TYPES OF RESEARCH

Classification of Research

Research can be classified in different ways based on the following:

o Purpose
o Method of analysis
o Type

These broad classifications are not necessarily mutually exclusive and a researcher can use more than one.
From these classifications, the following four broad types of research can be identified.

1) Exploratory research

It is undertaken when few or no previous studies exist. The aim is to look for patterns,
hypotheses or ideas that can be tested and will form the basis for further research. Typical
research techniques would include case studies, observation and reviews of previous related studies
and data.

2) Descriptive research

It can be used to identify and classify the elements or characteristics of the subject. Quantitative
techniques are most often used to collect, analyze and summarize data. It includes surveys and
fact finding enquiries of different kinds. Its major purpose is to describe the state of affairs as it exists
at present. The term ex-post facto is often used for descriptive research studies in social science and
business research. The researcher has no control over the variables. He can only report what has
happened or what is happening.

3) Analytical research

It often extends the descriptive approach to suggest or explain why or how something is
happening e.g. underlying causes of industrial action. An important feature of this type of
research is in locating and identifying the different factors (or variables) involved. The
researcher has to use facts or information already available and analyze these to make a critical
evaluation of the material.
 4) Predictive research
Its aim is to speculate intelligently on future possibilities based on close analysis of available
evidence of cause and effect e.g. predicting when and where future industrial action might take
place.

Within these four broad types of research, other types of research can be identified depending on the
approaches used to carry out the research. These further types are as follows.

a) Qualitative and Quantitative research

Qualitative research involves examining and reflecting on the less tangible aspects of a
research subject e.g. values, attitudes, perceptions, attributes etc. It includes designs,
techniques and measures that do not produce discrete numerical data. More often the data
are in the form of words rather than numbers and these words are often grouped into
categories. Though this type of research can be easier to start, it can be often difficult to interpret
and present the findings. The findings can also be challenged more easily.
There are three methods used to collect qualitative data. These are:
o Direct observation → where the required behaviour is observed in a particular
setting.
o Participant observation → where data are collected by an observer who is a
regular, full time participant in the activities being observed. The researcher
compiles data through long term interaction with the subjects in the context of their
everyday lives.
o Interview method → this is face-to-face interaction between the researcher and the
subjects. The researcher uses an interview schedule.

Quantitative research emphasizes on collecting and analyzing numerical data. It

concentrates on measuring the scale, range, frequency etc of phenomena. It includes
designs, techniques and measures that produce discrete numerical or quantifiable data. This
type of research, although harder to design initially, is usually highly detailed and structured
and results can be easily collated and presented statistically.

b) Causal-comparative research

This is used to explore relationships between variables. The main purpose is therefore to
 determine reasons or causes for the current status of the phenomenon under study. In this
research the variable can not be manipulated as is the case with experimental research. This
research is at times called ex-post facto research because causes are studied after they have
exerted their effects on another variable
c) Basic and Applied research
Basic research is also called Pure or Fundamental research. The primary aim of basic research
is to improve knowledge generally, without any particular applied purpose in mind at the
outset. A basic researcher is normally motivated by intellectual curiosity and need to come up
with a particular solution. Another focus of basic research is to generate new knowledge in order
to refine and expand existing theories. Basic research is usually, but not always, conducted in
controlled laboratory situations. In basic research, there is no consideration of the practical
application of the findings to actual problems or situations.

Applied research is conducted for the purpose of applying or testing theory and
evaluating its usefulness in solving problems. It is designed from the start to apply its
findings to a particular situation.

d) Action and Evaluation research

Action research is conducted with the primary intention of solving a specific, immediate and
concrete problem in a local setting e.g. investigating ways of overcoming water shortage
in a given area.

Evaluation research is a systematic process of collecting and analyzing data in order to make
decisions. It is thus a process of determining whether the intended results were realized.
Types of evaluation research
i. Needs assessment
A need is a discrepancy between an existing set of conditions and a desired set of
conditions. The results of needs assessment study provide the foundation for developing
new programmes and for making changes in existing ones.
ii. Formative evaluation
Helps to collect data about a programme while it is still being developed e.g. an
 educational programme, a marketing strategy etc.
iii. Summative evaluation
It is done after the programme has been fully developed. It is conducted to evaluate how
worthwhile the final programme has been especially compared to similar programmes.

e) Survey and Historical research

A survey is an attempt to collect data from members of a population in order to determine the
current status of that population with respect to one or more variables. Survey research
is thus a self-report study which requires the collection of quantifiable information from the
sample. It could be descriptive, exploratory or involving advanced statistical analysis e.g. a
market research used to evaluate the acceptance and use of a product.

Historical research is the study of a problem that requires collecting information from the past.
It involves studying, understanding and experiencing past events. Historical research studies do
not gather data by administering instruments to individuals. It seeks data that is already
available. It consists of locating, integrating and evaluating evidence from physical relics
(objects), written records or documents in order to establish facts or generalizations
regarding past or present events, human characteristics or other problems in question.

f) Case studies
A case study is an in-depth investigation of an individual, group, institution or phenomenon. The
case under study is reviewed as an example of a class of events or a group of individuals.
The investigation therefore makes a detailed examination of a single subject, group or
phenomenon.

g) Deductive and Inductive research

Deductive research moves from general ideas / theories to specific particular situations. The
particular is deduced from the general situation e.g. a study on professionalism in broad
terms moving to what professionalism is to a particular person in a given field or industry.
Inductive research moves from specific particular situations to make or infer broad general ideas
/ theories.
 h) Conceptual and Empirical research
Conceptual research is related to some abstract idea(s) or theory. It is generally used by
philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or reinterpret existing ones.

Empirical research relies on experience or observation alone, often without due regard for
system and theory. It is data based research, coming up with conclusions which are capable
of being verified by observation experiment. It can also be called experimental type of
research. The researcher must first provide himself with a working hypothesis and then work to
get enough facts (data) to prove or disapprove his hypothesis.
NB: The above description of the types of research brings to light the fact that there are two basic
approaches to research. These are:

i) Qualitative approach
ii) Quantitative approach