Different Types of Research

Descriptive Research: Analytical Research: Empirical Research: Qualitative & Quantitative Research: Applied and Basic (FUNDAMENTAL) RESEARCH

Research Types for thesis writing in UK

1. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH

Descriptive research design is a scientific method which involves observing and describing the behaviour of a subject without influencing it in any way. The descriptive research attempts to describe, explain and interpret conditions of the present i.e. “what is’. The purpose of a descriptive research is to examine a phenomenon that is occurring at a specific place(s) and time. A descriptive research is concerned with conditions, practices, structures, differences or relationships that exist, opinions held processes that are going on or trends that are evident. The results from a descriptive research can in no way be used as a definitive answer or to disprove a hypothesis but, if the limitations are understood, they can still be a useful tool in many areas of scientific research.

Descriptive research can be either quantitative or qualitative. It can involve collections of quantitative information that can be tabulated along a continuum in numerical form, such as scores on a test or the number of times a person chooses to use a-certain feature of a multimedia program, or it can describe categories of information such as gender or patterns of interaction when using technology in a group situation.

The main types of Descriptive Research Methods are:

a) Correlational Research b) Causal-Comparative Research c) Case Study d) Ethnography e) Document Analysis f) Analytical Method.

2. ANALYTICAL RESEARCH

Analytical or explanatory research is a continuation of descriptive research. The researcher goes beyond merely describing the characteristics, to analysing and explaining why or how the phenomenon being studied is happening. Thus, analytical research aims to understand phenomena by discovering and measuring causal relations among them. For example, information may be collected on the size of companies and the levels of labour turnover. A statistical analysis of the data may show that the larger the company the higher the level of turnover, although as we will see later, research is rarely that simple. An important element of explanatory research is identifying and, possibly, controlling the variables in the research activities, as this permits the critical variables or the causal links between the characteristics to be better explained. A variable is a characteristic of a phenomenon that can be observed or measured.

3. APPLIED AND BASIC (FUNDAMENTAL) RESEARCH

A standard classification of research divides projects into applied research and basic research. Applied research is a study that has been designed to apply its findings to solving a specific, existing problem. It is the application of existing knowledge to improve management practices and policies. The research project is likely to be short term (often less than 6 months) and the immediacy of the problem will be more important than academic theorizing. For example, you might be investigating the reorganization of an office layout, the improvement of safety in the workplace or the reduction of wastage of raw materials or energy in a factory process. The output from this type of research is likely to be a consultant’s report, articles in professional or trade magazines and presentations to practitioners. When the research problem is of a less specific nature and the research is being conducted primarily to improve our understanding of general issues without emphasis on its immediate application, it is classified as basic or pure research. For example, you might be interested in whether personal characteristics influence people’s career choices. Basic research is regarded as the most academic form of research, as the principal aim is to make a contribution to knowledge, usually for the general good, rather than to solve a specific problem for one organization.

4. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Looking at the approach adopted by the researcher can also differentiate research. Some people prefer to take a quantitative approach to addressing their research question(s) and design a study that involves collecting quantitative data (and/or qualitative data that can be quantified) and analysing them using statistical methods. Others prefer to take a qualitative approach to addressing their research question(s) and design a study that involves collecting qualitative data and analysing those using interpretative methods. As you will see in later modules, a large study might incorporate elements of both as their merits are often considered to be complementary in gaining an understanding in the social sciences. Referring to a research approach as quantitative or qualitative can be misleading, as a researcher can design a study with a view to collecting qualitative data (for example published text or transcripts of interviews) and then quantifying them by counting the frequency of occurrence of particular key words or themes. This allows researchers to analyse their data using statistical methods. On the other hand, a researcher can collect qualitative data with the intention of analysing those using non-numerical methods, or collect data that are already in numerical form and use statistical methods to analyse them.

5. EMPIRICAL RESEARCH

Empirical Research can be defined as "research based on experimentation or observation (evidence)". Such research is conducted to test a hypothesis. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (2nd Edition, 1989), empiric is derived from the ancient Greek for experience, ἐμπειρία, which is ultimately derived from ἐν "in" + πείρα "trial, experiment". Therefore, empirical data is information that is derived from the trials and errors of experience. In this way, the empirical method is similar to the experimental method. However, an essential difference is that in an experiment the different "trials" are strictly manipulated so that an inference can be made as to causation of the observed change that results. This contrasts with the empirical method of aggregating naturally occurring data. Among scientific researchers, empirical evidence (as distinct from empirical research) refers to objective evidence that appears the same regardless of the observer. For example, a thermometer will not display different temperatures for each individual who observes it. Temperature, as measured by an accurate, well calibrated thermometer, is empirical evidence. By contrast, non-empirical evidence is subjective, depending on the observer. Following the previous example, observer A might truthfully report that a room is warm, while observer B might truthfully report that the same room is cool, though both observe the same reading on the thermometer. The use of empirical evidence negates this effect of personal (i.e., subjective) experience.

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