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Purpose of Research – Objectives and Applications

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Research is a systematic investigation that aims to expand knowledge, answer questions, and address specific problems. Whether conducted in science, social studies, business, or other fields, research provides essential insights that shape our understanding of the world. This guide explores the purpose of research, highlighting its objectives and various applications.

Purpose of Research

The purpose of research can vary depending on the field, the questions being asked, and the goals of the researcher. Broadly, the purpose of research includes:

Advancing Knowledge : Research contributes to the accumulation of knowledge in a particular field, helping to explain concepts, validate theories, and expand understanding.
Problem-Solving : Research addresses real-world problems, providing solutions that can improve practices, processes, or outcomes in various domains.
Informed Decision-Making : By generating evidence-based insights, research guides policymakers, business leaders, and healthcare providers in making informed decisions.
Innovation and Development : Research fuels innovation, leading to the development of new products, technologies, or methods that drive economic and social progress.
Evaluating Practices : Research assesses the effectiveness of policies, programs, and interventions, identifying areas for improvement.

Research Objectives

Research objectives are specific goals or questions that guide the research process. They are typically set during the initial stages of a study and shape how the researcher collects, analyzes, and interprets data.

Types of Research Objectives :

Example : “To describe the demographics of social media users in a specific age range.”
Example : “To explore customer preferences for mobile banking features.”
Example : “To examine the relationship between physical activity and mental health.”
Example : “To predict changes in consumer spending based on economic indicators.”
Example : “To evaluate the impact of a new teaching method on student performance.”

Applications of Research

Research has applications across nearly every sector and plays a crucial role in advancing fields, addressing challenges, and driving innovation. Here are some key applications of research across different fields:

1. Healthcare and Medicine

Application : Research in healthcare focuses on understanding diseases, developing treatments, and improving patient care. Medical research ranges from discovering new medications to understanding mental health.
Example : Clinical trials for a new drug assess its safety and effectiveness, guiding healthcare providers in treatment options.

2. Business and Marketing

Application : Research in business helps companies understand consumer behavior, market trends, and competitor strategies. It informs decisions related to product development, branding, and marketing.
Example : Market research surveys help companies identify customer needs, allowing them to tailor products to meet demand.

3. Education

Application : Educational research examines teaching methods, learning outcomes, and curriculum effectiveness. It helps improve educational practices and policies.
Example : Studies on different instructional approaches provide insights into how students learn best, guiding curriculum development.

4. Environmental Science

Application : Environmental research focuses on understanding ecological processes, assessing human impacts, and finding ways to protect natural resources.
Example : Research on climate change provides data on temperature trends, informing policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

5. Social Sciences

Application : Social science research explores human behavior, societal trends, and cultural phenomena. It helps address social issues, such as inequality, mental health, and community development.
Example : Surveys on income inequality provide data that can influence policies aimed at reducing economic disparities.

6. Public Policy

Application : Research in public policy analyzes the impact of government programs, laws, and regulations. It helps policymakers create effective strategies to address issues like healthcare, education, and housing.
Example : Studies evaluating the effectiveness of public health campaigns guide future initiatives to improve community health.

7. Technology and Engineering

Application : Research in technology drives innovation, leading to the development of new devices, software, and solutions that address modern challenges.
Example : Research in artificial intelligence (AI) explores applications in healthcare, finance, and logistics, creating new opportunities and efficiencies.

Guide to Conducting Research

Conducting effective research requires careful planning, a structured approach, and clear objectives. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Define the Research Problem

Clearly identify the issue, question, or problem you wish to address. A well-defined problem sets the direction and scope of the research.

Step 2: Develop Research Objectives and Questions

Set specific objectives and questions that will guide your data collection and analysis. These should be achievable, measurable, and aligned with your research purpose.

Step 3: Review the Literature

Conduct a literature review to understand existing knowledge and identify gaps. This helps to position your research within the broader field and refine your objectives.

Step 4: Choose a Research Methodology

Select an appropriate methodology based on your objectives. Common approaches include qualitative methods (e.g., interviews, case studies) and quantitative methods (e.g., surveys, experiments).

Step 5: Collect Data

Gather data using techniques like surveys, interviews, or experiments, ensuring the data is reliable and relevant to your objectives.

Step 6: Analyze and Interpret Data

Use statistical or thematic analysis methods to interpret your findings, answering your research questions and drawing conclusions.

Step 7: Report Findings

Present your findings in a clear and organized way, discussing how they address the research problem and contribute to the field.

