Choice of method - I
This typology of methods does not enable an automatic choice of method in a research study. The researcher must still choose a philosophical approach within which to work, and must then determine which method, or set of methods, will be most appropriate for the kind of data to be collected.
Notes:
This typology of methods does not provide the researcher with a ready-made answer to the question, “Which method should I use?” It simply offers a reasonably logical way of viewing the whole range of possible methods and making decisions about which method is appropriate in the circumstances. Those circumstances include the philosophical framework within which you wish to operate (positivist or anti-positivist), what you know about the research area to begin with, the nature of the research population, and so on.