TYPES OF

RESEARCH
MS. MARY GRACE L. SAGUN LECTURE 4
Types
of Research
1. Based on Application of Research Method
Is the research applied to theoretical or practical
issues? If it deals with concepts, principles, or
abstract things, it is a pure research. This type of
research aims to increase your knowledge about something.
However, if your intention is to apply your chosen research to
societal problems or issues, finding ways to make positive
changes in society, you call your research, applied
research.
2. Based on Purpose of the Research
Depending on your objective or goal in
conducting research, you do any of these types
of research: descriptive, correlational,
explanatory, exploratory, or action.
Descriptive Research This type of research aims at defining or giving a verbal portrayal or picture
of a person, thing, event, group, situation, etc. This is liable to repeated research because its topic
relates itself only to a certain period or a limited number of years. Based on the results of your
descriptive studies about a subject, you develop the inclination of conducting further studies on
such topic.

Correlational Research A correlational research shows relationships or connectedness of two

factors, circumstances, or agents called variables that affect the research. It is only concerned in
indicating the existence of a relationship, not the causes and ways of the development of such
relationship.

Explanatory Research This type of research elaborates or explains not just the reasons behind the
relationship of two factors, but also the ways by which such relationship exists.

Exploratory Research An exploratory research’s purpose is to find out how reasonable or possible it
is to conduct a research study on a certain topic. Here, you will discover ideas on topics that could
trigger your interest in conducting research studies

Action Research. This type of research studies an ongoing practice of a school,

organization, community, or institution for the purpose of obtaining results that
3.Based on Types of Data Needed.
The kind of data you want to work on reflects
whether you wish to do a quantitative or a
qualitative research.
QUALITATIVE
and
QUANTITATIVE
Qualitative research requires non-numerical data, which means that the research
uses words rather than numbers to express the results, the inquiry, or investigation
about people’s thoughts, beliefs, feelings, views, and lifestyles regarding the object of
the study. These opinionated answers from people are not measurable; so, verbal
language is the right way to express your findings in a qualitative research.

Meanwhile, involves measurement of data quantitative research. Thus, it presents

research findings referring to the number or frequency of something in numerical
forms (i.e., using percentages, fractions, numbers)

The data you deal with in research are either primary or secondary data. Primary
data are obtained through direct observation or contact with people, objects, artifacts,
paintings, etc. Primary data are new and original information resulting from your
sensory experience. However, if such data have already been written about or
reported on and are available for reading purposes, they exist as secondary data.
 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS

There are two broad categories of research methodology:

qualitative research and quantitative research. The research
method determines the approach the researcher takes in
identifying relevant data for the research, and collecting and
analyzing the information gathered in the research. Choosing
either a quantitative or qualitative approach will affect the
components of the research. For instance, a researcher may
choose to undertake a scientific research. If he or she takes a
qualitative approach, the goal of the study will be to discuss and
analyze the underlying concepts and theories related to the
research topic. If the researcher chooses a quantitative
approach, he or she will use statistical data to provide an
explanation of the phenomenon.
QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH
Polit and Beck (2004) define quantitative research as “the traditional positivist scientific
method which refers to a general set of orderly, disciplined procedures to acquire
information.” In their book,Nursing Research Principles and Methods, they explain that the
research method utilizes deductive reasoning to generate predictions that are tested in
the real world. It is systematic since the researcher progresses logically through a series
of steps, according to a prespecified plan of action.

Quantitative researchers gather empirical evidence that is within the realm of the senses.
The method used in the analysis of data is usually statistical in nature. Thus, the resulting
information from the study is usually quantitative or measurable. Furthermore, another
criterion used in assessing the data in this kind of study is its capability to generalize the
effect of the results to the individuals outside of the study participants.

However, a quantitative research has its disadvantages as well. Quantitative research is

considered to be limiting when it comes to studying the complex and diverse minds of
human beings. This is because quantitative research can only explain a small fraction of
the human experience (e.g., behavioral impulses and varying personal preferences). In
quantitative research,these human complexities are usually controlled or removed
entirely instead of being analyzed.The inflexible and narrow vision of quantitative
research tends to present the human experience in a restricted manner.
QUANTITATIVE
RESEARCH
Qualitative research is defined as the “naturalistic method of inquiry of research which deals with the issue of
human complexity by exploring it directly.” (Polit and Beck, 2008) Unlike quantitative research, qualitative
research puts an emphasis on human complexity and man’s ability to decide and create his or her own
experience. This type of research utilizes naturalistic methods of inquiry as the research places great emphasis
on the analysis of the experiences of the individual. This type of research attempts to explain the human
experience with its dynamic,holistic, and individualistic aspects through the perspective of the individual himself.
This type makes use of qualitative materials that are narrative and subjective.

