Overview of Module

These types of research focus on the primary goal of the study—whether to explore, explain, predict, or solve problems.

a) Descriptive Research

§  Descriptive Research is a type of research that is primarily aimed at describing characteristics of a particular phenomenon, population, or situation without influencing or manipulating variables.

§  It focuses on answering the "who, what, where, when, and how" questions, rather than "why" questions.

§  Descriptive research does not involve manipulation of variables or experimental conditions. The researcher simply observes and records the characteristics of the phenomenon being studied.

§  The goal is to provide an accurate, systematic, and detailed picture (characteristics) of what is happening in a specific context or setting or population.

§  Methods: Surveys, case studies, observational methods.

§  Descriptive research is a vital tool in the research process because it helps researchers gather data on what is happening in the world, allowing for a detailed and objective snapshot of a phenomenon.

§  It is widely used in various disciplines and provides essential foundational knowledge, but it is limited in its ability to explain the causes of the phenomena observed.

§  If you're trying to understand what is happening, but not necessarily why, descriptive research is a great starting point.

§  Examples:

o   A study might describe the academic achievements, teaching methods, and learning environments of various schools to evaluate educational practices.

o   A company might conduct descriptive research to understand customer preferences, behaviors, and demographic profiles before launching a new product.

o   A researcher might gather data on the rates of smoking or alcohol consumption in a specific population to understand the current public health status.

o   Example: A survey of students' academic performance in different regions or schools.

o   A study might describe social behaviors, such as the patterns of social media usage among different age groups.

b) Analytical Research

• Analytical Research is a type of research that goes beyond describing phenomena (like in descriptive research) and focuses on analyzing and interpreting the relationships between variables or pieces of data.
• It involves using existing information to examine a topic in depth, identify patterns, and draw conclusions.
• Instead of just describing what is happening, it seeks to understand the "why" and "how" behind the phenomena.
• In analytical research, the goal is to interpret or analyze data often using existing information, to better understand underlying causes, relationships, or trends to make informed conclusions.
• Approach: Researchers use analytical tools to break down complex data into meaningful patterns or insights.
• Methods: Statistical analysis, data mining, comparative analysis.
• Example:
• Analyzing data on income disparity to understand its impact on health outcomes.
• A company wants to understand the relationship between customer satisfaction and sales growth. They collect data on customer feedback, sales figures, and marketing efforts, and use statistical analysis to explore any correlation or patterns.
• A research team analyzes patient data to understand the relationship between smoking and lung cancer. They use regression analysis to identify how smoking increases the likelihood of developing lung cancer, controlling for other variables like age and environmental factors.
• An educational researcher examines the impact of different teaching strategies on student performance. They compare scores from students using traditional methods with those using modern, technology-based methods to determine which approach is more effective.

c) Applied Research

• Applied Research is a type of research that is practical, problem-solving, and focused on finding solutions to specific, real-world issues or challenges.
• Unlike basic (pure) research, which aims to expand knowledge and theory, applied research directly addresses practical problems and aims to produce immediate outcomes or innovations that can be directly implemented or used in various fields like healthcare, business, education, technology, and more.
• By focusing on solving specific problems, it plays a critical role in driving innovation, improving practices, and shaping policies across a variety of fields.
• Whether it’s improving healthcare outcomes, enhancing business performance, or solving environmental issues, applied research helps translate theoretical knowledge into actionable insights.
• In other words, this type of research pursues potential solutions to human and societal problems. This research is more prescriptive in nature, focusing the "how" behind the phenomen.

• The primary aim of applied research is to solve a specific, practical problem or improve existing processes, products, or practices. It is action-oriented and goal-directed. It is focused on finding solutions.
• The findings from applied research are often directly used in practical settings. This could involve the development of new products, techniques, or policies, or the improvement of existing systems.
• Applied research often draws on knowledge from different fields or disciplines. For example, it might combine concepts from engineering, economics, psychology, and technology to solve a problem.
• Methods: Experimental research, case studies, action research.
• Examples:
• Research focused on developing new medications, vaccines, or treatments for diseases is applied research. For example, research into finding a cure for cancer or improving surgical techniques.
• Investigating why some Newgate University Minna students resume late and determining which factors most prominently affect student’s resumption so as to develop new management policies that will reduce late resumption on campus.
• Investigating which treatment approach is the most effective for reducing.
• Applied research can be used to develop new ways to address environmental challenges, such as finding renewable energy sources, reducing pollution, or conserving water resources.
• Applied research in business often involves studying consumer behavior, testing new marketing strategies, or improving organizational practices and customer service. For example, research might help a company improve its product design or optimize its supply chain.

