A Classification System for Different Types of Research Methods in Risk Science

Different types of research methods are used in risk science. Examples include the "scientific method" ("the hypothetico-deductive method"), interviews, surveys, experimentation, analysis, simulation and statistics. It is also common to distinguish between more high-level method characteristics or categories, such as being quantitative, qualitative, descriptive, analytical, theoretical, normative, applied, fundamental, conceptual and empirical. This paper presents and discusses a classification system for risk research methods and categories of such methods. A main logic of the classification system is the distinction between research aiming at i) describing and understanding aspects of the world, and ii) research aiming at enhancing the instruments used to obtain i). For both i) and ii), the importance and role of rationalism – reasoning and argumentation – is highlighted. The system is constructed to help users to properly design their research, by pointing to relevant types of research methods.

Keywords: Risk science, Research methods, Conceptual research, Empirical research, Classification system.