There are different types of research that are applied according to the objective and approach that the researcher wants to use as a scientific method of study.
To know which type is most suitable, the investigator needs to consider the goal it's the objective of your work, the approach that you want to use, and the procedures selected.
Scientific research
It encompasses all types of research that are based on scientific procedures to obtain results.
It is a process that works with applied logic in science: it involves the discovery of a new knowledge, the correction of some existing knowledge or the addition of elements to an already existing study. existing.
All research carried out in the academic sphere can be considered scientific, and are categorized into different methodologies, according to the objective, purpose and structure they follow.
Scientific research classifications
With regard to your goal, that is, the type of contribution that the study will bring to science, scientific research can be classified into:
- Basic research and applied research.
From the point of view of approach used by the researcher in the study, it can be categorized into:
- Qualitative, quantitative or quali-quantitative research.
The third way to classify a scientific research is through its goals, that is, through the type of knowledge that the researcher wants to produce:
- Exploratory research, descriptive research and explanatory research.
Finally, scientific research can also be classified according to procedures for used for the collection of information. There are several, the most common being:
- bibliographic research;
- bibliographic research;
- documentary research;
- case study;
- research ex post facto;
- field research, among others.
It is noteworthy that a survey can have more than one type of procedure, making one serve as a complement to the other.
know more about Scientific research and case study.
Basic research
It is one of the most common types of research in the academic field, especially in Course Conclusion Papers (TCC).
It is oriented towards deepening a scientific knowledge that has already been studied. Usually, the researcher who carries out a study for this purpose seeks to complement some aspect or particularity of the research previously carried out.
This is a type of theoretical research, which necessarily requires a literature review and ideas presented in a systematic way.
Basic research can still be subdivide into pure and strategic, depending on your analysis focus.
Pure basic research
It's a type of research focused exclusively for academia, without any kind of intention to alter reality.
It consists of a completely theoretical study, where the author is not concerned with how the results of his research can be used later.
Basic strategic research
Unlike pure basic research, in strategic research, the researcher has in mind the possibility of produce useful knowledge that can eventually be used in practical studies.
The author does not present solutions to these questions, but recommends the construction of future studies that can solve these problems, for example.
Applied research
Unlike basic research, applied research aims to produce knowledge that can be effectively applied, helping to change a situation, a phenomenon or a system.
Applied research can complement or deepen a previously studied subject. However, the proposal is to present alternatives that help to improve or transform, for example, a certain aspect of its object of study.
One example of applied research it would be an Investigation of types of effective treatments for depression reduction.
Quantitative research
This type of methodology is characterized by use statistical techniques and tools as the main means of analyzing the data obtained in a survey.
The researcher is limited to collecting information that is quantifiable and applying it to software (or other technical tools) that analyze this data.
The investigator is a observer and should not subjectively analyze the numbers obtained. Its function is limited to presenting the results in a structured way, with the help of tables and graphs, for example.
To obtain the necessary data in a quantitative research, the researcher uses multiple-choice questionnaires or other options that guarantee objective and clear answers.
This type of research is widely used in master's and doctoral studies, mainly in the field of Exact Sciences.
Learn more about Quantitative research.
Qualitative research
In this type of research, the person responsible for analyzing the information collected is the researcher himself. She is characterized by collect and interpret the subjective responses of respondents.
Techniques and statistical methods are dispensed with in this model, as the researcher focuses on more complex and unquantifiable characteristics, such as behavior, expressions, feelings, etc.
In this case, the means of obtaining the data are less rigid and objective. Questionnaires, for example, may have spaces for subjective, flexible and multi-interpretation responses.
This methodology is common in Human Science courses, especially during graduation.
Learn more about Qualitative research.
Mixed research or quali-quantitative research
It is a mix between the characteristics of qualitative research and quantitative research.
In this case, the study can be divided into two parts:
- Data collection and respective statistical analysis;
- Subjective analysis of a specific issue.
An example of quali-quantitative research would be an analysis of the reasons why pregnant women give birth through cesarean section and not vaginal delivery, in a specific city.
This research requires the collection of reports from women who have gone through this experience.
descriptive research
Descriptive research is focused on describing a study or knowledge that already exists.
A survey is descriptive when the objective is to clarify as much as possible a subject that is already known, describing everything about it. In this case, the researcher must carry out a strong theoretical review involving his object of study, and must analyze and compare the information.
Finally, it is up to the author of the research to draw his conclusion on the different variables analyzed.
Descriptive research is usually very common in undergraduate courses, especially in Course Completion Papers.
Learn more about descriptive research.
Exploratory research
The purpose of exploratory research is to identify something, that is, a possible object of study or a questioning that could be the target of future research.
As a rule, this type of research serves to bring the scientific community closer to something (phenomenon, system, object, etc.) that is unknown or little explored.
Unlike descriptive research, the subject analyzed in the exploratory is not systematized. This means that it represents more innovative and pioneering research.
