Types Of Questions Research

Research is an integral part of any academic field and the right types of questions research can make or break a student’s academic career. Research is especially important in the science field where the main aim is to answer a particular question with the help of statistics, facts, numbers, experiments and proofs. Since a question is usually supposed to be answered by research and thesis work, the importance of selecting the correct types of questions research and the proper way of going ahead in the research cannot be over emphasized. TypesOf.com’ is endeavoring to make the readers of this article familiar with the different types of questions research and hence help them achieve the desired result after all their hard work and time.

Let us start by understanding intimately what research is. Research has been defined as a systematic inquiry to try to elaborate on, explain in detail, predict with certainity and control rigidly the observed phenomenon. It involves two methods. The inductive methods analyse the observed phenomenon to identify the principles, processes and structures governing the phenomenon whilst the deductive methods verify hypothesised principles by experiments and observation. It is important to understand that the base of the research is not the statistics but the thought put in behind the research. How we build our argument and the evidences we put forth to support it is what will persuade people to accept our research.

The selection of the research question from the different types of questions research is the first and the most important step a researcher has to take. To succeed in any research, the research question must be eloquently defined. The types of questions research is the building block of the research as the whole methodology of the research is based on this question. The researcher carries out experiments and observations to answer this research question.

There are basically three types of questions research projects address. These are the descriptive questions, relational questions and causal questions.

Descriptive questions are asked when a study is done to describe something. It can be a process or a phenomenon. These questions include research on public opinions or public polls. Here we are interested only in describing something.

Relational questions are asked when a research is undertaken to look at the relationships between two or more things. Thus, the types of questions research that compares two or more observations, processes or phenomenon fall into this category.

Casual Questions are enquired to determine whether one or more variables cause or affects one or more outcome variables. Examples of these types of questions include ‘What is the effect of exercise on heart rate?

Other types of questions research include development questions which address questions like ‘how did this phenomenon develop and why?’ Mechanical questions ask how a phenomenon works or operates. How something can be explained and why does something work a certain way. Evaluation questions weigh the pros and cons of a particular thing and answer the effective ways to get something done.

The hypotheses are statements designed to be tested and proven using statistics, experiments, assumptions, mathematical models and observations.

It is important to notice that the various types of question research is to be done in suggest different research designs, methodologies and approach and hence it is extremely important to be clear in what question the research will address.