Introduction to Types of Research

Methodology
Research methodology refers to the methods and techniques used to

portray the research effectively. It concerns the systematic design of a

study to guarantee results that meet the aims and objectives of the study.

The researcher is primarily responsible for presenting the idea and

explaining different types of research methodology approaches used.

Table of Contents
• Introduction to types of Research Methodology

• List of Types of Research Methodology

• Tips to consider while selecting a Research Methodology

• Advantages of using different types of research methodology

• Conclusion

• FAQs

• Recommended Articles

Key Takeaways
 • To ensure that the data gathered is valuable and reliable,

researchers employ a variety of research methods.

• Researchers categorize research methodology according to

different criteria. They are a general category, the nature of the

study, the purpose of the study, the research design, and the data

types.

• Surveys and case studies are two of the most frequent data

collection tools in research.

• Employing research methods has many merits, including assisting

the researcher in developing the study field and conducting the

research more efficiently. Both contribute to the researcher’s

knowledge of the subject matter.

List of Types of Research Methodology

Research methodology is classified based on different categories. They

include a general category, nature of the study, purpose, research design,

and data type. There are also interviews and case studies based on

research methodology. In some research, the researcher combines more

than two methods and very few methods in some.

Popular Course in this category

Based on General Category:

1. Quantitative Research
As the name suggests, Quantitative data relies on quantifying a certain

amount or quantity of a specific phenomenon. It focuses on gathering

and analyzing numerical data and can be used to find averages and

patterns or to predict outcomes.

It falls within the two primary categories of research and relies on

numbers. It draws a conclusion using tables, facts, and graphs. Many

scientific and field-based studies primarily use this form of research.

Some pros and cons of Quantitative Research are as follows:

Pros

It allows for larger sample sizes, enables thorough analysis of the findings,

and helps draw broader conclusions about your target audience.

Since quantitative research uses surveys, experiments, and real-time data

collection, there are minimal delays in gathering the data under study.

Therefore, compared to other research methodologies, the researcher

analyzes the information under study quite rapidly.

Due to anonymity, researchers frequently use quantitative data while

examining sensitive topics. Consequently, this setting lowers the

possibility of producing inaccurate data.

Cons

Since the researcher may be unable to conduct the research in subjects’

natural environments, it may appear artificial and regulated. Participants’

responses are claimed and may not reflect their actual real-life behavior.

Because survey responses are limited, you cannot go beyond that in

delving into greater depth about the behaviors, attitudes, and motives as

you can with qualitative research.

There is a financial element to consider with quantitative research because

it can be costly.

2. Qualitative Research
Qualitative refers to the non-numerical elements in the research.

Qualitative research comes to the rescue when the researcher cannot

grasp the information or data in terms of numbers. Though not as reliable

as Quantitative research, qualitative research helps to form a better

summary of theories in the data.

Moreover, this type of research is interested in discovering the motivating

factors behind human behavior, i.e., why people act or think in a particular

way. Through this research, one can understand the variables driving

people to behave in a certain way or which govern their inclinations

towards one specific thing.

Its pros and cons are as follows:

Pros

Studies can be performed more quickly since qualitative research use a

smaller sample size than other research methodologies. Social scientists

can efficiently gather data from participants using this framework,

resulting in a generalization that will be helpful to the general public.

It enables a more in-depth exploration of attitudes and behavior because

it’s more intimate and can go into specifics to comprehend their thoughts

and actions better to formulate or examine a hypothesis.

It allows for flexibility because the interviewer can go into the subject and

probe any questions they feel are relevant, and they can even alter the

setting.

Cons

The people you select to participate in the qualitative research may all

have a particular opinion about the subject matter rather than a group of

people with different views, which implies that there may be bias in the

sample selection.

It takes a long time to gather the data since it takes time to filter through

the elements to decide what is useful and what is not.

Some participants may be concerned about a lack of privacy, particularly

when discussing sensitive matters.

Based on the nature of the research:

3. Descriptive Research
Descriptive research is a type of analysis that outlines the features of the

population or issues under study. This descriptive methodology focuses

on the “what” of the research problem more than the “why.” Since the

researcher cannot influence the variables in this research design, they can

only report the facts precisely as they occurred or are occurring.

The primary methods used in descriptive research include observations,

surveys, and case studies. One can use many variables in descriptive

research to explain the facts.

Its advantages include a) being effective at analyzing topics and issues

that cannot rely on numbers, b) being observable in an unaltered natural

environment, and c) taking less time than quantitative experiments.

4. Analytical Research
Analytical research uses proven facts to form the basis for the research.

Researchers frequently research to find supporting data that strengthens

and authenticates their earlier findings. Also, it helps to develop new

concepts related to the research subject. Thus, analytical research

combines minute details to produce more tenable hypotheses. The

analytical study thus explains why a claim is valid.

There are various ways to conduct this research, including meta-analysis,

literary or scientific trials, and learning about public opinion.

Moreover, the researcher carries out a critical evaluation of the material in

this method. Analytical methods also often make use of quantitative

methods.

Based on the purpose of the study:

5. Applied Research
Action research that only studies one domain and usually generalizes the

findings is called applied research. The researcher regards the variables as

constant and the researcher forecasts, making the methods easy to find in

applied research.
Applied research aims to solve a current issue facing society or a

business/industrial organization. Applied research is considered non-

systematic inquiry; a business, government body, or individual typically

conducts this research to address a particular issue.

An instance would be a study of marketing tactics to appeal to Millenials’

goals in China.

6. Fundamental Research
The formulation of a theory and generalizations are the primary concerns

of fundamental research. It seeks to discover facts with a wide range of

applications, supplementing the ideas already known in a specific field or

industry.

