Research·Course
Research Methods
Scientific research methods: quantitative and qualitative approaches, philosophy of science, research ethics
Part of the Business & Economics track — finish it for a verifiable diploma →
§ 01 — Orientation
New here?
What you'll be able to do, who this is for, how long it takes, and where to begin.
By the end, you will be able to
- 01Tell a rigorous study from a flawed one at a glance.
- 02Run a systematic literature review instead of cherry-picking sources.
- 03Design a study with the right quantitative or qualitative method.
- 04Choose and justify a sampling and data-collection strategy.
- 05Spot ethical red flags and bias in your own research.
Who this is for
How long it takes
- Quick orientationSkim the opening module and the cheatsheet to get the shape of it.~2 h
- Full read-throughRead every article once, in order.~3 h
- Mastery pathRead, take the quizzes, and space out your reviews.~2 weeks
- APA
Stoa. (2026). Research Methods [Online course]. Stoa. https://stoa.school/course/research-methods
- MLA
Stoa. “Research Methods.” Stoa, 2026, https://stoa.school/course/research-methods.
- Chicago
Stoa. “Research Methods.” Stoa. Accessed September 1, 2026. https://stoa.school/course/research-methods.
§ 02 — Curriculum
10 modules.
Each module is a small unit. Most read in sequence — but a determined reader can begin anywhere.
- M IIntroduction to ResearchDefining research, types of research, critical thinking, topic selection, problem formulation, and research questions4 articles
24 minBegin → - M IILiterature ReviewPurpose and structure of a literature review, searching for sources, academic databases, critical reading, and writing the review3 articles
18 minBegin → - M IIIIntroduction to Quantitative ResearchBasics of statistics, SPSS, types of data, descriptive statistics, and graphical data representation3 articles
18 minBegin → - M IVIntroduction to Qualitative ResearchDefinition of qualitative research, reflexivity, sampling, data coding, and using NVivo3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VPhilosophy of ResearchResearch paradigms, ontology and epistemology, positivism, interpretivism, critical realism, and research ethics3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VIPreparing for the AssignmentFormatting requirements, academic integrity, plagiarism, citation and referencing rules1 articles
6 minBegin → - M VIIAdvanced Quantitative MethodsSecondary data, sampling methods, questionnaire design, measurement scales, and data entry in SPSS3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VIIIQualitative Data CollectionEthics and informed consent, interviews, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups3 articles
18 minBegin → - M IXQuantitative Data AnalysisStatistical significance, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation, and regression3 articles
18 minBegin → - M XQualitative Data AnalysisThematic analysis, coding and developing themes, presenting qualitative data, and ensuring quality3 articles
18 minBegin →
§ 03 — Learning outcomes
4 outcomes.
Demonstrate understanding of core research methodologies and their application in a business context.
Critically evaluate academic literature and apply systematic review skills.
Develop research designs using quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis.
Apply ethical principles and a reflexive approach when conducting research.
§ 04 — Practices