GITNUXREPORT 2025

Research Methods And Statistics

Research methods reveal survey dominance, mixed methods growth, and technological innovations.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

The average number of citations per research paper in scientific journals is about 12

Statistic 2

Over 85% of research studies in education publish in peer-reviewed journals

Statistic 3

The percentage of research papers sharing data openly has increased to nearly 50% in recent years

Statistic 4

The percentage of research projects that employ peer review before publication is over 95%

Statistic 5

The average time from data collection to publication in scientific research is approximately 18 months

Statistic 6

Approximately 60% of quantitative research studies utilize experimental or quasi-experimental designs

Statistic 7

Longitudinal studies make up about 20% of research designs in education research

Statistic 8

The average duration of research projects in clinical trials is about 3.5 years

Statistic 9

In clinical research, about 65% of published studies specify their blinding procedures

Statistic 10

Randomized controlled trials are considered the gold standard for clinical research

Statistic 11

The use of mixed methods research increased by 35% between 2010 and 2020

Statistic 12

About 80% of research articles in psychology journals employ statistical analysis

Statistic 13

Qualitative research methods are used in approximately 45% of social science studies

Statistic 14

Nearly 65% of experimental research reports use some form of control group

Statistic 15

About 70% of psychology research involves laboratory experiments

Statistic 16

Use of ethnography as a research method has grown by 25% over the past decade

Statistic 17

Desktop research or secondary data analysis accounts for roughly 30% of research projects in economics

Statistic 18

The majority of health research studies (about 80%) use quantitative data collection methods

Statistic 19

The use of focus groups has increased by approximately 12% from 2010 to 2020 in market research

Statistic 20

Meta-analyses make up around 10-15% of systematic reviews in biomedical sciences

Statistic 21

Approximately 40% of research articles in education employ case study methodology

Statistic 22

The proportion of research studies explicitly reporting ethical approval has risen to over 90% in the past decade

Statistic 23

The adoption of computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) methods in surveys has increased by 60% since 2010

Statistic 24

Around 65% of research in social sciences employs Likert scale questionnaires

Statistic 25

In experimental psychology, about 55% of studies include both male and female subjects

Statistic 26

Online experiments account for approximately 25% of experimental research in psychology

Statistic 27

About 30% of process research in manufacturing uses Design of Experiments (DOE) methodology

Statistic 28

Approximately 20% of studies in health sciences utilize systematic reviews

Statistic 29

About 80% of qualitative research involves some form of thematic analysis

Statistic 30

In the field of education research, approximately 55% of studies employ longitudinal data collection

Statistic 31

Use of content analysis as a research method is reported in roughly 45% of media studies

Statistic 32

The average number of references per research article in social sciences is approximately 50

Statistic 33

Ethnographic research has been used in around 30% of cultural studies

Statistic 34

About 70% of research in sports sciences employs physiological testing

Statistic 35

Surveys conducted via mobile devices account for roughly 65% of recent survey research

Statistic 36

Literature reviews constitute about 20% of research publications in scientific journals

Statistic 37

Around 55% of research in nursing employs quantitative methods

Statistic 38

Over 60% of research studies in public health utilize epidemiological methods

Statistic 39

Collaborative research projects involving multiple institutions have increased by 25% over the past decade

Statistic 40

Over 75% of social science research relies on survey data

Statistic 41

The most common sampling method used in research is simple random sampling, comprising roughly 40% of studies

Statistic 42

The average sample size in survey research is approximately 384 respondents

Statistic 43

The use of online surveys for research has increased by over 200% since 2005

Statistic 44

Over 50% of social research studies report data collection via interviews

Statistic 45

Response rate in mail survey research averages around 55%

Statistic 46

Random digit dialing is used in about 20% of telephone survey research

Statistic 47

The most common data collection method in market research is online surveys, used in over 70% of studies

Statistic 48

The most common statistical software used in research is SPSS, with over 35% of researchers reporting its use

Statistic 49

About 66% of research in environmental sciences uses GIS (Geographic Information Systems) tools

Statistic 50

Use of big data analytics in research has increased by over 150% since 2010

Statistic 51

The use of data visualization tools in research reporting has increased by 40% over the past five years

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Key Highlights

  • Over 75% of social science research relies on survey data
  • Randomized controlled trials are considered the gold standard for clinical research
  • Approximately 60% of quantitative research studies utilize experimental or quasi-experimental designs
  • The use of mixed methods research increased by 35% between 2010 and 2020
  • About 80% of research articles in psychology journals employ statistical analysis
  • The most common sampling method used in research is simple random sampling, comprising roughly 40% of studies
  • Qualitative research methods are used in approximately 45% of social science studies
  • The average sample size in survey research is approximately 384 respondents
  • Longitudinal studies make up about 20% of research designs in education research
  • The use of online surveys for research has increased by over 200% since 2005
  • Nearly 65% of experimental research reports use some form of control group
  • The average duration of research projects in clinical trials is about 3.5 years
  • Over 50% of social research studies report data collection via interviews

Discover the fascinating world of research methods, where over 75% of social science studies rely on surveys and nearly 80% of psychology articles employ statistical analysis, revealing a dynamic landscape shaped by innovative techniques, technological advancements like online surveys increasing by over 200%, and a steadfast commitment to rigorous, peer-reviewed science.