d) Basic (Pure) Research

• Pure or Basic Research refers to scientific investigation that seeks to expand knowledge and understanding without any immediate or practical application in mind.
• It is concerned with answering "why" and "how" questions, rather than focusing on "what" or "how to" questions that have immediate practical applications.
• The primary goal is to gain deeper insights into how things work in the natural, social, or theoretical world. It is curiosity-driven and aims to contribute to the general body of knowledge. It aims to expand knowledge in a specific area.
• The research is interested in formulating and testing theoretical construct and propositions that ideally generalize across time and space.
• This type of research takes the form of a theory that explains the phenomenon under investigation to give its contribution to knowledge.
• While basic research may eventually lead to applied research (which is aimed at practical outcomes), it does not necessarily start with a specific goal or product in mind. Researchers are more concerned with knowledge for its own sake.
• The benefits of pure research are often realized over a long-time frame. It lays the groundwork for applied research and new discoveries that may later have practical applications.

• Methods: Observational studies, experimental methods.
• Example:
• Studying the genetic makeup of a species to understand biological processes.
• engaging in a research program to develop brain implants to help people with brain injuries and disorders requires initial research to be directed at learning how the medical issues are reflected in brain activity. If that can be determined, then perhaps advanced medical technology can be invented. But first, they have to find out more about how the brain works which is simply pure or basic research.

e) Exploratory Research

• Exploratory Research is a type of research conducted to explore an issue or topic when there is limited knowledge or understanding about it.
• The primary goal is to gain a basic understanding of the subject, identify key variables, and develop initial insights.
• It is used when researchers don’t have a clear hypothesis or when the problem is ill-defined and needs further investigation before more specific research can take place.
• Exploratory research is often the first step in the research process, helping to establish a foundation for further studies.
• It's flexible, open-ended, and not focused on testing hypotheses, but on uncovering ideas, patterns, or relationships.

• Purpose: To explore new areas where there is little prior knowledge. It helps identify variables, understand problems, and formulate hypotheses.
• Methods: Focus groups, interviews, pilot studies.
• Examples:
• Investigating the impact of social media on mental health.
• A company may conduct exploratory research to understand consumer preferences before launching a new product. Through focus groups and interviews, they could uncover unknown factors that influence buying decisions, such as sustainability concerns or desire for new features in the product.
• A researcher might conduct exploratory research on a newly emerging disease to understand its symptoms, how it spreads, or the effectiveness of different treatment approaches. This initial research could lead to more focused studies on potential cures or preventative measures.
• A tech company might explore new trends in virtual reality (VR) by speaking with users, developers, and industry experts to understand the potential for new VR applications, identify unmet needs, and understand the obstacles to adoption.
• Exploratory Research is an essential early-stage research approach that helps researchers understand a topic or issue when there's little prior knowledge.
• By using flexible methods like interviews, case studies, and literature reviews, it uncovers valuable insights and sets the stage for more detailed studies.
• Although it doesn't offer definitive answers, it provides a foundation for future, more focused research, helping to clarify research questions, identify key variables, and discover new areas of inquiry.

f) Explanatory Research (Causal Research)

• Explanatory Research (also known as Causal Research) is a type of research that goes beyond describing a phenomenon or exploring it.
• The central aim of explanatory research is to identify the cause of a problem or phenomenon and establish how one variable (the independent variable) influences another (the dependent variable).
• The primary goal of explanatory research is to understand the reasons why or how a particular event, behavior, or phenomenon occurs by investigating its underlying causes or factors.
• In contrast to descriptive research, which simply observes and reports on characteristics, explanatory research looks at why things happen or how certain variables influence each other.
• It typically involves testing hypotheses and may use more structured research designs such as experiments or statistical analysis to draw conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships.
• Approach: Often uses experimental methods or longitudinal studies to establish causal links.

• Methods: Controlled experiments, longitudinal studies, statistical testing.
• Examples:
• Studying how air pollution affects respiratory health.
• A clinical trial is conducted, with one group of patients receiving the drug and another group receiving a placebo. The researchers compare symptom changes and determine if the drug is the cause of improvement.