Introduction:

1. pure or Basic research.

Pure research involves developing and testing theories and hypotheses that are
intellectually challenging to the research but may or may not have practical application at the
present time or in the future.1Also called basic research or fundamental research. It has the
scientific research aim to improve scientific theories for improved understanding of natural.2
It can be exploratory, descriptive, or explanatory. However, explanatory is the most common.
1.1 Definition of Basic Research
Basic research or otherwise called as pure or fundamental research. It is one that focuses on
advancing scientific knowledge for the complete understanding of a topic or certain natural
phenomenon. Primarily it is in natural sciences. When knowledge is acquired for the sake of
knowledge it is called basic research.
Basic research is completely theoretical on basic principles and testing theories. It tends tyo
understand the basic law.
Basic research deals with generalization of theory about human behaviour. It is aligned
towards collecting information that has universal applicability. Therefore, basic research
helps in adding new knowledge to the already existing knowledge.3
2. Applied research
Applied research is the practical application of science. It accesses and uses accumulated
theories, knowledge, methods, and techniques, for a specific, state- business, or client- driven
purpose. Applied research is contrasted with pure research (basic research) in discussion
about research ideals, methodologies, programs, and projects.4
Applied research deals with solving practical problems and generally employs empirical
methodologies. Because applied research resides in the messy real world, strict research
protocols may need to be relaxed. For example, it may be impossible to use a random sample.
Thus, transparency in the methodology is crucial. Implication for interpretation of results
brought about by relaxing an otherwise strict canon of methodology should also be
considered.5
2.1 Definition of applied research

1
Smit Prakash, Asociate Software Engineer at IBM (2016-present)
2 “What is basic research?” National Science Foundation. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
3https://keydifferences.com/difference-between-basic-and-applied-research.html
4 Nils Roll-Hansen, Why the distinction between basic (theoretical) and applied (practical) research is important in the

politics of science, (Damien Fennell: London) 2009 p. 4

5 Coombs, C. (2017). Coherence and transparency: some advice for qualitative researchers. Production, 27, e20170068.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0103-6513.006817
 Applied research can be defined as research that encompasses real life application of the
natural science. It is directed towards providing a solution to the specific practical problems
and develop innovative technology.
In finer terms, it is the research that can be applied to real life situations. It studies a
particular set of circumstances, so as to relate the results to its corresponding circumstances.
Applied research includes research that focuses on certain conclusions experiencing a
business problem. Moreover, research that is aligned towards ascertaining social, economic
or political trends are also termed as applied research.6
3. exploratory research
Exploratory research means a research conducted for formulating a problem for more clear
investigation. Exploratory research is a research conducted for a problem that has not been studied more
clearly, intended to establish priorities, develop operational definitions and improve the final research
design. Exploratory research helps determine the best research design, data-collection method and
selection of subjects.7

When research aims to gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to acquire new insight into it in order to
formulate a more precise problem or to develop a hypothesis, exploratory studies (also known as
formulative research) come in handy. If the theory happens to be too general or too specific, a hypothesis
cannot be formulated. Therefore, a need for an exploratory research may be realized and instituted to
gain experience that may help in formulating a relevant hypothesis for more definite investigation.
3.1 Definition of Exploratory research
As the name implies, the primary objective of exploratory research is to explore a problem to provide
insights into and comprehension for more precise investigation. It focuses on the discovery of ideas
and thoughts. The exploratory research design is suitable for studies which are flexible enough to
provide an opportunity for considering all the aspects of the problem.
At this point, the required information is loosely defined, and the research process is flexible and
unstructured. It is used in the situation when you must define the problem correctly, identify
alternative courses of actions, develop a hypothesis, gain additional insights before the development
of an approach, set priorities for further examination. The following methods are used for conducting
exploratory research.8
4. Descriptive research
Descriptive research provides information about conditions, situations, and events that occur in the
present. It is also called statistical research. The main goal of this type of research is to descriptive the
data and characteristics about what is being studied. The idea behind this type of research is to study
frequencies, average, and other statistical calculation. Although this research is highly accurate, it
does not gather the causes behind a situation. Descriptive research is used to describe characteristics
of a population or phenomenon being studied. It does not answer questions about how/when/ why the
characteristics occurred. Rather it addresses the what (what are the characteristics of the population or
situation being studied.In addition, the conceptualizing of descriptive research precedes the hypotheses of
explanatory research.9

6
https://keydifferences.com
7
M.Saunders, Lewis, P., Thornhill, A. (2007) Research Methods for Business Students, 4th Ed, (Harlow: Pearson
Education)
8
https://keydifferences.com
9
PatriciaShields, and HassanTajalli. 2006. Intermediate Theory: The Missing Link in Successful Student
Scholarship. Journal of Public Affairs Education. Vol. 12, No. 3. P. 330- 334.
4.1 Definition of Descriptive research
By the term descriptive research, we mean a type of conclusive research study which is concerned
with describing the characteristics of a particular individual or group. It includes research related to
specific predictions, features or functions of person or group, the narration of facts, etc.

The descriptive research aims at obtaining complete and accurate information for the study, the
method adopted must be carefully planned. The researcher should precisely define what he wants to
measure? How does he want to measure? He should clearly define the population under study. It uses
methods like quantitative analysis of secondary data, surveys, panels, observations, interviews,
questionnaires, etc.10

5. Experimental Research

Experimental research is used in stings where variables defining one or more causes can be
manipulated in a systematic fashion in order to discern effects on other variables.Experiment is a
classical form of research that owes much to the natural sciences, social sciences, especially
psychology. It involves the definition of a theoretical hypothesis, selection of samples and
allocation of them to different experimental conditions, introduction of planned changes,
measurement on some variables and control of other variables.

