Research - Types of Academic Research for Award of Ph. d Degree

Alternatives

 

Exploratory Research

 

Theory Building (Based on own exploration or others explorations)

 

Refining an Earlier Theory (Existing Theory)

 

Testing an Existing Theory

 

Integrated Research

 

If a research project has all the three stages within it, it is an integrated research project. In important areas it could be come a seminal research. But every Ph.d student will not be able to come out with such integrated research projects and complete it within the three or four years that he is supported by an institution. Hence projects of limited scope are attempted as Ph.d research projects. Even research projects undertaken done  professional researchers or academicians have limited scope in majority of  cases.

 

Exploratory Research

 

An exploratory research is undertaken when there are no prior studies and documentation of the phenomenon. In this type of research, the observation skills of a researcher are displayed. The output will be a good documentation of observations and classifications of the observation into tables that have some meaningful categorisation. From the observations the researcher may come out with generalisations regarding the phenomenon under observation.

 

Refining an Earlier Theory (Existing Theory)

 

In this type of research an earlier theory is available and the research finds that theory is still not an adequate explanation of the phenomenon. Based on the observations reported by the earlier researcher or researchers, the candidate may attempt to come with a modified or enlarged model. If required he may also observe the phenomenon once again. But this time, the observation is not purely exploratory. He is guided by the earlier theory and hence his observation is more focused. The output of this type of research is a new theoretical model. The theoretical model may validated by the researcher.

 

Testing an Existing Theory

 

Many research studies are of this category. In this type of research, from an existing theory new testable hypotheses are derived by the candidate and candidates proceeds to collect relevant data and carry out the tests concerned. Candidates have to demonstrate their skill in developing testable hypotheses from theoretical conjectures. A testable hypothesis must have variables for which data can be collected. There has to be a statistical test which can be used to test the hypothesis. Then the data is to collected, validated and then the statistical test is to be conducted. The result of the test is to be interpreted and findings are be given. A conclusion is to be drawn from the findings regarding the phenomenon. The implications for the practical use of the findings and conclusions may be attempted by the researcher.

 

For More Detailed Study

 

http://www2.uiah.fi/projects/metodi/177.htm



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Research for Theory Building

The Cycles of Theory Building in Management Research
January 2005
Paul R. Carlile
School Of Management
Boston University
Boston, MA 02215

Clayton M. Christensen
Harvard Business School
Boston, MA 02163
http://www.innosight.com/documents/Theory%20Building.pdf


The General Method of Theory-Building Research in Applied Disciplines
Susan A. Lynham
Advances in Developing Human Resources, Vol. 4, No. 3, 221-241 (2002)

Theory Building and Hypothesis Testing:
Large- vs. Small-N Research on Democratization
Michael Coppedge
Kellogg Institute
Hesburgh Center
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Paper prepared for presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association,
Chicago, Illinois, April 25-27, 2002.
http://www.nd.edu/~mcoppedg/crd/mpsacopp02.pdf





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