What new research methods and skills can you use in higher education?

The digital age has made the collection and analysis of data. Now, I can sit at home or in my office connecting to my interviewees via zoom or Skype. At people's convenient time to speak to them, interview them. Very cost effective ways of getting instant data and ready for analysis at the same time. This methods of researching has resolved a lot of inconvenience such as postal cost, printing questioner and posting, waiting time, and inaccuracy and likelihood of dishonesty. When we talk to people face to face. The probability of getting honest answers or response is greater. Especially, for in depth interview to get more insight from people has become an excellent ways of attaining accurate datas.

It's good initiative and needs to the present education system. On the other side industries also software or hardware development should be initiated from the core group of students by providing internship.

In higher education, incorporating digital tools for data analysis, virtual collaboration, and online learning platforms can enhance research methods and skills. Additionally, techniques like machine learning and AI can aid in data interpretation. Developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and interdisciplinary skills will remain crucial. As research becomes more collaborative, communication and teamwork abilities are also essential for effective knowledge sharing.

One of the obvious changes is the increasing number of digital tools and platforms to collect and process data, however these tools and platforms come with a number of less obvious problems. Without trying to be exhaustive the following challenges occur. First of all, design of online data collection. To what purpose is data collected and is this data applicable for the goals of studies for which the data collection design was not tailored? How do we know what was omitted by design? Metadata on online available datasets is scarce. Secondly, designing a good, as in unbiased and unambiguous, survey is hard. With the digital tools anybody can put out a survey, but what is the quality of the data? Quantity is not the same quality.

Machine Learning as technology can automate data analysis and reveal intricate relationships within data. From predictive modelling to natural language processing, they offer transformative opportunities for various research disciplines. Also by utilising Collaborative Research Tools platforms that enable real-time collaboration and sharing among researchers, one can streamline the research process, making it easier to work together remotely. Qualitative Data Analysis Software: Tools like NVivo and ATLAS.ti can assist in managing and analyzing large amounts of qualitative data, helping researchers manage, code, query, and explore their data in various formats, such as text, audio, video, or images.

Most of my research has been very practical: identifying a particular challenge for my institution and trying to inform steps for resolution. For such situations, I have successfully combined project management and research methods: identifying the desired end state (resolution) and all impacted stakeholders. Collecting stakeholders’ concerns and desires can be done through diverse forms of related surveys, with correlated items. Once the themes emerge, then I look to the institution’s resources and preferences for how to address the topic. With that information and approvals, I can then build and implement or write the report and turn it over for action… and don’t forget to include a plan to measure success.

In higher education, embrace mixed methods and interdisciplinary approaches for comprehensive research. Combine quantitative and qualitative techniques for richer insights. Collaborate with experts from diverse fields to tackle complex issues. These methods transcend traditional boundaries, enabling a holistic understanding of phenomena and generating innovative solutions. Adopting these approaches equips you with versatile tools to explore multifaceted questions and contribute to impactful academic discourse.

Mixed methods research begins with a qualitative review of unstructured internal data as well as a external review of existing academic framework before embarking on a quantitative research project. I have found that looking at complimentary applied areas of science can offer insight into more novel or nuanced methods. This discovery may apply to the intended research scope and provide additional directions or gaps in existing subject-matter knowledge.

Not only interdisciplinary but multidisciplinary approaches are also needed of the hour to solve the more complex social problems.

Mixed-Methods Research involves combining qualitative and quantitative research techniques to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a phenomenon. It's especially useful when trying to capture both the what and the why.

In higher education, participatory and action-oriented research empowers collaboration with stakeholders. Engage communities, involve participants as co-researchers. Implement findings directly to address real-world challenges. This approach fosters meaningful impact, enriches research ethics, and contributes to positive social change, showcasing your ability to create actionable knowledge that resonates beyond academia.

Participatory and action-oriented research offers local solutions to local problems. It also makes knowledge more accessible because it's co-created with participants outside of academia and brings Higher Education closer to the Global Sustainable Development Goals.

Siraj-Blatchford, J. (1997) Reflexivity, Social Justice and Educational research, Cambridge Journal of Education, 27:2 pp 235-248 (with Siraj-Blatchford, I.)

Participatory research helps the researchers whether the outcome of the research is feasible and acceptable for the local context and stakeholders.

I totally agree with your point. For me, qualitative approaches that actively foster collaboration among the stakeholders all through the research process that involve co construction of knowledge in an environment of shared understanding and equality is the way forward in order to realise ultimate research aim of empowerment.

