Lesson 1: Classification of Research

1 Research Methods
Research can be classified in terms of:

• goal of research

• specific objectives of research

Unit 2 • approaches of research

Types of Research • designs

• the type of data used in research, and

• fields of study.

Lesson 1: Classification of Research Lesson 1: Classification of Research

3 4

Based on goal of research (nature of
Based on Approaches of research

problem to be solved)  Qualitative
 Basic research (Theoretical)  Quantitative
 Applied research (Practical) • Based on Designs
• Based on Objectives of Research  Experimental
 Descriptive  Quasi-experimental
 Explanatory  Non-experimental
 Exploratory
 Lesson 1: Classification of Research Lesson 2: Basic and Applied Research
5 6

• Classification based on Type of Data (type of data
Have same structures and protocols with
generated and used)
slight variation in the ultimate purpose
 Primary (Field)
 Secondary (Desk)
Example:
• Classification based on Fields of Study
Pure mathematics – underlying theories

 Natural science
Applied mathematics – real life

 Social science research, phenomena (mechanics, ecology, etc)

 Educational research,

 Behavioral science research

 Health science research, etc.

2.1 Basic/Pure Scientific Research 2.1 Basic/Pure Scientific Research

7 8

Explaining the world around us
The major aims of basic research

Primary objective - advancement of  Formulate, expand, or evaluate theory

knowledge and the theoretical understanding  Discovery of knowledge

of the relations among variables. • Forms of basic research

 Discovery – new idea or explanation emerges

Results often of no immediate practical value
 Invention – new technique or method

Driven by curiosity in a scientific question
 Reflection – re-examining existing theory in a new

Motivated by a need to expand human context
knowledge  Basic research lays the foundation for applied research
 2.2 Applied Scientific Research 2.2 Applied Scientific Research
9 10

Designed to solve practical problems and
Methodology not as rigorous as basic research
improve the human condition
Evaluated in terms of local applicability (not

(Ex. Medical and environmental research) universal validity)

Purpose – to test theories and apply to
Note:
specific real situations
Difficult to draw boundary between basic and

(Ex. “Is global warming avoidable?”) applied research (Not mutually exclusive)

Researches often have both theoretical and
practical implications

Lesson 3: Descriptive, Explanatory and

3.1 Descriptive Research Methods
Exploratory Research
11 12

Descriptive – describe and interpret some
Surveys:

aspect of a phenomena
Describing the nature of existing conditions

Explanatory – establish cause and effect

One-shot data gathering (economical and

relationship between variables efficient)

Represents a wide target population

Exploratory – gaining background
information and understanding of a problem
Generates numerical data

Provides descriptive, inferential and
explanatory information
 3.1 Descriptive Research Methods 3.1 Descriptive Research Methods
13 14

Observation Studies:

Correlational Studies:

observes behavior that occurs in its natural

Trace relationships among two or more
variables environment

Study existence of association among
Important features:
variables  Noninterference
Positive, negative, or no association  Observation of phenomena in the real world

Not interested in cause-effect relationship  Useful when subject is little or not known
 Describes a phenomena but not why it occurred

3.1 Descriptive Research Methods 3.2 Explanatory Research Methods

15 16

Case Studies:

Purpose - the desire to know "why,”

detailed contextual analysis of a limited

Looks for causes and reasons,
number of events or conditions and their
relationships
Builds on both exploratory and descriptive

explorations of a project or application

researches,
as it develops in a real-world setting
Explaining things (not just reporting).
 3.2 Explanatory Research Methods 3.2 Explanatory Research Methods
17 18

Two types:

Determining the accuracy of the theory
Experimental research

Providing evidence to support or refute an  comparing two groups on one outcome
explanation or prediction. measure to test some hypothesis
regarding causation.

Testing a theory's predictions or principles.
 scientific control and the ability to rule

Causal explanations (dependent and out alternative explanations
independent variables)  intentionally manipulates one variable to
measure its effect on the other

3.2 Explanatory Research Methods 3.3 Exploratory Research Methods

19 20

Ex post facto research
Conducted to gain background information and

better understanding of a problem
 after the fact or retrospectively

determine the best research design,
 studying the independent variables in

develop hypotheses,
retrospect for their possible relationship to,

understand how to measure a variable,
and effects on, the dependent variable

determine data collection method,
 Ex.: Studying causes of

rely on secondary research such as literature review
 fatal traffic accidents

 Failure of a particular structure

Results usually not useful for decision-making, but
can provide insight into a given situation.
 Lesson 4: Qualitative and Quantitative Lesson 4: Qualitative and Quantitative
Research Research
21 22

• Quantitative Research:

Qualitative Research:  develop and employ mathematical models,

no attempt to quantify results through theories and hypotheses pertaining to natural

phenomena
statistical summary or analysis.
 based on measurements

looks for meaning
 starts with a theory or a general statement

Describes behavioral aspects and other proposing a general relationship between
factors studied in the social sciences and variables.
humanities.  involves collecting and analyzing numerical data
and applying statistical tests.

Differences between Qualitative and

Quantitative Research
23

Reading Assignment