Types of Research
Types of Research
Types of Research
3 Criteria
USE
EVIDENCE FORM
•Basic
•Quantitative •Experimental
•Applied
•Qualitative •Descriptive
•Action
•Analytical •Historical
What is USE?
Classifying research
according to the
possible use of each
research
Basic Applied
Action
To find out new To use knowledge
Information and obtained in order to
(Not Discussed)
add to knowledge solve problems
What is EVIDENCE?
Classifying research
according to the
Information or
data each uses
Quantitative Qualitative
Uses data that is Uses data not in Analytical
in numbers i.e. numbers but in (Not discussed)
counted or measured words or pictures
QUANTITATIVE
Experimental Non-Experimental/
Descriptive
Correlational Historical
Experimental Research
• It tries to find out if by manipulating one thing,
we will make the other to react
• E.g. will using instructional materials affect
performance? To find out we need to manipulate
instructional materials and observe
performance.
• A relationship in which manipulating one will
make the other to respond is called CAUSE-
EFFECT or CAUSAL relationship.
• Experimental research is interested in this
relationship.
• In order to determine Cause-effect
relationship, the researcher must
CONTROL
• Are there other factors that are capable of
influencing students’ performances? Yes,
they include teaching methods, students’
backgrounds, learning environment, etc.
• Is the researcher interested in these other
factors? NO! Should he allow them to
influence performance? NO!. He must
CONTROL them.
Experimental Research is:
• Interested in CAUSE-EFFECT or CAUSAL
relationship
• But he must MANIPULATE & CONTROL some
factors or VARIABLES
• The variables he manipulates are those he is
interested in.
• Those he controls are those he is not interested
in.
• Then he must OBSERVE some variables e.g.
performances.
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
• This research only OBSERVES and
DESCRIBES
• No cause-effect, no manipulation and no
control.
• E.g. Causes of Poor performances in
Maths
• The researcher only identifies his targets
i.e. students, observes (e.g. interview
them) and describes the findings.
DESCRIPTIVE
RESEARCH
Correlational Historical
Survey Case Study
Research Research
SURVEY
• Studies a large number of subjects (people or
objects) e.g. all students of FCET (3,000)
• But because the number is large, survey uses a
few of this large number e.g. 500 (i.e. sample) to
collect data.
• Findings made are then used to describe all the
students (generalisation).
• Survey use questionnaire or interview to collect
data.
CASE STUDY
• This research studies an individual, an
institution or an object, or a few of these.
• Supplies in-depth of information of its
subjects
• Findings from this research may not be
generalised; they can only be used to
describe those who participated in the
research
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
• This research is trying to find out if two things
are related but unlike experiment the relationship
it studies is NON-CAUSAL
• A non-causal relationship is one in which two
things may be related but one does not affect
the other.
• E.g. Is there any relationship between sex of
students and their performances?
• In carrying out this research we will correlate the
performances of all females with those of the
male. Such relationship can be (+) or (-).
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
• This research is interested in what has
happened in the PAST.
• E.g. The Historical Development of FCE T
Gusau from 1990 – 2000.
• The researcher will have to check existing
records both oral and material in order to
tell us what has happened in the past.
The Research Process
• Research is a process because it is
carried out in steps, and the steps are
related.
• Research process therefore refers to the
steps of carrying out research from its
beginning to the end.
Research Process
Review Literature
Design
Collect Data
Analyse Data
Interpret Data
Report Findings
Selecting a Research Topic
• A research topic is a brief statement that
describes the problem the researcher
wants to investigate.
• E.g. The Influence of Marital Status on the
Academic Performances of Female
Students in Colleges of Education in Kano
State.
A Research Topic Should Contain:
• The Relevant Variables e.g. Marital Status
and Performances
• The Level e.g. Colleges of Education
• The Location e.g. Kano State
Class Work