Types of research

Types of Research
 Research is a systematic inquiry conducted to discover or confirm
facts, solve problems, or explore new phenomena.
 It can be broadly categorized into two main types:
 Qualitative and
 Quantitative research.
 Each type serves different purposes and employs distinct
methodologies.
 Qualitative and Quantitative
 Quantitative research methods involve using numbers to
measure data.
 Researchers can use statistical analysis to find connections and
meaning in the data.
 Qualitative research methods involve exploring information
and non-numerical data.
 These research methods also examine how people might
connect meaning to their experiences and emotions.
1. Qualitative Research:
 Purpose: Qualitative research aims to understand complex
phenomena by exploring individuals' perspectives, behaviors,
and experiences. It seeks to uncover meanings, forms, and
relationships.
 Methods: Common methods include interviews, focus groups,
observations, and written analysis. Researchers often employ
open-ended questions to allow for rich, detailed responses.
 Analysis: Data analysis involves coding, categorizing, and
interpreting qualitative data to identify themes and topics.
Qualitative research is often repetition and refining , with
findings guiding further exploration.
2. Quantitative Research:
 Purpose: Quantitative research aims to quantify relationships,
arrangements, and phenomena through numerical data analysis. It
focuses on measuring variables and testing hypotheses.
 Methods: Surveys, experiments, and structured observations are
common quantitative research methods. Researchers use
standardized instruments and closed-ended questions to gather
data.
 Analysis: Quantitative data analysis involves statistical techniques
such as regression analysis, ANOVA, and correlation. (ANOVA, or
Analysis of Variance, is a test used to determine differences
between research results from three or more unrelated samples or
groups.)Results are often presented through graphs, charts, and
tables for clear interpretation.
3. Mixed-Methods Research:
 Purpose: Mixed-methods research integrates both qualitative
and quantitative approaches to provide a comprehensive
understanding of a research problem. It combines the
strengths of both methodologies.
 Methods: Researchers collect and analyze both qualitative
and quantitative data within the same study. This can involve
sequential or parallel data collection and analysis.
 Integration: Mixed-methods research emphasizes the
integration of qualitative and quantitative findings to
generate a deeper understanding of the research question.
4. Action Research:
 Purpose: Action research is conducted by practitioners in real-world
settings to address specific issues or improve practices. It
emphasizes collaboration, reflection, and continuous improvement.
 Process: Action research typically follows a cyclical process of
planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. It involves stakeholders
in problem-solving and decision-making.
 Outcomes: The outcomes of action research often include
practical solutions, changes in practices, and empowerment of
participants through active engagement in the research process.
5. Descriptive vs. Analytical Research:
 Descriptive Research: Descriptive research aims to describe
characteristics or behaviors of a population or phenomenon. It
provides a snapshot of the current state of affairs without necessarily
explaining connection.
 Analytical Research: Analytical research goes beyond description to
analyze relationships, causality, or underlying factors. It seeks to
understand why certain phenomena occur and how variables
interact.
 conclusion
 In conclusion, the choice of research type depends on the research
question, objectives, and context. Researchers often employ multiple
types of research within a single study to triangulate findings and
enhance the validity of their conclusions.
Categories of Research
 Research is further divided into many categories:
 Basic Research
 Basic research is developed with the curiosity or interest in a question.
 The main motivation is to expand man’s knowledge, not to create or
invent something.
 Discoveries that result from basic research are not much recognized or
valued.
 Example
 What is the origin of art
 How did the universe begin
 What are protons, neutrons and electrons composed of?
 Applied research
 A research which hunt for study and research that seeks to solve
practical problems
 Applied research is used to find solutions. Problems that we are facing
in our day to day life, cure lines and develop innovative technologies,
rather than to acquire knowledge for knowledge’s sake.
 Example
 Improve agricultural crop production
 Treat or cure a specific disease
 Advancement in the energy effectiveness of homes, offices, or
technology
 Correlational Research
 Correlational research is
 A type of non-experimental research method in which a researcher
measures two variables, understands and assesses the statistical
relationship between them with no influence from any unnecessary
variable.
 Example
 Ice-cream mobiles carts play a specific music, louder the music
closer the mobile cart
Types of correlation
Positive correlation Both variables change As height increases,
in the same direction weight also increases

Negative correlation The variables change in As coffee

opposite directions consumption increases,
tiredness decreases

Zero correlation There is no relationship Coffee consumption is

between the variables not correlated
with height
 Descriptive research
 Descriptive survey research uses surveys to gather data about varying
subjects.
 Which can be a particular individual, situation, or group, Descriptive
research.
 These studies are a means of discovering new meaning describing what
exists, determining the frequency with which something occurs, and
categorizing information.
 In short descriptive research deals with everything that can be counted
and studied, which has an impact of the lives of the people it deals with
Example
 If you launch a products you will collect the data of specific area
regarding the number of customers. There is no investigation
 Ethnographic Research
 An exploration of a culture through a detail study of the members of
the culture.
 It involves the systematic collection, description, and analysis of data
for development of theories of cultural behavior
 It studies people, ethnic groups and other ethnic formation, their ethnic
origins composition, resettlement, social welfare characteristics, as well
as their material and spiritual culture
 Data collection is often done through participant, observation,
interviews, questionnaires etc
 The purpose of ethnographic research is to attempt to understand
what is happening naturally in the setting and to understand the data
gathered to see what effects could be formed from the data.
 Example: Dhol of Punjab
 Experimental
 Experimental research is based on some scientific research
 It includes a hypothesis, a variable that can be manipulated by the
researcher, and variables that can be measured, calculated and
compared.
 Most importantly, experimental research is completed in a
controlled environment.
 Example
Study on the Effectiveness of Multimedia in College
 Exploratory
 Exploratory research is a type of research conducted for a problem
that has not been clearly defined.
 Exploratory research can be quite informal, relying on secondary
research such as reviewing available literature and/ or data.
 Or qualitative, approaches such as informal discussion with consumer,
employees, management or competitors
 More formal approaches though in-depth interviews, focus groups,
projective methods, case studies or trial studies
Example:
Death case will be investigated using exploratory research because it
has not been investigated clearly in the past
 Grounded theory research
 Grounded theory is a research method concerned with the
generation of theory,
 Which is 'grounded' in data that has been systematically collected
and analyzed.
 It is used to uncover such things as social relationships and
behaviors of groups, known as social processes.
 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.
 Historical Research
 Historical research enables you to explore and explain the
meanings, phases and characteristics of a phenomenon or
process at a particular point of time in the past
 Historical research can show patterns that occurred in the past
and over the which can help us to see where we came from and
what kinds of solutions we have used in the past
Example:
Elections 2018 in Pakistan
 Phenomenological research
 Phenomenological research enables you to explore experiences and
physical perception of researched phenomenon, and the formation of
understanding based on these experiences and perceptions.
 The aim is, either to use your own direct experiences acquired during
the research process to describe and analyze the phenomenon, in
order to produce in-depth knowledge of the phenomenon;
 Or to use other people’s experiences acquired to describe and
analyze the phenomenon, in order to produce in-depth knowledge of
the phenomenon.
 Example:
Losing family members to Covid-19 hasn’t been easy. A detailed study
of survivors and people who’ve lost loved ones can help understand
coping mechanisms and long-term traumas.