Types of Research

Types of Research
Fundamental Vs Applied
 Fundamental/Basic research: Concerned
with generalizations and with the formulation
of a theory. Gathering knowledge for the sake
of knowledge. Also called pure/basic research
 Eg. Newton’s contributions, Einstein’s theory
of reltivity ...
 Applied research: Targeted at specific
practical questions. It aims at finding a
solution for an immediate problem.
 Eg. Study on post purchase experience of
customers
Types
Quantitative Vs Qualitative
 Quantitative Research: It is based on the
measurement of quantity/amount and is
applicable to phenomena that can be
expressed in terms of quantity. e.g.: Market
share, financial health of a firm, Attrition rate.
 Qualitative Research: Concerned with
qualitative phenomena e.g. A study on
customer satisfaction among mobile users.
Types
Descriptive Vs Analytical
 Descriptive Research: The purpose is
description of the state of affairs as it exists at
present. E.g.: Frequency of shopping.
 Analytical Research: The researcher has to
use facts or information already available, and
analyze these to make a critical evaluation of
the material e.g.: An analysis of job
performance of employees across different
age groups,
Types
Conceptual Vs Empirical
 Conceptual Research: It is used by
philosophers and thinkers to develop new
concepts or to interpret existing ones.
 Relationship between customer satisfaction
and service quality
 Empirical/Experimental Research: It relies
on experience or observation alone, often
without due regard for system and theory.
 Relationship between soil fertility and crop
yield
Types
Explanatory Vs Diagnostic
 Explanatory Research: attempts to explain
the reasons for the phenomena that the
descriptive study only observed.
 Eg. Problems in rural development
 Studies on human psychology
 Clinical or Diagnostic Research: They
follow case-study methods or in-depth
approaches to reach the basic causal
relationships.
 Eg. Are Rural people more suitable for
manning rural bank branches?
Types
Exploratory Vs Conclusive
 Exploratory Research: The objective is the
development of hypotheses rather than their testing
 For example, if you wanted to study how to get students
to use the computer lab in a college environment, you
might first have to do exploratory research to figure out
which students might need the lab and what appeals to
them
 Conclusive Research: Meant to provide information
that is useful in reaching conclusions or decision-making.
It tends to be quantitative in nature, it will also test
hypothesis. Conclusive research can be sub-divided into
two major categories: 1.   Descriptive or statistical
research, and   2.    Causal research
Types
One-time Vs Logitudinal
 One-Time Research: research is confined to a single time
period.
 Longitudinal Research: research is carried on over
several time-periods

Field Setting Vs Historical

 Field setting or Laboratory Research: Depending upon
the environment in which research is carried out. e.g.: Case
study research in a single industrial organization.
 Historical Research: utilizes historical sources like
documents, remains etc. to study events or ideas of the
past, including the philosophy of persons and groups at any
remote point of time.
Values and Cost of Information