5.1 Definition of experimental research

The term experiment means a systematic and logical scientific procedure in which one or more
independent variables under test are manipulated, and any change on one or more dependent variable
is measured while controlling for the effect of the extraneous variable. Here extraneous variable is an
independent variable which is not associated with the objective of study but may affect the response
of test units.

In an experiment, the investigator attempts to observe the outcome of the experiment conducted by
him intentionally, to test the hypothesis or to discover something or to demonstrate a known fact. An
experiment aims at drawing conclusions concerning the factor on the study group and making
inferences from sample to larger population of interest.

6. Diagnostic study

7. Evaluation of overall Research Design

Accurate and appropriate data collection analysis tools maybe difficult to find sometimes. Again,
since the purpose of the research objective seems to be limited and focuses on a more tangible issue
such as technology; this might limit participants interest in the research thus can cause setbacks in the
research process. Equally important is that access to vital information about the personnel department
might cause constraints in the research itself; as stated by Wolf (2010) it is common for researcher to
encounter accessibility difficulties during the data collection stages of their research.11
Finally, the research project is the first independent project carried out by the researcher of such
magnitude, although the author has written essays for up to three thousand words, but this may cause
inaccuracies in the overall research design.

10
https://keydifferences.com
11
F. Wolf, (2010) Enlightened Eclecticism or Hazardous Hotchpotch? Mixed Methods and Triangulation, Journal
of Mixed Methods Research, vol.4, no.2, pp.144-16
As data analysis and interpretation of data is concerned, the researcher will apply simple co-
efficient method by comparing between samples, the higher co-efficient reflecting higher
score and vice versa.12

8. Action research
action research had its involvement with practical issues, the kind of issues and problems, concerns
and needs that arise as a routine in the real world. This practical orientation remained a defining
characteristic of action research (see Gustavsen 2003). There are the following four defining
characteristics of action research.

Practical: It is aimed at dealing with real world problems and issues, typically at work and in
organisational settings.

Change: Both as a way of dealing with practical problems and as a means of discovering more about
change in social phenomena, is regarded as an integral part of research.

Cyclical process: Research involves a feedback loop in which initial findings generate possibilities for
change, which are then implemented and evaluated as a prelude to further investigation.

Participation: Practitioners are the crucial people in the research process. Their participation is active
not passive.
Within itself, action research includes two stages. In the first stage the research is carried out and in
the second stage practitioners apply knowledge generated from research. The two processes of
research and action are integrated. But this integration of research with practice limits the feasibility
of exercising control over the factors of relevance to research. The setting for research generally does
not allow the variables to be manipulated or controls to be put in place, because research is conducted
not alongside routine activity but actually as part of that activity (see Chandler and Torbert2003).
-
9. Historical Research
Historical research can be defined as the process of investigating past events systematically to
provide an account of happenings in the past. The purpose of historical research is to verify and
explain history of any area of human activities, subjects or events by means of scientific processes.13
The important aims for conducting historical research are (i) to reveal or uncover the unkown; (ii) to
answer questions which have yet been answered; (iii) to search and identity the relationship of past
happenings and their links with the present; (iv) to record and assess past activities and
achievements of individuals, agencies and institutions; and (v) to assist in the understanding of
human culture.14

10. Case- study Research.

12
S.M. Cavusgil, Das, A. (1997) Methodology Issues in Cross-cultural Sourcing Research – a Primer, Marketing
Intelligence and Planning Journal, vol.15, no.5, pp.213-220
13
M.Spilackova. (2012). Historical Research in Social Work - Theory and Practice. ERIS Web Journal, 3 (2), 22-
33.
14
B. L. Berg. (2001). Historiography and Oral Traditions. In Qualitative Research Methods for the Social
Sciences (4th ed.), pp. 210-224.
Case studyis a form of qualitative research that is focused on providing a detailed account of one or
more cases. For example, we may study a classroom that was given a new curriculum for technology
use.
10.1 what is a case study?

Basically, a case study is an in depth study of a particular situation rather than a sweeping
statistical survey. It is a method used to narrow down a very broad field of research into one easily
researchable topic.
Whilst it will not answer a question completely, it will give some indications and allow further
elaboration and hypothesis creation on a subject.
The case study research design is also useful for testing whether scientific theories and models work
in the real world. You may come out with a great computer model for describing how the ecosystem
of a rock pool works but it is only by trying it out on a real-life pool that you can see if it is a realistic
simulation.15

10.2 Definition of Case- study research

A case study is defined by Robson (2002) as „a strategy for doing research which involves an
empirical investigation of a particular contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context using
multiple sources of evidence.
Saunders et al. (2000) define case study as the progress in detailed, intensive knowledge about a
single case, or a small number of related cases. A case study is a detailed study based on the
observation of the intrinsic details of individuals or organizations that is not suitable as much of the
required sources of evidence do not exist, for example documentary analysis and suitable events for
observation. The case study approach has considerable ability to generate answers to the questions
why as well as what and how.

Epilogue:

15
C. Robson, (2002) Real World Research, 2nd Ed, Oxford: Blackwell