What are the most popular research types?

Research has great importance in most societies, where scientific research provides high levels of knowledge and helps to reach solutions to a large number of problems, in addition to providing objective facts about the problems and phenomena to be studied in addition to enhancing the scientific and cultural level. Therefore, the current article intends to address the types of research and its approaches, basic research versus Applied research, classification of research by purpose, classification of research by methodology, experimental research, historical research, the purpose of historical research, data sources, followed steps, challenges and difficulties and descriptive research.

 Types of research and their methods 

Types of research is usually classified in several ways. In the educational field, there are two ways to classify research on its application and evaluation:

Basic research vs. Applied research:

The general classification that falls under these categories are Qualitative research, Quantitative research or Mixed research, however, there are different classifications other than Qualitative research, Quantitative research or Mixed research. The classifications other than Qualitative research, Quantitative research or Mixed research include:

• Types of research according to intention or intent:
  • Basic research.
  • Applied research.
  • Exploratory research.
  • Diagnostic research.
  • Practical or realistic research.
• Types of research according to the study methodology:
  • Experimental search
  • Analytical research
  • Search history
  • survey search

Educational research is classified as follows:

• Classification based on the practical side This classification includes basic research and Applied research.
• The classification is based on the difference in the methodology used. These types of research include:
  • Quantitative research versus Qualitative research (or Mixed research).
  • Experimental versus non-experimental.
• Types of research defined by questions, including:
  • Ethnographic research.
  • Historical research.
  • Descriptive research.
  • Relational research.
  • Practical research
  • Evaluative research.
  • Causal comparison research.
  • Experimental research.

 Basic research versus Applied research 

It is difficult to discuss the basic research separately from Applied research, as the classification depends on the results that guide the educational application and the extent of design for other educational situations. Basic research includes, directly or indirectly, the development of a theory, while Applied research is concerned with applying that theory in order to find a solution to a specific problem. Basic research seeks to obtain knowledge without the goal to apply it, and it is sometimes known as real or basic research and not necessarily dealing with problems and aims to expand knowledge and can lead to the discovery of a new theory or the update of an existing theory, so basic research lays the basis or foundation for Applied research. This type of research is used in the natural sciences and is rarely used in educational sciences.

As for Applied research, it aims to find a solution to a problem in real life. It needs action and decision, and it needs practical results. So the goal of Applied research has become clear and is to find a solution to a practical problem. From here we can say that the basic research provides us with the theory in order to apply it in solving educational issues, while Applied research provides us with data to support the theory, it is directed to the theory pollination or the development of a new theory. On the applied side, there are three types of research:

• Evaluation Research:

These types of research involve better decision-making than a set of alternative decisions, which is an organized process for gathering and analyzing information for decision-making and includes evaluation.

• Research and growth:

The purpose of these types of research is not to examine theory but to develop effective outcomes for use in schools. These types of research include tools for developing teacher training. Educational tools, media development or administrative systems, and others. These tools are developed to meet specific needs. After completion, they are examined and vaccinated at a certain level of effectiveness.

• Purely practical:

These types of research is concerned with quick solutions to real problems, and its aim is to solve practical problems through applying the scientific approach. It is also concerned with local problems, and is not concerned with designing results in other situations. The main goal of these types of research (practical research) is to solve a problem with the best methods. These types of research (Practical research) is undertaken by teachers and administrators to solve a problem on a local scale. The focus of this types of research is on developing, applying and examining a new product. As for the steps in these types of research (practical research), they are:

• Determine the problem or need.
• Collection of information and sources.
• Formulate goals.
• Prepare the materials.
• Project execution.
• Monitor procedures and reactions.
• Identify the project's strengths and weaknesses.
• Correcting mistakes or difficulties.
• Evaluating the ongoing project and its long-term results.

 Classifying scientific research by purpose 

The main purpose of the research is to extract the honest results of the group to be studied and this is called internal honesty. The second purpose is to generalize these results and apply them to other groups, and this is what we call external honesty. From his point of view, research on this basis can be classified as follows:

• Applied research:

The aim of these types of research is limited to solving an existing problem and is equal to practical research in this context. The difference between them is that in practical research there is no intention to generalize the results.

• Basic research:

 These types of research is referred to as theoretical research, which adds specific information to existing knowledge. In short, it increases an individual's knowledge of fundamental questions and scientific questions, and classifies theories to be examined in real life.

• Descriptive research:

This types of research confirms the events others have experienced and tried. This types of research often refers to ethnographic or natural research. Which requires taking field information by recording, photographing or taking notes in the actual physical reality.

• Quantitative research:

It is the research in which we rely on collecting numbers and subjecting data to statistical analysis.

Quantitative research, Qualitative research, and Mixed research: Quantitative research, Qualitative research, and Mixed research refer to the method of data collection. Where Quantitative research, Qualitative research, and Mixed research specify the type of data collected.

 Watch: Types of research 

With greetings: Al - Manara Consulting to help researchers and graduate students