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1.3 Definition and characteristics of research 
Definition:
Research is a scientific inquiry aimed at learning new facts, testing ideas, etc. 
It is the systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data to generate new 
knowledge and answer a certain question or solve a problem. 
Characteristics of research 
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It demands a clear statement of the problem 
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It requires a plan (it is not aimlessly “ looking” for something in the hope that 
you will come across a solution) 
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It builds on existing data, using both positive and negative findings 
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New data should be collected as required and be organized in such a way that 
they answer the research question(s) 
1.4 Types of research 
Research is a systematic search for information and new knowledge. It covers topics in every 
field of science and perceptions of its scope and activities are unlimited. The classical broad 
divisions of research are: basic and applied research. The basic research is necessary to 
generate
new knowledge and technologies to deal with major unresolved health problems. 
On the other hand, applied research is necessary to identify priority problems and to 
design and evaluate policies and programs that will deliver the greatest health benefit, 
making optimal use of available resources. 
Quantitative and Qualitative researches: 
Early forms of research originated in the natural 
sciences such as biology, chemistry, physics, geology etc. and was concerned with 
investigating things which we could observe and measure in some way. Such observations 
and measurements can be made objectively and repeated by other researchers. This 
process is referred to as “quantitative” research.
Much later, along came researchers working in the social sciences: psychology, sociology, 
anthropology etc. They were interested in studying human behaviour and the social world 
inhabited by human beings. They found increasing difficulty in trying to explain human 
behaviour in simply measurable terms. Measurements tell us how often or how many people 

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behave in a certain way but they do not adequately answer the “why” and “how” questions. 
Research which attempts to increase our understanding of why things are the way they are in 
our social world and why people act the ways they do is “qualitative” research.
Qualitative research is concerned with developing explanations of social phenomena. That is 
to say, it aims to help us to understand the world in which we live and why things are the way 
they are. It is concerned with the social aspects of our world and seeks to answer questions 
about:
• Why people behave the way they do
• How opinions and attitudes are formed
• How people are affected by the events that go on around them
• How and why cultures have developed in the way they have
Qualitative research is concerned with finding the answers to questions which begin with: 
why? How? In what way? Quantitative research, on the other hand, is more concerned with 
questions about: how much? How many? How often? To what extent? etc. 
Public health problems are complex, not only because of their multicausality but also as a 
result of new and emerging domestic and international health problems. Social, economic, 
political, ethnic, environmental, and genetic factors all are associated with today’s public 
health concerns. Consequently, public health practitioners and researchers recognize the 
need for multiple approaches to understanding problems and developing effective 
interventions that address contemporary public health issues. Qualitative methods fill a gap in 
the public health toolbox; they help us understand behaviors, attitudes, perceptions, and 
culture in a way that quantitative methods alone cannot. For all these reasons, qualitative 
methods are getting renewed attention and gaining new respect in public health. 
A thorough description of qualitative research is beyond the scope of this lecture note. 
Students interested to know more about qualitative methods could consult other books which 
are primarily written for that purpose. The main purpose of this lecture note is to give a 
detailed account on the principles of quantitative research.

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