{"id":334748,"date":"2021-12-06T09:59:25","date_gmt":"2021-12-06T08:59:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.nl\/?p=334748"},"modified":"2023-06-22T10:27:06","modified_gmt":"2023-06-22T08:27:06","slug":"exploratory-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/methodology\/exploratory-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploratory Research | Definition, Guide, & Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"

Exploratory research<\/strong> is a methodology approach that investigates research questions<\/a> that have not previously been studied in depth.<\/p>\n

Exploratory research is often qualitative<\/a> and primary<\/a> in nature. However, a study with a large sample conducted in an exploratory manner can be quantitative<\/a> as well. It is also often referred to as interpretive research or a grounded theory approach due to its flexible and open-ended nature.<\/p>\n

Note:<\/strong> Be careful not to confuse exploratory research with explanatory research<\/a>, which is also preliminary in nature but instead explores why a well-documented problem occurs using secondary research<\/a>.<\/figure>\n

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When to use exploratory research<\/h2>\n

Exploratory research is often used when the issue you\u2019re studying is new or when the data collection process<\/a> is challenging for some reason.<\/p>\n

You can use this type of research if you have a general idea or a specific question that you want to study but there is no preexisting knowledge or paradigm with which to study it.<\/p>\n

Example: Exploratory research problem<\/figcaption>Your university dining hall is considering adding vegan versions of its meals to its daily menu, something it has never offered before. However, the university is hesitant to do so because of concerns that the items will not be sufficiently popular, leading to increased food waste.<\/p>\n

Your university is eco-conscious and will not add the items if this will increase food waste. As there is also a cost associated with developing the recipes, the plan will only proceed if there is concrete proof that the vegan meals will be successful.<\/figure>\n

Exploratory research questions<\/h2>\n

Exploratory research questions are designed to help you understand more about a particular topic of interest. They can help you connect ideas to understand the groundwork of your analysis without adding any preconceived notions or assumptions yet.<\/p>\n

Here are some examples:<\/p>\n