WHAT IS RESEARCH?

The term is used in everyday lives, and yet most people seem to misunderstand its true meaning. Basically, research can be defined as the process of collecting or gathering information via scientific and systematic approach for the purpose of solving problems or understanding phenomenon.

Etymologically, the term is first known to be used in the year 1570s (1577 to be precise), where it comes from the modern French word recherché (1530s), which means “act of searching closely”. This word, in turns, originates from the old French word recercher; “seek out, search closely”. (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=research)

From the http://www.fppsm.utm.my/download/doc_view/183-introduction-to-scientific-research.html, Sekaran (2006) defines research as “the process of finding solutions to a problem after a thorough study and analysis”, while Cooper & Schindler (2001) defines it as “systematic inquiry that provides information to guide decision”. Even though its definitions are different depending on the sources, all in all research centers around one thing, and that is solving the problems.

Basically, there exist several types of research, such as scientific research, Research in the humanities, and Artistic research. But for the purpose of this blog, we will discuss the Scientific Research, Business Research, Basic Research, & Applied Research.

1.    Scientific Research.

Application of scientific method to the investigation of relationships among natural phenomenon, or to solve a medical or technical problem.

(http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/scientific-research.html)

         However, this type of research doesn’t include decision making problems. Instead, it just focuses on particular type of investigation. It field of study also mostly lies in studying relationships of phenomenon.

2.    Business Research.

Business Research is a systematic & organized effort to investigate a specific problem encountered in the work setting that needs a solution.

     The research provides the needed information that guides managers to make informed decisions to successfully deal with problems.

(http://www.researchmethodology.info/definition-of-business-research/)

3.    Basic Research.

Conducted in order to better understand the phenomenon as it pertains to all industries or business in general. Examples:

• Does brand name affect brand loyalty?
• Does cafeterias’ or equivalent’s food price affect students and staffs performances?

“Also called Pure or Fundamental esearch, it is undertaken for increase in knowledge. There is no direct benefit as it is a research for the sake or research. It is conducted to satisfy any curiosity such as:\

a)    What makes things happens

b)    Why society changes? And

c)    Why social relations are in a certain way.

In fact, it is the source of most new theories, principles, and ideas. Basic research rarely helps anyone directly. It only stimulates new ways of thinking. The main motivation is to expand man’s knowledge. Here is absolutely no commercial value to the discoveries resulting from such research.”

[Hafeezur Rahman Malik (Year N/A). Types of Research. Retrieved April 8, 2012 at http://hafeezrm.hubpages.com/hub/Types-of-Research]

4.    Applied Research.

Its purpose is to solve certain problems that are faced by certain organizations. Examples of situations are:

·         Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Restaurant managements wants to know how does Radix Fried Chicken (RFC) Restaurants manages to steal its market.

·         How local and international students do perceives the services provided by Unimas’ CAIS counter staffs.

“It is use of basic research or past theories, knowledge and methods for solving an existing problem. It deals with practical problems. It is opposed to pure research which is not problem-oriented but for the increase in knowledge which may or may not be used in future.”

[Hafeezur Rahman Malik (Year N/A). Types of Research. Retrieved April 8, 2012 at http://hafeezrm.hubpages.com/hub/Types-of-Research]

·          The problem with the scientific research,it does not include decision making problems and just focusing on particular type of investigation,and study most on phenomena relations.Scientific business research is characterized in testing relation between phenomena and managerial decision makers.Thus,business research is not a random process but rather specific investigation on making decision by most of organization compare to scientific research that focus on phenomena.

Two main approaches in research is namely qualitative and quantitative.Qualitativeapproach focusing on gathering on human experience on the topic and whereas thequantitative mean to gather data in form of statistical numbering and this bothqualitative and quantitative data in the end will be “cross” to show the relation between numbers and amount of experience.