Research Methods and Scientific

Writing
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Research Methods and Scientific Writing

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 2. Types of Research and
Research Process
2.1 Types of Research

2.2 Research Approaches

2.3 Research Process/Steps in Conducting

Research

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 2.1 Types of Research
• Research can be classified in terms of :-

 Goal/Purpose of research

 Specific objectives of research

 Approaches of research

 Design of research

 The types of data used in research

 Fields of study

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 2.1 Types of Research
• Classification based on Application:

• According to the application of research results, research can be broadly

classified into two—basic research and applied research.

• Basic Research

• Basic research, also called fundamental research or pure research and has
no immediate application.

• Basic research is fundamental to most of the scientific advances ever made.

• It is very unpredictable, and often, there is no initial connection between

the research and its application.

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 2.1 Types of Research
• For example, basic science investigations probe for answers to questions
such as:

 How did the universe begin?

 What are protons, neutrons, and electrons composed of?

 How do the animals reproduce?

 What is the specific genetic code?

• Basic research has two heads, pure basic research and strategic basic
research.

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 2.1 Types of Research
• Pure basic research:

• In this type experimental or theoretical works carried out mainly to get new
knowledge without a specific application.

• Pure basic research is undertaken without looking for long term economic
or social benefits but just for the advancement of knowledge.

• Strategic basic research:

• This methods also involves experimental or theoretical works taken up

mainly to obtain new knowledge without a precise application .

• However, a major difference is that it can be directed into particular broad

areas in the hope of useful discoveries or solving problems.
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 2.1 Types of Research
• Applied Research

• Applied research is normally concerned with the application of theory to

the direct solution of various problems.

• It undertaken primarily to acquire knowledge with a specific practical

application in view.

• In agriculture, most of the experiments conducted are applied in nature with

the objective of solving specific problems or improving existing practices.

• Mainly, there are two types of applied research.

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 2.1 Types of Research
• Evaluation research:

• In this research type, data are collected, evaluated, and decisions are made
based on the findings.

• It involves the systematic process of gathering data on the variables of

interest to make decisions of relevance.

• Developmental research:

• It is also sometimes referred as research and development (R&D) and has

the major function of developing effective products for use.

• In technological disciplines, its main objective is extension of the results of

applied research towards finished products or processes.
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 2.1 Types of Research
• Classification based on Objectives:

• Descriptive Research:

• Is set out to describe and interpret what is.

• The goal is to describe some aspects of phenomenon and help to

understand a topic and lead to casual analysis.

• The common research methods involved in this category are:- surveys,

correlation studies, observation studies, case studies

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 2.1 Types of Research
• In natural sciences, descriptive research is used for accurately describing
nature as in morphology, anatomy, and astronomy by observation through
the naked eye, through microscope, or telescope.

• Systematic or taxonomic studies are also descriptive studies that involve

naming and classifying organisms.

• The results from descriptive studies provide the knowledge base for the
generation of potential hypotheses, which may lead to further studies
especially of the experiment type.

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 2.1 Types of Research
• Exploratory Research

• Exploratory research is a type of research conducted for a problem that has

not been clearly defined.

• Is conducted when there are few or no earlier studies to which references

can be made for information.

• It provides insights into and comprehension of an issue or situation for

more rigorous investigation later.

• Such a research is usually carried out when the problem is at a beginning

stage.

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 2.1 Types of Research
• It is often referred to as grounded theory approach or interpretive research
as it used to answer questions like what, why and how.

• Exploratory research relies on:-

• Secondary research (literature reviews, etc)

• Qualitative approach (informal discussions, focus group discussions, pilot

studies, case studies).

• The results are not usually helpful for decision making.

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 2.1 Types of Research
• Explanatory Research

• Is the research whose primary purpose is to explain why events occur, to

build, elaborate, extend or test a theory.

• It is more concerned with showcasing, explaining and presenting what we

already have.

• Explanatory is conducted to understand the impact of specific changes in

existing standard procedures.

• Running experiments is the most popular form. For example, a study that is

conducted to understand the effect of rebranding on customer loyalty.

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 2.1 Types of Research
• Co relational Research:

• This is research method in which a researcher measures two variables,

understands and assesses the statistical relationship between them.

• It is used to discover or establish the existence of a relationship/

interdependence between two or more aspects of a situation.

• For example, the mind can memorize the bell of an ice cream seller or

sugar candy vendor.

• Louder the bell sound, closer is the vendor to us.

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 2.1 Types of Research
• Research designs can be classified as quantitative or qualitative based on
the nature of data collected.

• Qualitative Research

• Qualitative research, on the other hand, is concerned with qualitative

phenomenon, i.e., phenomena relating to or involving quality or kind.

• For instance, when we are interested in investigating the reasons for human
behavior (i.e., why people think or do certain things).

• This type of research aims at discovering the underlying motives and

desires, using in depth interviews for the purpose.

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 2.1 Types of Research
• Other techniques of such research are word association tests, sentence
completion tests, story completion tests and similar other projective
techniques.

• Attitude or opinion research i.e., research designed to find out how people
feel or what they think about a particular subject or institution is also
qualitative research.

• Qualitative research is specially important in the behavioral sciences where

the aim is to discover the underlying motives of human behavior.

• Historical research and ethnographic research are examples of qualitative

research.
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 2.1 Types of Research
• Quantitative Research

• In quantitative research, the knowledge generated is based on collection of

numerical data and analysis.

• In general, quantitative research is confirmatory and deductive in nature.

• Data analysis is mainly statistical.

