CLASSIFICATION

AND TYPES OF
RESEARCH
 Classification of Research
• According to design and methodology:
• 1. Qualitative
• - focuses on gaining insights on and an understanding of an individual’s perception of
research
• - aims to describe, predict and explain

• 2. Quantitative
• - is concerned with the use of numbers and statistical analysis
• - aims to explore and describe

• 3. Mixed-method research
Quantitative research is…
• a traditional, positivist, scientific method which refers to a general set order by disciplined
procedures to acquire information
• - utilizes a deduction reasoning to generate predictions that are tested in the real world
• - systematic since researcher progresses logically through a series of steps according to a
pre-specified plan of action
• - gather empirical evidence – evidence that is rooted in objective reality and gathered
directly or indirectly through the senses
Types of Quantitative Research

• 1. Survey Research
• - uses interviews, questionnaires, and sampling to get a sense of behavior with
intense precision.
• - allows researchers to judge behavior and then present the findings in an accurate
way.
• - can be conducted around one group specifically or used to compare several groups
 Types of Quantitative Research
• 2. Correlational research
• Tests for the relationship between two variables
• Is done to establish what the effect of one on the other might be and how that affects
relationship
• - aims to use two or more variables to better understand the conditions of events that we
encounter
• - to predict future conditions and events
• - does not always mean causation.
 Types of Quantitative Research
• 3. Causal-Comparative research
• Looks to uncover a cause and effect relationship
• Not conducted between the two groups on each other
• Look solely for the statistical relationship between the two variables it tries to identify, specifically,
how different groups are affected by the same circumstance
• Involves comparison
• The study of two or more groups is done without focusing on their relations
• The use of statistical analysis is engaged to synthesize the data.
• 4. Experimental Research
• Is guided specifically by a hypothesis or several hypotheses.

• Hypothesis – a statement to be proven or disproved.

 Quantitative Research Designs
• Experimental Designs
• Is concerned with cause and effect relationships in which all experimental studies involve
manipulation or control of the independent variables (causes) and measurement of the
dependent variables (effect).
• -this design utilizes the principle of research known as the method of difference. This
means that the effect of a single variable applied to the situation can be assessed and the
difference likewise be determined.
• The intervening and extraneous variables are not part of the study , but are believed to
influence study outcomes.
• Internal validity – is the degree to which changes in the dependent variable can be
attributed to the independent variable.

• External validity – is the degree to which the changes in the dependent variable
can be attributed to the extraneous variables.
 Non-experimental design
• - a research conducted without manipulation of the independent variable and random assignment of the
participants to group.
• - put forward a lot of alternative explanations for the relationship of the variable under study.
• - cannot simply conclude the cause and effect of relationships but offer other explanations
• Types of non-experimental designs
• Action studies
• Comparative studies
• Developmental studies
• Evaluation studies
• Meta-analysis studies
• Methodological studies
• Needs assessment studies
• Secondary analysis studies
• Survey studies
 Qualitative Research focuses on…
• 1. Gaining insights on and understanding of the individual’s perception of events.
• 2. Concerned with in-depth descriptions of people on events and their interpretation of experiences.
• 3. Data are collected through unstructured interviews and participant observation.
• 4. The research is to synthesize the patterns and the theories in the data.
• 5. Not limited by existing theories but must be open to new ideas and theories.

• Qualitative research emphasizes the dynamic, holistic, and individual aspects of human experience
within the context of those who are experiencing them
• The collection and analysis of information progresses as the researcher sifts through the
information. Insights are gained, new questions emerge and further evidence is sought to confirm
the insights.
Limitations:
• 1. It is reductionist, it reduces human experience to just a few concepts under
investigations;

• 2. the subjective nature of naturalistic inquiry, which sometimes causes concerns

about the nature of conclusions, and

• 3. Most naturalistic studies involve a relatively small group of people.

