6102. > Tahid Sire '3: What do you mean by research design? Diseuss the experimental Research design its advantages and disadvantages. ‘What is Research Design? Sk snmp Research design refers to the overall strategy or blueprint that outlines the methods and Procedures a researcher will follow to conduct a study. It ensures that the research problem is, addressed systematically, accurately, and effectively. The research design defines the type of study, research problem, hypotheses, variables, data collection methods, and analysis a roadmap, providing clear guidance on how to collect, analyze, and techniques. It acis a interpret data to answer research questions Here are some scholarly definitions of research design: 1. Kerlinger (1986): ; me ceeerear ‘Research design is the plan, structure, and strategy of investigation conceived 50 as to obtain answers to research questions and control variance." 2. Creswell (2014): care "Research design is the procedure for collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting data in research studies Ts the framework that guides the methods and analysis ofthe research." o) re 3. Thyer (1993): int or detailed plan for how a research study is jables, selecting a sample, collecting data, and analyzing the data." ‘A well-structured research design is crucial for ensuring the reliability, validity, and ‘generalizability of the findings. The choice of design depends on the research objectives, the nature of the problem, and the resources available, Experimental Research Design Experimental research design is a structured and controlled approach where researchers nipulate one or more independent variables (0 observe their effectgn dependent variables, It is widely used in scientific studies, particularly in fields such as psychology, biology, education, and medicine, to establish cause-and-effect relationships. Jn an experimental design, participants are randomly assigned to different groups (eg, experimental and control groups), and the researcher controls extraneous variables to ensure the results are solely due tothe manipulated variablesAdvi ‘Types of Experimental Research Design 1. Pre-experimentat d * lesign: No random assignment; includes m Studies or one-group Pretest-posttest design, He experimental design: Includes Fandomization and control groups, such as the g pretest-posttest control group. op erimental design: Similar o true experiments but lacks random assignment, often used in social sciences jethods like one-shot case 2 ‘antages of Experimental Research Design |. Establishes Causality ©The bility to manipulate variables and control conditions allows researchers to determine cause-and-effect relationships 2 Control over Variables © Extraneous factors can be minimized, ensuring that the observed effects are due to the independent variable Reproducibility: © The clear, structured methodology allows the experiment to be replicated by others, ensuring reliability of findings, 4. Precision: ©The use of controls, randomization, and statistical techniques provides high accuracy in results. 5. Hypothesis Testing: @ It offers a robust framework for testing specific hypotheses under controlled conditions. Disadvantages of Experimental Research Design 1, High Cost and Time-Consuming: © Designing and conducting experiments, es expensive and reaye signfcant ine 2. Ethical Constraints: — “isrrhqey © Certain variables, such as hi ethically be manipulated. 3. Limited Scope: © Notall research questions are suited for experimental design, Particularly those involving descriptive or exploratory studies, 4. Complexity in Implementation: © Maintaining control over all variables and challenging, especially in field experiments 5. Artificiatity °- Laboratory settings or controlled environments May not replicate real-world conditions, limiting extemal validity, pecially on a large scale, can be warmful interventions or sensitive issues, cannot ensuring randomization can beExample of Experimental Research Design Suppose Fesearchers want tofstudy the effect of a new teaching method on students’ academic _ Performance) They might 7 = 7 1. Randomly assign students to eit ther an experimental group (taught with the new method) Py control group (taught with traditional methods). Measure performance through pretests and posttests 3. Compare the results to determine the effectiveness ofthe new method This design ensures causality by isolating the teaching method asthe independent variable and controlling other factors. Conclusion Experimental research design is one of the most rigorous methods for investigating causal relationships. Its structured approach offers high intemal validity but often sacrifices Scena validity due to its artificial settings. Despite its limitations, it remains an invaluable tool in advancing scientific knowledge and testing hypotheses effectively. When choosing this design, researchers must carefully weigh its strengths and limitations based on their research oals Q:04: What are the data collection tools in quantitative social