Qualitative research focuses on gaining insights and understanding about an individual’s perception and
interpretation of events. This type of research collects data through methods such as interviews and
participative observation. The task of the researcher is to determine the patterns and themes in the acquired
data rather than focusing on the testing of hypotheses. A qualitative study researcher is not limited by existing
theories but is rather open-minded to new ideas and points of views. Lastly, the researcher does not have to be
concerned with numbers and complicated statistical analyses.

However, a major limitation of this model is its reductionist nature. Qualitative research tends to reduce human
experience to just the few concepts under investigation, which are defined in advance by the researcher rather
than the experience of the respondents. Another limitation of qualitative research involves the subjective nature
of naturalistic inquiry, which sometimes causes concerns about the nature of the conclusion of the study. Polit
and Beck (2008) poses the question, “Would two naturalistic researchers studying the same phenomenon in
similar settings arrive at similar conclusions?” They added that most naturalistic research studies usually utilize
a small group of people as subjects. This makes the findings from such naturalistic methods questionable, as
opposed to those of the quantitative research studies.
Differentiate Qualitative and Quantitative
Research
using this table.
Qualitative Quantitative
Research Research
 01
RESEARCH MEANING
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04
RESEARCH PRACTICE
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02
RESEARCH FEATURE
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05
RESEARCH INNOVATION
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03
RESEARCH PROCESS
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 01
RESEARCH MEANING
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CONTENTS 02
RESEARCH FEATURE
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03
RESEARCH PROCESS
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04
RESEARCH PRACTICE
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05 RESEARCH INNOVATION
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possible.
06
RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE
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of view as succinctly as possible.
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If y ou r c o nte n t is r ea l ly imp o rtan t a n d d i ffic u lt to s tre a ml in e , us e se g me n ta ti o n to si mpl y
so rt a nd re fi ne th e co nte n t, w h i ch w i ll ma ke th e lo g ic a l fra me w ork re la ti ve l y cl e ar. In o r de r
to ma ke yo u ha v e a mor e i n tu i tiv e fe e l in g of th e n u mb er o f w o rd s, a nd fu rth er ea s y to u s e,
w e h a v e se t th e ma xi mu m te x t, w h e n yo u en te r he re, i s o n th e ve rg e o f th e up p e r li mit o f th e
co n te nt o f th e p ag e , if the r e i s mor e c o nte n t, p l e as e re du c e th e fo n t si ze a s a p pr op r ia te, b u t
w e d o n ot re c omme nd th at yo u r te xt fon t s iz e i s l es s th a n 1 4 p ou n d s, p le a s e b e su re to p a y
a tte n tio n .
• If y o ur co n ten t is re al l y i mp o rta nt a n d d i ffi cu l t to stre a ml i ne , u se se g me n ta ti o n to s imp ly
so rt a n d r efi n e th e co n te n t, w hi ch w i ll mak e th e lo g i ca l fra me w o rk re l ati ve l y cl e a r. In or d er
to ma ke yo u h av e a mo re in tu iti ve fee l in g o f th e nu mb e r of w o rd s, a n d fu rth e r e as y to us e ,
w e ha v e s e t th e ma xi mu m te xt, w he n yo u e nte r h e re , i s o n the v erg e o f th e u pp e r l imi t o f
th e c o nte n t of th e p a g e, i f th e re is mo re co n te n t, p le a s e re d u ce the fo n t s iz e as
a p pr op r ia te , b u t w e d o n ot re c ommen d tha t yo u r te xt fo nt si ze i s l es s th a n 1 4 po u n d s,
p l ea se b e s u re to p a y a tten ti on .
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the title
• If y o ur c on ten t i s r ea l ly i mp ort ant
an d d iffi c ul t to s tre am li n e, u s e
s egm en tat io n to s i m pl y s or t an d
re fi ne the c on ten t, wh i c h w il l
mak e th e l o gi c al f ra me wor k
re l ati v el y c l e ar. I n o r der to ma k e
y ou ha v e a mo re i ntu i ti v e f eel i n g
of the nu mbe r of w o rd s , an d
fur the r ea sy to us e, w e h av e s et
the ma x i mum te x t, w he n y o u
en ter he re , i s o n t he v er ge of the
up per l i mi t of t he c ont ent of the
pa ge, i f th er e i s m or e c o nte nt ,
pl ea s e r ed uc e th e fo nt s iz e a s
ap pro pr i ate , b ut we do no t
re c om men d tha t y ou r tex t fon t
s iz e i s l es s tha n 1 4 p ou nd s,
pl ea s e b e su r e to pa y at ten ti on .
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of view as succinctly as possible.
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Your text has been concise and well-written, but the information is inextricably inextricable and
needs to be expressed in more words; but please refine the essence of your thought as much as
possible, and express your views appropriately, often with twice the result with half the effort.
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title
Your text has been concise and well-written, but the information is inextricably
inextricable and needs to be expressed in more words; but please refine the
essence of your thought as much as possible, and express your views
appropriately, often with twice the result with half the effort.
Thank you