What are research methods?

Research methods are like tools that help people find answers to big questions, just like you use a magnifying glass to see tiny things better.

Imagine you're trying to figure out what makes your favorite toy work. You might try different ways to test it: shaking it, pressing buttons, or even taking it apart. That's kind of like research methods, they’re the different ways people ask questions and find answers.

There are many kinds of tools for research:

• A survey is like asking your friends what they think about a new game, you get lots of opinions all at once.
• An experiment is like testing out a new flavor of ice cream to see if people like it better than the old one, you try something and watch what happens.
• A questionnaire is like writing down answers on paper instead of saying them aloud.

Each tool helps you understand things in different ways, just like how your toy might need a different kind of test to show all its secrets.