1. TYPES AND METHODS OF RESEARCHBy
DR. K. K. BORAH

2. OVERVIEW OF THE PRESENTATION
CLASSIFICATION RESEARCH
PURE AND APPLIED RESEARCH
EXPLORING OR FORMULATIVE RESEARCH
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH

3. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
INCLUDES SURVEYS AND FACT-FINDING ENQUIRIES OF DIFFERENT KINDS.
Is a description of state of affairs as it exists at present
In social science and business research it is Ex post facto research.
the researcher has no control over the variables; he can only report what has happened or what is happening.

4. Ex  post facto research
Imagine a situation in which there has been a dramatic increase in the number of fatal road accidents in a particular locality. An expert is called in to investigate. Naturally, there is no way inwhich she can study the actual accidents because they have happened; nor can she turn to technology fora video replay of the incidents. What she can do, however, is attempt a reconstruction by studying the statistics, examining the accident spots, and taking note of the statements given by victims and witnesses.In this way the expert will be in a position to identify possible determinants of the accidents.

5. Cont..
These may include excessive speed, poor road conditions, careless driving, frustration, inefficient vehicles, the effectsof drugs or alcohol and so on. On the basis of her examination, she can formulate hypotheses as to thelikely causes and submit them to the appropriate authority in the form of recommendations. These mayinclude improving road conditions, or lowering the speed limit, or increasing police surveillance, forinstance. The point of interest to us is that in identifying the causes retrospectively, the expert adopts an ex post facto perspective.

6. Pure research
fundamental research is mainly concerned with generalisations and with the formulation of a theory
“Gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake is termed ‘pure’ or ‘basic’ research.”
Research concerning some natural phenomenon or relating to pure mathematics are examples of fundamental research.
Basic research is executed without thought of a practical end goal, without specific applications or products in mind.

7. Basic research lays the foundation for advancements in knowledge that lead to applied gains later on, occasionally as a result of unexpected discoveries.
Pure research is the source of most new scientific ideas and ways of thinking about the world.
Basic research generates new ideas, principles, and theories, which may not be immediately utilized but nonetheless form the basis of progress and development in different fields e.g Today's computers, for example, could not exist without research in pure mathematics conducted over a century ago, for which there was no known practical application at the time.

8. APPLIED RESEARCH
Applied research aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem facing a society or an industrial/business organisation
Applied research deals with solving practical problems and generally employs empirical methodologies.

9. Applied research refers to scientific study and research that seeks to solve practical problems. Applied research is used to find solutions to everyday problems, cure illness, and develop innovative technologies. Psychologists working inhumanfactors or industrial/organizational fields often do this type of research.

10. (iii) Quantitative vs. Qualitative: Quantitative research is based on the measurement of quantity or amount. It is applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity. Qualitative research, on the other hand, is concerned with qualitative phenomenon, i.e., phenomena relating to or involving quality or kind. For instance, when we are interested in investigating the reasons for human behaviour (i.e., why people think or do certain things), we quite often talk of ‘Motivation Research’, an important type of qualitative research.

11. (iv) Conceptual vs. Empirical: Conceptual research is that related to some abstract idea(s) or theory. It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or to reinterpret existing ones. On the other hand, empirical research relies on experience or observation alone, often without due regard for system and theory. It is data-based research, coming up with conclusions which are capable of being verified by observation or experiment.

12. EXPLORATORY research
Exploratoryresearch is research conducted for a problem that has not been clearly defined.
Exploratory research often relies on secondary research such as reviewing available literature and/or data, or qualitative approaches such as informal discussions with consumers, employees, management or competitors, and more formal approaches through in-depth interviews, focus groups, projective methods, case studies or pilot studies.

13. The results of exploratory research are not usually useful for decision-making by themselves, but they can provide significant insight into a given situation.