There is a set of churches in the U.S. where part of the service involves snake handling. The researcher wants to find out why the people attending these churches do this and how they feel and think about it. The primary purpose of the study is:
There is a set of churches in the U.S. where part of the service involves snake handling. The researcher wants to find out why the people attending these churches do this and how they feel and think about it. The primary purpose of the study is:
Options:
(a) Exploration
(b) Description
(c) Influence
(d) Prediction
✅ Correct Option: (a) Exploration
Explanation:
Exploration is conducted when little is known about a phenomenon and the researcher seeks to understand meanings, beliefs, and motivations. In this case, the researcher is not trying to predict behavior or influence it but wants to understand why people engage in snake handling and what they think and feel about it. Such studies often use qualitative methods like interviews and observations. Exploration helps generate insights and hypotheses for future research. Therefore, the primary purpose of the study is exploration.
10 PPSC-Oriented Facts:
- Exploration studies unfamiliar phenomena.
- Qualitative methods support exploration.
- Beliefs and motivations require exploration.
- Early research stages are exploratory.
- Exploration generates hypotheses.
- Understanding precedes explanation.
- Cultural practices need exploration.
- Observation aids exploration.
- Exploration avoids assumptions.
- Research begins with curiosity.