Research Reviewer
answer questions related to science.
WHAT IS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH?
(1) it contributes to a body of science, and
(2) it follows the scientific method.
o The goal of scientific research is to
discover laws and theories that can
explain natural or social
phenomena, or in other words, build
scientific knowledge.
o The essential components of
scientific research are theory and
observations.
Scientific Knowledge
o Scientific knowledge refers to a
generalized body of laws and
theories that are used to explain a
phenomenon or behavior of interest
that are acquired using the scientific
method.
o Laws are observed patterns of
phenomena or behaviors, while
theories are systematic explanations
of the underlying phenomenon or
behavior.
Scientific Inquiry
o Inquiry means to ask for information
or investigate something to find out
more.
o Scientific inquiry Involves using of
evidences from observations and
investigations to create logical
explanations and answer questions.
o Scientific inquiry is for people who
want to be challenged and use
creative and critical thinking to
o Scientific inquiry may take one of
two possible forms: inductive or
deductive.
o The theory-building/ infer
theoretical concepts and patterns
(inductive research) and theory-
testing/testing of concepts and
patterns (deductive research) are
both critical for the advancement of
science.
TYPES OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
1. Fundamental or basic research:
 Basic research is an investigation on
basic principles and reasons for
occurrence of a particular event or
process or phenomenon. It is also
called theoretical research.
 It is not concerned with solving any
practical problems of immediate
interest. It provides a systematic and
deep insight or perception into a
problem and facilitates extraction of
scientific and logical explanation and
conclusion on it.
 It helps build new frontiers of
knowledge. The outcomes of basic
research form the basis for many
applied research.
 Pure Research – also called “basic
research”. It seeks to discover basic
truths or principles. It is intended to
add to the body of scientific
knowledge by exploring the
unknown to extend the boundaries
 of knowledge as well as to discover
new facts, and learn more
accurately the characteristics of
known without any particular
thought as to immediate practical
utility.
o Basic (aka fundamental or pure )
research is driven by a scientist's
curiosity or interest in a scientific
question. The main motivation is to
expand man's knowledge, not to
create or invent something.
o Basic sciences , also called pure
sciences, are those that explain the
most basic objects and forces,
relationships between them, and
laws governing them. Examples
include physics, mathematics, and
biology.
o Examples may include:
1. Archimedes’ Principle. “
Archimedes’ Law of Buoyancy”- An
object will float if the buoyant force
of the liquid is greater than its
weight of the gravitational pull of
the earth for the object;
2. Newton’s Law. “Newton’s Law of
Motion” – A body at rest remains at
rest and a body in motion will
continue to move with the same
velocity in a straight lines unless
acted by an external force.
o Basic research:
1. Seeks generalization
2. Aims at basic processes
3. Attempts to explain why things
happen
4. Tries to get all the facts
5. Reports in technical language of the
topic
For example, basic science investigations
probe for answers to questions such as:
• How did the universe begin?
• What are protons, neutrons, and
electrons composed of?
2. Applied research:
o In an applied research, one solves
certain problems employing well
known and accepted theories and
principles. Most of the experimental
research, case studies and inter-
disciplinary research are essentially
applied research.
o Applied research is helpful for basic
research. A research, the outcome
of which has immediate application
is also termed as applied research.
Such a research is of practical use to
current activity.
o Applied research refers to scientific
study and research that seeks to
solve practical problems.
o Applied research is used to find
solutions to everyday problems,
cure illness, and develop innovative
technologies, rather than to acquire
knowledge for knowledge's sake.
 o Applied Research – involves seeking
new applications of scientific
knowledge to the solution of a
problem such as the development of
new system or procedure, new
device, or new method, in order to
solve the problem
For example, applied researchers may
investigate ways to:
• Improve agricultural crop production
• Treat or cure a specific disease
• Improve the energy efficiency of homes,
I. Quantitative research
offices, or modes of transportation
o How can we solve these dilemma?
o Produces knowledge of practical use
to man.
o Applied sciences , also called
practical sciences, are sciences that
apply scientific knowledge from
basic sciences in a physical
environment. For instance,
engineering is an applied science
that applies the laws of physics and
chemistry for practical applications
such as building stronger bridges or
fuel efficient combustion engines,
while medicine is an applied science
that applies the laws of biology for
solving human ailments.
o Both basic and applied sciences are
required for human development.
