The document discusses three main types of research design: exploratory research, descriptive research, and causal research. Exploratory research is conducted early in the research process to gain insights, generate hypotheses, and clarify concepts. It uses flexible and unstructured methods like literature reviews, focus groups, and case studies. Descriptive research describes the characteristics of a population using structured methods like longitudinal and cross-sectional studies. The goal is to provide associations between variables. Both exploratory and descriptive research differ from causal research, which aims to determine cause-and-effect relationships between variables.

1. Business Research
Design
Plan for a study
Blue print to carry out the study

2. Types of Research design
•Exploratory
•Descriptive
•Causal research

3. Exploratory Research
• Converting broad, vague problem statements into
small, precise problem statements
• Early stages of research
• To formulate hypothesis

4. Characteristics of Exploratory Reserach
• It is flexible and versatile
• Data collection structured forms are not used
• Experimentation is not a requirement
• Cost is low
• Possibility of exploration of views

5. What circumstances is exploratory study ideal?
• To gain insight into the problem
• To generate new product ideas
• To assess the various alternatives
• To develop hypothesis
• To clarify concepts and formulating precise problems
• To pretest a draft questionnaire

6. Exploratory Research Methods
•Literature search
•Experience survey
•Focus group
•Analysis of selected cases

7. Conclusive Research
•Descriptive Research
•Experimental Research or causal research

8. Descriptive research
• Describe the characteristics of the population
• Provides association between two variables
• Clear specification on Who, What, When, Where,
Why and How.

9. Descriptive research methods
•Longitudinal study
•Cross – sectional study

10. Difference between exploratory and descriptive Study
Basis for
comparison
Exploratory Research Descriptive Research
Meaning Exploratory research means
a research conducted for
formulating a problem for
more clear investigation.
Descriptive research is a research
that explore and explain an
individual, group or a situation.
Objective Discovery of ideas and
thoughts.
Describe characteristics and
functions.
Overall Design Flexible Rigid
Research process Unstructured Structured
Sampling Non-probability sampling Probability sampling
Statistical Design No pre-planned design for
analysis.
Pre-planned design for analysis.