Applied vs.

Fundamental: Research can either be applied (or action)

APPLIED RESEARCH
APPLIED RESEARCH research or fundamental (to basic or pure) research.
Applied research aims at finding a solution for an immediate
BASIC RESEARCH problem facing a society or an industrial/business
Applied research refers to scientific study and research that organisation, whereas fundamental research is mainly
WHAT IS RESEARCH? CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH seeks to solve practical problems. Applied research is used to concerned with generalisations and with the formulation of a
find solutions to everyday problems, cure illness, and develop theory. “Gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake is termed
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
innovative technologies, rather than to acquire knowledge for ‘pure’ or ‘basic’ research.”
ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
knowledge's sake. Research concerning some natural phenomenon or relating to pure
The systematic, rigorous investigation of a mathematics are examples of fundamental research.
Similarly, research studies, concerning human behaviour carried on with a
EXPERIMENTALRESEARCH
situation or problem in order to generate new For example, applied researchers may investigate ways to: view to make generalisations about human behaviour, are also examples
of fundamental research, but research aimed at certain conclusions (say, a
EXPLORATORY RESEARCH .
knowledge or validate existing knowledge. • Improve agricultural crop production
solution) facing a concrete social or business problem is an example of
applied research.
GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH. • Treat or cure a specific disease Research to identify social, economic or political trends that may affect a
• Improve the energy efficiency of homes, offices, or modes particular institution or the copy research (research to find out whether
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
of transportation certain communications will be read and understood) or the marketing
research or evaluation research are examples of applied research.
PHENOMENOLOGICAL
Thus, the central aim of applied research is to discover
RESEARCH QUALITATIVE a solution for some pressing practical problem, whereas
basic research is directed towards finding information
RESEARCH
that has a broad base of applications and thus, adds to
the already existing organized body of scientific
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
knowledge.

APPLIED RESEARCH BASIC RESEARCH APPLIED RESEARCH CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH APPLIED RESEARCH CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
BASIC RESEARCH BASIC RESEARCH BASIC RESEARCH

Basic (aka fundamental or pure ) research is driven by a

CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH scientist's curiosity or interest in a scientific question. The CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH Correlational research refers to the systematic investigation or CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH Advantages:
main motivation is to expand man's knowledge, not to create statistical study of relationships among two or more variables,
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
or invent something. There is no obvious commercial value to
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH without necessarily determining cause and effect. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH 1)Can collect much information from many subjects at
the discoveries that result from basic research. one time.
ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
It Seeks to establish a relation/association/correlation 2) Can study a wide range of variables and their
EXPERIMENTALRESEARCH EXPERIMENTALRESEARCH
between two or more variables that do not readily lend EXPERIMENTALRESEARCH
interrelations.
For example, basic science investigations probe for answers themselves to experimental manipulation. 3)Study variables that are not easily produced in the
EXPLORATORY RESEARCH . to questions such as: EXPLORATORY RESEARCH . EXPLORATORY RESEARCH . laboratory.
For example, to test the hypothesis “ Listening to music lowers
GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH. • How did the universe begin? GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH. blood pressure levels” there are 2 ways of conductingresearch GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH.

• What are protons, neutrons, and electrons composed of? Disadvantages:

HISTORICAL RESEARCH
• How do slime molds reproduce?
HISTORICAL RESEARCH • Experimental – group samples and make one group listen HISTORICAL RESEARCH

• What is the specific genetic code of the fruit fly? to music and then compare the bp levels 1) Correlation does not indicate causation( cause and
PHENOMENOLOGICAL PHENOMENOLOGICAL PHENOMENOLOGICAL
• Survey – ask people how they feel ? How often they listen? effect).
RESEARCH RESEARCH And then compare RESEARCH 2) Problems with self-report method .

