The 15 types of research (and characteristics)

Science uses different approaches and techniques to generate knowledge about the world.

Throughout history, science has achieved impressive things that have improved our understanding of the universe and the level of life and well-being we can achieve.

However, the milestones achieved have not appeared out of nowhere. They have required years of research in many different fields, and there are a large number of ways of doing research, which can be organized according to different criteria. In this article you can find 15 types of research and their basic characteristics.

Research.

To investigate means to carry out different actions or strategies in order to discover something. Thus, these actions are aimed at obtaining and applying new knowledgeThe research is the basis of scientific knowledge, although not all research is scientific in itself. Research is the basis of scientific knowledge, although not all research is scientific in itself.

For knowledge to be scientific it is necessary that the research carried out is done systematically, with clear objectives and that it is based on aspects that can be verified and replicated. The results obtained must be analyzed objectively and taking into account the various variables that may be affecting the phenomenon under study.

As we have said, research can be carried out from very different perspectives, with different objectives or taking into account different types of data, procedures or methods to obtain them. The following are some of these types of research.

Types of research according to the purpose of the research

We can find two types of research according to the purpose for which they are carried out.

Pure or theoretical research

The main objective of this type of research is to obtain knowledge of different kinds, without taking into account the applicability of the knowledge obtained.. Thanks to the body of knowledge extracted from it, other types of research can be established, or not.

For example, research in pure mathematics, it is normal not to worry about the ease with which the conclusions obtained can be applied.

2. Applied research

This is a type of research that focuses on finding mechanisms or strategies that make it possible to achieve a specific objective, such as curing a disease or achieving a specific goal.such as curing a disease or obtaining an element or good that may be useful. Consequently, the type of field to which it applies is very specific and well delimited, since it is not an attempt to explain a wide variety of situations, but rather to address a specific problem.

Depending on the level of depth of the object of study

The research can be carried out in different ways and in greater or lesser depth into how things are or why they are. In this sense we find the following types of research.

3. Exploratory research

This type of research focuses on analyzing and investigating specific aspects of reality that have not yet been analyzed in depth. Basically it is an exploration or first approach that allows subsequent research to focus on an analysis of the subject matter.

Due to its characteristics, this type of research does not start from very detailed theories, but tries to find significant patterns in the data to be analyzed in order to, from these results, create the first complete explanations of what is happening.

4. Descriptive

The objective of this type of research is only to to establish as complete a description as possible of a phenomenon, situation or concrete element, without seeking toThe objective of this type of research is only to establish as complete a description as possible of a phenomenon, situation or specific element, without looking for its causes or consequences. It measures the characteristics and observes the configuration and processes that make up the phenomena, without stopping to evaluate them.

Thus, in many cases this type of research does not even ask about the causality of the phenomena (i.e. "why does what is observed occur"). It is simply a matter of obtaining an illuminating picture of the state of the situation.

5. Explanatory

This is one of the most common types of research and the one on which science focuses. It is the type of research used to try to determine the causes and consequences of a specific phenomenon. It seeks not only the what but also the why of things, and how they have arrived at the state in question.

Different methods can be used for this purpose, such as the observational, correlational or experimental method. The aim is to create explanatory models in which cause-effect sequences can be observed, although these need not be linear (normally, they are very complex causal mechanisms, with many variables in play).

According to the type of data used

Another way of classifying the different types of research is according to the type of data collected. In this sense we can find the following types.

6. Qualitative

Qualitative research is understood as that which is based on the collection of non-quantifiable data, in principle not quantifiable, based on observation.based on observation. Although it offers a lot of information, the data obtained are subjective and not very controllable and do not allow a clear explanation of the phenomena. It focuses on descriptive aspects.

However, the data obtained from such research can be operationalized a posteriori in order to be analyzed, making the explanation of the phenomenon studied more complete.

7. Quantitative

Quantitative research is based on the study and analysis of reality through different procedures based on measurement. procedures based on measurement. It allows a higher level of control and inference than other types of research, being possible to carry out experiments and obtain contrasted explanations based on hypotheses. The results of these investigations are based on statistics and are generalizable.

According to the degree of manipulation of variables

We can find different types of research depending on whether the data obtained are based on a higher or lower level of manipulation of variables.

8. Experimental research

This type of research is based on the manipulation of variables under highly controlled conditions. under highly controlled conditionsThe data are obtained from randomized samples of the variables involved and manipulated in the study. The data are obtained from randomized samples, so that it is assumed that the sample from which they are obtained is representative of reality. It allows different hypotheses to be established and contrasted through a scientific method.

9. Quasi-experimental

Quasi-experimental research is similar to experimental research in that it is intended to manipulate one or more specific variables, with the difference that it does not have total control over all variables, such as aspects linked to the type of sample submitted to the experiment..

10. Non-experimental

This type of research is based fundamentally on observation. In this type of research, the different variables that are part of a given situation or event are not controlled.

According to the type of inference

Another type of classification can be drawn from the method used to infer how reality works.

11. Deductive method

This type of research is based on the study of reality and the search for the search for verification or falsification of basic premises to be checked. to be verified. From the general law it is considered that it will occur in a particular situation.

12. Inductive method

Research carried out according to the inductive method is based on drawing conclusions from the observation of facts. Observation and analysis make it possible to draw conclusions that are more or less true, but do not does not allow generalizations or predictions to be or predictions.

13. Hypothetical-deductive method

This type of research is considered truly scientific. It is based on the generation of hypotheses from observed facts by means of induction, hypotheses that generate theories which, in turn, must be tested and falsified by means of experimentation.eed to be tested and falsified by means of experimentation..

According to the time period in which it is carried out

Depending on the type of monitoring of the variables that is carried out, we can find two types of research.

14. Longitudinal

Longitudinal research is a type of research characterized by monitoring the same subjects or processes over a specific period of time. over a specific period of time. It allows to see the evolution of the observed characteristics and variables.

15. Cross-sectional

These types of research focus on the comparison of certain characteristics or situations in different or situations in different subjects at a specific time, with all subjects sharing the same temporality.

Bibliographical references:

• Hernández, R., Fernández, C., and Baptista, M.P. (2010) Research Methodology (5th Ed.). Mexico: McGraw Hill Educación.
• Pagano, R. R. (2000). Statistics for the behavioral sciences. Madrid: International Thompson.
• Sánchez Carrión, J.J. (1995). Manual de análisis de datos. Madrid: Alianza.