✰ It is prior study of unfamiliar, unclear problem about which researcher has little or no knowledge.
✰ This research is conducted in order to determine the nature of the problem and helps the researcher to develop a better understanding of the problem.
✰ Its does not intend to offer final and conclusive solution to existing problems. This is used to clarify research problems and development of Hypothesis.
✰ The main purpose of exploratory studies is that of formulating a problem for more precise investigation or of developing the working hypotheses from an operational point of view.
✰ Hypothesis development, rather than testing hypothesis.
✰ Exploratory research is used when the topic or issue is new and when data is difficult to collect.
✰ It makes use of secondary data (mainly literature review), experience surveys, case studies, interviews (mainly focus groups’ interviews), projective techniques, and Delphi techniques.