research? Discuss "interview" as a tool of quantitative social research? > What are the data collection tools in quantitative social research? Data collection tools for quantitative data are in: struments that help gather numerical information, which can be analyzed mathematically. Some of the key tools used fet quantitative data collection include: Honnaires: These ae structured instruments consisting of closed. ended questions designed to gather quantifiable data fom respondcnss They can be ‘dminstred in various formats, including online, paper-based og face-to-face, © Online Surveys (eg, Formplus) These allow researehtes se collect data easi from a wide audience. y ° Paper Questionnaires: Traditional but effective for in Person data collection, Pros: Can be distrib uted 10 large groups, eas Potential for low resp Y 10 analyze, cost. onse rates, risk of misleadi Sito ettective, Cons NB answers if not carefully designe‘ed interviews where the researcher asks that the data can be 2. Structured Interviews: These are pred ' the same set of questions to each respondent. This method ensures quantified Pros: In-depth data from individuals, easy to standardize. Cons: Can be time- consuming, limited flexibility. \,,3: Observations: In some cases, quantitative data is collected by directly observing \ behaviors or events. This is often done in controlled environments where variables can be measured. Tools: © Checklists: Used to record observed behaviors or occurrences based on predefined criteria © Direct Observation: Involves tracking specific data points during an observation session, 4. Existing Data Sources: Using secondary data from existing sources such as government reports, academic journals, or company records, This method is less resource-intensive as the data has already been collected. Pros: Often more reliable, easy to access, and less expensive. Cons: May not exactly match your research needs, can be outdated. 5. Reporting Tools: Collecting data through reports like NGO reports, medical records, or survey results. These reports are often used to extract statistical data Tools: © NGO Reports: Provide data on specific projects or issues. © Hospital Records: Useful for health-related research, 6. Digital Devices: Tools such as Audio Recorders, Digital Cameras, and Camcorders can be used to collect quantitative data in interviews, observations, or field studies, where recordings of responses or events are necessary for further analysis, Each tool has its own advantages and should be selected based on the specific needs and scope of the research, > Discuss "interview" as a tool of quantitative social research? In quantitative social research, interviews serve as a tool for collecting structured data to analyze social phenomena in numerical terms. While interviews are often associated with qualitative methods, structured interviews, in particular, are a key method in quantitative research. Here's a detailed discussion: Key Features of Interviews in Quantitative Research: 1. Structured Format: © Questions are pre-determined and standardized,& © All respondents are asked the same questions in the same sequence to ensure 2 Use or consistency and comparability. © Interviews may use digital devices or paper forms for recording responses, 3. Data Cmtking data collection efficient and accurate ‘ollection: © Responses are often close-ended, with options like multiple-choice or Likert scales, facilitating statistical analysis Objective: © The aim is to gather measurable data on variables such as attitudes, behaviors, or demographic characteristics. Advantages of Interviews in Quantitative Research: 1. High Response Rates: © Direct interaction with respondents encourages higher participation compared to self-administered surveys. 2. Better for Diverse Populations © Suitable for populations with low literacy levels, as the interviewer reads questions aloud, 3. Clarification: © The interviewer can clarify questions if the respondent does not understand, reducing the risk of inaccurate responses 4, Control Over Data Collection. Structured interviews allow researchers to control the environment, minimizing variability in responses due to extemal factors Limitations: 1, Time-Consuming: © Conducting interviews can take longer than administering surveys, especially with large sample sizes. 2. Interviewer Bias. The presence of an interviewer may influence responses, especially on sensitive topics. 3. ‘0 Requires more resources, such as trained interviewers and travel costs 4, Limited Depth: : i © Structured interviews prioritize breadth over depth, often a : lepth, missing nuanced‘Example im Practice neon Thang 800 BEBE public opemon on a new policy, structured interviews might statstcally aed es teriduals 5 set of 10 close-endad quasnans The responses are then a panera and wens in conchaon. ssierviews ae 8 valuibe tol quanatitive tial rscarch when the goal i © trap 7. Mawddardired amc measurable dats ftom repondent However, their tecpates caret planmang to mame Sader and logancal challenges ‘