Page 11 - SREENARAYANAGURU OPEN UNIVERSITY

sections of population at one point of time. Eg. For studying the
preference of professional course of higher secondary students,
data collected from students belonging to different disciplines
of Commerce, Arts, Science (cross sections) at a particular time.
In the case of longitudinal survey information is gathered at ◆ Fact-finding study
different point of time.
c. Exploratory research
Scenario: What effect does using a digital notebook have on the
attention span of middle school students?
Exploratory studies aim only to explore the research area and
do not attempt to provide definite answers to research questions.
Exploratory research is often qualitative in nature. However, a
study with a large sample conducted in an exploratory manner can
be quantitative as well. It is also often referred to as interpretative
research or a grounded theory approach due to its flexible and
open-ended nature. It is a preliminary investigation of an unknown
problem about which the researcher knows little or nothing. In ◆ Interpretative
exploratory research, the goal is to formulate hypotheses rather research
than to verify or test them. It is similar to a doctor’s initial inquiry
of a patient suffering from an unknown illness in order to obtain
some clues for identifying it. It lacks structure and is less focused
on predetermined goals. It is usually in the form of a pilot study.
For example, a domestic company may consider establishing
a manufacturing operation abroad. This type of investment is
new to the company, and the preliminary research conducted to
investigate the feasibility of this new idea is known as exploratory
research.
d. Applied research
Scenario: A study on how to increase student participation in
the classroom.
This study is solution-focused and focuses on a specific problem.
Applied research is intended to solve real-life problems or provide
answers to specific questions. It is thus problem-oriented and
action-directed. The research is intended to provide knowledge
that is both applicable and implementable. Applied research can
contribute to new facts and it also offers an opportunity to test the
validity of existing theory. ◆ Solving real-life

e. Evaluation studies problems
Scenario: Assessing the performance of social or economic
programmes such as Green revolution, Mid-day meal scheme etc..
Evaluation study is one type of applied research. Evaluation
research is defined as a type of disciplined and systematic inquiry
conducted to arrive at an assessment or appraisal of an object,
programme, practice, activity, or system with the goal of providing

SGOU - SLM - MCom Research Methodology 5