Exploratory research is useful when There is not a lot of information available about the object of study, and makes the investigator mix as much bibliographic references with other methods, such as interviews, document research, etc.
A case of exploratory research would be, for example, a researcher who wants to discuss what and how young people arrived at the great Brazilian political event of Diretas Já.
For this, the researcher must interview people who participated in this event, explore their experiences and thoughts on the subject.
Learn more about Exploratory research.
explanatory research
The main objective of explanatory research is to explain and rationalize the object of study; it seeks the construction of a totally new knowledge. For this, it is necessary to join a lot of bibliographic data and results obtained from experimental research, for example.
This is a more complex type of research, usually considered the "ripening" of previous descriptive or exploratory research. For this reason, it is usually more common in doctoral or master's theses.
Learn more about the main differences between descriptive, exploratory and explanatory research.
Bibliographic research
Bibliographic research consists of collecting information from texts, books, articles and other materials of a scientific nature. These data are used in the study in the form of citations and references, and serve as a basis for the development of the researched subject.
From the point of view of technical procedures, bibliographic research is one of the most common. And it is considered mandatory in almost all forms of scientific work.
It is a theoretical method focused on analyzing the different angles that the same problem may have, and where authors with different points of view on the same subject are consulted.
Subsequently, the investigator should compare the information collected and, from then on, build their observations and conclusions.
Learn more about Bibliographic research.
document research
In document research, any document with informational content useful for research can be used, such as newspapers, magazines, catalogs, photographs, minutes, etc.
Typically, this type of search is used in conjunction with bibliographic research. Thus, a link is created between the theoretical discourse and the reality presented in non-scientific documents, for example.
Similar to bibliographical research, documentary research is not restricted to collecting scientific information.
One document research example it would be if a researcher wanted to relate the period of the Military Dictatorship in Brazil, with the consequences in the histories of the families of those tortured and executed at the time.
know more about document research.
Case study
Unlike documentary and bibliographic research, in the case study the procedure is empirical, that is, it is not restricted to the collection of theoretical information, and considers observations and experiences.
This type of research deepens the investigation of some specific aspect of a given topic (individual, phenomenon, environment, etc.).
The results obtained with the case study should not be generalizing. That is, they cannot be used to represent all elements; refer to those who were directly investigated.
The study on a campaign of marketing specific company can be an example of a case study. The investigator must collect information through questionnaires, interviews, etc. Then, it must make a qualitative critique of the data collected, in order to find negative, positive and other repercussions on the subject.
experimental research
It's also a survey. empirical. It is common in laboratory research, where the investigator has control over the variables and simulates situations that must be observed and analyzed.
Usually, in experimental research, the researcher compares different variables in order to draw a profile, refute hypotheses or approve theories.
One of the most common examples of experimental research is laboratory research.
Field research
Unlike laboratory research, in field research the researcher goes to the natural environment of your object of study.
The investigator no longer has full control over the variables, limiting himself to observing, identifying and collecting information about his object of study in its respective original context of experience.
In academic works, field research should be a step after bibliographic research. The investigator must be prepared with as much theoretical information about the subject that involves his object of study.
An example from field research would be the relationship of injuries to the body of high-level athletes, such as football players.
Learn more about Field research.
Research ex post facto
This is a type of research done after the occurrence of any of the variables / phenomena from an event that occurred in the past.
In this case, ex post facto research investigates a cause and effect of something that happened at a given moment and its consequences.
Its purpose is to understand how this fact was able to change a certain phenomenon that took place later. In this case, the researcher has no control over the variable, as it has already happened.
One ex post facto research example, would be the analysis of changes in government, natural phenomena such as tsunami, among others.
survey survey
In this type of research, the investigator is limited to check the behavior/interaction of a certain group. The use of questionnaires is common to collect data.
Unlike the case study, survey research seeks to generalize a result based on the responses obtained.
This is a quantitative research, as there is no detailing of the data, but a presentation of its general aspects. One example typical is the survey of voting intentions before elections.
action research
It's a kind of field research where the investigator is directly involved with the object of study. In other words, there is the interference of the researcher so that a change takes place in the environment.
For this, the author of the research needs to identify a (practical) problem, create an action plan to resolve this issue and then analyze the changes your project has brought to the environment.
One action research example it would be to observe the behaviors that lead to bad financial management in Brazilian families.
Participant research
Unlike action research, in participatory research, the researcher does not need to have a plan to interfere with the reality of the environment.
In this type of research, there is the researcher's interaction with the community or group that the researcher is researching.
This type of research is based on the participant's maximum integration with the natural environment that surrounds their object of study. Thus, the researcher can better absorb more complex and deeper knowledge about the researched subject.
Read more about the meaning of Research and how to make the methodology for the TCC.
See too:
- Methodology Examples
- Scientific methodology;
- What is methodology?;
- Types of Knowledge;
- Scientific knowledge;
- record;
- Hypothesis;
- Chart;
- Review;
- portfolio;
- literary text;
- Examples of justification.
