Types of Research

 Types of Research

    1. Fundamental Research

Also known as basic or pure research.

This kind of research helps to generate new information in a fundamental fashion.

This is generally based on the principle of generalization. Sometimes, it can experiment in a laboratory also.

Fundamental research can take shape in two ways- either in the form of a new theory or development of some existing theory.

Darwin’s theory of evolution is an example of fundamental research. However, the later or alternative theories given by other researchers can also be considered to be fundamental research, for it builds on the fundamental theory.

    2. Applied Research

Theories developed by fundamental research are further applied to actual operational fields or population.

Applied research is useful because it provides convincing evidence to the usefulness of basic research or theory.

It aims at collection of data for verifying existing theories and models.

It helps to find a solution for real-life problems or situations. Adding to knowledge is not the only aim.

Marketing and medical research are examples of applied research.

    3. Action Research

As the name suggests, this kind of research is action-oriented.

It is undertaken to find an immediate solution to a problem. Sometimes, the researcher himself or herself can take action and sometimes an authority takes the necessary steps or action.

Testing the purity of water in an area and taking necessary steps, thereof, to improve the quality of water can be the example of action research.

    4. Descriptive Research

It is the description of the state of affairs as they are, in their own right. This means the researcher has no control over the variables. He or she should describe it as it is.

Some of the methods used for descriptive research are field surveys, case studies, and interviews.

Some also use the term ex-post facto research for this kind of research, especially in the case of business and social science research.

A qualitative study undertaken to learn about the preference of people to use toilets in rural India can be an example of descriptive research.

    5. Analytical Research

This is based on the use of information already available to the researcher and making an analysis using logic and reasoning.

This is usually an in-depth study. This works under a constrained set of variables.

This requires the use of critical thinking and evaluation.

A study conducted to find the reasons for the decline of a currency value can be the example of analytical research.

    6. Quantitative Research

Quantitative research is concerned with numbers. It is carried out to study a phenomenon that can be expressed in numbers.

Quantitative is usually deductive in nature and begins with a given theory.

Statistical concepts and software (such as STATA, R) are used to carry out this kind of research.

A study undertaken to find out the number of toilets built under Swaachh Bharat Mission is the example of quantitative research.

    7. Qualitative Research

Qualitative research is done to study the phenomenon that can be explained beyond numbers, that is, in a qualitative manner.

Qualitative is usually inductive in nature and begins with a social reality followed by the construction of the theory around it.

There is statistical software to study qualitative phenomenon as well. For example, SPSS is widely used to carry out large-scale qualitative research.

A study undertaken to learn about the experiences of children with cerebral palsy can be an example of qualitative research.

    8. Conceptual Research

Conceptual research is usually undertaken by philosopher or thinkers to reinterpret an existing idea. Although, some researchers use a conceptual framework to study business or market phenomenon also.

This kind of research doesn’t involve conducting experiments. It is abstract in nature.

Suppose a study finds out that the using social media over one hour a day can be linked to depression. This will be based on the conceptual framework formulated by the researcher and can be the example of conceptual research.

Other than that, theories of gravitation, evolution, and motion are also conceptual ideas or research.