What is Research: Definition

Research is defined as a careful consideration of study rega

problem using scientific methods. According to the America
Babbie, “Research is a systematic inquiry to describe, expla
observed phenomenon. Research involves inductive and de

Inductive research methods are used to analyze the observe

deductive methods are used to verify the observed phenom
associated with qualitative research and deductive methods
associated with quantitative research.

One of the most important aspects of research is the statist

conclusion or result. It is about the “thought” that goes beh
conducted with a purpose to understand:

What do organizations or businesses really want to find

What are the processes that need to be followed to cha

What are the arguments that need to be built around a c

What is the evidence that will be required that people be

Characteristics of Research

1. A systematic approach is followed in research. Rules and

of research that set the objective of a research process. Res
ethics and code of conduct while making observations or dr

2. Research is based on logical reasoning and involves both

methods.

3. The data or knowledge that is derived is in real time, actu

settings.

4. There is an in-depth analysis of all the data collected from

anomalies associated with it.

5. Research creates a path for generating new questions. M

generated from existing research.

6. Research is analytical in nature. It makes use of all the ava

ambiguity in inference.

7. Accuracy is one of the important character of research, th

while conducting the research should be accurate and true
research conducted in a controlled environment like a labora
measured of instruments used, calibrations, and the final re

What are the types of Research?

Following are the types of research methods:

Basic Research: Basic research is mostly conducted to enh

fundamental aspects of research. The main motivation of th
expansion. It is a non-commercial research and doesnʼt faci
anything. For example, an experiment is a good example of

Applied Research: Applied research focuses on analyzing a

This type of research refers to the study that helps solve pra
methods. This research plays an important role in solving iss
well-being of humans. For example, finding a specific cure f

Problem Oriented Research: As the name suggests, proble

conducted to understand the exact nature of the problem to
term “problem” refers to having issues or two thoughts whil

For e.g Revenue of a car company has decreased by 12% in

could be the probable causes: There is no optimum product
no advertising, economic conditions etc.

Problem Solving Research: This type of research is conduc

understand and resolve their own problems. The problem-s
research to find solutions to the existing problems.

Qualitative Research: Qualitative research is a process that

depth understanding of the problems or issues in their natu

statistical research method.

Qualitative research is heavily dependent on the experience

questions used to probe the sample. The sample size is usu
a sample. Open-ended questions are asked in a manner tha
The purpose of asking open-ended questions is to gather a
from the sample.

Following are the methods used for qualitative research:

Y. One-to-one interview

Z. Focus groups

[. Ethnographic Research

\. Content/ Text Analysis

_. Case study research

Learn more: Qualitative Research Methods

Quantitative Research: Qualitative research is a structured

analyzing it to draw conclusions. Unlike qualitative research
computational, statistical and similar method to collect and
is all about numbers.

Quantitative research involves a larger population as more n

data. In this manner, more data can be analyzed to obtain ac
research method uses close-ended questions because, in q
researchers are typically looking at measuring the extent an
data.

Online surveys, questionnaires, and polls are preferable data

quantitative research. There are various methods of deployi
recent times online surveys and questionnaires have gained
can receive these surveys on mobile phones, emails or can

access surveys or questionnaires.

Learn more: What is Quantitative Research?

What is the purpose of Research?

There are three purposes of research:

1. Exploratory Research: As the name suggests, explorator

explore the research questions and may or may not offer a f
conducted. It is conducted to handle new problem areas wh
before. Exploratory research lays the foundation for more co
collection. For example, a research conducted to know the l
among the patrons of a restaurant.

2. Descriptive Research: Descriptive researchfocuses on th

issues through a process of data collection. Descriptive stud
behavior of a sample population. In descriptive research, on
has quantity or quality that varies) is required to conduct a s
of descriptive research are describing, explaining and valida
a research conducted to know if top-level management lead
the moral right to receive a huge sum of money from the co

3. Explanatory Research: Explanatory research or causal re

understand the impact of certain changes in existing standa
experiments is the most popular form of casual research. Fo
to understand the effect of rebranding on customer loyalty.

To understand the characteristic of research design using re

comparative analysis:

Exploratory Descriptive Explanatory

Research Research Research

Research Unstructured Structured Highly

approach structured
used
 Research Asking Asking By using
conducted research research research
through questions questions hypotheses.

When is it Early stages Later Later stages

conducted? of decision stages of of decision
making decision making
making

Learn More: Primary Research- Examples, Methods and Pur

Research method is defined as the tools or an instrument th

goals and attributes of conducting a researchprocess. Think
systematic process in which the tools or instruments will be
tool if it is not being used efficiently.

To understand research methods we must first understand w

careful study of a specific problem or concern using scientif
instruments. Remember as kids, we were given projects in e
asked to know about it in details. Research is the adult form
a more precise and thorough version!

Research can be about anything, scientific research, basic r

market research- qualitative market researchand quantitativ
oriented research, problem-solving research. To begin resea
have a problem or a concern that needs a solution.

Research really begins with asking the right research questi

choosing appropriate research method to be able to investig
right direction and then finally analyze your findings or obse
conclusions.

When it comes to customers and related research, there sh

Specify and plan the customerʼs research, help make smart
and position your business efficiently. Choosing the right re
important answers about your clients. But before we go any
research methods

Learn more: Primary Research- Examples, Types, Methods a

Types of Research Methods and Research Example

Research methods are broadly classified as Qualitative Rese
Research.

