Explanatory research characteristics, techniques, examples

The explanatory research It is a type of research whose purpose is to find the reasons or motives for which the events of the phenomenon under study occur, observing the causes and effects that exist, and identifying the circumstances.

Explanatory research attempts to clarify exactly what the problem about which information is to be obtained is like. As the word “explanatory” says, it is about explaining, not just describing, as in other types of research.

For example, an investigation that tries to determine what are the causes of the high contagion capacity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is an explanatory investigation. In this case, the usefulness would be to find new ways to reduce contagion rates..

Therefore, explanatory research focuses on the why of the object of study, not on the what or where. Other examples would be to determine what is the reason for the melting of the poles or why the jaguar is in danger of extinction.

Explanatory research is usually preceded by other research, such as descriptive, which provides data that are essential to carry out the process.

Article index

• 1 Characteristics of explanatory research
• 2 Methods in explanatory research
  • 2.1 Case studies
  • 2.2 Causal comparative methods
  • 2.3 Longitudinal studies
  • 2.4 Correlational studies
• 3 Techniques used in explanatory research
  • 3.1 Bibliographic review
  • 3.2 In-depth interviews
  • 3.3 Focus groups
  • 3.4 Other techniques
• 4 Objectives of explanatory research
  • 4.1 Greater understanding
  • 4.2 Flexible secondary sources
  • 4.3 Best conclusions
• 5 Advantages and disadvantages
  • 5.1 Advantages
  • 5.2 Disadvantages
• 6 Explanatory Research Examples
• 7 Topics of interest
• 8 References

Explanatory research characteristics

The most important characteristics of explanatory research are:

• Its main objective is to determine the reason (s) for which a certain phenomenon or event occurs. That is, try to explain, not describe.
• Even when it does not offer conclusive conclusions, explanatory research allows the researcher to obtain a more accurate understanding of the phenomenon and its causes..
• Using an explanatory investigation it is possible to affirm or not the theories exposed in predictions carried out in previous investigations.
• It enables the choice of a model or method of study of the phenomenon adjusted to its reality. For example, a model that explains the greenhouse effect.
• Thanks to the quality of the results obtained when using an explanatory investigation, it is possible to use them as a basis for future investigations where the phenomenon presents some type of change..
• To obtain good results, both the analytical capacity of the researcher, as well as the synthesis capacity, must be very good..
• An explanatory investigation has a predetermined structure.
• The bibliographic sources selected to carry out an explanatory research should be, as far as possible, impartial and varied. Additionally, in this type of research it is possible to use secondary sources.

Methods in explanatory research

There are many different ways to carry out explanatory research, although the most characteristic methods are those described below:

Case studies

Case studies are used to analyze the cause of a certain event, and the consequences produced by it in the environment. To carry them out, both observation and manipulation of variables can be used.

Although it is a simple study to understand, it is one of the hardest to carry out, since it requires a series of specific methods, and the researcher must have extensive knowledge of the subject..

An example of a case study could be to study the causes that produce a sedentary lifestyle in children from low-income neighborhoods, taking as an object of study the case of commune 13 of the city of Medellín, Colombia.

Causal comparative methods

In the causal comparative methods, an attempt is made to know, in the same way, the affinities and inequalities that occur when making a comparison between two different events, thus obtaining a greater amount of information regarding them..

To use this type of method, first a separate investigation of each of the events to be compared is carried out, and then they are compared.. 

For example, a study on the causes that cause school dropout in adolescents living in neighborhoods with different socioeconomic conditions..

Longitudinal studies

In longitudinal studies, the objective is to identify the specific causes of the different alterations or permanence that an element of reality may present in their behavior, in a previously established period of time..

An example of a longitudinal study could be an investigation dedicated to determining the level of productivity of workers in a company, in a period of three years, taking samples six times a year.

Correlational studies

Correlational studies measure two variables and establish a statistical relationship between them, without the need to consider the participation of external agents..

