Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Basic research is a type of scientific study aimed at expanding knowledge and understanding fundamental concepts. It's not necessarily intended for immediate, practical application.
This is a systematic approach to understand causal relationships between variables. It's like cooking with different ingredients to see what effect each one has on the final dish.
Qualitative Research: This type of research focuses on understanding human behavior and reasons that govern such behavior. It's like interviewing people about their favorite food instead of just tallying up menu orders.
Quantitative Research: This involves gathering numerical data that can be transformed into usable statistics. It's like counting how many people order each item on a menu to determine the most popular dish.