Types of Research in Research Methodology

TYPES OF RESEARCH 

The basic types of research are as follows:

(i) Descriptive vs. Analytical:  Descriptive research  includes surveys and fact-finding enquiries of different kinds. The major purpose of descriptive research is description of the state of affairs as it exists at present. In social science and business research we quite often use the term  Ex post facto research  for descriptive research studies. The main characteristic of this method is that the researcher has no control over the variables; he can only report what has happened or what is happening.The methods of research utilized in descriptive research are survey methods of all kinds, including comparative and correlational methods.

       In analytical research, on the other hand, the researcher has to use facts or information already available, and analyze these to make a critical evaluation of the material.

(ii) Applied vs. Fundamental:  Research can either be applied (or action) research or fundamental (to basic or pure) research. Applied research  aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem facing a society or an industrial/business organisation, whereas  fundamental research  is mainly concerned with generalisations and with the formulation of a theory.Research studies, concerning human behaviour carried on with a view to make generalisations about human behaviour, are also examples of fundamental research, but research aimed at certain conclusions (say, a solution) facing a concrete social or business problem is an example of applied research.The central aim of applied research is to discover a solution for some pressing practical problem, whereas basic research is directed towards finding information that has a broad base of applications and thus, adds to the already existing organized body of scientific knowledge.

(iii) Quantitative vs. Qualitative:  Quantitative research is based on the measurement of quantity or amount. It is applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity.  

          Qualitative research, on the other hand, is concerned with qualitative phenomenon, i.e., phenomena relating to or involving quality or kind.

(iv) Conceptual vs. Empirical:  Conceptual research is that related to some abstract idea(s) or theory. It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or to reinterpret existing ones.

    On the other hand, empirical research relies on experience or observation alone, often without due regard for system and theory. It is data-based research, coming up with conclusions which are capable of being verified by observation or experiment.Empirical research is appropriate when proof is sought that certain variables affect other variables in some way. Evidence gathered through experiments or empirical studies is today considered to be the most powerful support possible for a given hypothesis.

(v) Some Other Types of Research:  All other types of research are variations of one or more of the above stated approaches, based on either the purpose of research, or the time required to accomplish research, on the environment in which research is done, or on the basis of some other similar factor. Form the point of view of time, we can think of research either as  one-time research or longitudinal research. In the former case the research is confined to a single time-period, whereas in the latter case the research is carried on over several time-periods.

        Research can be  field-setting research or laboratory research or simulation research, depending upon the environment in which it is to be carried out. Research can as well be understood as  clinical or diagnostic research. Such research follow case-study methods or in depth approaches to reach the basic causal relations. Such studies usually go deep into the causes of things or events that interest us, using very small samples and very deep probing data gathering devices. The research may be  exploratory or it may be formalized. The objective of exploratory research is the development of hypotheses rather than their testing, whereas formalized research studies are those with substantial structure and with specific hypotheses to be tested.

        Historical research  is that which utilizes historical sources like documents, remains, etc. to study events or ideas of the past, including the philosophy of persons and groups at any remote point of time.

        Research can also be classified as  conclusion-oriented  and decision-oriented. While doing conclusion oriented research, a researcher is free to pick up a problem, redesign the enquiry as he proceeds and is prepared to conceptualize as he wishes.

       Decision-oriented research is always for the need of a decision maker and the researcher in this case is not free to embark upon research according to his own inclination. Operations research is an example of decision oriented research since it is a scientific method of providing executive departments with a quantitative basis for decisions regarding operations under their control.

Research,meaning,characteristics, Objective and Types

Research meaning : 

The word research is  composed of two syllables,  re  and  search.
re  is a prefix meaning again, a new or over again , search is a verb meaning to examine closely and carefully, to test and try, or to probe.Together they form a noun describing a careful, systematic, patient study and investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken to establish facts or principles.
            Research as a scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic. In fact, research is an art of scientific investigation.
             According to Clifford Woody research comprises defining and redefining problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions; collecting, organising and evaluating data; making deductions and reaching conclusions; and at last carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating hypothesis.
            In short, the search for knowledge through objective and systematic method of finding solution to a problem is research. The systematic approach concerning generalisation and the formulation of a theory is also research. As such the term ‘research’ refers to the systematic method consisting of enunciating the problem, formulating a hypothesis, collecting the facts or data, analysing the facts and reaching certain conclusions either in the form of solutions(s) towards the concerned problem or in certain generalisations for some theoretical formulation.

When you say that you are undertaking a research study to find answers to a question, you are implying that the process;

1. is being undertaken within a framework of a set of philosophies ( approaches);
2. uses procedures, methods and techniques  that have been tested for their validity and reliability ;
3. is designed to be unbiased and objective .

Philosophies  - means approaches e.g. qualitative,  quantitative and the academic discipline in which you have been trained.
Validity  -means that correct procedures have  been applied to find answers to a question.
Reliability - refers to the quality of a measurement procedure that provides repeatability and accuracy.
Unbiased and objective  -means that you have taken each step in an unbiased manner and drawn each conclusion to the best of your ability and without introducing your own vested interest.
         Adherence to the three criteria mentioned  above enables the process to be called ‘research’.

CHARACTERISTICS  OF RESEARCH:

Controlled- in real life there are many factors that affect an outcome. The concept of control implies that, in exploring causality in relation to two variables (factors), you set up your study in a way that  minimizes the effects of other factors affecting the relationship.

Rigorous-you must be scrupulous in ensuring that the procedures followed to find answers to questions are  relevant, appropriate and justified.  Again, the degree of rigor varies markedly between the physical and  social sciences and within the social sciences.

Systematic-this implies that the procedure adopted to undertake an investigation follow a certain logical sequence. The different steps cannot be taken in a haphazard way. Some procedures must follow others.

Valid and verifiable-this concept implies that whatever you conclude on the basis of your findings is correct and can  be verified by you and others.

Empirical-this means that any conclusion drawn are based upon hard evidence gathered from information collected from  real life experiences  or observations.

Critical-critical scrutiny of the procedures used  and the methods employed is crucial to a research enquiry. The process of investigation must be foolproof and free from drawbacks. The process adopted and the procedures used must be able to withstand critical scrutiny.
       For a process to be called research, it is imperative that it has the above characteristics.

OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
1. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it (studies with this object in view are termed as  exploratory  or  formulative  research studies);
2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group (studies with this object in view are known as  descriptive  research studies);
3. To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with something else (studies with this object in view are known as  diagnostic  research studies);
4. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables (such studies are known as hypothesis-testing  research studies).

MOTIVATION IN RESEARCH
1. Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential benefits;
2. Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problems, i.e., concern over practical problems initiates research;
3. Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work;
4. Desire to be of service to society;
5. Desire to get respectability.

TYPES OF RESEARCH
Research can be classified  from three perspectives:
1. application  of research study pure research and applied research.
2. objectives in undertaking the research descriptive, correlational, explanatory and exploratory
3. inquiry mode employed
Structured approach (quantitative research) and Unstructured approach (qualitative research)

More details of types of Research : Types of Research