forskningspalette

Forskningspalette is a term used in Swedish and Nordic scholarly contexts to describe a flexible toolkit of research methods and methodological approaches that researchers can select from when designing a study. The metaphor presents methods as a palette from which researchers mix and match to fit the research questions, data availability, ethics, and practical constraints.

The concept encompasses a wide range of methods across disciplines. Quantitative approaches include surveys, experiments, and statistical modeling. Qualitative methods cover interviews, ethnography, discourse analysis, and content analysis. Mixed-methods designs combine these strands in various configurations, such as explanatory sequential or convergent parallel designs. In addition, participatory and collaborative approaches—such as co-design, action research, and stakeholder workshops—are often included. Increasingly, digital and data-driven methods, like data mining or targeted analytics, may be incorporated where appropriate and methodologically justified.

Purpose and use of the palette are to ensure alignment between research questions, theoretical framework, data availability, and ethical considerations. It is commonly used in research planning, grant proposals, and doctoral studies to illustrate methodological pluralism and transparency about why specific methods were chosen and how they complement each other.

Benefits of the forskningspalette include methodological flexibility, inclusivity of diverse data types, and resilience to individual method limitations. Critics warn that without clear justification, the term can become vague, leading to complexity, higher resource demands, or ambiguity about epistemological stance.

See also: mixed methods, methodological pluralism, research design. Example: a health study might combine registry data analysis (quantitative), patient interviews (qualitative), and participatory workshops with clinicians and patients (participatory).