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BABCOCK UNIVERSITY
ILISHAN REMO
OGUNN STATE
NAME: BASSEY CHARLES

MATRIC NO: 20/0454
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
DEPARTMENT: INTERNATIONAL LAW AND DIPLOMACY
LEVEL: 300
ASSIGNMENT: HOW MANY TYPES OF RESEARCH DO WE HAVE?

LECTURER: PROFESSOR MICHEAL A. ONI
INTRODUCTION:
WHAT IS A RESEARCH
Simply put, research is the process of discovering new knowledge.

This knowledge can be either the development of new concepts
or the advancement of existing knowledge and theories, leading
to a new understanding that was not previously known.
According to the American sociologist Earl Robert Babbie,
“research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict, and
control the observed phenomenon.
TYPES OF RESEARCH
Researchers use different methods to achieve results while

testing theories and analyzing data. Analysts and researchers use
quantitative and qualitative research methods like focus groups,
interviews and surveys for data interpretation to cultivate a
better understanding of information. Selecting the best research
method to use can help a research professional achieve useful
results in their investigations.
Research is of different types. However, there are two major

types of research:
1) Fundamental Research: Fundamental, also known as basic
or theoretical, research is designed to help researchers
better understand certain phenomena in the world. It looks
at how things work but does not seek to find how to make
them work better.
2) Applied Research: Applied research is designed to identify
solutions to specific problems or find answers to particular
questions. It offers knowledge that is applicable and
implementable.
Other types of research are:
3) Action research: refers to examining actions, assessing their

effectiveness in bringing about the desired outcome and
choosing a course of action based on those results. It is
typically used in educational settings for teachers and
principals to perform a type of self-assessment and course
correction.
4) Causal Research: also called explanatory research, seeks to

determine cause and effect relationships between variables.
It identifies how much one variable may cause a change in
the other. Causal research is important for evaluating
current processes and procedures and determining if and
how changes should take place.
5) Comparative Research: Comparative research identifies

similarities and differences between two individuals,
subjects or groups.
6) Field research: occurs wherever the participants or subjects

are or "on location." This type of research requires onsite
observation and data collection.
7) Fixed Research: This involves procedures determined ahead
of time, such as how often testing will take place.
8) Flexible research: involves procedures determined ahead of

time, such as how often testing will take place, where it will
take place, the number of subjects and their types.
9) Qualitative research
Qualitative research involves non-numerical data, such as
opinions and literature. It uses descriptions to obtain the
meanings and feelings involved in a situation. Businesses often
use qualitative research to determine consumer opinions and
reactions.
Examples of qualitative research may include:
 Focus groups
 Surveys
 Participant comments
10) Quantitative research

Quantitative research depends on numerical data, such as
statistics and measurements, to investigate specific questions,
like who, what, where or when. The results are usually presented
in tables or graphs.
Types of quantitative methods include:
 Survey research
 Descriptive research
 Correlational research
Example: A car manufacturer compares the number of sales of

red sedans compared to white sedans. The research uses
objective data—the sales figures for red and white sedans—to
draw conclusions.
11) Exploratory research
Exploratory research examines what is already known about a
topic and what additional information may be relevant. It rarely
answers a specific question but instead presents the foundational
knowledge of a subject as a precursor to further research. Often,
exploratory research is applied to lesser-known issues and
phenomena.
Example: You may consider what is currently known about the

success of yearlong maternity and paternity leave programs. Your
research includes gathering all relevant information and
compiling it in an accessible format that wasn't available
previously. Your findings may reveal gaps in knowledge, leading
to additional studies in the future.
12) Deductive research

Deductive, or theory-testing, research is the opposite of inductive
research and moves from the broad to the specific. Researchers
choose a hypothesis and test its accuracy through
experimentation or observation.
Example: Researchers observed that 12 international
corporations enacted in-house carbon emissions standards in the
same year. They use deductive research to compare global
emissions levels before and after the measures were enacted.
13) Inductive research

Inductive research, also known as theory-building research,
collects data that may help develop a new theory about a process
or phenomenon. It examines observations and patterns and offers
several hypotheses to explain these patterns. Inductive research
is often the first step in theory generation and may lead to
additional research, such as deductive research, to further test
possible hypotheses.
Example: Researchers observed that worldwide emissions

declined when 12 international corporations enacted in-house
carbon emissions standards in the same year. The researchers
theorize that worldwide emissions can be reduced significantly if
international corporations impose in-house emissions standards.
14) Descriptive Research Studies

Descriptive research is a type of research that is used to describe
the characteristics of a population. It collects data that are used to
answer a wide range of what, when, and how questions
pertaining to a particular population or group.
For example: descriptive studies might be used to answer

questions such as: What percentage of Head Start teachers have a
bachelor's degree or higher? What is the average reading ability
of 5-year-olds when they first enter kindergarten? What kinds of
math activities are used in early childhood programs? When do
children first receive regular child care from someone other than
their parents? When are children with developmental disabilities
first diagnosed and when do they first receive services? What
factors do programs consider when making decisions about the
type of assessments that will be used to assess the skills of the
children in their programs? How do the types of services children
receive from their early childhood program change as children
age?
Descriptive research does not answer questions about why a
certain phenomenon occurs or what the causes are. Answers to
such questions are best obtained from randomized and quasi-
experimental studies However, data from descriptive studies can
be used to examine the relationships (correlations) among
variables.
References
Career Guide. October 1, 2022. Types of Research Methods (With Best
Practices and Examples). https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-
development/types-of-research-methods
Career Guide. March 11, 2023. Types of Research Methods (With definition
and Examples).
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/types-of-
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BABCOCK UNIVERSITY

NAME: BASSEY CHARLES

ASSIGNMENT: HOW MANY TYPES OF RESEARCH DO WE HAVE?

Simply put, research is the process of discovering new knowledge.

Researchers use different methods to achieve results while

Research is of different types. However, there are two major

Other types of research are:

3) Action research: refers to examining actions, assessing their

4) Causal Research: also called explanatory research, seeks to

5) Comparative Research: Comparative research identifies

6) Field research: occurs wherever the participants or subjects

8) Flexible research: involves procedures determined ahead of

10) Quantitative research

Example: A car manufacturer compares the number of sales of

Example: You may consider what is currently known about the

12) Deductive research

13) Inductive research

Example: Researchers observed that worldwide emissions

14) Descriptive Research Studies

For example: descriptive studies might be used to answer

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