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research types

The document outlines various types of research, categorizing them into descriptive vs. analytical, applied vs. fundamental, quantitative vs. qualitative, conceptual vs. empirical, and exploratory vs. diagnostic research. Each category is defined with key characteristics and examples, highlighting the differences in focus, methodology, and objectives. Additionally, it discusses inductive and deductive approaches to research, emphasizing their distinct processes in scientific inquiry.

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5 views

research types

The document outlines various types of research, categorizing them into descriptive vs. analytical, applied vs. fundamental, quantitative vs. qualitative, conceptual vs. empirical, and exploratory vs. diagnostic research. Each category is defined with key characteristics and examples, highlighting the differences in focus, methodology, and objectives. Additionally, it discusses inductive and deductive approaches to research, emphasizing their distinct processes in scientific inquiry.

Uploaded by

sapna10031995
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Types of Research

Descriptive vs. Analytical Research

Descriptive
●​ It is a type of research that is focused on describing and understanding a phenomenon
or situation.
●​ It is concerned with gathering data in order to provide an accurate and comprehensive
picture of a particular topic.
●​ It is used to answer questions like "What is the current state of affairs?
●​ Some Types of descriptive research studies are:
a.​ Survey research
b.​ Observational research
c.​ Case studies
d.​ Cross-sectional studies
e.​ Longitudinal studies

Analytical
●​ It is a type of research that is focused on analyzing data in order to draw conclusions or
test hypotheses.
●​ It is concerned with understanding the relationships and causal mechanisms that
underlie a particular phenomenon.
●​ It is used to answer questions like
○​ "Why does this phenomenon occur?"
○​ "What factors influence this outcome?"
●​ Examples: New drug treatment for a specific disease

Applied vs. Fundamental Research

Fundamental Research

●​ It is also called Basic research or Pure research.


●​ It is focused on enhancing our understanding of a particular topic.
●​ It is research that aims to expand knowledge in a particular field of study without any
immediate or practical application.
●​ It is carried out to satisfy our curiosity.
●​ Example:
○​ Studying the concept of Blockchain Technology.
○​ Examining the carbon trading aspect in the real world.
○​ Investigating the mechanisms of learning and memory in neuroscience.
○​ Studying the difference between hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons.
Applied Research

●​ It is research that aims to solve practical problems, with a specific goal in mind.
●​ It is focused on developing practical solutions to real-world problems.
●​ This type of research is usually conducted in the education industry or
government-funded research centers.
●​ It focuses on developing new technologies, products, or processes that can be applied
to real-world situations.
●​ Examples:
a.​ Developing a new medication for a specific disease.
b.​ Designing a new type of material with specific properties for use in
manufacturing.
c.​ Improving the efficiency of a particular manufacturing process.
d.​ Developing a new software program to automate a specific task.
e.​ Studying the impact of a new policy on a specific population.

Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research

1. Quantitative and qualitative research are two primary methods used in social sciences to
study human behavior, attitudes, and experiences.

2. The key differences between these two methods lie in their research design, data collection,
analysis, and interpretation.

Quantitative Research

●​ It uses numerical data to examine the relationships between variables.


●​ This type of research focuses on collecting data that can be measured and analyzed.
●​ The results are objective and conclusive.
●​ Questions used to collect quantitative data are usually
○​ “How many"?
○​ "How much"?
○​ "How often”?
●​ Examples:
○​ A study on the relationship between student test scores and the amount of time
spent in studying.
○​ A survey to measure customer satisfaction with a product or service.
○​ An experiment to examine the effects of a new medication on blood pressure.

Qualitative Research

●​ It is focused on exploring complex phenomena and understanding human behavior,


attitudes, and experience.
●​ Qualitative data is information acquired to understand more about the subject's
underlying motivations answering-
○​ "How" and "Why" ?
●​ It is not easily measurable.
●​ Examples:
1.​ A study of the experiences of individuals living with chronic illness.
2.​ An exploration of the factors that influence job satisfaction among healthcare
workers.
3.​ An examination of the social and cultural factors that influence the adoption of
new technologies in developing countries.

Conceptual vs. Empirical Research

1. Conceptual and Empirical research are two different types of research methods used in
academic research.

2. The main differences between these two approaches are-


●​ Sources of data
●​ Focus of the research
●​ Methods of analysis

Conceptual Research

●​ It is theoretical and involves the exploration of abstract or conceptual ideas.


●​ This type of research is typically based on existing theories and concepts and involves
the development of new theories or conceptual models.
●​ The focus of conceptual research is to develop a theoretical framework to explain a
particular phenomenon.
●​ Examples;
○​ Examining the co-existence of multiple legal systems within a single society and
its implications for governance, justice, and human rights.
○​ Exploring the concept of organizational learning and developing a framework to
assess the impact of organizational learning on performance media usage and
mental health.
○​ Developing a theoretical framework to explain the relationship between social
○​ Analyzing how intersecting social categories such as race, gender, and class
influence legal frameworks and outcomes.

Empirical Research

●​ It is based on observation or experiment and involves the collection of data to test


hypotheses or answer research questions.
●​ This type of research is based on observable, measurable, and quantifiable phenomena.
●​ The focus of this research is to generate new knowledge by collecting and analyzing
data.
●​ Examples:
○​ Conducting a survey to examine the relationship between job satisfaction and
employee turnover.
○​ Experimenting with different types of marketing messages to determine which
ones are most effective in increasing sales.
○​ Observing and analyzing the behavior of customers in a retail store to improve
More layout and product placement.

Exploratory vs. Diagnostic Research

Exploratory Research
●​ It is used when little is known about a particular topic or problem.
●​ The primary goal of exploratory research is to gain a better understanding of the issue
and generate new ideas of hypotheses.
●​ This type of research is typically qualitative in nature and involves collecting data through
observations, interviews, or focus groups.
●​ Examples:
a.​ Conducting a focus group to understand consumer perceptions of a new product.
b.​ Exploring the experiences of students transitioning from high school to college.
c.​ Conducting a literature review to identify gaps in current research on a particular
topic.

Diagnostic Research

●​ It is used when there is already some knowledge about a particular issue.


●​ Goal is to identify the cause of the source of a problem.
●​ The primary focus of diagnostic research is to determine the underlying factors that
contribute to a problem or issue.
●​ Such research follows case-study methods or in-depth approaches to reach the basic
causal relations. This type of research is typically quantitative in nature and involves
collecting data through surveys or experiments.
●​ Examples:
a.​ Conducting a survey to identify the factors that contribute to high employee
turnover in a company.
b.​ Using statistical analysis to identify the key drivers of customer satisfaction for a
product or service.
c.​ Conducting experiments to determine the optimal design of a website to increase
user engagement.

Research Method

Inductive vs. Deductive Research


Inductive and deductive research are two different approaches to conducting scientific inquiry.

Deductive Research

●​ In deductive research, researchers start with a theory of hypothesis and then test it with
empirical data.

Inductive Research

●​ In inductive research researchers start with empirical observations and then develop a
theory of explanation based on those observations.

Deductive Approach: Theory–Hypothesis–Observation–Confirmation

Inductive Approach: Observation–Pattern–Tentative Hypothesis–Theory

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