The type of research in which the researcher gains familiarity with a phenomenon or achieves new insights into it is known as

Research that gains familiarity or fresh insight into a phenomenon is exploratory study.

It is used when a problem is new or little understood, to frame ideas.

Diagnostic study finds the causes and frequency of an existing problem.

Descriptive study portrays characteristics of a group or situation as they are.

Hypothesis-testing study checks a stated causal relationship between variables.

Exploratory work often precedes and shapes later conclusive research.