Research Design | Part 5 - Purpose - Exploratory vs. Descriptive vs. Explanatory Research

Hello My Explorers! It is so good to be back. Have you ever wondered why it is easier to answer “what” questions as opposed to “why” questions?
In today's tutorial we learn all about the different questions and research types associated with it, namely Exploratory, Descriptive and Explanatory. We also look at the relationship between these research types so you can see the dependencies.
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[@mthokozisiian9045]

Wow I wish I had a research lecturer 👩‍🏫 like you Doc.

[@drjthesising1017]

Awww - this is so sweet :-)

[@user-ym1up3jj7c]

Thank you Dr J! your lectures are amazing

[@drjthesising1017]

Thank you!! 🥰I am so glad you are finding them useful.

[@Yeual]

this is very helpful, i am wrinting my dissertation and learnt lots from your video.

[@drjthesising1017]

It warms my heart to hear that this video helped you!!😊

[@abhirajpathak5588]

Thank you so much Dr J ❤

[@drjthesising1017]

It is my absolute pleasure! 🥰

[@hananebouslahi1433]

Thank you so much, you made it so clear. However, I have a question. Is true that in PhD we have to use explanatory research?

[@drjthesising1017]

Hi! I am so glad it cleared things up for you. Regarding your question: No. You don’t *HAVE* to do explanatory research for your PhD. I don’t know the context of your question so I’ll just add a general guide. The research purpose (exploratory, descriptive or explanatory) is dependent on what you would like to achieve with your study. If the gap in literature you are addressing requires a descriptive study then a descriptive study it is. The degree that you are pursuing does not factor into the *purpose* of the study. But, the degree certainly requires you to do more complex studies than let’s say an honours or a master’s degree. As such, your project, whether it is exploratory, descriptive or explanatory, can be as simple or as complex as the degree requires it to be.

[@elizabethlappin1266]

Thank you! When performing exploratory research do I need a specific research tool?

[@drjthesising1017]

You are most welcome! 🥰 No, you don't need specific tools to do exploratory research. The tools & methods you'll use is determined by the research problem you would like to solve.

[@TheSFMCreators]

Hi, the descriptions of the research purposes are clear, but I still struggle to apply the correct one. In my study, I am applying an existing framework with factors and their known effect on market entry mode choice to help a company understand what actions to undertake for a market entry strategy. My research is very literature-heavy and is based on a lot of existing information. I am aware of the factors at play, and their relationships to entry mode choice. It is up to me to research to what extent these variables are present in this market and determine the best entry mode choice for the company. It is a very applied research, and is more in the form of a consultation. My university has approved this. Which is the correct purpose that suits my study? I was thinking it is explanatory, as all variables are known and well-documented, and I am explaining how these factors will influence the choice of entry mode.

[@drjthesising1017]

Hi there - Apologies for the late reply! Explanatory research focuses on the question WHY and not HOW. Your question sounds more indicative of the question HOW. _I am explaining how these factors will influence the choice of entry mode._ Just because you are *explaining* something does not mean your research is explanatory. Explanatory research in this instance will be *explaining the relationship* between the factors/constructs that makes up market entry strategy. For instance, an explanatory researcher may be explaining WHY constructs in the market entry strategy framework influence other constructs in the framework. Also as a side note, I want to break down some of the information you have given me so you can see how that information relates (or does not exactly relate) to the concept of the study *Description* (exploratory, descriptive, or explanatory). _“I am applying an existing framework”_ | _“My research is very literature-heavy”_- This indicates that you are doing a deductive study. As in, you are trying to confirm hypotheses (based on existing literature) through your study. This is not exactly the basis for the *description*. However, it gives a strong indication of the *research approach* (inductive, deductive, abductive, and retroductive).

[@miannadir8336]

thank u

[@drjthesising1017]

You are most welcome 🥰!

[@hazyfusion3663]

Hey Dr. This is very helpful thank you for the clarifications. However I'm a little bit confused as im writing my thesis, i feel i incorporated both exploratory and descriptive research in my thesis and im not sure if that is correct

[@drjthesising1017]

Hi there I’m so glad you found this helpful!! It is not unusual for studies to incorporate more than one research type. However, it is customary for a study to have a dominant research type. Here is a summary of the research types. The one that describes your study best can be considered as the dominant research type of your study. *Exploratory* - This type of research is used to offer the researcher a basic understanding, which can include the magnitude or extent, of a new phenomenon. Exploratory research can also give the researcher a basis to generate a hypothesis for a phenomenon that already exists. *Descriptive* - This type of research is used to offer the researcher the basis to describe the characteristics of a phenomenon based on observations, which can be through either quantitative or qualitative analysis. This is can be used to define and describe relationships between constructs. There are at least three different types of descriptive studies which are normative, quantitative and qualitative. Normative refers to the values and norms of the phenomenon. Quantitative refers to the frequency, size or prevalence of the phenomenon. Last, qualitative refers to exploring the holistic nature of the phenomenon. *Explanatory* - This type of research is used to offer the researcher a platform to explain the causes of the phenomenon or to explain the phenomenon itself. This can also be used to examine causal relationships between constructs. I hope this helps!

[@shendesuudesuu1062]

Is "Reasons Behind Tuition Free Increases" Explanatory Research? and why

[@drjthesising1017]

Hi there What you have provided me with is not much to go on. So, I cannot assess with accuracy what type of research you are aiming to do. I suggest you start by being clear about what your research aims to achieve. Then evaluate why you are doing the research against the definitions of the research purpose (exploratory, descriptive, explanatory), then do a process of elimination. If more than one purpose is applicable, choose the one that MOST describes your study.

[@ambigeous]

Post more.

[@drjthesising1017]

Will most certainly do!!

[@islamisallpeace2209]

Can someone plz describe the crux of difference by writing a comment

[@drjthesising1017]

Exploratory - To get a basic understanding of a new phenomenon or to see an existing phenomenon in a new light. There are three main ways we can go about figuring out the basics. Searching in literature, interviewing experts on the subject, and/or conducting focus group discussions. Usually, in an exploratory study, your research question may start with the word WHAT. Descriptive - This type of study builds on an exploratory study. A descriptive study allows the researcher to describe the characteristics of a phenomenon. It also allows you to describe the relationships between the variables supporting the phenomenon. Usually, in a descriptive study, your research question may start with the word HOW. To describe the phenomenon, you can collect qualitative and/or quantitative data. Explanatory - This type of study builds on the descriptive study. It offers the researcher a platform to explain the causes of the phenomenon, explaining the causal relationships between the variables making up the phenomenon and/or explaining the phenomenon itself. In an explanatory study, your research question may start with the word WHY. Hope this helps!😊