This document outlines different types of research methods. It discusses exploratory, descriptive, and causal research designed to generate basic knowledge, describe variables of interest, and provide information on potential cause-and-effect relationships. The document also discusses primary and secondary research methods, quantitative and qualitative frameworks, deductive and inductive processes, different research designs, and the typical steps in the research process from initial exploration to presentation.

1. Information Unit - TAO

2.  Going beyond personal
experience, thoughts, feelings, and opinions that
do not refer to other sources of information
 Some subjects require us to go beyond our
personal knowledge and experience
 Research is undertaken to: explore an idea, probe
an issue, solve a problem, make an
argument, etc.

3.  Exploratory Research
 Designed to generate basic knowledge, clarify relevant issues uncover
variables associated with a problem, uncover information needs, and/or define
alternatives for addressing research objectives.
 A very flexible, open-ended process.
 Descriptive Research (who, what, where, how)
 Designed to provide further insight into the research problem by describing
the variables of interest.
 Can be used for profiling, defining, segmentation, estimating, predicting, and
examining associative relationships.
 Causal Research (If-then)
 Designed to provide information on potential cause-and-effect relationships.
 Most practical in talking about associations or impact of one variable on
another.

4. Outlines, reports, presentations, dissertations, etc.
 Assist in thinking through the research process
(Structuring thoughts)
 Communicate thoughts (to ensure
understanding of these thoughts)

5.  Primary (firsthand observation and investigation)
surveys, interviews, experiments, data
collection, etc.
 Secondary (other studies and research)
books, articles, etc.

6.  Quantitative
(traditional, positivist, experimental, empirical)
 Qualitative
(constructive, naturalistic, interpretive, post-
positivist)
Used to describe the overall framework used to look at
reality. Based on philosophical stand, research model
defines/identifies basic concepts/ideas and describes
reality and conditions to study.

7.  Quantitative (Deductive process, cause and
effect, static research design, context
free, generalizations leading to
predictions, explanation and understanding, testing
accuracy and reliability).
 Qualitative (Inductive process, simultaneous shaping
of factors, emerging design, context bound, theories
developed for understanding, verification of
accuracy and reliability).

8.  Historical
 Comparative
 Descriptive
 Correlation
 Experimental
 Evaluation
 Action
 Ethnogenic
 Politics
 Cultural

9.  Initial exploration
 Setting the Terms of Reference (TOR)
 Data collection / information gathering
 Organizing information / data
 Analysis
 Results
 Confirmation of results
 Recommendations
 Drafting report
 Presentation