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I. DEFINITION

1. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH:
Descriptive research aims to describe the characteristics of a particular phenomenon or subject without
manipulating variables. It provides a detailed account of the existing situation.

2. APPLIED RESEARCH:
Applied research seeks to solve practical problems and answer specific questions. It is often conducted
with the intention of addressing real-world issues and providing practical solutions.

3. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH:
Qualitative research focuses on exploring and understanding the underlying meanings, motivations, and
contexts of human behavior. It often involves non-numerical data, such as interviews, observations, or
open-ended surveys.

4. CONCEPTUAL RESEARCH:
Conceptual research involves the exploration and development of concepts and theories. It aims to clarify
abstract ideas, relationships, or constructs without necessarily conducting empirical studies.

5. ANALYTICAL RESEARCH:
Analytical research involves critical analysis and examination of a topic, often breaking it down into
components for a more in-depth understanding. It may involve studying relationships between variables.

6. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH:
Fundamental research, also known as basic or pure research, seeks to expand the existing body of
knowledge without any immediate practical application. It aims to enhance understanding of fundamental
principles.

7. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH:
Quantitative research involves the collection and analysis of numerical data to identify patterns,
relationships, or trends. It often uses statistical methods to draw conclusions.

8. EMPIRICAL RESEARCH:
Empirical research relies on direct observation or experience to gather data. It involves the systematic
collection and analysis of observable and measurable phenomena.
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I. DIFFERENCES:

1. Descriptive research focuses on describing a phenomenon, while analytical research aims to analyze
and understand the relationships between variables.

2. Applied research is practical and seeks solutions to real-world problems, whereas fundamental
research is driven by a quest for knowledge without immediate application.

3. Qualitative research deals with non-numerical data and explores meanings, while quantitative
research involves numerical data and statistical analysis.

4. Conceptual research explores and develops abstract concepts or theories. Empirical research relies
on direct observation or experience and is not limited to any specific research type; it can be
qualitative or quantitative.

II. EXAMPLES

1. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
TITLE:
SCHOOL FROM HOME DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC, A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY:
EFFECTIVITY OF LEARNING TOWARDS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN WEST SUMATRA

ABSTRACT
“COVID-19 pandemic has forced several countries to manage regulations in order to minimize the
spread of virus. Learning from home, or school from home (SFH) is one of the responses towards
COVID-19. This study aims to explore the effectivity of SFH in West Sumatra. This study uses descriptive
quantitative research survey design. The effectivity of SFH measures by using 9 aspects related to
teaching practices: communicating effectively, guiding students’ knowledge, promoting individual
learning, engaging students with content, ensuring content accessibility, maintaining academic integrity,
keeping the course a safe place, meeting students’ needs, and scaffolding. Statistical analysis uses to
explore the effectivity of learning during SFH. Results indicates that averagely subjects perceived that all
aspects have fulfilled by school teachers (M= 2.7-3.2). Its can concludes that SFH is quite effective for
student in West Sumatera. On the other hand, open-ended questionnaire showed the overview of the
implementation SFH during initial months of pandemic. 53.3% of learning are using WhatsApp,
television (TVRI; 2.3%), Google Meet (8.2%), Zoom (6.5%), and other media (29.5%). Moreover, all
subjects preferred face-to-face learning than online learning. Majority of subjects (30.7%) suggested
online learning to be more creative and attractive, and using easy to understand methods (27%).
Implications are suggested for the field of teachers or educational sectors in creating online education
programs to reach optimal learning.”(Meria Susant et al.,2020)
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2. APPLIED RESEARCH
TITLE:
APPLIED RESEARCH OF THE TRANSPORTATION LINKS ON
THE EXAMPLE OF LITHUANIA

ABSTRACT
“Changes to foreign trade conditions also bring about changes to the main transport routes and
directions. Lithuanian transport companies must perfect their ability to adapt in a shifting environment, to
predict and readjust to the possible changes in the flow of goods, and expand the capability to build a new
foundation and appliance of transportation technologies. To support this, a questionnaire researching
transport must be made. This article contains an analysis of planning and conducting the research used to
determine the main directions of the flow of goods of Lithuanian transport companies, as well as criteria
concerning competitiveness among the companies” (Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, May 14,
2010)

3. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
TITLE:
STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS THE QUALITY OF ONLINE EDUCATION: A
QUALITATIVE APPROACH

ABSTRACT
“How to ensure the quality of online learning in institutions of higher education has been a growing
concern during the past several years. While several studies have focused on the perceptions of faculty
and administrators, there has been a paucity of research conducted on students’ perceptions toward the
quality of online education. This study utilized qualitative methods to investigate the perceptions of
students from two universities and one community college regarding the quality of online education based
on their own online learning experiences. Interviews and observations were conducted with three students.
Various documents were collected, digital and printed. Positive and negative experiences of students were
examined. Factors that contribute to those experiences were also identified. The findings of this research
revealed that flexibility, cost-effectiveness, electronic research availability, ease of connection to the
Internet, and well-designed class interface were students’ positive experiences. The students’ negative
experiences were caused by delayed feedback from instructors, unavailable technical support from
instructors, lack of self-regulation and self-motivation, the sense of isolation, monotonous instructional
methods, and poorly-designed course content The findings can be used by instructors to understand
students’ perceptions regarding online learning, and ultimately improve their online instructional
practices.” (Cornelius et al.,2004)
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4. CONCEPTUAL RESEARCH
TITLE:
CONCEPTUAL RESEARCH IN TOURISM

ABSTRACT
“Whilst quantitative and qualitative research methods have been comprehensively discussed in the
literature there remains a notable absence of discussion about conceptual research. This study addresses
this gap and provides an original contribution through a rigorous analysis of conceptual research in
tourism. It distinguishes between conceptual and other research and provides a definition and evaluation
of the concept. Quantitative and qualitative content analysis of published journal articles generates three
significant outcomes. First, conceptual research, whilst increasing in popularity, is seen to be relatively
marginal in tourism. Second a typology of conceptual research issues is constructed. Third a new defini-
tion is proposed. Finally an analysis of five examples provides a more holistic understanding of
conceptual research and its processes and products. Keywords: research methods, conceptual research,
empirical research, epistemology.”(Chambers et al.,2013)

5. ANALYTICAL RESEARCH
TITLE:
AN ANALYSIS OF YUKON DELTA SALMON MANAGEMENT

ABSTRACT
“The broad range of Pacific Alaskan salmon has resulted in the creation of a complex and
multiorganizational system of management that includes the state of Alaska, various federal departments,
a Congressionally-mandated fishery council, and a number of commercial and nongovernmental fish
organizations. In the Bering Sea salmon are caught by the commercial groundfish fleet as by-catch. On
the Yukon River salmon are commercially and traditionally harvested for both economic and cultural
sustenance by the Yup’ik residents of the Yukon Delta. Declining salmon populations has driven scientific
research which considers the effects of Bering Sea salmon by-catch. My research findings indicate that
Bering Sea fisheries occur where juvenile salmon mature, directly impacting Yukon River salmon
populations. Further, the research reflects that although Yukon salmon populations have plummeted, a
recent effort was made to open the northern Bering Sea, which includes the Yukon River coastal shelf, to
deep-sea commercial fishing. By researching the relationship of policy to cultural salmon dependence, it
becomes evident that Alaskan salmon-tribes are excluded from salmon management and decision-making.
Legal research reflects that three basic federal Indian concepts – inherent rights, Indian Country, and
tribal right of occupancy – emerge as potential foundations that may allow Alaskan salmontribes to begin
sharing legal responsibility over salmon. Yukon River salmon are an international and anadromous
species that require multiorganizational management. My research reflects that current management
favors the Bering Sea commercial fishing industry, despite data indicating Bering Sea fisheries impact
Yukon salmon populations and an overall downward trend in Yukon salmon populations.”(Asgeirsson, nd)
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6. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH
TITLE: A LOOK AT ADVANCED LEARNERS’ USE OF MOBILE DEVICES FOR ENGLISH
LANGUAGE STUDY: INSIGHTS FROM INTERVIEW DATA

