LEC-2 Types of Research

Type of Research
Type of Research
Purpose of Process of Outcome of

Research Research Research
Exploratory Analytical Quantitative Qualitative Basic or

Research Research Research Research Pure
Descriptive Predictive Applied/Action Research
Research /Causal Research
Research
Conclusive
Research
On the basis of purpose
1. Exploratory Research: This is conducted
when there are few or no earlier studies to
which references can be made for
information. The aim is to look for patterns,
ideas or hypotheses rather than testing or
confirming a hypothesis.
2. Descriptive Research: This describes
phenomena as they exist. It is used to
identify and obtain information on the
characteristics of a particular issue. It may
answer such question as:
Cont...
• What is the absentee rate amongst a
particular group of workers?
• What are the feelings of workers faced with
redundancy?
3. Analytical or Explanatory Research: This is
continuation of descriptive research. The
researcher goes beyond merely describing
the characteristics, to analyze and explain
why or how something is happening. It may
answer questions such as-
Cont...
• How can the number of complaints made by
customers be reduced?
• How can the absentee rate among employees
be reduced?
4. Predictive Research: Predictive research
goes further by forecasting likelihood of a
similar situation occurring elsewhere. It aims
to generalize from the analysis by predicting
certain phenomena on the basis of
hypothesized, general relationship. It may
attempt to answer questions such as-
Cont...
• Will the introduction of an employee bonus
scheme lead to higher levels of productivity?
• What type of packaging will improve our
products?
Predictive research provides ‘how’, ‘why’
and ‘where’ answers to current events as well
as similar events in the future.
On the basis of process
QUALITATIVE APPROACH QUANTITATIVE
APPROACH
Usage Find out what to investigate. Know what to investigate.
When research ideas are When research result are
needed. Emphasis on needed. Emphasis on
understanding. Focus on testing and verification.
understanding from Focus on facts and reasons.
respondents’ point of view.
Appro Flexible and informal. Do not Structured and formal.

-ach need to know in advance Must know in advance what
specific topics or questions- question to ask /area to
these should ‘emerge’. Small cover- they are ‘imposed’.
sample size Large sample size.
Cont…
Techni Unstructured interviews. Surveys- structured
ques Document analysis. interviews & questionnaire,
Particular observation. Non participant observation,
Diaries, Case-studies. Experiments, Tests.
Respo Explanatory and give depth Not explanatory and lack

nse verbal. Not easily depth. Mainly numerical, More
processed. easily processed, coded.
Outco Hypothesis and ideas. Results, Can be quantified,

me Interpretation more
objective
Cont...
• Qualitative and quantitative research
methods are not clear-cut nor mutually
exclusive- most research draws on both
methods.
• Both approaches can generate quantitative
and qualitative data.
• The difference between the two methods is
in the overall emphasis and objectives of the
study.
On the basis of outcome
1. APPLIED RESEARCH:- Applied research is
problem oriented as the research is carried out
to solve a specific problem that requires a
decision. E.g. the improvement of safety in
the workplace.
2. BASIC RESEARCH:- Basic research is called
fundamental or pure research and is conducted
primarily to improve our understanding of
general issues, without any emphasis on its
immediate application. E.g. invention of TQM
and invention of Herzberg’s theory of
motivation.
Some other types of research..
 One-time Research – It confined to a single time period.
 Longitudinal Research– It carried on over several time
periods.
 Diagnostic Research – It is also called clinical research
which aims at identifying the causes of a problem,
frequency with which it occurs and the possible solutions
for it.
 Historical Research – It is the study of past records and
other information sources, with a view to find the origin
and development of a phenomenon and to discover the
trends in the past, in order to understand the present and
to anticipate the future
Criteria of Good Research
• The purpose of research should be clearly defined.
• The research procedure used should be described in
sufficient detail to permit another researcher to
repeat the research for further advancement,
keeping the continuity of what has already been
attained.
• Research design should be carefully planned to yield
the results as accurate as possible.
• The analysis of data should be sufficiently adequate
to reveal its significance and methods of analysis
used should be appropriate.
• The validity and reliability of data should be checked
carefully.
• Reliability
• Validity
• Generalisablity
Approaches
to the
Research
Deductive Approach
• Deductive reasoning works from the more

general to the more specific. It is a "top-down"
approach. We might begin with thinking up a
theory about our topic of interest. We then
narrow that down into more specific hypotheses
that we can test. We narrow down even further
when we collect observations to address the
hypotheses. This ultimately leads us to be able to
test the hypotheses with specific data -- a
confirmation (or not) of our original
theories.
Inductive Approach
• Inductive reasoning works the other way,

moving from specific observations to broader
generalizations and theories. This is a "bottom
up" approach. In inductive reasoning, we begin
with:
• specific observations and measures,
• begin to detect patterns and regularities,
• formulate some tentative hypotheses that we
can explore, and finally end up developing
some general conclusions or theories.

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Type of Research

Purpose of Process of Outcome of

Exploratory Analytical Quantitative Qualitative Basic or

Appro Flexible and informal. Do not Structured and formal.

Respo Explanatory and give depth Not explanatory and lack

Outco Hypothesis and ideas. Results, Can be quantified,

• Deductive reasoning works from the more

• Inductive reasoning works the other way,

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