
Types of Research
- Descriptive — survey, historical, content analysis, qualitative (ethnographic, narrative, phenomenological, grounded theory, and case study)
- Associational — correlational, causal-comparative
- Intervention — experimental, quasi-experimental, action research (sort of)
- Descriptive — survey, historical, content analysis, qualitative (ethnographic, narrative, phenomenological, grounded theory, and case study)
- Associational — correlational, causal-comparative.
- Intervention — experimental, quasi-experimental, action research (sort of)
What are the different types of research?
Classification of Types of Research. 1 Exploratory Research. Exploratory research is used for the preliminary investigation of a subject that is not yet well understood or sufficiently ... 2 Descriptive Research. 3 Explanatory Research. 4 Correlational Research.
What is fundamental research type?
This fundamental research type is defined by the fact that the data is collected directly from the source, that is, it consists of primary, first-hand information.
What is an example of a scientific research?
For example, investigating the brittle behaviour of a specific material when under compressive load. The purpose of this type of scientific research is to identify the relationship between two or more variables.
What is an example of an applied research?
For example: an experiment to determine a simple fact. Applied research: Applied research focuses on analyzing and solving real-life problems. This type refers to the study that helps solve practical problems using scientific methods.

What are the 3 general types of research?
Most research can be divided into three different categories: exploratory, descriptive and causal. Each serves a different end purpose and can only be used in certain ways.
What are the 4 general types of research?
There are 4 types of research design which are:Exploratory Research: Just as the word implies, it explores, that is to find out about something by answering the question in “what” or “How” manner.Descriptive Research: ... Explanatory Research: ... Evaluation Research:
What are the 2 general types of research?
There are two main categories of research methods: qualitative research methods and quantitative research methods.
What are the 7 types of research?
Classification of Types of ResearchTheoretical Research. ... Applied Research. ... Exploratory Research. ... Descriptive Research. ... Explanatory Research. ... Qualitative Research. ... Quantitative Research. ... Experimental Research.More items...•
What are the 4 types of research design qualitative?
Qualitative Research Design ApproachesHistorical Study. A historical study is the ideal choice for studies that involve extensive examination of the past — including people, events and documents. ... Phenomenology. Phenomenology is a wide-ranging form of study. ... Grounded Theory. ... Ethnography. ... Case Study.
What are the 5 types of research methods?
Types of Research in Research MethodologyBasic Research. Non-commercial Research is basic Research whose motive is to collect data to enhance knowledge. ... Applied Research. ... Problem-Oriented Research. ... Problem-Solving Research. ... Qualitative Research. ... Quantitative Research.
What are the 10 kinds of research?
Based on General Category,Quantitative Research.Qualitative Research.Descriptive Research.Analytical Research.Applied Research.Fundamental Research.Exploratory Research.Conclusive Research.More items...
What are the 8 types of research questions?
Qualitative Research Question TypesExploratory Questions. Questions that are designed to understand more about a topic are exploratory questions. ... Predictive Questions. ... Interpretive Questions. ... Descriptive Questions. ... Comparative Questions. ... Relationship-Based Questions.
What are the 6 types of research methods?
The six critical types of research include exploratory research, descriptive research, explanatory research, correlational research, and causal research.
What are the 4 types of research design PDF?
Now that we know the broadly classified types of research, Quantitative and Qualitative Research can be divided into the following 4 major types of Research Designs:Descriptive Research Design.Correlational Research Design.Experimental Research Design.Diagnostic Research Design.Explanatory Research Design.
What are the 5 types of research methods?
Types of Research in Research MethodologyBasic Research. Non-commercial Research is basic Research whose motive is to collect data to enhance knowledge. ... Applied Research. ... Problem-Oriented Research. ... Problem-Solving Research. ... Qualitative Research. ... Quantitative Research.
How are the general types of research different from one another?
Types of research aims Basic research aims to develop knowledge, theories and predictions, while applied research aims to develop techniques, products and procedures. Do you want to expand scientific understanding or solve a practical problem?
What does knowing the types of research and what each of them focuses on allow you to do?
Knowing the types of research and what each of them focuses on will allow you to better plan your project, utilises the most appropriate methodologies and techniques and better communicate your findings to other researchers and supervisors.
What is the most common type of research method?
Explanatory research is the most common type of research method and is responsible for establishing cause-and-effect relationships that allow generalisations to be extended to similar realities. It is closely related to descriptive research, although it provides additional information about the observed object and its interactions with the environment.
What is quantitative research?
