Lecture 2

Research Design

RSM 301 Research Methods

Karma Yoezer
Spring Semester 2024
Learning Objectives
• To understand what research design is
and why it is significant
• The approaches of research
• The major types of research designs
• The relationships that exist between
variables in research design and the
steps for evaluating those relationships
What is Research Design?
• Research design is a set of advance
decisions that make up the master plan
specifying the methods and procedures
for collecting and analyzing the needed
information.
• The research design is a plan to
achieve the research objectives and to
answer the research questions.
What is Research Design?
• Research design is the overall plan or
strategy that guides a research project,
from its conception to the final analysis
of the data.
• Research design is the strategic plan of
the project that sets out the broad
structure of the research.
• A research design is simply a structural
framework of various research methods
as well as techniques that are utilized by
a researcher.
Objectives of Research Design
• To gain background information and to
develop hypotheses
• To measure the state of a variable of
interest
• To test hypotheses that specify the
relationships between two or more
variables
Function and Purpose of Research Design
Three functions of research design (Black
& Champion, 1976):
• A research design provides a blueprint
of operationalizing the research activity
• It defines the limit and scope of the
research
• It provides an opportunity to the
researcher to foresee possible areas of
issues in the process, carrying out the
research
Features of a Good Research Design
• Objectivity
• Reliability
• Validity
• Generalizability
Features of a Good Research Design
• Objectivity
Objectivity refers to the ability of the
research instruments to give conclusions that
are free from observers personal biases. A
good research design should be able to select
those instruments only that provide objective
conclusions.
Features of a Good Research Design
• Reliability
With regularly conducted research, the
researcher involved expects similar
results every time. Your research design
should indicate how to form research
questions to ensure the standard of
results.
Features of a Good Research Design
• Validity
Validity implies self-consistency or
absence of self-contradiction. It is
identified with formal truth or self-
consistency. A valid reasoning conforms
to the rules of correct reasoning. It is
that type of reasoning where conclusions
automatically follow from the premises
legitimately.
Features of a Good Research Design
• Generalizability
The degree of generalizability is
known in terms of the replicability
and reproducibility of the findings in
spite of different measures and
settings respectively.
Three Approaches of Research
1. Qualitative research
2. Quantitative research
3. Mixed methods research
Qualitative Research
• Qualitative research is an approach for
exploring and understanding the
meaning if individuals or groups ascribe
to a social or human problem.
Quantitative Research
• Quantitative research is an approach
for testing objective theories by
examining the relationship among
variables.
Mixed Methods Research
• Mixed methods research is an approach
to inquiry involving collecting both
quantitative and qualitative data,
integrating the two forms of data, and
using distinct designs that may involve
philosophical assumptions and
theoretical frameworks.
Quantitative Mixed Methods Qualitative
Methods Methods
Pre-determined Both predetermined Emerging methods
and emerging
methods
Closed Both open and closed Open ended
questions ended questions questions
Attitude data, Multiple foirms of Interview data,
census data, data drawing on all observationla data,
observationa possibilities document data and
data, audio visual data
performance
data
Statistical Statistical and text Texta nd image
analysis analysis analysis
Statitical Across databses Themes, patterns
interpretation interpretation interpretation
Alternative Research Designs
1. Quantitative Research Design
2. Qualitative Research Design
3. Mixed Methods Research Design
Quantitative Research Design
• In quantitative research design, a
researcher examines the various
variables while including numbers as well
as statistics in a project to analyse its
findings.
• Quantitative research designs are
specific, explicitly defined, well-
structured and have been tested for
their validity and reliability.
Types of Quantitative Research Design
Descriptive Research Design
• Describes existing conditions,
behaviours, or characteristics
• Systematically gathering information
without manipulating any variables
Example:
Study of prevalence of smartphone
addiction among adolescents in the
community.
Quantitative Research Design
Descriptive Research Design
Key characteristics
• Purely describes the characteristics of
the data
But, descriptive research design doesn’t
explore relationships between different
variables nor its causes
However, it is perfect for addressing:
What, Who, Where, When type of
research question studies.
Quantitative Research Design
Correlational Research Design
• Involves identifying and measuring
relationships between two or more
variables without manipulating them.
Example
To explore the relation between
exercise frequency and overall health.
Hence, correlational research design are
useful in studies to explore the potential
relationship where data cannot be
manipulated.
Quantitative Research Design
Correlational Research Design
Limitations
• It cannot be used to establish
causality.
• Correlation does not equal
causation
Quantitative Research Design
Experimental Research Design
• Used to determine if there’s a causal
relationship between variables
• Researcher manipulates one variable
(independent variables) while
controlling other variable (dependent
variables)
Example
To measure how different types of
fertilizers affect plant growth
Quantitative Research Design
Experimental Research Design
• Identify causal relationships
• Measure causal relationships
• Measures directionality between
variables
Quantitative Research Design
Quasi-Experimental Research Design
• Used to investigate casual relationships
when the researcher cannot (or doesn’t
want to) randomly assign participants
Example
Study on effectiveness of new teaching
methods on students learning
Types of Qualitative Research Design
• Ethnography
• Phenomenology
• Case Studies
• Grounded Theory
• Narrative Inquiry
• Action Research