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Types of Research

Lesson 1.2

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A.    On the basis of the objective of research

1.    Basic or Fundamental Research (मौलिक अनुसंधान)

Basic research, also called pure research or fundamental research, has the scientific research aim to improve scientific theories for improved understanding or prediction of natural or other phenomena.

2.    Applied Research (अनुप्रयुक्त अनुसंधान)

Applied research is a methodology used to solve a specific, practical issue affecting an individual or group. This scientific method of study and research is used in business, medicine, and education in order to find solutions that may improve health, solve scientific problems or develop new technology.



3.    Action Research (क्रियात्मक अनुसंधान)

Action research is a research initiated to solve an immediate problem or a reflective process of progressive problem solving led by individuals working with others in teams or as part of a “community of practice” to improve the way they address issues and solve problems.

B.    On the basis of nature of process & method used

1.    Experimental research (प्रयोगात्मक अनुसंधान)

Experimental research is any research conducted with a scientific approach, where a set of variables are kept constant while the other set of variables are being measured as the subject of experiment

2.    Quasi Experimental Research (अर्द्ध प्रयोगात्मक अनुसंधान))

A quasi-experiment is an empirical interventional study used to estimate the causal impact of an intervention on target population without random assignment.

3.    Ex-post Facto Research (घटनोत्तर अनुसंधान)

An ex post facto research design is a method in which groups with qualities that already exist are compared on some dependent variable. Pre-existing characteristics are used to form the groups.

4.    Historical Research (ऐतिहासिक अनुसंधान)

Historical method is the collection of techniques and guidelines that historians use to research and write histories of the past. Primary sources and other evidence including those from archaeology are used.

5.    Ethnographic Research (नृवंशविज्ञान अनुसंधान)



Ethnographic research is a qualitative method where researchers observe and/or interact with a study’s participants in their real-life environment. 

C.    On the Basis of Attributes

1.    Qualitative Research (गुणात्मक अनुसंधान)

Qualitative research is empirical research where the data are not in the form of numbers.

2.    Quantitative Research (मात्रात्मक अनुसंधान)

Quantitative research gathers data in a numerical form which can be put into categories, or in rank order, or measured in units of measurement. 

D.   On the basis of Approach of Research

1.    Longitudinal approach (अनुदेर्ध्ये)

A longitudinal study is a research design that involves repeated observations of the same variables over short or long periods of time.  It is often a type of observational study

2.    Cross Sectional



Cross-sectional studies are observational in nature and are known as descriptive research, not causal or relational, meaning that you can’t use them to determine the cause of something, such as a disease. Researchers record the information that is present in a population, but they do not manipulate variables.

E.    On the basis of the nature of findings

1.    Explanatory Research (व्याख्यात्मक अनुसंधान)

When the focus is on cause-effect relationships, the study can be explanatory explaining which causes produce which effects

2.    Descriptive Research (वर्णात्मक अनुसंधान)

Descriptive research is used to describe the characteristics of a population or phenomenon being studied. It does not answer questions about when/why the characteristics occurred.