 Applied research:
1. Studies individual or specific cases
without the objective to generalize
2. Aims at any variable which makes
the desired difference
3. Tries to say how things can be
changed
4. Tries to correct the facts which are
problematic
5. Reports in common language
 Basic and applied research, further
divided into three types of research
bearing some characteristics feature
as follows:
o It is numerical, non-descriptive,
applies statistics or mathematics
and uses numbers.
o It is an iterative process whereby
evidence is evaluated.
o The results are often presented in
tables and graphs.
o It is conclusive.
o It investigates the what, where and
when of decision making.
Quantitative research
o refers to the systematic
empirical investigation of any
phenomena via statistical,
mathematical or computational
techniques. The objective of
quantitative research is to
develop and employ
mathematical models, theories
and/or hypotheses pertaining to
phenomena
 o Quantitative research is generally
made using scientific methods,
which can include:
• The generation of models, theories and
hypotheses
• The development of instruments and
methods for measurement
• Experimental control and manipulation of
variables
• Collection of empirical data
• Modelling and analysis of data
• Evaluation of results
 Advantages
• Quantitative research allows the
researcher to measure and analyze data.
• The researcher is more objective about
the findings of the research.
• Quantitative research can be used to test
hypotheses in experiments because of its
ability to measure data using statistics.
 Disadvantages
• The main disadvantage of quantitative
research is the context of the study or
experiment is ignored.
• Quantitative research does not study
things in a natural setting or discuss the
meaning things have for different people.
• A large sample of the population must be
studied for more accurate results
II. Qualitative research
1. It is non-numerical, descriptive,
applies reasoning and uses words.
2. Its aim is to get the meaning, feeling
and describe the situation.
3. Qualitative data cannot be graphed.
4. It is exploratory.
5. It investigates the why and how of
decision making.
o Qualitative research is research
dealing with phenomena that are
difficult or impossible to quantify
mathematically, such as beliefs,
meanings, attributes, and symbols
o Qualitative researchers aim to
gather an in-depth understanding of
human behaviour and the reasons
that govern such behaviour. The
qualitative method investigates the
why and how of decision making,
not just what, where, when.
 Advantages
• It enables more complex aspects of a
persons experience to be studied
• Fewer restriction or assumptions are
placed on the data to be collected.
• Not everything can be quantified, or
quantified easily, Individuals can be studied
in more depth
• Good for exploratory research and
hypothesis generation
• The participants are able to provide data
in their own words and in their own way
 Disadvantages
• It is more difficult to determine the
validity and reliability of linguistic data
• there is more subjectivity involved in
analyzing the data.
• “Data overload” – open-ended questions
can sometimes create lots of data, which
can take along time to analyze!
• Time consuming
III. Mixed research
4. Experimental Research
 Mixed research- research that
involves the mixing of quantitative
and qualitative methods or
paradigm characteristics. Nature of
data is mixture of variables, words
and images.
3. Developmental work research (DWR)
o Developmental Work Research
(DWR) is a methodology for
simultaneous research and
innovation in workplace settings.
o Developmental research method
involves disciplined investigation
conducted in the context of the
creation and implementation of a
product or process for the purpose
of improving either the thing being
developed or the developer.
o Developmental research – also
called “action research.” This is a
decision-oriented research involving
the application of the steps of the
scientific method in response to an
immediate need to improve existing
practices.
o If a researcher continues to find
practical applications from
theoretical knowledge and use this
existing knowledge to produce
useful products.
o Researchers and practitioners jointly
investigate the work practice,
analyze the empirical data and do
design for change of the actual work
practice.