In higher education, reflexivity and self-awareness are vital research skills. Reflect on your biases, assumptions, and subjectivity. Understand their influence on data collection and interpretation. This introspection enhances research quality, minimizing bias, and contributing to rigorous and transparent scholarship that stands up to critical scrutiny.

Reflexivity and self-awareness will improve the meta-cognition knowledge of the researchers. It helps to understand the strength and weaknesses of the researchers.

For reflexivity and self-awareness, we need a culture of trust and mutual respect beyond hierarchy in Higher Education. We need safe spaces to share our self-reflections without being judged and where we can learn from each other.

Creativity is the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality. It is also necessary to plan in this field to reach the goal

In higher education, embrace innovation and creativity as research assets. Explore unconventional methodologies, novel data sources, and imaginative problem-solving. Break from traditional molds to uncover fresh insights. This dynamic approach drives discovery, expands horizons, and contributes to transformative research, showcasing your ability to explore uncharted territories and make unique contributions to your field.

Innovation and creativity are foundational features of research methods and skills. A powerful question to spark innovation and creativity is "What if?" For example, "what if we bridge entrenched silos in our organization by convening an action committee composed of engaged faculty, staff, and students from various disciplines and departments?"

Using innovation and creativity in my research work always required me to: 1. Be open to new ideas and possibilities. 2. Not being afraid to take risks. 3. To be experimental. 4. Network with other creative and innovative people. 5. Seek out opportunities to learn more about innovation and creativity

Innovation and creativity will not be developed through research methods. It's based upon the individual's inborn characteristics.

Literature review The methods listed above fit under the general heading of primary research. We should recognise that there is an additional domain of secondary research, most specifically literature reviews conducted in a systematic way. Such reviews of existing evidence can be meta-analyses, either based on quantitative studies, qualitative studies or mixed-methods studies. Such reviews can be analysed and presented as narrative reviews.

Every person is a lifelong learner in some way, whether that is formalized learning or learning from daily life experiences. One particularly valuable way of learning at any age is collaborative learning because of the critical socialization needs that can be satisfied from learning with others and because when working with others we often can generate ideas and insights that are made richer through partnership.

While having an objective of research in higher education, we have to utilise the basic parameters of research in terms of applying priority of qualitative data over qualitative data, focusing on an impartial approach towards facts finding, orchestrating good innovation techniques, and adopting interdisciplinary and participatory methods in our research. All the more, showing resilience is fundamental to a higher education research work. And to comply the modern digital tools in our research work we can use and expand our findings through the Vlogs, ritual conferences, webinars and Zoom presentation techniques. Taking feedback also remains an important value to our research work. Importantly, we must adhere to a life long research activity.

ETHICS!!! These have to be at the foundation of any research but can often be relegated to a token paragraph. They should permeate the entire research from initial considerations through to publication. Also, research philosophy, what the terms mean and how the terms relate, i.e. metaphysics > ontology > epistemology > axiology > methodology > specific design > methods > analysis > logic. Each of these link to the next, each has a specific frame of reference for the positivist or interpretivist paradigm. Furthermore, acknowledging how research is transformative to the researcher and those may be affected by the research.

One of the striking features of research and data are not the questions asked but the questions avoided or unasked. For example, we assess educational success based on a variety of tools but what they measure is limited. Do we measure what really matters? What aren’t we measuring? Look at testing across all of education. It captures, often poorly, limited pieces of learning. Then, we tend to miss the human stories and voices that animate data. We often do not add these voices to data and as meritorious as quantitative data are, they aren’t substitutional for qualitative data (which we mislabel as “soft”). We need to ask what we are measuring and why. That basic question is too often skipped.

Research is not filling gaps but opening new spaces for learning. It must not be just a data analysis thrown up based on statistical figures. The humane element of research must never be forgotten. Application in terms of utility of the findings of a research must not be the sole purpose, though any findings is by itself a valuable contribution. Sustainability in the new era is not only of materials but also of men. Therefore all research must be beneficial to all. Research for research sake has become the order of the day. The love for the subject area must be natural, not just comfortable to the research scholar. When the love for subject leads to formation of a strong hypothesis, the research activity flows smooth.

Yes, good research work is always attributed to the norms of intellectual honesty which means that we must refer to the work to which it originally belongs, in that manner we must feel ethically satisfied that we are not manipulating anything in this regard. Moreover, we must be very polished in using our language in our creative or contributory hypotheses. And we must acknowledge the efforts of all those who have assisted and contributed us in making our research work worthwhile .