LIM, Cleo Mae S.

B.A. Politsc4

MWF/2:00-3:00/P208

Applied research is research that seeks to answer a question in the real world and to
solve a problem. Basic research is research that fills in the knowledge we don't have; it tries to
learn things that aren't always directly applicable or useful immediately.
Correlational research is an important form of educational and psychological research.
Some knowledge of correlational methods is important for both the consumption and conduct of
research.
Cross-sectional research is used by behavioral and social scientists to study
development and education. It is called cross-sectional because researchers recruit participants
from different sections of society. It involves measuring a common variable of interest that
differs across groups of people while controlling for other variables, including common
characteristics such as religion, martial status and ethnicity.
Descriptive research explores phenomena in their natural environment without using the
scientific method. Sometimes it is ethically impossible to use the scientific method to determine
causal relationships between variables.
Experimental research describes the process that a researcher undergoes of controlling
certain variables and manipulating others to observe if the results of the experiment reflect that
the manipulations directly caused the particular outcome. This type of research differs from a
descriptive study, and another one of its important aspects is the use of random assignment.
Causal research investigates the effects of a variable on other factors. Scientists and
market researchers often use causal research to verify the cause of a phenomenon or behavior.
They also use it to predict the effects of actions.
A longitudinal study, like a cross-sectional one, is observational. So, once again,
researchers do not interfere with their subjects. However, in a longitudinal study, researchers
conduct several observations of the same subjects over a period of time, sometimes lasting many
years.
A prospective study watches for outcomes, such as the development of a disease, during
the study period and relates this to other factors such as suspected risk or protection factor(s).
The study usually involves taking a cohort of subjects and watching them over a long period.
A retrospective study looks backwards and examines exposures to suspected risk or
protection factors in relation to an outcome that is established at the start of the study