Types of Research

Classification of Research
• According to R. Kumar, Research can be classified from three
perspectives:
• 1. Application of Research
• 2. Objectives of Research
• 3. Inquiry Mode of Research
 Classification of Research

Inquiry Mode
Descriptive
Application

Basic Objective Explorative Qualitative

Library

Place
Co- Quantitativ Lab/Studio
Applied Relational e Field
Explanatory
 Basic Research
• Also known as Fundamental or Pure Research
• The purpose of this research is:
• to create, advance and broaden the existing body of knowledge.
• to develop new and advance theories and techniques.
• to examines the existing theories and procedures in a field.
• to verify or refine concepts with a new valid approach.
 Applied Research
• Also called Action Research
• The purpose of this research is:
• to generate knowledge and techniques which are practical.
• to provide an immediate solution to a problem or to eliminate hurdles
currently experienced in the field, and
• the results of such study are necessary to be implemented.
 Applied Research
• Over the time this type of research evolved in diverse forms:
• Action Research, Participant Research, and Participant Action Research.
(e.g. Marketing Research)
• Moreover, new fields also emerged in the academies such as:
• Applied Psychology, Applied Chemistry, Applied Math etc.
 Descriptive Research
• Descriptive Research provides a systematic description of a situation,
problem or program.
• It is used in businesses to find out and judge preferences and behaviors of
clients and consumers, and on the bases of such studies the product or
service is enhanced and improved.
• The researcher is bound to provide only description because in such study
the researcher has no control over the variables.
 Descriptive Research
• The researcher has only to report what has happened or happening.
• It is therefore in social science such projects are known as ex post facto
research (event already occurred as well as the subsequent events).
• The method of Data Collection is surveys (of all kinds including
comparative and co-relational).
 Explanatory Research
• In contrast to Descriptive Research, the purpose of Explanatory Research
is to explain the phenomenon rather simply describe it.
• The researcher has to use already available information and analyze these
to provide critical evaluation of materials.
• It is therefore also called Analytical Research.
• The researcher also tests the existing hypothesis by measuring relationship
b/w variables, and also called Experimental Research.
 Explorative Research
• The nature of Explorative Research is to explore an area where the
researcher has no or little knowledge.
• The researcher has to generalize facts and concepts based on descriptive
studies or direct observations.
• These facts include folk concepts, cultural artifacts, social process, and
various beliefs in a society.
• Also used to develop, refine and test tools and procedures.
 Co-relational Research
• Co-relational research aims to examine the existing relationships between
different aspects of a phenomenon.
• It is therefore useful to judge the positive and negative impacts of a
program, product or phenomenon.
• It also explores the inter-dependency of related concepts.
• Such studies are thus liable to provide information about cause and effect
of a problem.
 Quantitative Research
• Quantitative Research aims at the frequency of phenomena
• It is, therefore, based on the measurement of quantity or amount (How
many, to what extent etc.)
• The Methods of Data Collection, Analysis and Presentation are performed
in numerical format (numbers, average, %age etc.)
• It is applicable in Numerical Sciences, Economic Analyses, Finance and
other matters which can be expressed in quantity.
 Qualitative & Historical Research
• Qualitative Research deals with the quality/kind of phenomena.
• Its mode is unstructured and flexible where ideas, views, feelings and
beliefs can be express freely. (why people think or do so).
• While investigating, people are given an open-ended questions to provide
information in detail rather than yes or no.
• Qualitative research deals with current situations while events in the past
are the concern of Historical Research.
 Conceptual Research
• Conceptual Research deals with certain concepts in the field and its major
concern is to:
• develop new concepts and theories or
• reinterpret the existing theories and philosophies
• It is usually conducted by philosophers and thinkers
• The nature of this research is similar to the Basic and Explanatory
Researches.
 Empirical Research
• Central focus of this research is that experience is the foundation of
knowledge.
• According to this belief, direct observation of the situation is most suitable
way to measure and understand the reality.
• It is used by professionals who investigate certain aspects with a judgment
of their own experiences.
• It is thus, data is always primary or first-hand; never used before.
 Other types of Research
• From the perspective of Place, Research can be classified into:
• 1. Library Research: It is performed in library and researcher consults
printed material; also called Desk Research
• 2. Lab and Studio Research: It is based on test and experiments in the
Laboratory and Studio setup.
• 3. Field Research: it aims investigating in the field or social setup; also
called Social and Scientific Research