Examples of Research in Action

Healthcare Example : A study investigates the effects of a new diabetes medication. The objectives include assessing the drug’s impact on blood sugar levels and patient quality of life.
Education Example : Researchers evaluate the effects of online learning on student engagement. Objectives include comparing engagement levels between online and in-person classes and identifying factors that enhance virtual learning.
Environmental Science Example : A research project examines deforestation rates in the Amazon, with objectives focused on identifying drivers of deforestation and assessing the effectiveness of conservation policies.

Research is fundamental for advancing knowledge, solving real-world problems, and making informed decisions across multiple domains. By setting clear objectives and choosing appropriate methodologies, researchers can contribute valuable insights that shape society, technology, healthcare, and more. Whether you’re exploring new ideas or evaluating existing practices, understanding the purpose, objectives, and applications of research will enhance the impact and relevance of your work.

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches . Sage Publications.
Neuman, W. L. (2014). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches . Pearson.
Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2018). Research Methods in Education . Routledge.
Babbie, E. (2020). The Practice of Social Research . Cengage Learning.
Punch, K. F. (2014). Introduction to Social Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches . Sage Publications.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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11.1 The Purpose of Research Writing

Learning objectives.

Identify reasons to research writing projects.
Outline the steps of the research writing process.

Why was the Great Wall of China built? What have scientists learned about the possibility of life on Mars? What roles did women play in the American Revolution? How does the human brain create, store, and retrieve memories? Who invented the game of football, and how has it changed over the years?

You may know the answers to these questions off the top of your head. If you are like most people, however, you find answers to tough questions like these by searching the Internet, visiting the library, or asking others for information. To put it simply, you perform research.

Whether you are a scientist, an artist, a paralegal, or a parent, you probably perform research in your everyday life. When your boss, your instructor, or a family member asks you a question that you do not know the answer to, you locate relevant information, analyze your findings, and share your results. Locating, analyzing, and sharing information are key steps in the research process, and in this chapter, you will learn more about each step. By developing your research writing skills, you will prepare yourself to answer any question no matter how challenging.

Reasons for Research

When you perform research, you are essentially trying to solve a mystery—you want to know how something works or why something happened. In other words, you want to answer a question that you (and other people) have about the world. This is one of the most basic reasons for performing research.

But the research process does not end when you have solved your mystery. Imagine what would happen if a detective collected enough evidence to solve a criminal case, but she never shared her solution with the authorities. Presenting what you have learned from research can be just as important as performing the research. Research results can be presented in a variety of ways, but one of the most popular—and effective—presentation forms is the research paper . A research paper presents an original thesis, or purpose statement, about a topic and develops that thesis with information gathered from a variety of sources.

If you are curious about the possibility of life on Mars, for example, you might choose to research the topic. What will you do, though, when your research is complete? You will need a way to put your thoughts together in a logical, coherent manner. You may want to use the facts you have learned to create a narrative or to support an argument. And you may want to show the results of your research to your friends, your teachers, or even the editors of magazines and journals. Writing a research paper is an ideal way to organize thoughts, craft narratives or make arguments based on research, and share your newfound knowledge with the world.

Write a paragraph about a time when you used research in your everyday life. Did you look for the cheapest way to travel from Houston to Denver? Did you search for a way to remove gum from the bottom of your shoe? In your paragraph, explain what you wanted to research, how you performed the research, and what you learned as a result.

Research Writing and the Academic Paper

No matter what field of study you are interested in, you will most likely be asked to write a research paper during your academic career. For example, a student in an art history course might write a research paper about an artist’s work. Similarly, a student in a psychology course might write a research paper about current findings in childhood development.

Having to write a research paper may feel intimidating at first. After all, researching and writing a long paper requires a lot of time, effort, and organization. However, writing a research paper can also be a great opportunity to explore a topic that is particularly interesting to you. The research process allows you to gain expertise on a topic of your choice, and the writing process helps you remember what you have learned and understand it on a deeper level.

Research Writing at Work

Knowing how to write a good research paper is a valuable skill that will serve you well throughout your career. Whether you are developing a new product, studying the best way to perform a procedure, or learning about challenges and opportunities in your field of employment, you will use research techniques to guide your exploration. You may even need to create a written report of your findings. And because effective communication is essential to any company, employers seek to hire people who can write clearly and professionally.

Writing at Work

Take a few minutes to think about each of the following careers. How might each of these professionals use researching and research writing skills on the job?

Medical laboratory technician
Small business owner
Information technology professional
Freelance magazine writer

A medical laboratory technician or information technology professional might do research to learn about the latest technological developments in either of these fields. A small business owner might conduct research to learn about the latest trends in his or her industry. A freelance magazine writer may need to research a given topic to write an informed, up-to-date article.

