Types of research M Tsvere

Why classify researches Study design depends greatly on the nature of the research question. knowing what kind of information the study should collect is a first step in determining how the study will be carried out

Classifications

Descriptive vs. Analytical Research Descriptive research also known as Ex post facto research Done to describe state of affairs as they exists at present Researcher has no control over variables Researcher just reports what is happening or what happened Used to measure frequency of ,.. Preferences of... Etc Or to discover causes usually use methods such as Surveys Fact finding enquires Comparative methods Correlation methods Analytic research Research uses facts and information already available Used to analyse, evaluate etc

Applied vs. Fundamental Research Applied or Action research to find a solution for an immediate problem facing society or industry or organisation Applied research, evaluation research – to discover a solution for pressing practical problem Fundamental Basic or pure research Concerned with generalisations and formation of theory- finding information that has abroad bas of applications adding to what scientific knowledge that already exists Gathering knowledge for knowledge sake is pure or basic research e.g. research concerning phenomena, relating pure mathematics, researching on human behaviour

Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research Quantitative Research Based on the measurement of quantity or amount Use to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity Qualitative Research Concerned with qualitative phenomena involving quality or kind- why people think like, behave like, do certain things- reasons for human behaviour attitudes, perceptions, discovering underlying motives, desires Uses methods like interviews, analyse, identify factors that motivate people to behave in certain ways

Conceptual vs. Empirical research Conceptual research Related to abstract ideas used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or interpret existing concepts Empirical research Relies on experience and or observation alone without due regard to system or theory, is data based research develop verifiable conclusions, hypothesis testing type of research, experimenter, researcher has control of variables under study Used when seeking for proof, causal studies

Field setting vs. laboratory research Depending on the environment in which the study is done Field setting Laboratory research

Clinical or diagnostic studies Depends on the depth of study Based on case study methods In-depth approaches probing with deep data gathering methods

Exploratory vs. Formalised Research Development of hypothesis more than their testing Formalised- studies with substantial structures with specific hypotheses to be tested

Historical research Utilizes historical sources such as documents, remains to study events of ideas of the past, philosophy or persons, groups at any remote point in time

Conclusion oriented and decision oriented Picks up conclusion of a study, redesign an enquiry Decision oriented research operations research is a good example as it provide executive departments with quantitative basis for decision making regarding operations under control.

Cross sectional vs. longitudinal studies Let’s say we want to investigate the relationship between daily walking and cholesterol levels in the body. One of the first things we’d have to determine is the type of study that will tell us the most about that relationship. Do we want to compare cholesterol levels among different populations of walkers and non-walkers at the same point in time? Or, do we want to measure cholesterol levels in a single population of daily walkers over an extended period of time?

Cross sectional vs. longitudinal studies Classification based on time required to complete the study Also known as cross-sectional analyses, transversal studies, prevalence study, censuses Cross sectional research- one off Researcher is confined to one single time period in which the research is done, or on one environment in which the research is done The defining feature of a cross-sectional study is that it can compare different population groups at a single point in time. Think of it in terms of taking a snapshot. Findings are drawn from whatever fits into the frame. used to describe, for example absolute risk, relative risks from prevalence, some feature of the population, such as prevalence of an illness, a support of inferences of cause and effect.

The first approach is typical of a cross-sectional study. The second requires a longitudinal study. To make our choice, we need to know more about the benefits and purpose of each study type.

Cross sectional studies To return to our example, we might choose to measure cholesterol levels in daily walkers across two age groups, over 40 and under 40, and compare these to cholesterol levels among non-walkers in the same age groups. We might even create subgroups for gender. However, we would not consider past or future cholesterol levels, for these would fall outside the frame. We would look only at cholesterol levels at one point in time.

Advantages of Cross sectional studies allows researchers to compare many different variables at the same time. We could, for example, look at age, gender, income and educational level in relation to walking and cholesterol levels, with little or no additional cost. The use of routinely collected data allows large cross-sectional studies to be made at little or no expense

Disadvantages of cross sectional studies may not provide definite information about cause-and-effect relationships. This is because such studies offer a snapshot of a single moment in time; they do not consider what happens before or after the snapshot is taken. Therefore, we can’t know for sure if our daily walkers had low cholesterol levels before taking up their exercise regimes, or if the behaviour of daily walking helped to reduce cholesterol levels that previously were high. are moderately expensive, and are not suitable for the study of rare diseases. Difficulty in recalling past events may also contribute bias.

Longitudinal study Like a cross-sectional one, is observational. So, once again, researchers do not interfere with their subjects. However, in a longitudinal study, researchers conduct several observations of the same subjects over a long period of time, over several time periods sometimes lasting many years or consisting of records

Longitudinal study The benefit of a longitudinal study is that researchers are able to detect developments or changes in the characteristics of the target population at both the group and the individual level. The key here is that longitudinal studies extend beyond a single moment in time. As a result, they can establish sequences of events. To return to our example, we might choose to look at the change in cholesterol levels among women over 40 who walk daily for a period of 20 years. The longitudinal study design would account for cholesterol levels at the onset of a walking regime and as the walking behaviour continued over time. Therefore, a longitudinal study is more likely to suggest cause-and-effect relationships than a cross-sectional study by virtue of its scope.

PURPOSES OF RESEARCH DRIVE DIFFERENT KINDS OF RESEARCH Grounded theory Ideology critique Interpretive research Literature-based research Meta-analysis Multi-level research Multiple regression Network analysis Observational study Accounts Action research Case study Comparative study Correlational research Covert research Descriptive research Discourse analysis Ethnography Evaluative research