment, consent, confidentiality, and data protection (Resnik, 2018).
  • Seek approval from relevant institutional review boards before data collection.

Step 4: Develop Research Instruments

  • Design questionnaires, interview guides, experimental protocols, or observation checklists.
  • Pilot instruments to test clarity, validity, and reliability (van Teijlingen & Hundley, 2001).

Step 5: Collect Data Systematically

  • Implement data collection adhering to ethical standards and methodology.
  • Maintain accurate records, consent forms, and anonymisation where applicable.

Step 6: Manage and Store Data Securely

  • Use secure digital storage with backups.
  • Follow data protection regulations such as GDPR (for UK/EU contexts).

Step 7: Analyse Data Rigorously

  • Apply suitable analytical techniques consistent with your methodology (e.g., statistical analysis, thematic coding).
  • Use specialised software tools where appropriate (e.g., SPSS, NVivo).

Conclusion

Conducting primary research requires careful planning, ethical consideration, and methodological rigour. Mastery of these processes equips doctoral students to generate valuable original knowledge.

References

  • Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2017). Research Methods in Education (8th ed.). London: Routledge.
  • Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (5th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage.
  • Kumar, R. (2019). Research Methodology: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners (5th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage.
  • Resnik, D. B. (2018). The Ethics of Research with Human Subjects: Protecting People, Advancing Science, Promoting Trust. Springer.
  • van Teijlingen, E., & Hundley, V. (2001). The Importance of Pilot Studies. Nursing Standard, 16(40), 33–36. https://doi.org/10.7748/ns2002.01.16.40.33.c3214
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