Research Foundations

Mixed methods research is a research approach that combines quantitative and qualitative evidence within one study or a connected set of study phases. It is used when numbers can show a pattern, but words, observations, documents, or cases are needed to understand that pattern more fully. A mixed methods study may begin with a survey […]

Quantitative research is a research methodology that uses numerical data to measure variables, compare groups, test relationships, estimate patterns, and examine hypotheses. It is used when a researcher wants to answer questions about amount, frequency, difference, association, prediction, or change with evidence that can be analysed statistically. This article explains quantitative research and shows how

Explanatory research is research that studies why or how something happens. It goes beyond describing a pattern and tries to explain the relationship, process, or cause behind it. A descriptive study may show that students who attend revision sessions often get higher exam scores. An explanatory study asks whether the sessions help, whether already motivated

Descriptive research is a type of research used to describe a population, situation, behaviour, experience, or set of characteristics as accurately as possible. It helps researchers answer questions such as what exists, who is involved, how often something occurs, where a pattern appears, and how a group or setting can be described from available evidence.

Exploratory research is a type of research used when a topic, problem, group, setting, or relationship is not yet understood well enough for a fixed study design. It helps the researcher become familiar with the situation, notice useful patterns, refine early ideas, and prepare clearer research questions for later work. This article explains what exploratory

Evaluation research is a type of research used to judge the quality, implementation, results, or usefulness of a programme, policy, intervention, course, service, or project. It does not simply ask whether something is liked. It asks what was planned, what actually happened, what evidence can be used to judge it, and what conclusion the evidence

Action research is a type of research in which people study a real practice while they are also trying to improve it. It is often used by teachers, health workers, community researchers, librarians, social workers, and other practitioners who want to understand a problem in their own setting, try a planned change, collect evidence, and

Applied research is research designed to answer a practical question, improve a real situation, or help solve a defined problem. It uses systematic methods, just like other forms of academic research, but its starting point is usually a problem found in practice: a teaching method that needs testing, a health intervention that needs evidence, a

Basic research is research carried out to develop knowledge, explain concepts, test theory, or understand how something works at a deeper level. Its first aim is not to solve one immediate practical problem, although later studies may use its findings in schools, clinics, laboratories, public institutions, or other settings. This article explains what basic research

Types of research are the different ways researchers organise a study according to its purpose, objective, methodology, source of knowledge, research design, and timeframe. A study may be basic or applied, exploratory or explanatory, qualitative or quantitative, empirical or theoretical, experimental or non-experimental, cross-sectional or longitudinal. These labels help readers understand what kind of question