有關文學研究方法的問題，向來在國內學界較少受到關注。受到西方學界的影響，做為一門獨立學科的現代文學也開始講究研究方法。現代文學的研究方法除了可以區分為質性研究與量化研究之外，其本身又可分為三個不同的層次，即方法論、研究途徑、研究方法、以及研究技術。此外，現代文學研究方法更涉及諸種文學理論，如何運用研究方法往往與文學理論的理解與應用密不可分。本文即分從「研究方法的層次」、「質性研究與量化研究」、以及「文學理論與文學研究」三個面向展開討論。

The problem of methods of literary studies is always paid less attentions by the scholars in Taiwan. However, modern literary studies had emerged as a prominently distinct field in literature by the 1990s. Owing to this impact from the Western academic circle, the modern literary studies had begun to stress on the research method. The research method of modern literature can not be only divided into the qualitative and quantitative inquiry, but also into four different levels by itself, that is , the methodology, approach, method, and technique. Besides this, the research method of modern literature is further related to a lot of literary theories, so that both can not be separated into two parts to discuss it. This article attempts to offer a comprehensive study under the following three aspects: (1) the levels of research method; (2) the qualitative and quantitative inquiry; (3) the literary theory and study.