Introduction to Social Science Research

Types of research

• Application:
• Pure (‘blue sky’) research
• Applied research
• Objectives:
• Descriptive: descibes the research object systematically
• Correlational: discovers relationship/association/interdependence between research objects or factors
• Explanatory: explaines the relationship between variables
• Exploratory: explores a research field that is undiscovered. If it succeeds, other types of research could follow.
• Inquiry mode
• Qualitative: unstructured, flexible process, more able to explore or explain
• Quantitative: structured, strict process, more able to measure, quantify, compare and describe