Discuss the Three Purposes for Doing Research

Question

Examlex · Accepted Answer

The Answer is The three main purposes for conducting research are to explore, explain, and predict.

Exploratory research is conducted to explore a new area or topic and gain a better understanding of it. For example, a study could be conducted to explore the impact of social media on mental health among teenagers. Researchers may use qualitative methods such as interviews and focus groups to gather insights and perspectives from teenagers about their social media usage and its effects on their mental well-being.

Explanatory research aims to explain the relationships between variables or phenomena. For instance, a study could be conducted to explain the relationship between exercise and stress levels. Researchers may use quantitative methods such as surveys and experiments to collect data on participants' exercise habits and stress levels, and then analyze the data to determine if there is a significant correlation between the two variables.

Predictive research is carried out to forecast future outcomes or trends based on existing data. For example, a study could be conducted to predict the impact of climate change on crop yields. Researchers may use historical climate and crop yield data to develop predictive models that can forecast the potential effects of climate change on future crop production.

In summary, research serves the purposes of exploring new topics, explaining relationships between variables, and predicting future outcomes. Each of these purposes can be illustrated through specific studies that aim to achieve these goals.

Discuss the Three Purposes for Doing Research

Definitions: