Research can be classified based on various criteria, including purpose, method, and approach.
(i) Descriptive vs. Analytical
Descriptive Research:
Purpose: To describe the current state of affairs.
Methods: Surveys, fact-finding inquiries.
Ex post facto research: Researcher has no control over variables; reports what has happened.
Examples: Frequency of shopping, people's preferences.
Methods utilized: Survey methods, comparative and correlational methods.
Analytical Research:
Purpose: To analyze existing facts or information for critical evaluation.
Method: Uses available data to analyze and evaluate.
(ii) Applied vs. Fundamental
Applied (Action) Research:
Purpose: To find solutions to immediate practical problems.
Examples: Marketing research, copy research, evaluation research, identifying social, economic, or political trends.
Central aim: Discover a solution for a pressing practical problem.
Fundamental (Basic/Pure) Research:
Purpose: To develop generalizations and theories; knowledge for knowledge's sake.
Examples: Research on natural phenomena, pure mathematics, human behavior generalizations.
Central aim: Finding information with broad applications, adds to scientific knowledge.
(iii) Quantitative vs. Qualitative
Quantitative Research:
Purpose: To measure quantity or amount.
Applicable to: Phenomena expressed in numerical terms.
Focus: Measurable data.
Qualitative Research:
Purpose: To explore qualitative phenomena (quality or kind).
Examples: Motivation research, attitude/opinion research.
Methods: In-depth interviews, word association tests, sentence completion tests, story completion tests.
Focus: Underlying motives and desires, behavioral sciences.
Difficulty: Requires expertise from experimental psychologists.
(iv) Conceptual vs. Empirical
Conceptual Research:
Purpose: To develop new concepts or reinterpret existing ones.
Method: Relies on abstract ideas and theories.
Usage: Primarily by philosophers and thinkers.
Empirical Research:
Purpose: To verify hypotheses through observation or experiment.
Method: Data-based, relies on experience or observation.
Characteristics:
Working hypothesis.
Data collection to prove/disprove hypothesis.
Experimental designs with variable manipulation.
Researcher's control over variables.
Focus: Proof that variables affect other variables.
(v) Some Other Types of Research
Time-Based:
One-time research: Conducted within a single time period.
Longitudinal research: Conducted over multiple time periods.
Environment-Based:
Field-setting research: Conducted in natural environments.
Laboratory research: Conducted in controlled laboratory settings.
Simulation research: research that uses models.
Approach-Based:
Clinical/Diagnostic research: Case-study methods, in-depth approaches.
Exploratory research: Development of hypotheses.
Formalized research: Testing specific hypotheses with structured methodology.
Historical research: Uses historical documents and remains.
Purpose-Based:
Conclusion-oriented research: researcher has freedom to explore.
Decision-oriented research: Research for decision-making (e.g., operations research).