What do you do if your research methods are outdated and ineffective?

If my research methods are outdated and ineffective, I prioritize upskilling by learning about emerging methodologies and technologies. Seek guidance from mentors or experts in the field to modernize approaches. Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to incorporate diverse perspectives and innovative techniques. Embrace a growth mindset and be open to experimentation and adaptation. Continuously evaluate and iterate research methods to enhance effectiveness and relevance. By staying proactive and adaptable, I ensure the quality and impact of my research endeavors.

When you feel like your research methods are lagging, conduct a thorough evaluation. Identify areas where methods fall short and understand the demands of your area. Is there a need for more efficient data collection tools, or is there a lack of robustness in data analysis? Set clear objectives for updated methods, pointing out shortcomings. Its objective is not just to follow trends but to adopt technologies that enhance the quality and efficiency of research.

When evaluating outdated research methods, be honest about what's not working. Resist defending familiar approaches. Change is hard, but never changing is harder. Aim to thoughtfully integrate new methods, not just chase trends. Find the balance between benefits and limitations. And finally, embrace the opportunity to refine skills and stay at the forefront of your field.

Make a comparision with research in similar project and find out what are the gaps that needs to be covered. Try to reach out to the author or scientist and get their inputs. If time and funds allow, try using multiple methods to address the same question

If your methods are tool old, then you need to learn new tools and figure out how to use them. A good worker is always learning new things

To update outdated research methods, explore diverse learning opportunities like workshops, online courses, and guidance from colleagues and mentors. Consult professional journals and research organizations for insights on current best practices. As you learn new techniques, focus on understanding the underlying principles, not just the procedural steps. Dedicate time to thoroughly learn and carefully apply the new methods. Treat this learning as an essential investment in your research quality and career growth.

From my personal experience, I keep a list of top 10 journals in my field and atleast 3-5 "methods journals" in my field beyond my main topic. I set 2hrs every week to skim read through the latest volumes and try to catch the keynotes of the big conferences that happened in the last year. This should keep you in the loop of the latest conversations in your field about new avenues for research, biggest mistakes and new methods or analysis to try

Always be ready and willing to update your repertoire of knowledge. To do so one always has to be on a look out for better resources, books, journals, subscriptions even current events. Additionally, participating in relevant seminars, conferences etc, are also a great way to add knowledge.

Pilot testing is a crucial step in research methodology, allowing researchers to validate new techniques on a small scale before full integration. It serves as a preemptive measure, identifying potential issues and enabling refinement before committing to larger projects. By embracing pilot testing, researchers mitigate risks and optimize their methodologies for success, ensuring that subsequent endeavors are built on a solid foundation of tested and proven methods.

Identify potential new research methods to overcome limitations or enhance research quality. Explore alternative data collection techniques, analytical tools, or experimental designs. Once you have identified new methods of interest, design small-scale pilot studies to test their feasibility and effectiveness. Pilot studies are preliminary investigations conducted on a smaller scale to assess the practicality, potential pitfalls, and outcomes of a proposed research method. Based on the feedback received and the results of the pilot study, refine the research method as needed. This may involve making adjustments to the experimental protocol, data collection procedures, or analytical techniques.

Dr Atul Kumar, Pilot testing projects/interventions are time-tested techniques. I supported my research on women's and girls' health care for the underprivileged in Hyderabad and Secunderabad of the southern state of Telangana. I successfully earned my doctorate degree, but the findings have influenced the inclusive healthcare curriculum in schools and colleges in our region. To further my work, the pilot project is a 100% tested proposal for the well-being of future generations. It is a learning experience and demands acceptance from policymakers, which is a herculean task at this stage. Because new questions are generated and the study material designed is totally unaddressed and unheard of in the mainstream education curriculum.

When your research methods are outdated and ineffective, it's time to evaluate and update your approach by doing literature review of current practices in a particular field & consulting experts such as colleagues or mentors who are experts or have experience in that field for technical guidance of your research methodology. But also, it's very important to attend workshops and training, collaborating with others and conducting pilot studies to test out new methodologies before fully implementing them in your research study/project.

Pilot testing is crucial in research to identify unforeseen issues and refine the approach before proceeding to a full-scale project.

After implementing new methods, assess their impact on research results, taking into account both quality and efficiency. Evaluate whether they saved time, provided deeper insight, or improved data accuracy. Consider these changes to measure effectiveness and decide on further adjustments. This continuous improvement ensures that research remains relevant and authoritative

While it's often typical to conduct evaluation with an expected outcome in mind, it's important to pay attention to any unexpected data or outcomes that are generated by your evaluation. Sometimes, it's the unexpected data that ends up being the most valuable for forward planning.

Impact full & Structured studies is important for any organisation. Every organisation need to know about the area in which they needs to work and collaborate with others. Studies will give you the path in which you can build your future.

Collaboration both within your organisation and externally can be a good use of time. Are there other evaluation and analysis strategise working elsewhere in your organisation that you could tailor to your own needs? Do you have any evaluation specialists in your network who you could call on for advice? Or, if you've discovered something that works particularly well for you, share this with your team and other teams in your organisation. Sharing your success can help others while also raising your profile as a skilled evaluator.