TYPES OF RESEARCH

Shreya Sharma

Research can be classified in many different ways on the basis of the

methodology of research, the knowledge it creates, the user group, the research
problem it investigates etc. Following are the categories of research we study:
Pure Research: Pure research (also known as basic or fundamental
research) is exploratory in nature and is conducted without any practical end-use
in mind. It is driven by gut instinct, interest, curiosity or intuition, and simply
aims to advance knowledge and to identify/explain relationships between
variables. However, as the term fundamental suggests, pure research may
provide a foundation for further, sometimes applied research. For example, a
research about the number of youngsters spending their time watching
television.
Applied Research: In general, applied research is not carried out for its own
sake, but in order to solve specific, practical questions or problems. It tends to
be descriptive, rather than exploratory and is often based upon pure research.
However, the distinction between applied and pure research may sometimes be
unclear; for example, is research into the genetic codes of plants being carried
out simply to advance knowledge or for possible future commercial exploitation?
It could be argued that the only real difference between these two categories of
research is the length of time between research and reasonably foreseeable
practical applications, either in the public or private sectors. Example of applied
research could be a research to cure a particular disease, or improve energy
efficiency at home, etc.
Exploratory Research: Exploratory research is research conducted for a
problem that has not been clearly defined. It often occurs before we know
enough to make conceptual distinctions or posit an explanatory relationship.
Exploratory research helps determine the best research design, data collection
method and selection of subjects. The results of exploratory research are not
usually useful for decision-making by themselves, but they can provide
significant insight into a given situation. When the purpose of research is to gain
familiarity with a phenomenon or acquire new insight into it in order to formulate
a more precise problem or develop hypothesis, the exploratory studies (also
known as formulative research) come in handy. If the theory happens to be too
general or too specific, a hypothesis cannot be formulated. Therefore a need for
an exploratory research is felt to gain experience that will be helpful in
formulative relevant hypothesis for more definite investigation.
Explanatory Research: Explanatory research is defined as an attempt to
connect ideas to understand cause and effect, meaning researchers want to
explain what is going on. Explanatory research looks at how things come
together and interact. This research does not occur until there is enough
understanding to begin to predict what will come next with some accuracy. Here,
the researcher begins with ideas about the possible causes of a social
phenomenon, i.e. the researcher develops hypotheses before collecting any
data. The researcher then plans a study that can provide systematic evidence
supporting (or not supporting) these initial ideas about that case. Example, a
study of pedestrian behaviour in Kolkata.

Descriptive research: It is defined as attempts to explore and explain while

providing additional information about a topic. This is where research is trying to
describe what is happening in more detail, filling in the missing parts and
expanding our understanding. This is also where as much information is collected
as possible instead of making guesses or elaborate models to predict the future the 'what' and 'how,' rather than the 'why.' Descriptive research refers to the
research which provides an accurate portrayal of characteristics of a particular
individual, situation, or group. Descriptive research is also known as statistical
research. It deals with everything that can be counted and studied, which has an
impact on the lives of the people it deals with. For example, finding the most
frequent disease that affects the children of a town. The reader of the research
will know what to do to prevent the disease, thus, more people will live a happy
life.
Quantitative Research: Quantitative research aims to measure the quantity or
amount and compares it with past records and tries to project for future period.
In social sciences, quantitative research refers to the systematic empirical
investigation of quantitative properties and phenomena and their relationships.
The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ mathematical
models, theories or hypothesis pertaining to phenomena.
The process of measurement is central to quantitative research because it
provides fundamental connection between empirical observation and
mathematical expression of quantitative relationships. Statistics is the most
widely used branch of mathematics in quantitative research. Statistical methods
are used extensively with in fields such as economics and commerce.
Quantitative research involving the use of structured questions, where the
response options have been Pre-determined and large number of respondents is
involved.eg:-total sales of cigarettes in terms of rupees cores and or quantity in
terms of lakhs tones for particular year, say 2008, could be researched,
compared with past 5 years and then projection for 2009 could be made.

