Research Methods Guidebook

Briefly in English

The Guidebook is an open learning environment accessible to all. It is available in Finnish, providing Finnish students an opportunity to study quantitative and qualitative methods in their own language.

The Guidebook is primarily designed for social science disciplines, but one of the dominant criteria when creating the exercises has been their versatility and as such, they can also be applied to other disciplines. The resource is easy to use, and does not require previous knowledge of methodology.

The resource is of use to diverse target groups. Firstly, it is useful for students who either participate in methodology courses or who need practice in quantitative and qualitative methods for research or professional purposes. Teachers form another user group: the texts and exercises can be used as additional material on method courses. Thirdly, researchers whose own work has not equipped them with enough knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methods may find the resource useful.

Quantitative and Qualitative Methods Guidebook

The Quantitative Methods Guidebook includes a method section, an integrated SPSS learning environment, exercises and freely downloadable datasets for self-studying. The Quantitative Methods Guidebook was first published in 2001. The contents underwent a major update in 2021.

The Qualitative Methods Guidebook focuses on theoretical frameworks and typical datasets used in qualitative research. It also contains analysis examples and offers ideas on how to teach qualitative methods. The Research Methods Guidebook expanded to qualitative methods in 2006. The Qualitative Guidebook was completely renewed in 2021.

The Guidebook's advantages

A web-based learning environment offers new means for teaching and learning research methods. It compliments the existing supply of method courses and textbooks.

The Guidebook is expanded and updated at intervals to match the developments of the field. It is easily accessible and ideal for self-studying - as long as the student has an access to a computer and the Internet, and preferably also to a suitable statistical software. From the self-studier's point of view, the Guidebook's versatility is its greatest asset: methodology texts, SPSS guidance and exercises are all included. The quantitative exercises are based on extensive, genuine research data archived at FSD holdings.

Access the Guidebook (in Finnish)

Contact:
Senior Specialist Tuomas J. Alaterä, tuomas.alatera ( at ) tuni.fi, +358 40 190 1441