Quantitative research study delves into a phenomena through quantitative data collection and using mathematical, statistical and computer-aided tools to measure them . This allows generalised conclusions to be projected over time.
What is the primary objective of descriptive research?
The primary objective of descriptive research is to define the characteristics of a particular phenomenon without necessarily investigating the causes that produce it.
Why is laboratory research carried out in a controlled environment?
Laboratory research is carried out in a controlled environment in order to isolate a dependent variable and establish its relationship with other variables through scientific methods.
What is the purpose of correlational research?
Correlational Research. The purpose of this type of scientific research is to identify the relationship between two or more variables. A correlational study aims to determine whether a variable changes, how much the other elements of the observed system change.
What is exploratory research?
Exploratory research is used for the preliminary investigation of a subject that is not yet well understood or sufficiently researched. It serves to establish a frame of reference and a hypothesis from which an in-depth study can be developed that will enable conclusive results to be generated.
What is research in science?
Research is a systematic inquiry on a specific topic. When you want to get the information on a particular topic, you take a process to enhance your knowledge. There are different types of research out there. But it depends on you what type you prefer.
What research is not?
When you begin interviewing people involved in business decisions, you will hear them saying what they like and don’t like. “Like” word doesn’t suits a critical thinker. On subconscious level, we all wish that things we do to be liked. So it’s easy to treat likability as a leading success indicator. But the concept of “liking” is as subjective as it is empty. Getting a like is a superficial mental state unmoored from any specific behavior. This means you can’t get any useful insights from any given individual reporting that they like or hate a particular thing.
Why is research helpful to students?
This question may come to your psyche while you are in your academic career. You often think that what is a need of doing a research work? Why universities want us to carry out research. Then read below to find your answer.
What is exploratory research?
Exploratory research provides a basis of conclusive research. It will help in making of research design, sampling methodology and data collection method. Exploratory research tackles new problems on which no research has been done.
What is descriptive research?
Descriptive research consists of surveys and fact-finding inquiries of various kinds. The major reason to carry out descriptive research is describing the state of affairs as it exists at present. When we do descriptive result in social science and business research, we use the term Ex post facto research for descriptive research work. The main feature of this method is that the researcher doesn’t have control over the variables; he can only report things like what has happened or what is happening.
Why are rigorous standards and methodologies important?
Rigorous standards and methodologies exist to preserve objectivity and ensure the credibility of conclusions. (Things get squishy when corporations fund ostensibly pure research, as they frequently do.) Applied research borrows ideas and techniques from pure research to serve a specific real-world goal.
What is applied research?
Applied research borrows ideas and techniques from pure research to serve a specific real-world goal. Goals are like creating a super soldier or improving the quality of hospital care or finding new ways to market any product. While ethics are as important, and methods can be more relaxed.
How to categorize research?
There are many ways to categorize different types of research. The words you use to describe your research depend on your discipline and field. In general, though, the form your research design takes will be shaped by: 1 The type of knowledge you aim to produce 2 The type of data you will collect and analyze 3 The sampling methods, timescale and location of the research
What is the first thing to consider when researching?
The first thing to consider is what kind of knowledge your research aims to contribute.
What is the difference between descriptive and experimental research?
Descriptive vs experimental. Descriptive research gathers data without controlling any variables, while experimental research manipulates and controls variables to determine cause and effect.
What is the next thing to consider when collecting data?
The next thing to consider is what type of data you will collect. Each kind of data is associated with a range of specific research methods and procedures.
What type of research uses the facts that have been confirmed already to form the basis for the research?
Many variables can be used in descriptive research to explain the facts. 4. Analytical Research. Analytical research uses the facts that have been confirmed already to form the basis for the research and critical evaluation of the material is carried out in this method.
What is quantitative research?
As the name suggests, quantitative refers to the numbers where data is collected based on numbers, and a summary is taken from these numbers. Graphs help to quantify the results in quantitative research.
Why is qualitative research important?
Though not reliable as much as quantitative, qualitative research helps to form a better summary in terms of theories in the data. Based on the nature of the research, 3. Descriptive Research. Facts are considered in descriptive methods and surveys and case studies are done to clarify the facts.
Why do we use surveys in research?
Not least considered, but Surveys play a main role in the research methodology. It helps to collect a vast amount of real-time data and helps in the research process. It is done at a low cost and can be done faster than any other method. Surveys can be done in both quantitative and qualitative methods.
How do case studies help in research?