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH QUALITATIVE RESEARCH QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

APPLIED RESEARCH DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH Descriptive and Analytical Research APPLIED RESEARCH DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
BASIC RESEARCH Descriptive vs Analytical: Descriptive research includes surveys BASIC RESEARCH

Descriptive research refers to research that provides an and fact-finding enquiries of different kinds. Advantages:
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
accurate portrayal of characteristics of a particular individual, The major purpose of descriptive research is description of the state
situation, or group. Descriptive research, also known of affairs as it exists at present. • The people individual studied are unaware so they act
DESCRIPTIVERESEARCH DESCRIPTIVERESEARCH
as statistical research. In social science and business research we quite often use the term naturally or as they usually do in everyday situation;
Ex post facto research for descriptive research studies. • It is less expensive and time consuming than quantitative
ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
These studies are a means of discovering new meaning, The main characteristic of this method is that the researcher has no experiments;
EXPERIMENTALRESEARCH describing what exists, determining the frequency with which control over the variables; he can only report what has happened or EXPERIMENTALRESEARCH • Collects a large amount of notes for detailed studying;
something occurs, and categorizing information. what is happening. • As it is used to describe and not make any conclusions it is
EXPLORATORY RESEARCH . Most ex post facto research projects are used for descriptive studies EXPLORATORY RESEARCH . to start the research with it;
in which the researcher seeks to measure such items as, for example,
GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH. In short descriptive research deals with everything that can be frequency of shopping, preferences of people, or similar data. GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH.
counted and studied, which has an impact of the lives of the Ex post facto studies also include attempts by researchers to discover Disadvantages
HISTORICAL RESEARCH people it deals with. causes even when they cannot control the variables. HISTORICAL RESEARCH

The methods of research utilized in descriptive research are survey • Descriptive research requires more skills.
PHENOMENOLOGICAL PHENOMENOLOGICAL
For example, methods of all kinds, including comparative and correlational • Does not identify cause behind a phenomenon
RESEARCH
• finding the most frequent disease that affects the children of methods. RESEARCH • Response rate is low in this research.
a town. The reader of the research will know what to do to In analytical research, on the other hand, the researcher has to • Results of this research can change over the period of
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH prevent that disease thus, more people will live a healthy life. use facts or information already available, and analyze these to QUALITATIVE RESEARCH time.
make a critical evaluation of the material.
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
 APPLIED RESEARCH ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH APPLIED RESEARCH EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH APPLIED RESEARCH EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
BASIC RESEARCH BASIC RESEARCH BASIC RESEARCH
Ethnographic research refer to the investigation of a culture Experimental research is an objective, systematic, controlled The simplest experimental design includes two variables and two
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH through an in-depth study of the members of the culture; it CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
investigation for the purpose of predicting and controlling groups of participants.
involves the systematic collection, description, and analysis phenomena and examining probability and causality among
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
of data for development of theories of cultural behaviour. selected variables. The two variables(Independent versus Dependentvariables).
ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH

Advantages • The IV is the predictor variable whereas the DV is the outcome

• It studies people, ethnic groups and other ethnic EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH variable.
EXPERIMENTALRESEARCH
formations, their ethno genesis, composition, • Researchers manipulate and control the IV to study it's effect on
• Best establishes cause-and-effect relationships
EXPLORATORY RESEARCH . resettlement, social welfare characteristics, as well as EXPLORATORY RESEARCH . EXPLORATORY RESEARCH . the DV.
their material and spiritual culture.
Disadvantages
GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH. GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH. GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH. The two groups of participants (Control versus Experimental
• Data collection is often done through participant group).
• Artificiality
HISTORICAL RESEARCH observation, interviews, questionnaires, etc. HISTORICAL RESEARCH HISTORICAL RESEARCH
• Before beginning the experiment, the researcher (randomly)
PHENOMENOLOGICAL PHENOMENOLOGICAL • Feasibility PHENOMENOLOGICAL
assigns his/her sample to two different groups: the control
• The purpose of ethnographic research is to attempt to group and the experimental (treatment group or clinical group).
RESEARCH
understand what is happening naturally in the setting and RESEARCH • Unethical RESEARCH • The control group receives no manipulation of the IV (no
to interpret the data gathered to see what implications treatment), whereas the experimental group receives the
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH could be formed from the data. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH QUALITATIVE RESEARCH manipulation of the IV