Qualitative Research: Qualitative research presents non-quantitative type of

analysis. Qualitative research is collecting, analyzing and interpreting data by
observing what people do and say. Qualitative research refers to the meanings,
definitions, characteristics, symbols, metaphors, and description of things.
Qualitative research is much more subjective and uses very different methods of
collecting information, mainly individual, in-depth interviews and focus groups.
The nature of this type of research is exploratory and open ended. Small number
of people are interviewed in depth and or a relatively small number of focus
groups are conducted. Qualitative research can be further classified in the
following type.

I. Phenomenology: a form of research in which the researcher attempts to

understand how one or more individuals experience a phenomenon. Eg:-we
might interview 20 victims of Bhopal tragedy.
II. Ethnography: this type of research focuses on describing the culture of a
group of people. A culture is the shared attributes, values, norms, practices,
language, and material things of a group of people. Eg:-the researcher might
decide to go and live with the tribal in Andaman island and study the culture and
the educational practices.
III. Case study: is a form of qualitative research that is focused on providing a
detailed account of one or more cases. Eg:-we may study a classroom that was
given a new curriculum for technology use.
IV. Grounded theory: it is an inductive type of research, based or grounded in the
observations of data from which it was developed; it uses a variety of data
sources, including quantitative data, review of records, interviews, observation
and surveys

Evaluative research: Evaluation Research is designed so that the findings will

provide information useful for making decisions about public policy or private
issues. Each kind of research project can also be an evaluative research. It is
used to determine the impact of social intervention. Evaluation research
analyzes the impact of a particular program on a certain social problem the
program is trying to solve. For example, an evaluative study of The Food Security
Act.
Experimental Research: It is an objective, systematic, controlled investigation
for the purpose of predicting and controlling phenomena and examining
probability and causality among selected variables. It comprises of the use of
random assignment to place participants in two groups: an experimental group
which receives intervention, and another control group without any intervention.
It makes use of a positive control for us to base it or compare it in our result.
Experimental Research answers the question what if?. The researcher
manipulates independent variables (eg. Type of treatment, teaching method) and
measures dependent variables (anxiety level, English comprehension) in order to
establish a cause-effect relationship between them.
Historical Research: Historical research allows one to discuss past and present
events in the context of the present condition, and allows one to reflect and
provide possible answers to current issues and problems. Historical Research can
show patterns that occurred in the past and over time which can help us to see
where we came from and what kind of solutions we have used in the past.
Understanding this can add perspective on how we examine current events and
educational practices. Eg:-the lending pattern of business in the 19th century.

Longitudinal Research: Longitudinal Research is a study that involves

repeated observations of the same variables over long periods of time-often
many decades. It is a type of observational study. It is often used in psychology
to study developmental trends across a life span, and in sociology to study life
events throughout lifetimes or generations. Longitudinal studies track the same
people, and thus, the differences observed in them are less likely to be a result of
cultural differences across generations. For example, longitudinal studies allow
social scientists to distinguish short term from long term phenomena such as
poverty.
Cross-Sectional Research: A cross sectional study is also an observational
study. The researchers record information about their subjects without
manipulating the study environment. In this study, the researcher can compare
different population groups at a single point in time. It allows researchers to
compare many different variables at the same time. For example, in a study of
daily walkers in a city, we could take in age, gender, income, distances walked,
cholesterol levels, pollution in the area walked, etc.
Survey Research: It is often used to assess thoughts opinions, feelings etc.
Survey research can be specific and limited or it can have more wide spread
goals. We use Survey Research to analyze behaviour, while it is also used to
meet more pragmatic needs of the media, like evaluating political candidates
etc. A survey consists of a pre determined set of questions that is given to a
sample. With a survey research, one can compare the attitudes of different
populations as well as look for changes over time. For example, the Census taken
by the country every ten years.
Field Research: Field research is the collection of information outside of a
laboratory, library or workplace setting. The approaches and methods used in
field research vary across disciplines. It involves a range of well-defined although
variable, methods: informal interviews direct observation participation in the life
of the group, collective discussions, analyses of personal documents produced
within the group, self-analysis etc. Although the method generally is
characterized as qualitative research it may (and often does) include quantitative
dimensions. For example, a field research of the life of a specific tribal group.