This objective is a little different. It involves the application of research results to impact the world. One useful way to classify research is into exploratory research, descriptive research, explanatory research, and predictive research. The purpose of Figure 1.3 is to show quantitative and qualitative research in their most extreme or pure form. Keep in mind that most researchers probably do not hold either approach to be completely correct, but, instead, fall somewhere on a continuum between the two extremes.
Many researchers mix ideas from both approaches into their research.
The basic building blocks of quantitative research are variables . Dependent variables are influenced by one or more independent variables. The purpose of experimental research is to study cause and effect relationships. It involves the active manipulation of an independent variable. A variable that may compete with the independent variable in explaining the outcome.