Research Techniques

Descriptive research is used to obtain information concerning the current status of the phenomena to describe “what exists” with respect to variables or conditions in a situation. The methods involved range from the survey which describes the status quo, the correlation study which investigates the relationship between variables, to developmental studies which seek to determine changes over time.

Descriptive Research Methods

1. Case Studies

Detailed analysis of a single (or limited number) of people or events.   Case studies are usually interesting because of the unusualness of the case .The major problem with case studies is the problem of objectivity.   The person who is presenting the case usually has some theoretical orientation.  … Read the rest

Exploratory research is conducted to clarify ambiguous problems. Management may have discovered general problems, but research is needed to gain better understanding of the dimensions of the problems. Exploratory studies provide information to use in analyzing a situation, but uncovering conclusive evi ­dence to determine a particular course of action is not the purpose of exploratory research. Usually, exploratory research is conducted with the expectation that subsequent research will be required to provide conclusive evi ­dence, It is a serious mistake to rush into detailed surveys before less expen ­sive and more readily available sources of information have been exhausted.

In an organisation considering a program to help employees with childcare needs, for example, exploratory research with a small number of employees who have children might determine that many of them have spouses who also work and that these employees have positive reactions to the possibility of an on-site child-care program.… Read the rest