Think about the job of your dreams. How might you use research writing skills to perform that job? Create a list of ways in which strong researching, organizing, writing, and critical thinking skills could help you succeed at your dream job. How might these skills help you obtain that job?

Steps of the Research Writing Process

How does a research paper grow from a folder of brainstormed notes to a polished final draft? No two projects are identical, but most projects follow a series of six basic steps.

These are the steps in the research writing process:

Choose a topic.
Plan and schedule time to research and write.
Conduct research.
Organize research and ideas.
Draft your paper.
Revise and edit your paper.

Each of these steps will be discussed in more detail later in this chapter. For now, though, we will take a brief look at what each step involves.

Step 1: Choosing a Topic

As you may recall from Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” , to narrow the focus of your topic, you may try freewriting exercises, such as brainstorming. You may also need to ask a specific research question —a broad, open-ended question that will guide your research—as well as propose a possible answer, or a working thesis . You may use your research question and your working thesis to create a research proposal . In a research proposal, you present your main research question, any related subquestions you plan to explore, and your working thesis.

Step 2: Planning and Scheduling

Before you start researching your topic, take time to plan your researching and writing schedule. Research projects can take days, weeks, or even months to complete. Creating a schedule is a good way to ensure that you do not end up being overwhelmed by all the work you have to do as the deadline approaches.

During this step of the process, it is also a good idea to plan the resources and organizational tools you will use to keep yourself on track throughout the project. Flowcharts, calendars, and checklists can all help you stick to your schedule. See Chapter 11 “Writing from Research: What Will I Learn?” , Section 11.2 “Steps in Developing a Research Proposal” for an example of a research schedule.

Step 3: Conducting Research

When going about your research, you will likely use a variety of sources—anything from books and periodicals to video presentations and in-person interviews.

Your sources will include both primary sources and secondary sources . Primary sources provide firsthand information or raw data. For example, surveys, in-person interviews, and historical documents are primary sources. Secondary sources, such as biographies, literary reviews, or magazine articles, include some analysis or interpretation of the information presented. As you conduct research, you will take detailed, careful notes about your discoveries. You will also evaluate the reliability of each source you find.

Step 4: Organizing Research and the Writer’s Ideas

When your research is complete, you will organize your findings and decide which sources to cite in your paper. You will also have an opportunity to evaluate the evidence you have collected and determine whether it supports your thesis, or the focus of your paper. You may decide to adjust your thesis or conduct additional research to ensure that your thesis is well supported.

Remember, your working thesis is not set in stone. You can and should change your working thesis throughout the research writing process if the evidence you find does not support your original thesis. Never try to force evidence to fit your argument. For example, your working thesis is “Mars cannot support life-forms.” Yet, a week into researching your topic, you find an article in the New York Times detailing new findings of bacteria under the Martian surface. Instead of trying to argue that bacteria are not life forms, you might instead alter your thesis to “Mars cannot support complex life-forms.”

Step 5: Drafting Your Paper

Now you are ready to combine your research findings with your critical analysis of the results in a rough draft. You will incorporate source materials into your paper and discuss each source thoughtfully in relation to your thesis or purpose statement.

When you cite your reference sources, it is important to pay close attention to standard conventions for citing sources in order to avoid plagiarism , or the practice of using someone else’s words without acknowledging the source. Later in this chapter, you will learn how to incorporate sources in your paper and avoid some of the most common pitfalls of attributing information.

Step 6: Revising and Editing Your Paper

In the final step of the research writing process, you will revise and polish your paper. You might reorganize your paper’s structure or revise for unity and cohesion, ensuring that each element in your paper flows into the next logically and naturally. You will also make sure that your paper uses an appropriate and consistent tone.

Once you feel confident in the strength of your writing, you will edit your paper for proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and formatting. When you complete this final step, you will have transformed a simple idea or question into a thoroughly researched and well-written paper you can be proud of!

Review the steps of the research writing process. Then answer the questions on your own sheet of paper.

In which steps of the research writing process are you allowed to change your thesis?
In step 2, which types of information should you include in your project schedule?
What might happen if you eliminated step 4 from the research writing process?

Key Takeaways

People undertake research projects throughout their academic and professional careers in order to answer specific questions, share their findings with others, increase their understanding of challenging topics, and strengthen their researching, writing, and analytical skills.
The research writing process generally comprises six steps: choosing a topic, scheduling and planning time for research and writing, conducting research, organizing research and ideas, drafting a paper, and revising and editing the paper.