Both research methods have distinctive properties and data

segment of the blog, we will learn more about both these re

Qualitative Research Methods

Qualitative research is a research method that collects data

where participants involved in the research are asked open-
responses collected are essentially non-numerical. This me
understand “what” participant think but also, “why”they thin

Here are the widely used qualitative research methods:

One-to-one Interview: This interview technique is system

name suggests is conducted with one participant at a g
interviews need a researcher to prepare questions in ad
researcher asks only the most important questions to th
interview lasts anywhere between 20 minutes to half an
researcher collects as many meaningful data as possibl
inferences.

Focus Groups: Focus groups are small groups comprisin

who are usually experts in the subject matter. A modera

who facilitates the discussion amongst the group memb
in conducting focus group plays an important role. An e
probe the participants by asking the correct research qu
collect a sizable amount of information related to the re

Ethnographic Research: Ethnographic research is an in-

people are observed in their natural environment with an
prove to be a bit demanding in terms of a researcher ge
environment of the target audience which could even be
Geographic locations can be a constraint in this type of
conducting interviews a researcher needs to experience
collect information.

Text Analysis: Text analysis is a little different from other

as it used to analyze the social life by decoding words, t
form of documentation. The researcher studies and und
the documents are furnished with the information and th
 inferences from it. In modern times, researchers follow a
platform and try and understand the pattern of thoughts

Case Study Research: Case study research, as the nam

organization or an entity. This research method has evo
of the most valuable qualitative research methods know
research is used in fields like education sector, philosop
This method involves a deep diving into the ongoing res

Quantitative Research Methods

Quantitative research methods are the methods that deal w

can be dealt with a measurable form, in a systematic way of
It is used to answer questions in terms of justifying relations
to either explain, predict or control a phenomenon.

There are three methods that are often used by researchers

research, they are:

Survey Research- The ultimate goal of survey research

population by deploying the survey. Gone are the days w

using a pen and a paper. Today, online surveys are a pop
are convenient and can be sent in an email or made ava
method, a researcher designs a survey with most releva
deploys the survey. Once the researcher receives the re
them to tabulate meaningful findings and data.

Descriptive Research- Descriptive research is a quantita

corresponds to identifying the characteristics of an obs
collecting more information. This research method is de
participants in a very systematic and accurate manner. I
research is all about describing the phenomenon, obser
from it.

Correlational Research- Correlational research examine

or more variables. Let us take an example to understand
take an example to understand correlational research, C
researcher is studying a correlation between cancer and
married women have a negative correlation with cancer.
variables: cancer, and married women. When we say ne
women who are married are less likely to develop cance
marriage directly avoids cancer.

Identifying Research Methodology

To choose the appropriate research methods, it is necessar

objectives. Here is an example of some of the research obje
consideration for your business:

To start with, find out the needs of your clients

 Know their preferences and understand what is importa

Find an appropriate way to make your customers aware

Find ways to improve your products or services to suit t

After identifying what you need to know, you should then as

offer you that information.
Organize your questions within the framework of the 7 Ps of
company – product, price, promotion, place, people, proces

A well-organized customer research process produces valid

complete results. Research results that rigorously reflect the
clients will help you grow your sales and improve your opera
need to establish and follow the processes that you have de

Set your goals

Consider the clientʼs research objectives and define those t

a strategy once you obtain the information. Make sure that y
not presume their result, and define them intelligently and m
targets, smart goals, and objectives.

Plan your research

Good planning allows the use of creative and logical approa

methods that gather the information. Your plan will be influe
complexity of the information you need, the skills of your ma
soon you need the information and your budget. Make an ad
your market research

Identify your list of questions and decide on the research m

your goals. Detail your research approach and some initial id
analyze the data.

Collect and collate your results

Make a list of how you are going to carry out the research p
collect and collection methods. This will help you keep track
and make sense of your findings. It will also allow you to ver
reflects the opinions of your clients and your market. Create

The consumer research activity

The necessary data

The research method (s) for data collection

The steps to follow for data analysis.

Remember, research is only valuable and useful when it is va

Relying on imperfect research is dangerous; Incorrect result
and a decrease in sales.

It is important to obtain information about how the collection

carried out, and to ensure that your data is:

Valid – founded, logical, rigorous and impartial.

Accurate – free of errors and including required details.

Reliable – that can be reproduced by other people who

Timely – current and collected within an appropriate tim

Complete – includes all the data you need to support yo

Analyze and understand your research

The analysis of the data can vary from simple and direct ste
processes. Adopt an approach, and choose the method of d
research methods you have carried out.

Keep the findings ready

Choose a spreadsheet that allows you to easily enter your d

amount of data, you should be able to manage them with th
the software. If you have collected more complete and comp
consider using specific programs or tools that will help you

Review and interpret the information to draw conclusions

Once you have gathered all the data, you can scan your info
conclusions and make informed decisions. You should revie

Identify the main trends and issues, opportunities and p

a sentence about each one

Keep track of the frequency with which each of the main

Make a list of your findings from the most common to th

Evaluate and perform separately a list of the strengths,

threats that have been identified in a SWOT analysis.

Preparation of conclusions and recommendations about

Review your goals before making any conclusions about you

process you have completed and the data you have gathere
Ask yourself if what your research revealed facilitates the id
and recommendations. Review your conclusions and, based

Choose some strategies that will help you improve your b

Act on your strategies

Look for gaps in the information, and consider doing ad

Plan to review the results of the research, and consider