Research Types Simplified

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Exploratory Research

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Exploratory research is a type of research used to investigate a problem that is not well understood or to generate new ideas and insights. It is often the first step in the research process when there is little existing knowledge on a topic.

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Explanatory Research

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Explanatory Research is a type of research that seeks to explain the causes and relationships between variables. It goes beyond merely describing a phenomenon (descriptive research) or identifying correlations (correlational research) by attempting to establish cause-and-effect relationships.

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Correlational Research

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Examines relationships between two or more variables to determine whether they are associated. However, it does not establish causation. Methods include statistical analysis of data from surveys or existing records.

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Descriptive Research

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Focuses on describing characteristics of a phenomenon or population. It answers the "what" question but does not determine cause-and-effect relationships. Examples include surveys, case studies, and observational research.

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Purpose of Exploratory

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• Aims to understand a problem rather than provide conclusive answers.

• Uses flexible and open-ended approaches.

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Purpose of Explanatory

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• Focuses on the "why" and "how" behind a phenomenon.

• Often involves hypothesis testing.

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Purpose of Correlational

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Identify associations

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Purpose of Descriptive

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Detail observations

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Exploratory Example

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Pilot studies

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Descriptive Example

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Case studies