The “careful or diligent search, studious inquiry or examination” aimed at discovery, interpretation or revision of theories is how the Encyclopedia Britannica defines research. The importance of research cannot be overemphasized. Effective research is vital in understanding the world around us, and research integrity is paramount.
A failure to adhere to the highest standards of research can dramatically affect results, understanding and business outcomes. Common features of inaccurate research include misinterpretation of findings, selective reporting of facts (or “spin”), incomplete or inadequate results, or even nonreporting of important effects. Any of these common problems can have a marked impact on resultant actions formulated post inquiry.
Research falls into two broad categories. Practical research is the empirical study of a topic, generally requiring a hands-on experimental approach. Typically, this demands methods that include observations, interviews, surveys or discussion groups. Conversely, theoretical research is more attentive to the examination of a defined topic through published works and literary archives.
The method of research, data collection and analysis can be considered qualitative or quantitative. Qualitative research takes a more exploratory approach and is tasked with understanding fundamental reasons, opinions, and motivations associated with specific trends. It is typically more in-depth than quantitative surveys, involving a smaller sample size and selected respondents.
Quantitative analysis, on the other hand, is used to estimate a problem using statistics and numerical data. Typically, quantitative studies involve larger populations and seek to uncover patterns in data.
The use of experimentation is universal, prevalent in almost any field. Academic research, scientific studies, business and customer exploration and sociocultural research are but a few of the common research areas.
Specifically, business research is critical to the success of almost any organization in order to provide an understanding of customers, markets, strategic opportunities and business performance. For this reason, habitually, successful businesses will employ the services of a researcher to undergo research and analysis tasks.
Research may be completed via a third party research agency, using internal resources or through engaging the services of a professional freelancer.
Acquiring the services of a freelance researcher is becoming increasingly common due to the ability to hand pick skilled researchers, at a time that is convenient, to achieve a strong research result for a cost effective price.
If you need research completed, you can find the perfect person for the job at Freelancer.com. Freelancer has thousands of talented researchers located all around the globe that can start assisting your business within minutes.
How does Freelancer.com work?
Post your project (with a detailed description), and sit back and wait for the bids to flow in. Know who you want to hire? You can also invite specific freelancers to submit bids on your project. Alternatively, browse the freelancer directory on Freelancer.com for freelancers with the relevant skills and make them an offer directly. Pay only when you are 100% satisfied with the quality of work, and leverage the Milestone payment system for safe and timely payments.
Find the perfect research analyst for your needs on Freelancer.com today. Post a project to get started!