1.3 Exploratory, Descriptive and Explanatory Nature Of Research

Summary

This video script delves into the nature of research, outlining three distinct approaches: exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory. Exploratory research involves initial observations and model creation of new phenomena, often starting from basic theories or developing new ones, as exemplified by the author's bachelor thesis on software as a service. Descriptive research builds upon exploratory findings, gathering extensive data to provide more detailed insights. Explanatory research, the most advanced, seeks to establish causal relationships between variables, typically pursued by PhD students. The script also hints at the connection between research nature and question types, suggesting 'what,' 'how,' and 'why' as starting points for questions in each category.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Research methodology is crucial for positioning a researcher's approach and involves choosing between exploratory, descriptive, or explanatory nature of research.
• 🌟 Exploratory research involves observing phenomena and creating initial models or theories, often applied to new or under-researched areas like Software as a Service (SaaS).
• 🔬 Descriptive research builds upon exploratory by gathering extensive data to provide detailed information about the phenomena, moving from general observations to specifics.
• 🔗 Explanatory research aims to explain the relationships and causality between variables, considered the highest order and typically pursued by PhD students.
• 🎯 The nature of research influences the type of research questions asked, with exploratory starting with 'what', descriptive with 'how', and explanatory with 'why'.
• 📚 Methodological guidelines are part of a global stratification that helps researchers align their work with established academic frameworks.
• 👨‍🎓 University students are often advised to conduct exploratory research due to its applicability and the opportunity to explore new theories or models.
• 📈 Data collection is a critical component of descriptive research, relying on previous exploratory insights to guide what data to gather and analyze.
• 🧩 The nature of research is sequential, with exploratory leading to descriptive, which in turn sets the stage for explanatory research.
• ⚖️ Correlation does not imply causality, a concept central to explanatory research where the 'why' behind phenomena is investigated.

Q & A

What are the three types of research nature discussed in the script?

The three types of research nature discussed are exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory.

What is the primary goal of exploratory research?

The primary goal of exploratory research is to explore and describe phenomena, create initial models, and identify variables.

How does exploratory research relate to theoretical ideas?

Exploratory research involves applying well-defined theories to new phenomena or starting from scratch to develop new theories for those phenomena.

Can you provide an example from the script related to exploratory research?

An example given in the script is the application of basic marketing theories to the software as a service field, which is a relatively new and specific area within the software industry.

What is the purpose of descriptive research?

Descriptive research aims to provide additional information about a topic, often involving the collection and analysis of a significant amount of data.

How does descriptive research build upon exploratory research?

Descriptive research builds upon exploratory research by using the initial ideas and descriptions from exploratory research to guide the collection of data and further analyze the phenomena.

What is the main objective of explanatory research?

The main objective of explanatory research is to explain the relationships between variables and establish causality.

Why might explanatory research be more challenging than the other types?

Explanatory research is more challenging because it requires a deep understanding of the phenomena and often involves complex methodologies to establish causal relationships.

Who typically conducts explanatory research according to the script?

Explanatory research is often conducted by PhD students, as it is considered the highest order of research and can be quite complex.

How do research questions differ based on the nature of the research?

Research questions for exploratory research often start with 'what', descriptive research questions with 'how', and explanatory research questions with 'why'.

What is the relationship between the nature of research and research objectives?

The nature of research influences the type of research questions and objectives, with each nature focusing on different aspects of understanding and explaining phenomena.