Case studies help to form an idea of the research and helps in the foundation of the research . Various facts and theories can be considered from the case studies that help to form proper reviews about the research topic. Researchers can either make the topic general or specific according to the literature reviews from the studies. A proper understanding of the research can be made from the case study.
What is exploratory research?
Exploratory studies are based on the theories and their explanation and it does not provide any conclusion for the research topic. The structure is not proper and the methods offer a flexible and investigative approach for the study. The hypothesis is not tested and the result will not be of much help to the outside world. The findings will be topic related that helps in improving the research more.
Why is it important to understand research methods?
An understanding of the research methods is important to verify and validate the research in different fields.
What are the two types of research methods?
Research methods are broadly classified as Qualitative and Quantitative.
What is research in science?
What is Research? Definition: Research is defined as careful consideration of study regarding a particular concern or problem using scientific methods. According to the American sociologist Earl Robert Babbie, “research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict, and control the observed phenomenon.
What is the purpose of a researcher's analysis?
Researchers need to practice ethics and a code of conduct while making observations or drawing conclusions. The analysis is based on logical reasoning and involves both inductive and deductive methods. Real-time data and knowledge is derived from actual observations in natural settings.
What does "reliable" mean in research?
Reliable – other people who investigate in the same way can produce similar results.
What are the different types of quantitative methods?
Types of quantitative methods include: Survey research. Descriptive research.
Why is it important to use a research repository?
To be able to make sense of your research and get insights faster, it helps to use a research repositoryas a single source of truth in your organization and to manage your research data in one centralized repository. Types of research methods and example.
What is descriptive research?
Descriptive researchdescribe the behavior of a sample population. Only one variable is required to conduct the study. The three primary purposes of descriptive studies are describing, explaining, and validating the findings.

Fundamental Research
- Fundamental, or basic, research is designed to help researchers better understand certain phenomena in the world; it looks at how things work. This research attempts to broaden your understanding and expand scientific theories and explanations. For example, fundamental resea…
Applied Research
- Applied research is designed to identify solutions to specific problems or find answers to specific questions. The research is meant to offer knowledge that is applicable and implementable. For instance, applied research may include a study on ways to increase student involvement in the classroom. This research focuses on a defined problem and is solution-based. Fundamental an…
Quantitative Research
- Quantitative research depends on numerical data, such as statistics and measurements. For example, a car manufacturer may compare the number of sales of red sedans compared to white sedans. The research uses objective data—the sales figures for red and white sedans—to draw conclusions.
Mixed Research
- Mixed research includes both qualitative and quantitative data. Consider the car manufacturer comparing sedan sales. The company could also ask car buyers to complete a survey after buying a red or white sedan that asks how much the color impacted their decision and other opinion-based questions. Related: Quantitative and Qualitative Research: Uses for Each
Exploratory Research
- Exploratory research is designed to examine what is already known about a topic and what additional information may be relevant. It rarely answers a specific question, but rather presents the foundational knowledge of a subject as a precursor to additional research. Often, exploratory research applies to lesser known issues and phenomena. For instance, you may consider what i…
Longitudinal Research
- Longitudinal research focuses on how certain measurements change over time without manipulating any variables. For instance, a researcher may examine if and how employee satisfaction changes in the same employees after one year, three years and five years with the same company.
Cross-Sectional Research
- Cross-sectional research studies a group or subgroup at one point in time. Participants are generally chosen based on certain shared characteristics, such as age, gender or income, and researchers examine the similarities and differences within groups and between groups. The group is often used as a representation of a larger population. Similar to longitudinal research, r…
Field Research
- Field research takes place wherever the participants or subjects are, or "on location." This type of research requires onsite observation and data collection. For instance, a manufacturing plant may hire an environmental engineering firm to test the air quality at the plant to ensure it complies with all health and safety requirements. The researchers would travel to the plant to collect samples. …
Laboratory Research
- Laboratory research takes place in a controlled laboratory setting rather than in the field. Often, the study demands strict adherence to certain conditions, such as elimination of variables or timing conditions. Laboratory research includes chemical experimentation and pharmacological research. Related: What Is a Medical Researcher?
According to Its Purpose
According to Your Depth of Scope
According to The Type of Data Used
According to The Degree of Manipulation of Variables
According to The Type of Inference
According to The Time in Which It Is Carried Out
According to The Sources of Information
- Primary Research
This fundamental research type is defined by the fact that the data is collected directly from the source, that is, it consists of primary, first-hand information. - Secondary research
Unlike primary research, secondary research is developed with information from secondary sources, which are generally based on scientific literature and other documents compiled by another researcher.
According to How The Data Is Obtained