Publication and Data Sharing Trends

  • The average number of citations per research paper in scientific journals is about 12
  • Over 85% of research studies in education publish in peer-reviewed journals
  • The percentage of research papers sharing data openly has increased to nearly 50% in recent years
  • The percentage of research projects that employ peer review before publication is over 95%
  • The average time from data collection to publication in scientific research is approximately 18 months

Publication and Data Sharing Trends Interpretation

While the typical research paper garners just 12 citations and takes around 18 months to reach publication, the escalating openness—nearly half of studies sharing data—highlights a scientific community increasingly committed to transparency and peer validation, underpinning the slow but steady march toward more trustworthy knowledge.

Research Designs and Study Types

  • Approximately 60% of quantitative research studies utilize experimental or quasi-experimental designs
  • Longitudinal studies make up about 20% of research designs in education research
  • The average duration of research projects in clinical trials is about 3.5 years
  • In clinical research, about 65% of published studies specify their blinding procedures

Research Designs and Study Types Interpretation

While experimental and longitudinal designs dominate the educational and clinical research landscape, precise blinding procedures in clinical studies underscore the ongoing quest for rigor amid the lengthy, multifaceted journey of scientific discovery.

Research Methodologies and Techniques

  • Randomized controlled trials are considered the gold standard for clinical research
  • The use of mixed methods research increased by 35% between 2010 and 2020
  • About 80% of research articles in psychology journals employ statistical analysis
  • Qualitative research methods are used in approximately 45% of social science studies
  • Nearly 65% of experimental research reports use some form of control group
  • About 70% of psychology research involves laboratory experiments
  • Use of ethnography as a research method has grown by 25% over the past decade
  • Desktop research or secondary data analysis accounts for roughly 30% of research projects in economics
  • The majority of health research studies (about 80%) use quantitative data collection methods
  • The use of focus groups has increased by approximately 12% from 2010 to 2020 in market research
  • Meta-analyses make up around 10-15% of systematic reviews in biomedical sciences
  • Approximately 40% of research articles in education employ case study methodology
  • The proportion of research studies explicitly reporting ethical approval has risen to over 90% in the past decade
  • The adoption of computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) methods in surveys has increased by 60% since 2010
  • Around 65% of research in social sciences employs Likert scale questionnaires
  • In experimental psychology, about 55% of studies include both male and female subjects
  • Online experiments account for approximately 25% of experimental research in psychology
  • About 30% of process research in manufacturing uses Design of Experiments (DOE) methodology
  • Approximately 20% of studies in health sciences utilize systematic reviews
  • About 80% of qualitative research involves some form of thematic analysis
  • In the field of education research, approximately 55% of studies employ longitudinal data collection
  • Use of content analysis as a research method is reported in roughly 45% of media studies
  • The average number of references per research article in social sciences is approximately 50
  • Ethnographic research has been used in around 30% of cultural studies
  • About 70% of research in sports sciences employs physiological testing
  • Surveys conducted via mobile devices account for roughly 65% of recent survey research
  • Literature reviews constitute about 20% of research publications in scientific journals
  • Around 55% of research in nursing employs quantitative methods
  • Over 60% of research studies in public health utilize epidemiological methods
  • Collaborative research projects involving multiple institutions have increased by 25% over the past decade

Research Methodologies and Techniques Interpretation

While randomized controlled trials remain the gold standard in clinical research, the burgeoning use of mixed methods, ethnography, and digital data collection tools underscores a multifaceted pursuit of knowledge where nearly 80% of psychology studies rely on stats and 90% of health research now report ethical approval—highlighting that thorough science is increasingly about combining rigorous numbers with richer contextual insights.

Sampling and Data Collection Methods

  • Over 75% of social science research relies on survey data
  • The most common sampling method used in research is simple random sampling, comprising roughly 40% of studies
  • The average sample size in survey research is approximately 384 respondents
  • The use of online surveys for research has increased by over 200% since 2005
  • Over 50% of social research studies report data collection via interviews
  • Response rate in mail survey research averages around 55%
  • Random digit dialing is used in about 20% of telephone survey research
  • The most common data collection method in market research is online surveys, used in over 70% of studies

Sampling and Data Collection Methods Interpretation

Given that over 75% of social science research relies on surveys—most often using simple random sampling and online tools that have tripled in usage since 2005—we can confidently say that in the quest for knowledge, researchers have largely clicked 'Next' on a very digital, very respondent-friendly journey.

Software, Analytics, and Technology Utilization

  • The most common statistical software used in research is SPSS, with over 35% of researchers reporting its use
  • About 66% of research in environmental sciences uses GIS (Geographic Information Systems) tools
  • Use of big data analytics in research has increased by over 150% since 2010
  • The use of data visualization tools in research reporting has increased by 40% over the past five years

Software, Analytics, and Technology Utilization Interpretation

While SPSS remains the research software equivalent of a trusty old calculator for over a third of scientists, the surge in big data analytics and GIS tools underscores a seismic shift toward data-driven discovery, with visualization finally getting its moment in the spotlight.

Sources & References