• The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ

mathematical models, theories and/or hypotheses pertaining to phenomena

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 2.1 Types of Research
• Quantitative research is generally made using scientific methods, which can
include:

 The generation of models, theories and hypotheses

 The development of instruments and methods for measurement

 Experimental control and manipulation of variables

 Collection of empirical data

 Modeling and analysis of data

 Evaluation of results

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2.2 Research Approaches
Research
Approaches

Quantitative Qualitative

Inferential Experimental Simulation

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 2.2 Research Approaches
• The different types of research reveals that there are two basic approaches to
research the quantitative approach and the qualitative approach.

• The quantitative approach involves the generation of data in quantitative

form which can be subjected to rigorous quantitative analysis in a formal
and rigid fashion.

• This approach can be further sub-classified into inferential, experimental

and simulation approaches to research.

• The purpose of inferential approach to research is to form a data base from

which to infer characteristics or relationships of population.

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 2.2 Research Approaches
• This means survey research where a sample of population is studied to
determine its characteristics, and it is then inferred that the population has
the same characteristics

• Experimental approach is characterized by much greater control over the

research environment and in this case some variables are manipulated to
observe their effect on other variables.

• Simulation approach involves the construction of an artificial environment

within which relevant information and data can be generated.

• This permits an observation of the dynamic behavior of a system (or its

sub-system) under controlled conditions.

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 2.2 Research Approaches
• Simulation approach can also be useful in building models for
understanding future conditions.

• Qualitative approach to research is concerned with subjective assessment

of attitudes, opinions and behavior.

• Research in such a situation is a function of researcher’s insights and

impressions.

• Such an approach to research generates results either in non-quantitative

form or in the form which are not subjected to rigorous quantitative
analysis.

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 2.3 Research Process

• Research process consists of series of actions or steps necessary to

effectively carry out research and the desired sequencing of these steps.

• You should remember that the various steps involved in a research process
are not mutually exclusive; nor they are separate and distinct.

• The steps do not necessarily follow each other in any specific order and the
researcher.
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 2.3 Research Process

Identify the Research Problem

• There are two types of research problems, viz., those which relate to states
of nature and those which relate to relationships between variables.

• The best way of understanding the problem is to discuss it with one’s own
colleagues or with those having some expertise in the matter.

• In an academic institution the researcher can seek the help from a guide
who is usually an experienced man and has several research problems in
mind.

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 2.3 Research Process

Review of Literature

• Once the problem is formulated, a brief summary of it should be written down.

• The researcher should undertake extensive literature survey connected with the
problem.

• Academic journals, conference proceedings, government

reports, books etc., must be tapped depending on the nature of the problem.

• In this process, it should be remembered that one source will lead to another.

• The earlier studies, if any, which are similar to the study in hand should be
carefully studied.

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 2.3 Research Process
Develop the Objectives

Objective should be

• Simple (not complex)

• Specific (not vague)

• Stated in advance (not after the research is done)

• Stated using action verbs that are specific enough to measured.

• Commonly, research objectives are classified into general and specific

objectives.

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 2.3 Research Process
• General objective focus on

• What exactly will be studied?

• General statements specifying the desired outcome of the proposed project

• Specific objectives focus on

• Specific statements summarizing the proposed activities and including

description of the outcomes and their assessment in measurable terms

• It identifies in a greater detail the specific aims of the research project,

by breaking down accomplished into smaller logical components

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 2.3 Research Process
• Decide the Research Design

• Describe how the research will be carried out

• Select methodology to allow you to answer your research question:

qualitative vs quantitative

• Select methods and tools

• Consider:

 Study participants and sampling methods

 Measures & measurement methods

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 2.3 Research Process
 Procedure for accessing data

 Procedure for interventions

 Sample size justification

 Analysis plan

 Dissemination of results

Create Research Proposal

• Proposal will enable people who are not involved in the study to
understand exactly what you plan to do

• A proposal will be required for seeking departmental approval, applying for

grant funding and ethics review
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 2.3 Research Process
• Proposal should include:

 Abstract

 background information

 question & goals & objectives & hypotheses

 justification & relevance

 research design, subjects, measures, data collection, procedure, sample size

justification, data analysis

 Work plan

 (may include budget + other sections)

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 2.3 Research Process
• Conduct the Research Work and Collect Data

• Data at hand are inadequate, and hence, it is necessary to collect data that
are appropriate.

• There are several ways of collecting appropriate data which differ

considerably in context of money costs, time and other resources.

• Primary data can be collected either through experiment or through survey.

• If the researcher conducts an experiment, he observes some quantitative

measurements, or the data, with the help of which he examines the truth
contained in his hypothesis.

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 2.3 Research Process
• In the case of a survey, data can be collected by any one or more of the
following ways: i) By observation ii) Through personal interview iii)
Through telephone interviews iv) By mailing of questionnaires v) Through
schedules vi) Google forms

• Analysis of data:

• After the data have been collected, the researcher turns to the task of
analyzing them.

• The analysis of data requires a number of closely related operations such as

establishment of categories, the application of these categories to raw data
through coding, tabulation and then drawing statistical inferences.
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 2.3 Research Process
• Interpretation:

• The process of interpretation may quite often trigger off new questions

which in turn may lead to further researches.

• Preparation of the Report /Thesis:

• Finally, the researcher has to prepare the report of what has been done

• Writing of report must be done with great care keeping in view the

following:

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 2.3 Research Process
• The layout of the report should be as follows: (i) the preliminary pages; (ii)
the main text, and (iii) the end matter.

• In its preliminary pages the report should carry title and date followed by
acknowledgements and foreword.

• Then there should be a table of contents followed by a list of tables and list
of graphs and charts, if any, given in the report.

• The main text of the report should have the following parts Introduction;
Summary of findings; Main report and Conclusion

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 2.3 Research Process
• At the end of the report, appendices should be enlisted in respect of all
technical data.

• Bibliography, i.e., list of books, journals, reports, etc., consulted, should

also be given in the end.

• Index should also be given specially in a published research report.

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