 The simplest experimental design
includes two variables and two
groups of participants.
 The two variables(Independent
versus Dependent variables).
 • The IV is the predictor variable
whereas the DV is the outcome
variable. • Researchers manipulate
and control the IV to study it's effect
on the DV.
 The two groups of participants
(Control versus Experimental group).
• Before beginning the experiment,
the researcher (randomly) assigns
his/her sample to two different
groups: the control group and the
experimental (treatment group or
clinical group). • The control group
receives no manipulation of the IV
(no treatment), whereas the
experimental group receives the
manipulation of the IV.
5. Exploratory Research
 Exploratory research might involve a
literature search or conducting focus
group interviews. The exploration of
new phenomena in this way may
help the researcher’s need for
better understanding, may test the
 feasibility of a more extensive study, 6. Descriptive research
or determine the best methods to
 The descriptive research is directed
be used in a subsequent study. For
toward studying “what” and how
these reasons, exploratory research
many off this “what”. Thus, it is
is broad in focus and rarely provides
directed toward answering
definite answers to specific research
questions such as, “What is this?”.
issues.
 Advantages:
 The objective of exploratory
research is to identify key issues and • The people individual studied are
key variables. unaware so they act naturally or as they
usually do in everyday situation;
 Exploratory research is a type of
research conducted for a problem • It is less expensive and time
that has not been clearly defined. consuming than quantitative
Exploratory research helps experiments;
determine the best research design,
• Collects a large amount of notes for
data collection method and
detailed studying;
selection of subjects.
• As it is used to describe and not make
 The results of exploratory research
any conclusions it is to start the
are not usually useful for decision-
research with it;
making by themselves, but they can
provide significant insight into a  Disadvantages
given situation
• Descriptive research requires more
 Exploratory research is not typically skills.
generalizable to the population at
• Does not identify cause behind a
large.
phenomenon
 Exploratory research can be quite
• Response rate is low in this research.
informal, relying on secondary
research such as reviewing available • Results of this research can change
literature and/or data, or qualitative over the period of time.
approaches such as informal
7. Explanatory research
discussions with consumers,
employees, management or  Its primary goal is to understand or
competitors, and more formal to explain relationships.
approaches through in-depth
 It uses correlations to study
interviews, focus groups, projective
relationships between dimensions
methods, case studies or pilot
or characteristics off individuals,
studies.
groups, situations, or events.
 Explanatory research explains (How now, without any sense of whether
the parts of a phenomenon are there is a history or trend at work.
related to each other).
10. Action research
 Explanatory research asks the
 Fact findings to improve the quality
“Why” question.
of action in the social world
8. Longitudinal Research
11. Policy-Oriented Research
 Research carried out longitudinally
 Reports employing this type of
involves data collection at multiple
research focus on the question ‘How
points in time. Longitudinal studies
can problem ‘X’ be solved or
may take the form of:
prevented ?’
1. Trend study- looks at population
12. Classification research
characteristics over time, e.g.
organizational absenteeism rates 1. It aims at categorization of units in
during the course of a year to groups
2. Cohort study- traces a sub- 2. To demonstrate differences
population over time, e.g.
3. To explain relationships
absenteeism rates for the sales
department; 13. Comparative research
3. Panel study- traces the same sample  To identify similarities and
over time, e.g. graduate career differences between units at all
tracks over the period 1990 – 2000 levels.
for the same starting cohort.
14. Causal research
4. While longitudinal studies will often
 It aims at establishing cause and
be more time consuming and
effect relationship among variable
expensive than cross-sectional
studies, they are more likely to 15. Theory-testing research
identify causal relationships
 It aims at testing validity of a unit
between variables.
16. Theory-building research
9. Cross-sectional Research
 To establish and formulate the
 One-shot or cross-sectional studies
theory
are those in which data is gathered
once, during a period of days, weeks
or months. Many cross-sectional
studies are exploratory or
descriptive in purpose. They are
designed to look at how things are