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

APPLIED RESEARCH EXPLORATORY RESEARCH APPLIED RESEARCH GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH APPLIED RESEARCH HISTORICAL RESEARCH
BASIC RESEARCH BASIC RESEARCH BASIC RESEARCH Historical research is research involving analysis of events
Exploratory research is a type of research conducted for a Grounded theory research is a research approach designed to
discover what problems exist in a given social environment and that occurred in the remote or recent past
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH problem that has not been clearly defined. Exploratory CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
research helps determine the best research design, data how the persons involved handle them; it involves formulation,
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH collection method and selection of subjects. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH testing, and reformulation of propositions until a theory is DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
Application
developed. • Historical research can show patterns that occurred in the past
ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
• The results of exploratory research are not usually useful and over time which can help us to see where we came from
for decision-making by themselves, but they can provide Grounded theory is a research method that operates almost in a and what kinds of solutions we have used in the past.
EXPERIMENTALRESEARCH EXPERIMENTALRESEARCH EXPERIMENTALRESEARCH
significant insight into a given situation reverse fashion from traditional research and at first may appear to • Understanding this can add perspective on how we examine
EXPLORATORY RESEARCH . EXPLORATORY RESEARCH . be in contradiction to the scientific method. EXPLORATORY RESEARCH . current events and educational practices.
• Exploratory research is not typically generalizable to
GROUNDED THEORY
GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH.
the population at large. Four stages: GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH.
RESEARCH. 1. Codes-Identifying anchors that allow the key points of the data The steps involved in the conduct of historicalresearch
HISTORICAL RESEARCH • Exploratory research can be quite informal, relying to be gathered HISTORICAL RESEARCH Here are the five steps:
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
on secondary research such as reviewing available 2. Concepts-Collections of codes of similar content that allows the 1.Identification of the research topic and formulation of the
PHENOMENOLOGICAL literature and/or data, or qualitative approaches such as PHENOMENOLOGICAL data to be grouped PHENOMENOLOGICAL research problem or question.
informal discussions with consumers, employees, 3. Categories-Broad groups of similar concepts that are used to 2. Data collection or literature review
RESEARCH RESEARCH
management or competitors, and more formal approaches RESEARCH generate a theory 3. Evaluation of materials
through in-depth interviews, focus groups, projective 4. Theory-A collection of explanations that explain the subject of 4. Data synthesis
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
methods, case studies or pilot studies. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH the research (hypotheses) 5. Report preparation or preparation of the narrative exposition
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

APPLIED RESEARCH HISTORICAL RESEARCH APPLIED RESEARCH PHENOMENOLOGICAL RESEARCH APPLIED RESEARCH

BASIC RESEARCH
Historical research gives a social scientist a better context for
BASIC RESEARCH
Phenomenological research an inductive, descriptive research
BASIC RESEARCH On a broader perspective, all researches
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH making realistic decisions. CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH approach developed from phenomenological philosophy; its CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH can be classified into two groups:
aim is to describe an experience as it is actually lived by the
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH Strengths DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH person DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH

• Provides a comprehensive picture of historical trends

ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
• Uses existing information
• Phenomenology is concerned with the study of experience
• Provides evidence of on-going trends and problems
from the perspective of the individual, ‘bracketing’ taken-for-
• Qualitative Research
EXPERIMENTALRESEARCH EXPERIMENTALRESEARCH EXPERIMENTALRESEARCH
granted assumptions and usual ways of perceiving.
EXPLORATORY RESEARCH . Limitations EXPLORATORY RESEARCH . EXPLORATORY RESEARCH .
• Time-consuming
• They are based in a paradigm of personal knowledge and
GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH. • Resources may be hard to locate GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH.
subjectivity, and emphasise the importance of personal
GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH. • Quantitative Research
• Resources may be conflicting
perspective and interpretation.
HISTORICAL RESEARCH • May not identify cause of a problem HISTORICAL RESEARCH HISTORICAL RESEARCH

• Information may be incomplete, obsolete, inconclusive, or PHENOMENOLOGICAL PHENOMENOLOGICAL

