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Different types of research - Coggle Diagram
Different types of research
Exploratory Research
When conducting research, an exploratory study is conducted to look into questions that have not been thoroughly researched before. It is common for exploratory studies to be qualitative. One can do a quantitative study in an exploratory fashion with a large sample size. Given its adaptability and open-endedness, it is also known as interpretive research or a grounded theory method.
Mixed Research
Mixed methods research involves the use of more than one approach to or method of design, data collection or data analysis within a single program of study, with integration of the different approaches or methods occurring during the program of study, and not just at its concluding point
Quantitative research
Quantitative research depends on numerical data, such as statistics and measurements. For example, a car manufacturer may compare the number of sales of red sedans compared to white sedans. The research uses objective data—the sales figures for red and white sedans—to draw conclusions.
Applied research
Applied research is designed to identify solutions to specific problems or find answers to specific questions. The research is meant to offer knowledge that is applicable and implementable. For instance, applied research may include a study on ways to increase student involvement in the classroom. This research focuses on a defined problem and is solution-based.
Qualitative research
Qualitative research involves nonnumerical data, such as opinions and literature. Examples of qualitative data may include: Businesses often use qualitative research to determine consumer opinions and reactions. For instance, a marketing organization may present a new commercial to a focus group before airing it publicly to receive feedback. The company collects nonnumerical data—the opinions of the focus group participants—to make decision.
Fundamental research
Fundamental, or basic, research is designed to help researchers better understand certain phenomena in the world; it looks at how things work. This research attempts to broaden your understanding and expand scientific theories and explanations. For example, fundamental research could include a company's study of how different product placements affect product sales. This study provides information and is knowledge-based.
Laboratory research
Laboratory research takes place in a controlled laboratory setting rather than in the field. Often, the study demands strict adherence to certain conditions, such as elimination of variables or timing conditions. Laboratory research includes chemical experimentation and pharmacological research.
Mixed research
Mixed research includes both qualitative and quantitative data. Consider the car manufacturer comparing sedan sales. The company could also ask car buyers to complete a survey after buying a red or white sedan that asks how much the color impacted their decision and other opinion-based questions.
Field research
Field research takes place wherever the participants or subjects are, or "on location." This type of research requires onsite observation and data collection. For instance, a manufacturing plant may hire an environmental engineering firm to test the air quality at the plant to ensure it complies with all health and safety requirements. The researchers would travel to the plant to collect samples.
Fixed research
Fixed research involves experiment procedures that are determined ahead of time, such as how often testing will take place, where testing will take place, number of subjects and types of subjects. The research depends on precise conditions and compliance with predetermined protocols to reduce variables. Generally, fixed research is more reliable and replicable than flexible research.
Longitudinal research
Longitudinal research focuses on how certain measurements change over time without manipulating any variables. For instance, a researcher may examine if and how employee satisfaction changes in the same employees after one year, three years and five years with the same company.
Cross-sectional research
Cross-sectional research studies a group or subgroup at one point in time. Participants are generally chosen based on certain shared characteristics, such as age, gender or income, and researchers examine the similarities and differences within groups and between groups. The group is often used as a representation of a larger population. Similar to longitudinal research, researchers observe participants without altering variables.
Flexible Research
Flexible research allows procedures to change throughout the course of the experiment. The different types of flexible research include:
Case studies: Case studies are in-depth analyses and observations about a specific individual or subject.
Ethnographic studies: Ethnographic studies are in-depth analyses and observations about a group of people.
Grounded theory studies: Grounded theory studies are designed to develop theories based on carefully collected and analyzed data.
Action research
Action research refers to the process of examining your actions, assessing their effectiveness in bringing about the desired outcome and choosing a course of action based on your results. Action research is typically used in educational settings for teachers and principals to perform a type of self-assessment and course correction.
Comparative research
Comparative research is designed to identify similarities and differences between two individuals, subjects or groups. For instance, an owner may review new hire training documentation and discover that new employees are receiving much of the same training at orientation and their initial departmental training. The owner may decide to incorporate all of the similar training into orientation documents to allow more time for department-specific training.
Policy research
Policy research is designed to examine the effects of current government or social policies or predict the potential effects of proposed policies as those effects relate to the distribution or redistribution of resources. Policy researchers often work within government agencies and conduct the following types of studies:
Cost analysis
Cost-benefit analysis
Needs analysis
Program evaluation
Classification research
Classification research seeks to identify and classify individual elements of a group into larger groups or subgroups. For example, biologists research animals and place them in defined categories based on shared characteristics, such as:
Type of habitat
Body segmentation
Reproductive methods
Diet
Comparative research
Comparative research is designed to identify similarities and differences between two individuals, subjects or groups. For instance, an owner may review new hire training documentation and discover that new employees are receiving much of the same training at orientation and their initial departmental training. The owner may decide to incorporate all of the similar training into orientation documents to allow more time for department-specific training.
Causal research
Causal research, also called explanatory research, seeks to determine cause and effect relationships between variables. This research is designed to identify how much one variable may cause a change in the other. Causal research is important for evaluating current processes and procedures and determining if and how changes should take place.
Inductive research
Inductive research, also known as theory-building research, is designed to collect data that may help develop a new theory about a process or phenomenon. This type of research examines observations and patterns and offers several hypotheses to explain these patterns. Inductive research moves from the specific to the general.
Deductive research
Deductive, or theory-testing, research is the opposite of inductive research and moves from the broad to the specific. Researchers choose a hypothesis and test its accuracy through experimentation or observation.