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What Are the Different Types of Scientific

Research?
Thanks to scientific research, we’re able to recognize problems, invent solutions, and
come up with new ideas in every aspect of life. All types of scientific research begin as
hypotheses and observations, until they’re developed into findings, results, and plans for
further development.

From medical accomplishments to discovering new ways to construct existing models, in


order to improve ourselves and the world we live in, we need to use various types of
scientific research and research methods.

 
Experimental Research
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What Is Scientific Research?


There are many ways to define research. To put it simply, research includes gathering,
organizing, and implementing information in order to understand, explain, or prove a theory
or a topic. Even though research is vital in both scientific and non-scientific fields, one of
the most relevant and comprehensive types of research is scientific research.

If we were to discuss the history of scientific research, we would have to go back to the
beginnings of science and research itself. The earliest developments of these two terms
can be traced back to Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, somewhere from 3000 to 1200
BCE. The modern age of scientific research has seen amazing advances and achievements
in the past couple of centuries alone, and it will only continue to grow in the near future.

Scientific research uses a wide variety of scientific models, theories, and data collections to
find explanations for why certain phenomena occur in the real world. Whether through
experiments, case studies, or a focus group, scientific research can be executed in many
different ways. The end goal of scientific research is to broaden human knowledge.

Scientific research is important because it helps us understand how things work. In


addition, it further develops various areas of study, such as biology, chemistry, psychology,
medicine, and other fields. Moreover, scientific research helps solve pre-existing problems
and new ones that might occur in the future. Thanks to scientific research, mere
observations and theories can be transformed into practical learning and established facts.

 
Theoretical Research
Photo by Dan Cristian Pădureț on Unsplash

What Are the Types of Scientific Research?


There are many different types of scientific research, from quantitative and qualitative, to
mixed and explanatory research. Since it can be classified in numerous ways, the
classification mainly depends on the research method, data collection techniques, and of
course, the research problem.

Here are some of the most basic types of scientific research:

Quantitative and Qualitative Research


The main distinction of scientific research is between quantitative and qualitative research.

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