 Types of qualitative research:
• Qualitative research is designed to reveal a target audience’s range of behavior and the
perceptions that drive it with reference to specific topics or issues.
• It uses in-depth studies of small groups of people to guide and support the construction of
hypotheses.
• The result are descriptive rather than predictive.
• Aims to gain insights, explore the depth, riches and complexity inherent in the phenomenon.
Specific qualitative approaches are:
• 1. Phenomenology
• - to describe experiences as they are lived.
• - examines uniqueness of individual’s lived situations
• - each person has it’s own reality
• - no clearly defined steps to avoid limiting creativity of researchers.
Specific qualitative approaches are:
• 2. Ethnography
• - to describe a culture’s characteristic
• - identifies culture variables for study, and review literature
• In data collection, the researcher gains entrance to culture, immerse self I culture,
acquire informants, gather data through direct observation and interaction with
subject.
 Specific
• 3. Historical
qualitative approaches are:
• - to describe and examine events of the past to understand the present and anticipate
potential further effects.
• - the method includes formatting idea, develop research outline to organize, investigate and
collect data.
• - concerns with the identification, location, evaluation, and synthesis of data from the past
• - it is locating facts and relating them to the present and to the future.
• - the data are usually found in documents or in relics and artifacts.
• - data can also be obtained in oral reports
• - materials can be found in various sources like libraries, archives and personal directions.
 Specific qualitative approaches are
• Sources:
• 1. Primary sources – once histories, written records, diaries, eyewitnesses’s accounts,
pictures, videos and other physical evidences
• 2. Secondary sources – second hand information, i.e., a person narrates information heard
from the original sources, or a material written as an abstract of the diaries and other original
materials.

• Any source to be used for historical research must pass the hallmarks of:
• 1. internal criticism ( involves establishing the authenticity or originality of the materials by
looking at the consistency of information)
• 2. external criticism based on the analysis of the printed materials; the ink and the type of
paper used; the layout and the physical appearance; and age and texture.
 Specific qualitative approaches are
• 4. Case Study
• - to describe-in-depth experience of one person, family, group, community or institution
• - a direct observation and interaction with the subject.
• - data collection includes interview with audiotape and videotape, direct, has participant’s
observation, field notes, journal, and logs.

• Purposes:
• 1. To gain insights into a little-known problem
• 2. To provide background data for broader studies;
• 3. Explain socio-psychological and socio-cultural processes
 Specific qualitative approaches are
• 4. Case Study
• - to describe-in-depth experience of one person, family, group, community or institution
• - a direct observation and interaction with the subject.
• - data collection includes interview with audiotape and videotape, direct, has participant’s
observation, field notes, journal, and logs.
• Purposes:
• 1. To gain insights into a little-known problem
• 2. To provide background data for broader studies;
• 3. Explain socio-psychological and socio-cultural processes
• According to Sanchez(2002) a case study involves a comprehensive and extensive examinations of a
particular individual, group or situation over a period of time.
 Phases in a Qualitative Study
• 3 Phases:
• 1. Orientation and Overview
• - to determine what is salient about the phenomenon or culture of interest.
• 2. Focused Exploration
• - involves focused scrutiny and in-depth exploration of the aspects of the phenomenon
judged to be salient.
• 3. Confirmation and Closure
• - the researcher undertakes efforts to prove that her/his findings are trustworthy, often going
back to the study and discussing her/his understanding of it with the participants.
 Mixed Methods Research Design
• Two most common types of Mixed Methods:
• 1. Mixed method research
•- the researcher uses the qualitative paradigm for one phase of the study and
the quantitative phase for another type of the study.

• 2. Mixed model research

•-the researcher mixes both qualitative and quantitative research approaches
within the stage of the study or across the stages of the research process.
 Five Major Purposes or Rationales for Conducting Mixed Methods
• 1. Triangulation
• – is seeking convergencies and corroboration of results from different methods and designs
studying the same phenomenon.
• 2. Complementarity
• - seeking corroboration, enhancement, illustration and clarification of the results from one method
with results from the other method
• 3. Initiation
• - discovering paradoxes and contradictions that lead to a re-framing of the research questions
• 4. Development
• - using the findings from one method to help inform the other method.
• 5. Expansion
• - seeking to expand the breadth and range of research by using different methods for different
inquiry components.
 Introduction to E-Research
• - use of advance information and communication technologies to the practice of research.
• - includes collaboration, high performance computing, visualization, research data management
and tools.
• - has provided opportunities to see existing researches in a new light.