Research purposes

Research involves systematic investigation of phenomena, the purpose of which could be for:

1. Information gathering and/or
   1. Exploratory: e.g., discovering, uncovering, exploring
   2. Descriptive: e.g., gathering info, describing, summarizing
2. Theory testing
   1. Explanatory: e.g., testing and understanding causal relations
   2. Predictive: e.g., predicting what might happen in various scenarios

Examples of research studies with these different purposes can be found in this practice quiz.

Discussion questions

• How can research help to alleviate poverty on Earth?
• How can I gain an understanding on why research is nessesary

See also

• Research method
• Research question
• Research proposal
• Research types
• Survey research (Lecture)

External links

• Purposes of survey research (Slides 34-46)
• The purposes of research