Several domains are connected, and the aim is to discover how one can

change traditional things or develop something new. One can find the

summary in everyday language and apply logical findings in the research.

Some examples of fundamental research are research on the

generalization of human behavior or research on pure mathematics.

Based on the research design:

7. Exploratory Research
Theories and their explanation are the basis of Exploratory Research. Its

goal is only to investigate the study questions, not to provide definitive

and conclusive solutions to current problems.

Exploratory research seeks to increase our understanding of the issue

rather than offering conclusive evidence. The structure is improper, and

the methods offer a flexible and investigative approach. Therefore, one

does not test the hypothesis, and the results do not help the outside

world. The findings are usually a related topic, which helps improve the

research.

Exploratory research is usually qualitative, but a large-sample exploratory

study can also be quantitative. Due to its flexible and open-ended nature,

it is often known as interpretive research or a grounded theory approach.

8. Conclusive Research
Conclusive research has a clear design in the methodology and intends to

answer the research question. A well-thought-out structure helps

formulate and solve the hypotheses and gives the results. The results are

generic here.

Furthermore, it is essential to establish this study’s research objectives and

data requirements, as conclusive research findings typically have a specific

purpose. The results of exploratory studies can be validated and

quantified using a conclusive research design.

A conclusive research design typically employs quantitative methods of

data collection and analysis. In addition, conclusive research frequently

takes a deductive research approach.

Based on the type of data:

9. Primary Research vs. Secondary Research

The researchers gather new data for primary research. The research

classifies as primary when the researcher collects information on a certain

topic for the first time. Surveys, interviews, and observation are a few

common ways of gathering data.

On the other hand, secondary research uses previously gathered data

through primary research. Books, magazines, trade journals, and other

media majorly serve as secondary data sources. Moreover, the researcher

does not carry out primary data gathering in this case.

As all primary studies entail gathering and analyzing secondary data

during the literature review stage of the research process, it is vital to

remember that primary research also involves secondary research.

However, the key distinction between primary and secondary research is

whether or not any researcher has undertaken the research previously.

Primary and secondary research each have pros and cons. Primary data is

more time-consuming and expensive, even though it is need-specific and

high-quality. Contrarily, secondary research is inexpensive, and the data

collection is simple, but there is a chance that the information will be

obsolete or unsuitable for one’s needs. Therefore, one must first assess

these two options’ requirements, sources, expenses, etc., before selecting

one.

Some common data collection methods:

10. Surveys
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Surveys play a prominent role in the research method. It helps to collect a
vast amount of real-time data and helps in the research process. It is
done at a low cost and is usually faster than any other method. A
researcher can conduct surveys in both quantitative and qualitative
methods. The researcher usually prefers quantitative surveys over
qualitative ones as they provide numerical outputs and accurate data.
Surveys are mainly used in the business to know the demand for a

product in the market. It also helps to forecast the production based on

the research results.

Questionnaires and interviews are two of the most common types of

surveys. While interviews are conducted in person to reflect on feelings

and experiences and explore issues with a greater emphasis, researchers

use questionnaires to quickly acquire a lot of information.

11. Case Studies
A common technique for qualitative analysis is the case study method,

which entails thorough observation of a social unit and focuses on the in-

depth study. The case study emphasizes the detailed examination of a

smaller set of circumstances and their interactions. Finding the elements

that collectively account for the behavior patterns of the provided unit is

the goal of the case study method.

In this method of research methodology, the researcher considers

different cases, and the proper one for the research is selected. Case

studies help to develop an idea of the research and help in the foundation

of the research.

One considers various facts and theories from the case studies that help

to form proper reviews about the research topic. Researchers can make

the topic general or specific according to the literature reviews from the

studies. The researcher can make an appropriate understanding of the

research from the case study.

Also, we have focus groups and research interviews to understand the

research methods in a well-defined manner. Various methods can follow

structured and unstructured methods.

Tips to consider while selecting a research

methodology
• A clear objective should be in mind before beginning any research,

as a good research question will be precise, applicable, and

valuable. This indicates that you can fully address the issue and base

judgments thereon.

• For the study to be reliable, the researcher must ensure proper

representation of the relevant population. You must create inclusive

surveys and questionnaires to ensure proper representation.

• Your interview questions should gather the necessary data and

subtly address your research questions. Building rapport with the

subjects is essential to accomplish this.

• Another consideration is the time you have available. If there are

time restrictions, consider methods like convenience or random

sampling and tools that enable data collection in a few days. In-
 person interviews and observations are options for data collection if

more time is available.

During the research, the researcher employs several methods to explain

the ideas; we will study the various types in this article. The selection of

the method is entirely up to the researcher, and there are no restrictions

on the type.

Advantages of using different types of

Research methodology
The advantages are listed below:

• These various methodologies help attain the aim of the research,

which is effectively analyzing the subject data. They provide

verification and fact-checking, which is vital in a critical evaluation. It

also presents different perspectives to view a matter.

• Surveys are quantitative methods that help obtain numerical

statistics regarding research. With the help of numerical surveys,

researchers can skip elaborate theses and achieve the necessary

results without much hassle.

 • Qualitative methods, including case studies, help to gain insight

into the study. The researcher can delve deeper into the subject and

study the behavioral pattern directly.

• The different methods help validate the research and improve its

reliability. It also helps generalize the analysis for the majority of the

audience.

Conclusion
The researchers make developments in all the fields, and their studies are

helpful to society in general. Understanding the research methods is

essential to verify and validate the research in different fields. Additionally,

it offers a thorough plan that aids in keeping researchers on the course,

facilitating a simple, efficient, and manageable process.