What is the difference between explanatory and exploratory research?

Exploratory research is conducted to gain initial insight into a new or relatively unexplored topic or phenomenon. The information gained from exploratory research may lead to new hypotheses and direct later work.

On the other hand, explanatory research is used to investigate cause-and-effect relationships, testing hypotheses about the relationships between variables.

Related article: What Is a Semi-Structured Interview? | Ultimate Guide

Key takeaways Semi-structured interviews balance structure and flexibility use a predefined set of topics or questions while allowing interviewers to ask follow-up questions and explore unexpected insights. They are especially useful for exploratory research and recruitment. They are ideal for gathering rich, in-depth information. Flexibility enables deeper conversations and more detailed responses, but it can […]

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