An example of this type of study is the correlation between the amount of money invested in advertising campaigns for a product and the increase or not in sales produced, after making said investment. Here we would seek to determine if investing more money implies an increase in sales or not.

Techniques used in explanatory research

Some of the techniques used in explanatory research are:

Bibliographic review

In any type of research, a bibliography review is required to have the background of the work and a state of the art of what has been done with respect to the object of study in the scientific field.

The bibliographic search is faster and less expensive than other methodologies and can include: electronic or digital files, magazines, newsletters, newspapers, letters, commercial and academic literature, etc..

In-depth interviews

It is about accessing specialized and first-hand information, from the mouth of people who have had the experience with the object of study. It should include a battery of semi-structured questions that guide the conversation to obtain the relevant data within the investigative work.

Focus groups

This method consists of bringing together people with common characteristics in relation to the object of study in order to obtain from them relevant data on the phenomenon studied.

It can be groups of between 8 and 15 people. A meticulous record should be made of everything that happens during that encounter in order to later process the information found..

Other techniques

• Experiments: an independent variable is controlled to measure its effects on a dependent variable.
• Polls: questions are presented to be answered by a sample of the population.

Objectives of the explanatory research

The most important objective of an explanatory research is to reveal the reason (s) for which a phenomenon occurs, and the circumstances for which it manifests itself, as well as the relationship that exists between two or more variables..

However, there are a number of objectives that turn out to be of importance, such as:

Greater understanding

Another objective of explanatory research is to increase the researcher's knowledge regarding the subject under study, thanks to the verification of the causes and effects of the phenomenon..

Flexible secondary sources

The use of secondary sources in explanatory research aims to raise the level of understanding of the subject. The selection of sources that are objective is essential to maintain impartiality and balance in the study.

Better conclusions

By obtaining better conclusions regarding the subject studied, it allows the researcher to have a greater understanding of the phenomenon or event under investigation..

Advantages and disadvantages

Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using explanatory research.

Advantage

• Thanks to the fact that the researcher can select the subjects that will be part of his study, situations that introduce errors in the research can be avoided, such as the participation of a subject who does not meet the necessary conditions to participate in the research process.
• Explanatory investigations can usually be reused if necessary.
• They allow to identify the reason (s) for which different types of events occur, such as modifications to existing rules or methods.

Disadvantages

• There is the possibility that coincidences arise in the events that are being investigated, which are erroneously identified as causes and effects.
• In some cases, while it is possible to identify the causes and effects of an event, it can be difficult to establish which variable is one and which is another..

Explanatory research examples

Some examples of explanatory investigations are as follows:

• Explain why older people develop more severe COVID-19 symptoms.
• Explain why the emission of greenhouse gases causes the earth's atmosphere to warm.
• Identify why, in an election, one person would choose one candidate, and other people would choose others.
• To determine the effects caused by the use of violent video games on adolescents in Mexico City.
• Recognize what are the causes that cause the ingestion of psychoactive substances in children under twelve years of age.
• Establish the reasons why a partner treats each other in a certain way.

Themes of interest

Documentary research.

Basic investigation.

Field research.

Exploratory investigation.

Scientific method.

Applied research.

Pure research.

Descriptive research.

Observational study.

References

1. Hernández Sampieri, R., Fernández Collado, C., & Baptista Lucio, M. d. (2014). Investigation methodology. Retrieved from uca.ac.cr
2. Sabino, C. (2008). The investigation process. Retrieved from metodoinvestigacion.files.wordpress.com
3. Strydom, H. (2013). AN EVALUATION OF THE PURPOSES OF RESEARCH IN SOCIAL WORK. Retrieved from pdfs.semanticscholar.org
4. Van Wyk, B. (2020). Research design and methods. Retrieved from uwc.ac.za
5. Vazquez Camacho, C. A., Lagos Ramírez, D., & Aguilar Mendoza, F. (2020). COMPARATIVE TABLE OF INVESTIGATIONS. Retrieved from academia.edu