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RM Module-2

The document outlines various types of research methodologies, including basic, applied, descriptive, analytical, empirical, qualitative, and quantitative approaches. It distinguishes between applied and fundamental research, as well as descriptive and analytical methods, emphasizing their different objectives and characteristics. Additionally, it discusses the significance of qualitative and quantitative approaches, detailing their respective techniques and applications in research.

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6 views12 pages

RM Module-2

The document outlines various types of research methodologies, including basic, applied, descriptive, analytical, empirical, qualitative, and quantitative approaches. It distinguishes between applied and fundamental research, as well as descriptive and analytical methods, emphasizing their different objectives and characteristics. Additionally, it discusses the significance of qualitative and quantitative approaches, detailing their respective techniques and applications in research.

Uploaded by

sus.dmcecivil
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Research Methodology

Module 2: Types of Research


Contents
Module 2: Types of Research

2.1. Basic Research


2.2. Applied Research
2.3. Descriptive Research
2.4. Analytical Research
2.5. Empirical Research
2.6 Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches

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Types of Research
1. Applied Vs. Fundamental

 Research can either be applied (action) research or fundamental (basic


or pure) research. Applied research aims at finding a solution for an
immediate problem facing a society or an organisation, whereas
fundamental research is mainly concerned with generalisations and with
the formulation of a theory.

 The central aim of applied research is to discover a solution for some


pressing practical problem, whereas basic research is directed towards
finding information that has a broad base of applications and thus, adds
to the already existing organized body of scientific knowledge.

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 “Gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake is termed ‘pure’ or ‘basic’ research.”
Research concerning some natural phenomenon or relating to pure mathematics
are examples of fundamental research. Similarly, research studies, concerning
human behaviour carried on with a view to make generalisations about human
behaviour, are also examples of fundamental research.

 Research aimed at certain conclusions (say, a solution) facing a concrete social


or business problem is an example of applied research. Research to identify
social, economic or political trends that may affect a particular institution or the
copy research (research to find out whether certain communications will be read
and understood) or the marketing research or evaluation research are examples
of applied research.

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2. Description Vs. Analytical:

 Descriptive research includes surveys and fact-finding enquiries of different


kinds. The major aim of descriptive research is description of the state of
affairs as it exits at present. The main characteristic of this method is that the
researcher has no control over the variables; he can only report what has
happened or what is happening. It may include attempts by researchers to
discover causes even when they cannot control the variables. The methods of
research utilized in descriptive research are survey methods of all kinds,
including comparative and correlational methods.

 In analytical research, on the other hand, researcher has to use facts or


information already available, and analyse these to make a critical evaluation
of the materials.
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3. Conceptual vs. Empirical

 Conceptual research is that related to some abstract idea(s) or theory. It is


generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or
reinterpret new ideas.

 Empirical research relies on experience or observation alone, often without


due regard for system or theory. It is data-based research, coming up with
conclusions which are capable of being verified by observation or experiment.
We can also call it as experimental type of research.

 In such a research it is necessary to get at facts firsthand, at their source, and


actively to go about doing certain things to stimulate the production of desired
information.

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 In Empirical research , the researcher must first provide himself with a working
hypothesis or guess the probable results. He then works to get enough facts
(data) to prove or disprove his hypothesis. He then sets up experimental
designs which he thinks will manipulate the persons or the materials concerned
so as to bring forth the desired information. Such research is thus characterized
by the experimenter’s control over the variables under study and his deliberate
manipulation of one of them to study its effects.

 Empirical research is appropriate when proof is sought that certain variables


affect other variables in some way. Evidence gathered through experiments or
empirical studies is today considered to be the most powerful support possible
for a given hypothesis.

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4. Quantitative vs. Qualitative:

 Quantitative research is based on the measurement of quantity or amount. It is


applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity.

 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
behaviour (i.e., why people think or do certain things), we quite often talk of
‘Motivation Research’, an important type of qualitative research. This type of
research aims at discovering the underlying motives and desires, using in depth
interviews for the purpose.
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.
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Qualitative research is specially important in the behavioural sciences
where the aim is to discover the underlying motives of human behaviour.
Through such research we can analyse the various factors which motivate
people to behave in a particular manner or which make people like or dislike a
particular thing.

It may be stated, however, that to apply qualitative research in practice is


relatively a difficult job and therefore, while doing such research, one should
seek guidance from experimental psychologists.

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Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches

There are two basic approaches to research, viz., quantitative approach and
the qualitative approach.

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. This
usually means survey research where a sample of population is studied
(questioned or observed) to determine its characteristics, and it is then
inferred that the population has the same characteristics.

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Experimental approach is characterised 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 behaviour of a system (or its sub-
system) under controlled conditions.
The term ‘simulation’ in the context of business and social sciences
applications refers to “the operation of a numerical model that represents the
structure of a dynamic process.
Given the values of initial conditions, parameters and exogenous
variables, a simulation is run to represent the behaviour of the process over
time.”
Simulation approach can also be useful in building models for
understanding future conditions. 11
Qualitative approach to research is concerned with subjective
assessment of attitudes, opinions and behaviour. 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. Generally, the techniques of focus group interviews,
projective techniques and depth interviews are used.

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