Types of Research and their Purpose

Research can be broadly categorised into types according to the purpose of the research.

• Exploratory Research: Seeks to gain insight into new ideas, problems, and concepts with the intention of forming hypotheses. This type of research is usually in new areas of investigation. Exploratory research seeks information on a problem which is not clearly or fully understood.

• Descriptive Research: Describes in detail the characteristics of the units under investigation. It is more structured than exploratory research.

• Explanatory Research: Seeks to answer problems by looking at the “why” and “how”.  

• Comparative Research: This is an interdisciplinary research type that seeks to establish relationships between two or more phenomena by comparing the phenomena and providing valid reasons for comparisons. Comparative research is carried out on various levels being regional, national, or wider geographical boundaries based on a specific subject or area of interest. This type of research could also fall under some of the earlier categories of research mentioned above. 

• Evaluation Research: Is the systematic assessment, or appraisal of a process, program, practice, activity, or system with the purpose of gathering information for decision-making around whether it achieved the goal. It is one research type that is applied with the intent to have a real-world effect.