Classification of Research
Whenever a researcher begins to conduct a study or research, type of research must be decided. Researcher should well aware of the advantages and disadvantages of the each type and choose the suitable for his or her study.
Four dimensions we should look for classification of research:
- Purpose of Research
- Uses of research
- How the time will be treated (time dimension)
- Research techniques (data collection) to be used
All above mentioned dimensions strengthen each other i.e. purpose of the research looks for certain techniques. Some studies uses very pure types but dimension reduces its complexity of research.
Purpose of Research:
If we ask from somebody that why you are conducting research? You will get number of different responses. Somebody responded that it’s my job; some might say that my boss told me to do that; some want to learn more on a particular topic; some may be curious about it. There are so many reasons to conduct a research for a researcher. Based on what the researcher trying to achieve, the purposes of research has been organized into 3 three groups i.e. 1) explore new topics; 2) describe social phenomenon, and explanation why something happened; Some studies may have more than one purpose but usually one purpose dominates.
Uses of Research:
Some researcher uses their studies for advance general knowledge but some use to solve a particular problem. Those who trying to understand the fundamental nature of social reality is engaged in basic research is also known by academic research or fundamental research. Some others are known by applied researcher they primarily focused to address a specific issue. They are engaged in social and economic problem to solve with plausible answers.
Time Dimension:
The third dimension of research is how we deal with the time. Some findings of the studies need to report in a specific span of time otherwise it loses its worth. Some studies are in running picture, it gives us the period of time to follow-up with events, people or sale products.
Research Techniques (data collection) used:
It is very obvious that a researcher collects data by using his or her own techniques which could be one or more. Such techniques are divided into two categories i.e. 1) quantitative “the data collected in the form of number”; 2) quantitative “it can be collected in the form of words or drawings or pictures”.
comment closed