• As such they are powerful for understanding subjective
PHENOMENOLOGICAL inaccurate RESEARCH
RESEARCH experience, gaining insights into people’s motivations and
• Data restricted to what already exists
RESEARCH actions, and cutting through the clutter of taken-for-granted QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
assumptions and conventional wisdom.
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
 APPLIED RESEARCH QUALITATIVE RESEARCH APPLIED RESEARCH QUALITATIVE RESEARCH APPLIED RESEARCH QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
BASIC RESEARCH BASIC RESEARCH Advantages BASIC RESEARCH Quantitative research refers to the systematic empirical
• It enables more complex aspects of a persons experience to investigation of any phenomena via statistical, mathematical or
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
Qualitative research is research dealing with phenomena that are CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH be studied CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH computational techniques. The objective of quantitative
difficult or impossible to quantify mathematically, such as beliefs, • Fewer restriction or assumptions are placed on the data to research is to develop and employ mathematical
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
meanings, attributes, and symbols be collected. models, theories and/or hypotheses pertaining to phenomena
ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
• Not everything can be quantified, or quantified easily, ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
Individuals can be studied in more depth Quantitative research is generally made using scientific
EXPERIMENTALRESEARCH EXPERIMENTALRESEARCH • Good for exploratory research and hypothesis generation EXPERIMENTALRESEARCH methods, which can include:
Qualitative researchers aim to gather an in-depth • The participants are able to provide data in their own words
EXPLORATORY RESEARCH . understanding of human behaviour and the reasons that EXPLORATORY RESEARCH . and in their own way EXPLORATORY RESEARCH . • The generation of models, theories and hypotheses
govern such behaviour. The qualitative method investigates
GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH. GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH. GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH.
the why and how of decision making, not just what, where, • The development of instruments and methods for
when. Disadvantages measurement
HISTORICAL RESEARCH HISTORICAL RESEARCH HISTORICAL RESEARCH
• It is more difficult to determine the validity and reliability of
PHENOMENOLOGICAL PHENOMENOLOGICAL
linguistic data PHENOMENOLOGICAL • Experimental control and manipulation of variables
• there is more subjectivity involved in analysing the data.
RESEARCH RESEARCH • “Data overload” – open-ended questions can sometimes RESEARCH • Collection of empirical data
create lots of data, which can take along time to analyse!
QUALITATIVERESEARCH QUALITATIVERESEARCH • Time consuming QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
• Modelling and analysis of data

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH QUANTITATIVERESEARCH • Evaluation of results

APPLIED RESEARCH QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

BASIC RESEARCH Advantages Quantitative research is
Quantitative vs Qualitative: Qualitative type of research aims at discovering the underlying
• Quantitative research allows the researcher to measure and
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH analyse data.
based on the measurement of quantity or amount. motives and desires, using in depth interviews for the purpose.
• The researcher is more objective about the findings of the It is applicable to phenomena that can be expressed
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH Other techniques of such research are word association tests,
research. in terms of quantity. sentence completion tests, story completion tests and similar other
• Quantitative research can be used to test hypotheses in
ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
experiments because of its ability to measure data using
Qualitative research, on the other hand, is projective techniques.
statistics. concerned with qualitative phenomenon, i.e.,
EXPERIMENTALRESEARCH Attitude or opinion research i.e., research designed to find out how
phenomena relating to or involving quality or kind. people feel or what they think about a particular subject or
EXPLORATORY RESEARCH .
institution is also qualitative research.
Disadvantages
GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCH. • The main disadvantage of quantitative research is the For instance, when we are interested in
Qualitative research is specially important in the behavioural
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
context of the study or experiment is ignored. investigating the reasons for human behaviour (i.e., sciences where the aim is to discover the underlying motives of
• Quantitative research does not study things in a natural
setting or discuss the meaning things have for different
why people think or do certain things), we quite human behaviour.
PHENOMENOLOGICAL
often talk of ‘Motivation Research’, an important Through such research we can analyse the various factors which
people.
motivate people to behave in a particular manner or which make
RESEARCH • A large sample of the population must be studied for more type of qualitative research. people like or dislike a particular thing.
accurate results
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

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.