Types of Research Presentation PDF

TYPES OF RESEARCH: AN OVERVIEW A BRIEF GUIDE WITH EXAMPLES INTRODUCTION Research is a systematic investigation aimed at discovering and interpreting facts, developing new theories, or solving problems. Understanding different types of research is crucial for selecting the appropriat...

TYPES OF RESEARCH: AN OVERVIEW A BRIEF GUIDE WITH EXAMPLES INTRODUCTION Research is a systematic investigation aimed at discovering and interpreting facts, developing new theories, or solving problems. Understanding different types of research is crucial for selecting the appropriate methodology for a study. BASIC RESEARCH Definition: Focuses on expanding fundamental knowledge without immediate practical application. Objective: To gain a deeper understanding of fundamental principles without immediate application in mind. Example: Investigating the properties of a new material at a molecular level, understanding human memory Prerequisite: A strong theoretical background in the subject area. APPLIED RESEARCH Definition: Aims to solve specific, practical problems and improve real-world conditions. Example: Developing a vaccine for a newly emerged virus. Prerequisite: Knowledge of practical problems and existing solutions. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH Definition: Involves collecting and analyzing numerical data to identify patterns, relationships, or trends. Data Collection Methods: Surveys with closed-ended questions, experiments, secondary data analysis, and structured observations. Data Type: Numerical data that can be measured and analyzed statistically. Analysis: Statistical methods to test hypotheses, determine relationships, and generalize findings. Purpose: To measure variables, test theories, and make predictions based on data. Example: Conducting a nationwide survey to assess public opinion on climate change, assessing market trends Prerequisite: Familiarity with statistical analysis and data collection methods.  QUALITATIVE RESEARCH Definition: Explores phenomena through non-numerical data, focusing on understanding experiences, concepts, or social contexts. Data Collection Methods: Interviews, focus groups, observations, content analysis, and case studies. Data Type: Non-numerical data such as words, images, or objects. Analysis: Identifying patterns, themes, and narratives. Purpose: To gain deep insights into attitudes, beliefs, and experiences. Example: Interviewing participants to understand the challenges faced by remote workers during the pandemic. Prerequisite: Skills in interviewing, observation, and content analysis. Basis of Diff Qualitative Quantitative Approach Exploratory, subjective, and Confirmatory, objective, and context-specific. Focuses on generalizable. Focuses on depth and detail. breadth and numerical analysis. Data Open-ended and flexible, Structured and standardized, Collection often involving direct often using instruments like interaction with participants. surveys or tests. Data Thematic analysis, narrative Statistical analysis to test Analysis analysis, or content analysis hypotheses, identify to interpret patterns and correlations, and measure meanings. variables. Outcome Provides rich, detailed Provides measurable insights and understanding evidence and generalizable of complex phenomena. results for broader application. A study might use qualitative methods to explore a new area and develop hypotheses, and then use quantitative methods to test those hypotheses on a larger scale. EXPLORATORY RESEARCH Definition: Conducted to explore a research question or problem when there are few or no earlier studies to refer to. Example: A pilot study to explore the potential uses of AI in education, a study in which the goal is to determine the best way to treat a new type of cancer. Prerequisite: Flexibility in research design and openness to unexpected findings. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH Definition: Describes characteristics or functions of a subject without investigating cause-and-effect relationships. Example: A study that details the demographic profile of a specific population, academic performance of the students, their study habits Prerequisite: Ability to gather and accurately report data. EXPLANATORY RESEARCH Definition: Aims to explain the reasons behind a phenomenon or the relationships between variables. Example: Researching how economic conditions affect consumer spending behavior, your apologetic list of reasons for being late to your best friend's party. Prerequisite: Strong analytical skills to identify and interpret causal relationships. EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH Definition: Involves manipulating one or more variables to determine their effect on another variable, with a controlled environment. Example: Testing a new drug’s effectiveness by comparing a treatment group with a placebo group. A placebo group is a control group that receives a treatment or intervention that has no therapeutic effect. This is done to compare against the group receiving the actual treatment to determine if the treatment has a real effect beyond just the psychological impact of receiving a treatment. Prerequisite: Understanding of experimental design and control variables. NON- EXPERIMENTAL Definition: Observes and measures variables without RESEARCH any manipulation, often used in social sciences. Example: Studying the correlation between social media usage and mental health in teenagers. Prerequisite: Knowledge of observational study designs and correlational analysis. CONCLUSION Different types of research serve unique purposes, each requiring specific prerequisites for successful execution. Understanding these types helps in selecting the right approach for your research objectives. QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION Any questions or thoughts on the research types covered? Let's discuss your insights or clarifications. Testing a New Pain Medication Objective: To determine whether a new pain medication, "PainRelief-X," is more effective than a placebo in reducing chronic pain. Study Design: 1.Participants: 100 individuals with chronic pain are recruited for the study. 2.Random Assignment: The participants are randomly divided into two groups: 1. Treatment Group: 50 participants receive PainRelief-X. 2. Placebo Group: 50 participants receive a placebo, which looks and tastes like PainRelief-X but contains no active ingredients. 3.Blinding: 1. Single-Blind: Participants do not know whether they are receiving PainRelief-X or the placebo. 2. Double-Blind: The researchers administering the medication and assessing the results also do not know which participants are receiving PainRelief-X and which are receiving the placebo. 4.Treatment Duration: Both groups take their respective "medications" daily for 8 weeks. Results: Treatment Group: On average, participants report a significant reduction in pain compared to their initial levels. Placebo Group: Participants in this group also report some reduction in pain, but it is less pronounced and not as consistent as in the treatment group. Analysis: Researchers compare the pain reduction reported by both groups. If PainRelief-X leads to a significantly greater reduction in pain compared to the placebo, it suggests that the medication has a real therapeutic effect beyond what could be attributed to the placebo effect. If there is no significant difference between the two groups, it might indicate that PainRelief-X is not more effective than the placebo, or that any observed effects are not due to the medication itself. Conclusion: By using a placebo group, researchers can isolate the true effect of PainRelief-X from the psychological impact of taking a medication. This helps in determining whether the medication is genuinely effective or if the improvement seen is due to participants' expectations or other psychological factors.