Page 31 - SREENARAYANAGURU OPEN UNIVERSITY

1.2.1.1 Types of Research

Exploratory Research - Suppose a company wants to
introduce a new product to the market but is unsure of the
target audience's preferences and needs. They could conduct
exploratory research, such as focus group discussions or
interviews, to gather feedback from potential customers.
The research will help the company understand customer
preferences and refine their product before launching it,
reducing the risk of failure.

The journey of seeking knowledge begins with curiosity.
As human beings, we are driven by a desire to understand the
world around us. We wonder about the mysteries of nature, the
meaning of life and our place in the grand scheme of things.
This innate curiosity propels us to explore the unknown, ask
Seeking through questions and seek answers. Exploratory research cultivates
curiosity this spirit of inquiry. It allows us to dig deeper, to uncover

what lies beneath the surface. The exploratory researcher is
like a pioneer venturing into new territory, mapping out areas
yet to be charted. There is a willingness to learn, be surprised,
and have one's assumptions challenged. Preconceived notions
and dogmas are set aside in favour of genuine discovery.

In the journey of exploratory research, understanding
grows organically. There is no predetermined destination,
only the journey itself. Each new piece of information opens
up further avenues to be investigated. One question leads

Broad to another in an ever-expanding quest for knowledge. At
understanding its heart, exploratory research is about remaining humble
in the face of the vastness of what we do not yet know. It
acknowledges that we are always learning and that mastery
is elusive. In this spirit of intellectual humility, exploratory
research expands the horizons of human knowledge and
takes us one step closer to wisdom.

Descriptive Research - The pursuit of knowledge requires
careful observation and documentation of the world around
us. Descriptive research plays a vital role in this endeavour
by providing detailed descriptions of phenomena without
imposing predetermined frameworks. Like an explorer
Observe and mapping uncharted territory, the descriptive researcher
describe surveys the landscape, taking note of what is seen, heard
and experienced. The goal is not to impose meaning but to
openly receive and record the complexity of lived reality.
Descriptive studies allow phenomena to reveal themselves
on their own terms. A sociologist might conduct a descriptive

SGOU - SLM - Foundational Skills for Research and Writing 25