Unit Two

Types of Research
 Introduction
• Research is a logical and systematic search for new and useful information on
a particular topic;

• Use of established methods to investigate a problem or question in detail

with the aim of generating new knowledge and obtaining acceptance;

• How are we going to ‘search’ what we are looking for?

• Knowing the types of research and what each of them focuses on will allow
you to better plan your project, utilizes the most appropriate methodologies
and techniques and better communicate your findings to other researchers
Classification of research
Main classification of research
1. Basic Research
2. Applied research
3. Quantitative
I. Experimental
II. None experimental
I. Descriptive
II. Exploratory
III. Comparative
IV. Co relational research
4. Qualitative
1. Historical research
2. Action research
3. Grounded theory
4. Ethnography research
5. phenomenological research
Classification of Research

Research type Base of

classification
Basic and Applied

Exploratory, Empirical or Focus and

Experimental inquiry based

Descriptive and Analytical

Primary and secondary

Data type based
Qualitative and Quantitative
 Types of research based on purpose

• Research could be undertaken to solve:

Theoretical problems – Basic research

Practical problems - Applied research

 Basic Research
• Also known as pure or fundamental research

• Objective

 Advancement of knowledge(formulating or expanding theory)

 Understanding of theoretical relationship between variables

 Exploratory in nature (discovery of knowledge)

 Done without any particular end in mind – just better

understanding
 Basic Research
Basic researches answer research questions like:

 How did the Universe begin?

 What is available in the universe?
 What is specific natural plasma composed of?
 What is the specific genetic code of the fruit fly?
 How do we better predict weather conditions?
 At what point in human history did logical thought arise?
 What is the mind-body connection?
 Search for alternative energy sources from soil
 Applied Research

• Solve specific, practical questions

• Involves precise measurement of the characteristics and describes

relationships between variables of a studied phenomenon

 Applied research employs methodology that is not as rigorous as that of basic

research.

 It yields findings that can be evaluated in terms of local applicability and not of
universal validity.
 Applied Research

• Investigation directed to discovering new scientific

knowledge that has specific commercial objectives with
respect to products, processes or services.

Applied researches answer the research problems such as:

 How to improve agricultural crop production and measure improvement?
 Treatment of a specific disease?
 How can Akaki river be protected against contamination by industrial effluents?
 How can communication among workers in large companies be improved?
 Note:
Most research questions originate from theories
• Theories normally are a set of related statements that explain a set of
facts
• Researchers of all disciplines use theories to help them describe facts.
• Theories are strengthened by test results
E.g.
1. Discovery of electromagnetic induction by Michael Faraday leads to the
invention of electric devices such as motors and generators
2. The discovery of radio active isotopes are now vital for medical treatment
of various diseases, also used by archeologists
Basic and applied research are not mutually exclusive:

• There are researches that have both theoretical and practical

implications.

• The distinction is a matter of emphasis rather than a true

dichotomy.
 Basic Research Applied Research
• Expands existing knowledge • Solves practical problem

• Theoretical in nature • Practical in Nature

• Less associated with technologies • Associated with advancement of

(only uses known technologies) Technology
• Predicts future problems • Creates solutions for future problems

• Usually does not have direct • Has direct commercial objectives

commercial objectives

• Curiosity driven • Client or demand driven

• Wider scope • Specific in scope

Qualitative and Quantitative research

• Quantitative research - based on the measurement of quantity or

amount
• Demands collection of numerical data, analysis of those data and the
drawing of conclusions from the qualitative data
Examples of quantitative research data findings:
• The result show that the efficiency of the system has increased by 2 %
• Based on the research the increase in number of customer using this
brand is 5 %
Qualitative and Quantitative research

• Qualitative research - concerned with qualitative phenomenon

• Based on feelings, emotions, sounds and other nonnumeric

and unquantifiable elements
• Information is considered qualitative in nature if it can’t be
analyzed by means of mathematical techniques
• Provides theme for the problem researched from subjective data
analyzed and how the variables influence one another
Qualitative
 Action research is a research method that aims to simultaneously investigate and
solve an issue.
 In other words, as its name suggests, action research conducts research and takes
action at the same time

 Example , New content or curricula development

 Ethnography is a qualitative method for collecting data often used in the social and
behavioral sciences. Data are collected through observations and interviews, which
are then used to draw conclusions about how societies and individuals function.

 A classic example of ethnographic research would be an anthropologist traveling

to an island, living within the society on said island for years, and researching its
people and culture through a process of sustained observation and participation
Qualitative
Phenomenological research is A qualitative research approach that helps in
describing the lived experiences of an individual

 Women's experiences in maternity wards, racism in the workplace, and

how families experience end-of-life care for loved ones are some examples
of themes that can be studied using phenomenological research
Qualitative
 Historical research or historiography,

 Attempts to systematically recapture the complex hints, the people, meanings, events,
and even ideas of the past that have influenced and shaped the present.

 Grounded theory research

 is an inductive enquiry that explains social processes in complex real-world contexts.

Research methods are cumulative cyclic processes, not sequential processes. Researchers
remain theoretically sensitive and approach data with no preconceived hypotheses or
theoretical frameworks.

 Grounded theory is often used by the HR department. For instance, they might study why
employees are frustrated by their work. Employees can explain what they feel is lacking.
HR then gathers this data, examines the results to discover the root cause of their
problems and presents solutions.
 Exploratory research
• Exploratory research - commonly unstructured research that is
undertaken to gain background information
• The researcher does not know much about the problem and needs
additional information.
• Used in a number of situations:
• To gain background information
• To define terms
• To clarify problems and hypotheses
• To establish research priorities
 Exploratory research

 Provides significant insight into a given situation but not

usually useful for decision making by itself.
 Often relies on secondary research such as reviewing available
literature and reports
 Helps to determine the best research design, data collection
method and selection of subjects.

E.g Why our sales are declining?

 Exploratory research

A variety of methods are available to conduct exploratory research:

 Secondary Data Analysis

 Experience Surveys
 Case Analysis
 Focus Groups
 Empirical Research
Empirical research – research that bases its findings on direct or indirect
observation as it is test of reality.

• Statistical analyses are fundamental to forming logical, valid conclusions.

 It is based on observation and experience (more than upon theory

and abstraction)
 It can be qualitative & quantitative.
 Empirical Research

• Empirical research is research that is based on observation

and measurement of phenomena, as directly experienced

• Data gathered may be compared against a theory or

hypothesis, but the results are still based on real life
experience

• Empirical & theoretical researches complement each other in

understanding of the phenomena and in predicting future.
 Experimental Research
• Explores cause and effect relationships.

• Proposes scientific alternative and examine results under various scenario

• Consideration of realistic variables value establishes results’ robustness

 Experimental Research
• Helps to see the effects on dependent variable and to explore a
particular event
• Manipulates one or more variables and controls and measures any
change in other variables
• Laboratory based experiment is very helpful procedure before
developing or scale up the given technology
• Engineering modeling and simulation is one example of experimental
research
 Descriptive and Analytical
• Descriptive research: fact-finding inquiries, to effectively describe the
present state of art
– Descriptive research attempts to determine, describe, or identify what is at
present

• Survey methods of all kinds fall under descriptive research, including

comparative and correlation techniques

• Key feature: the researcher holds no control over the variables; rather only
reports as it is.
 Descriptive and Analytical
• Analytical research - already available facts for analysis and critical
evaluation are utilized

• Researcher makes a critical evaluation of the material by analyzing facts and

information already available
– Attempts to establish why it is that way or how it came to be

• Logical reasoning is widely used for analysis of the already available fact and
information

• Some research studies can be both descriptive and analytical

 Primary and secondary research
 Primary/field research – the collection of data that does not already
exist.
Primary Data: data collected from participants through telephone, mail, online, and
face-to-face, and observation studies and focus groups (quantitative and/or
qualitative)

 Secondary/desk research – the summary, collection and/or synthesis

of existing research/reports
Secondary Data: accessing data through sources such as the internet and library
Other types of researches?
Reading assignment