Introduction to

research and its

types
S H A H A RYA R M A L I K 3 3 1 4 4
MUHAMMAD ALI 33426
ARSLAN AMJAD 33059
MEANINGS OF
RESEARCH
In simple words research means search
again.
Research is a scientific and systematic
search for the various information about a
specific topic.
It is a systemized effort to gain knowledge.
CHARACTERSITICS OF RESEARCH

Research is highly purposive.

Research is a systematic process.
Research requires patience and courage.
Research is based upon observation and
experiments.
Research is directed towards solution and
problems.
Types of research
There are two types of research that we are
going to discuss here.
QUALITATIVE RESEACRH
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
Quantitative data
Data sources include
◦ Surveys where there are a large number of respondents (esp where you have
used a Likert scale)
◦ Observations (counts of numbers and/or coding data into numbers)
◦ Secondary data (government data; SATs scores etc)

Analysis techniques include hypothesis testing, correlations and cluster

analysis
Analysing quant data
Always good to group and/or visualise the data initially 
outliers/cleaning data
What average are you looking for?
Mean, median or mode?
Spread of data:
◦ skewness/distribution
◦ range, variance and standard deviation
What quant researchers worry
about
Is my sample size big enough?
Have I used the correct statistical test?
have I reduced the likelihood of making Type I and/or Type II errors?
Are my results generalisable?
Are my results/methods/results reproducible?
Am I measuring things the right way?
 Qualitative research
Any research that doesn’t involve numerical data
Instead uses words, pictures, photos, videos, audio recordings. Field
notes, generalities. Peoples’ own words.
Tends to start with a broad question rather than a specific hypothesis
Develop theory rather than start with one
 inductive rather than deductive
This type of research refers to the
meaning,concepts,definations,characteristics of things.
Qualitative research focus on the quality of a thing.