ABSTRACT
“The paper discusses the results of a study which explored advanced learners of English engagement with
their mobile devices to develop learning experiences that meet their needs and goals as foreign language
learners. The data were collected from 20 students by means of a semi-structured interview. The gathered
data were subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis. The results of the study demonstrated that,
on the one hand, some subjects manifested heightened awareness relating to the advantageous role of
mobile devices in their learning endeavors, their ability to reach for suitable tools and retrieve necessary
information so as to achieve their goals, meet their needs and adjust their learning of English to their
personal learning styles, and on the other, a rather intuitive and/or ad hoc use of their mobile devices in
the classroom.”(Mariusz Kruk, 2017)

7. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
TITLE: THE DIGNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF ONE UPSTATE
NEW YORK PUBLIC SCHOOL IMPLEMENTATION

ABSTRACT
“This quantitative study uses a survey to determine how public school teachers perceive the efficacy of
the intervention of the Dignity For All Student’s Act on the climate of civility in the classroom at one
specific public middle school located in Upstate New York. The intent is to explore the perceived efficacy
of the intervention put into place in 2012 to address cyberharassment and to cultivate civility in the
classroom. A total of 47 teachers participated in this study. This study provides background on the
prevalence of cyberharassment in schools. The results show that the cyberharassment behaviors of
sexting, stalking, bullying, spreading rumors, and sending embarassing pictures have occurred with some
frequency over the 2017-2018 school year. Sexting was the most witnessed by teachers (38.3 percent) with
36.2 percent indicating a frequency of once a year. The sending of pictures to embarrass was observed by
23.4 percent of the teachers, 12.8 percent observed the frequency of once a month. The spreading sexual
rumors was observed by 34.0 percent of the teachers with a frequency of 27.7 percent stating it occurs
once a week. The findings further suggest an inconsistency among teachers in addressing online behavior
with their students. Some teachers (38 percent) indicated they discuss appropriate online behavior with
their students “as needed,” while 29 percent indicate they never do. Additionally, 55.3 percent view the
Dignity For All Students Act as having an average effect on cultivating civility as a part of the school’s
culture. Additionally, 78.7 percent of the respondents believe DASA has had little impact on
cyberharassment incidents.” (Riddell, 2018)
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8. EMPIRICAL RESEARCH
TITLE: A LITERATURE REVIEW OF EMPIRICAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY IN LEAN
MANUFACTURING

ABSTRACT
“Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the existing literature on empirical research in lean
manufacturing (LM). It provides a critical assessment of empirical research methodology of 178
research articles published from 1990 to 2009.
Design/methodology/approach – The article reviewed a set of 178 empirical research articles in
LM research with respect to empirical research design and its related facets. The 236 empirical
research articles which are published in 70 journals during 1990-2009 are collected from four major
management science publishers, namely, Emerald Online, Science Direct, Springer Link and Taylor &
Francis. In total 178 research articles published in 24 journals are selected for critical review of
empirical research methodology in LM. The approach for the critical review of 178 empirical research
articles in LM is based on empirical research approach given by Flynn et al. (1990). The critical review
discusses the current status of empirical research in LM and future directions.
Findings – It is concluded from the analysis of the results that: the number of empirical research
articles in LM is increasing at a faster pace than ever before; theory building and theory verification
articles are equally advanced; the researchers have also unexplored various aspects of empirical
research such as importance of triangulation of data, alternate research designs other than survey and
case studies; contextual focus is mostly on the manufacturing industry; more focus required on other
aspects of empirical research such as collecting the samples from developing and undeveloped
countries, larger sample size, longitudinal data collection methods. Finally, it concludes that there
is a need of LM frameworks, which gives the stepwise process to remove all kinds of wastes from
any organization.
Originality/value – To the knowledge of the authors, it is the first of its kind attempt to
critically review the empirical research articles in LM. The review analysis entirely focussed on
descriptive statistics of empirical research in LM. The sample size is one of the unique features of this
research as the number of shortlisted articles is 178 in 24 journals published over a time span of
20 years (1990-2009).” (Kodali, 2012)