PURPOSE OF RESEARCH

The purpose of research can be a complicated issue and varies across different scientific fields and disciplines. At the most basic level, science can be split, loosely, into two types, pure research and applied research. Both of these types follow the same structures and protocols for propagating and testing hypotheses and predictions, but vary slightly in their ultimate purpose. An excellent example for illustrating the difference is by using pure and applied mathematics. Pure maths is concerned with understanding underlying abstract principles and describing them with elegant theories. Applied maths, by contrast, uses these equations to explain real life phenomena, such as mechanics, ecology and gravity.

PURE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Some science, often referred to as pure science, is about explaining the world around us and trying to understand how the universe operates. It is about finding out what is already there without any greater purpose of research than the explanation itself. It is a direct descendent of philosophy, where philosophers and scientists try to understand the underlying principles of existence. Whilst offering no direct benefits, pure research often has indirect benefits, which can contribute greatly to the advancement of humanity. For example, pure research into the structure of the atom has led to x-rays, nuclear power and silicon chips.

APPLIED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Applied scientists might look for answers to specific questions that help humanity, for example medical research or environmental studies. Such research generally takes a specific question and tries to find a definitive and comprehensive answer. The purpose of research is about testing theories, often generated by pure science, and applying them to real situations, addressing more than just abstract principles. Applied scientific research can be about finding out the answer to a specific problem, such as Is global warming avoidable? or Does a new type of medicine really help the patients?

GENERATING TESTABLE DATA

However, they all involve generating a theory to explain why something is happening and using the full battery of scientific tools and methods to test it rigorously.

This process opens up new areas for further study and a continued refinement of the hypotheses. Observation is not accurate enough, with statistically testable and analyzable data the only results accepted across all scientific disciplines. The exact nature of the experimental process may vary, but they all adhere to the same basic principles. Scientists can be opinionated, like anybody else, and often will adhere to their own theories, even if the evidence shows otherwise. Research is a tool by which they can test their own, and each others' theories, by using this antagonism to find an answer and advance knowledge. The purpose of research is really an ongoing process of correcting and refining hypotheses, which should lead to the acceptance of certain scientific truths. Whilst no scientific proof can be accepted as ultimate fact, rigorous testing ensures that proofs can become presumptions. Certain basic presumptions are made before embarking on any research project, and build upon this gradual accumulation of knowledge.

Kinds of Research
There are many kinds of personnel research. Three dimensions are particularly important in classifying types of research: Applied vs Basic research. Applied research is research designed to solve a particular problem in a particular circumstance, such as determining the cause of low morale in a given department of an organization. Basic research is designed to understand the underlying principles behind human behavior. For example, you might try to understand what motivates people to work hard at their jobs. This distinction is discussed in more detail in another handout. Click here to read it. Exploratory vs Confirmatory. Exploratory research is research into the unknown. It is used when you are investigating something but really don't understand it all, or are not completely sure what you are looking for. It's sort of like a journalist whose curiousity is peaked by something and just starts looking into something without really knowing what they're looking for. Confirmatory research is where you have a pretty good idea what's going on. That is, you have a theory (or several theories), and the objective of the research is to find out if the theory is supported by the facts. Quantitative vs Qualitative. Quantitative studies measure variables with some precision using numeric scales. For example, you might measure a person's height and weight. Or you might construct a survey in which you measure how much respondents like President Clinton, using a 1 to 10 scale. Qualitative studies are based on direct observation of behavior, or on transcripts of unstructured interviews with informants. For example, you might talk to ten female executives about their the decision-making process behind their choice to have children or not, and if so, when. You might interview them for several hours, tape-recording the whole thing, and then transcribe the recordings to written text, and then analyze the text.

As a general rule (but there are many exceptions), confirmatory studies tend to be quantitative, while exploratory studies tend to be qualitative. Before you begin writing a grant proposal, take some time to map out your research strategy. A good first step is to formulate a research question. A Research Question is a statement that identifies the phenomenon to be studied. For example, What resources are helpful to new and minority drug abuse researchers? To develop a strong research question from your ideas, you should ask yourself these things:

Do I know the field and its literature well? What are the important research questions in my field? What areas need further exploration? Could my study fill a gap? Lead to greater understanding? Has a great deal of research already been conducted in this topic area? Has this study been done before? If so, is there room for improvement? Is the timing right for this question to be answered? Is it a hot topic, or is it becoming obsolete? Would funding sources be interested? If you are proposing a service program, is the target community interested? Most importantly, will my study have a significant impact on the field?

A strong research idea should pass the so what test. Think about the potential impact of the research you are proposing. What is the benefit of answering your research question? Who will it help (and how)? If you cannot make a definitive statement about the purpose of your research, it is unlikely to be funded. A research focus should be narrow, not broad-based. For example, What can be done to prevent substance abuse? is too large a question to answer. It would be better to begin with a more focused question such asWhat is the relationship between specific early childhood experiences and subsequent substance-abusing behaviors?