TIME DIMENSION OF RESEARCH ii.
Secondary Research: Secondary research is defined as an
analysis and interpretation of primary research. The method of writing
a. Cross-Sectional Research secondary research is to collect primary research that is relevant to a
writing topic and interpret what the primary research found. For
In cross-sectional research. Cross-sectional research is usually instance, secondary research often takes the form of the results from
the simplest and least costly alternative. Its disadvantage is two or more primary research articles and explains what the two
that it cannot capture the change processes. Cross-sectional separate findings are telling us. In other words, secondary research is
research can be exploratory, descriptive, or explanatory, but it conducted to explain or refer or come up a concluding decision by
is most consistent with a descriptive approach to research. explain primary research.
b. Longitudinal Research
Researchers using longitudinal research examine features of 02. Classification based on data analysis:
people or other units at more than one time. It is usually more
complex and costly than cross-sectional research, but it is also i. Qualitative Research: Qualitative Research is primarily
more powerful, especially when researchers seek answers to exploratory research. It is used to gain an understanding of underlying
questions about change. There are three types of longitudinal reasons, opinions, and motivations. It provides insights into the
research: time series, panel, and cohort. problem or helps to develop ideas or hypotheses for potential
quantitative research. Qualitative Research is also used to uncover
Classifications of Research: trends in thought and opinions, and dive deeper into the problem.
Research could be classified into various categories based on the
subject matter, research methods, source of data to be used, types of
data to be used, objective of the research, purpose of the research, ii. Quantitative Research: Quantitative Research is used to
scope of the research etc. quantify the problem by way of generating numerical data or data that
can be transformed into useable statistics. It is used to quantify
attitudes, opinions, behaviors, and other defined variables – and
generalize results from a larger sample population. Quantitative
01. Classification based on the source of data: Research uses measurable data to formulate facts and uncover patterns
in research. Quantitative data collection methods are much more
i. Primary Research: Primary research is defined as factual,
structured than Qualitative data collection methods.
firsthand study written by a person who was part of the study. The
methods vary on how researchers run an experiment or study, but it
typically follows the scientific method. In other words, primary
research is the original research. 03. Classification based of purpose:
i. Theoretical Research: A non-empirical approach to research,
this usually involves perusal of mostly published works like
researching through archives of public libraries, court rooms and
published academic journals. In other words, we could state that, i. Diagnostic Study: Diagnostic research refers to studies that
theoretical research is research driven by curiosity or interest in a aim to quantify a test’s added contribution beyond test results readily
scientific question. The main motivation is to expand man’s available to the physician in determining the presence or absence of a
knowledge, not to create or invent something. particular disease.
ii. Evaluation Study: Evaluation is the systematic acquisition
and assessment of information to provide useful feedback about the
ii. Applied Research: The practical approach consists of the outcome of a project or intervention.
empirical (based on testing or experience) study of the topic under
research and chiefly consists of hands-on approach. This involves
firsthand research in the form of questionnaires, surveys, interviews,
observations and discussion groups. In other form we could describe 06. Classification based on application of research:
that, applied research is designed to solve practical problems of the
modern world. i. Action Research: Action research is either research initiated to
solve an immediate problem or a reflective process of progressive
problem solving led by individuals working with others in teams or as
part of a "community of practice" to improve the way they address
04. Classification based of the objective: issues and solve problems. It is conducted to find solutions to
problems in a specific context.
i. Exploratory Research: Research conducted for formulating a
problem for more clear investigation is known as exploratory research.
The primary objective of exploratory research is to explore a problem
to provide insights into and comprehension for more precise ii. Educational Research: Educational research refers to a
investigation. It focuses on the discovery of ideas and thoughts. The variety of methods, in which individuals evaluate different aspects of
exploratory research design is suitable for studies which are flexible education including: "student learning, teaching methods, teacher
enough to provide an opportunity for considering all the aspects of the training, and classroom dynamics". It is conducted to develop and test
problem. educational theory and derive generalizations.
ii. Descriptive Research: Research that explore and explains an 07. Classification based on target:
individual, group or a situation, is known as descriptive or concluding
research. It is concerned with describing the characteristics of a i. Problem Oriented Research: Research conducted by the apex
particular individual or group. It includes research related to specific private sector institutions / development agencies to identify
predictions, features or functions of person or group, the narration of development barriers of any sector is known as problem-oriented
facts, etc. research.
05. Classification based on the scope of research:
ii. Problem Solving Research: Research conducted by individual
organization to solve a problem faced by it is known as problem
solving research.
08. Classification based on the researchers:
i. Collaborative Research: Research conducted with cross
faculty / cross disciplinary issues is known as collaborative research.
This type of research team generally includes more than one academic
faculties / disciplines to get the study done. Biomedical physics could
be an example of such research field.
ii. Practitioner Research: Practitioner research addresses the
investigator, the setting, and the purpose. The investigator is the
practitioner, in workplace settings ranging from hospitals to schools
and communities. The general purpose is to better align the
practitioner’s purpose with their actions. There are those who argue
that practitioner research stems from a larger social justice movement
within qualitative research. Even when social justice is not the sole
motivating principle, an underlying commonality of purpose is the
desire to improve upon and develop deeper insights into one’s practice.
Practitioner research by its nature offers practitioners a voice in the
research conversation.
