Research

Designs and
Approaches
 • Research approach and research
design are two terms – frequently
used interchangeably.

Introduction • Research design – broader plan to

conduct study

• Research approach – important

element of the research design, which
governs it.
 Introduction
• Research design is the framework or guide
used for the planning, implementation,
and analysis of a study.

• Research design – Systematic plan

• What is to be done
• How it will be done &
• Hoe the data will be analysed
 Introduction
Research design –
basically provides an
outline of how the Descriptions of the
It includes
research will be carried research approach
out, and the methods
will be used.

Planned format for data

Dependent and
Sampling design collection, analysis and
Independent variables
presentation
 • It is a methodology for answering
research questions or hypotheses.

• Different types of questions or

Introduction hypotheses demand different types of

research design.

• So it is important for the nurses to

understand different types of research
design available.
 Introduction
• Some times, a single research design may fall
short to answer all the research questions or
hypotheses, therefore investigators or
researchers may use a combination of
different research design.
• The research design is
the master plan
specifying the methods
and procedures for Definition
collecting and analysing
the needed information
in a research study.
 • Research design can be defined as a

Definition blueprint to conduct a research

study, which involves the description
of research approach, study setting,
sampling size, sampling technique,
tools and methods of data collection
and analysis to answer specific
research questions or for testing
research hypothesis.
 Definition
• Research design is a plan of how,
when and where data are to be
collected and analysed.

• Research design is the researcher’s

overall plan for answering the
research questions or testing the
research hypotheses.
 Research design – Blueprint
to carry out research study.
Elements
of Research design – term used
interchangeably with the
Research term Methodology.

Design
Research design includes six
major elements.
Elements of It involves the description of the plan to investigate
Research the phenomenon under study in a structured
(quantitative), unstructured (qualitative) or a

Design combination of the 2 methods (quantitative -

qualitative integrated approach).

-
1. The The approach helps to decide about the presence or

Approach absence as well as manipulation and control over

variables.
It helps identify presence or absence of
characteristics and comparison between groups.

Primarily on the nature of

The approach of Research phenomenon under study.
study depends on several Conceptual may or may not
factors be incorporated.

Elements of Research Design

1. The Approach
 Elements of Research Design
2. Population, Sample and Sampling Technique

• Research design also provides the researcher with directions

about
• Population, Sample and sampling technique which will be
used for the research study.
Elements of Research • Time (specifying days, months,
Design 3. The Time, Place
and Sources of Data Collection and years of study),

• Location (Study setting) and the

• Sources of the requisite data are

the other important constituents
essential to ensure the effective
planning to conduct a research
study.
 4, 5. Tools and methods of
data collection
Elements • This element of research design involves
the description of different tools and
of methods of data collection.
• For example, questionnaires, interviews,
Research direct observation or any other methods
Design that suit the particular approach of the
research as well as nature of the
phenomenon under study.
Elements of Research Design
6. Methods of the data analysis
• A research design must also include the
description of the methods of data analysis -
either quantitative or qualitative data analysis
techniques - that helps the researcher to
collect the relevant data, which later can be
analysed as per the research design plan.
Elements of Research Design
6. Methods of the data analysis
• Without a formal plan of data analysis
researcher may collect irrelevant data,
which can later become difficult to
analyse.
 Nature of the research problem

Purpose of the study

Factors Researcher's knowledge and experience
affecting Researcher's interest and motivation
selection of Research ethics and principles
research Subjects/participants
design Resources, Time
Possible control on extraneous variables
uses of the study findings.
 Types of Research Design

• The following discussion presents the

most practical and simplified
classification.
• Research design classification
• Quantitative Research design
• Qualitative Research design
 CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH DESIGN

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN QUALITITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN

I. Experimental Design II. Nonexperimental Design III. Other Additional

research Design
1. Descriptive design
1. True experimental 2. Quasi experimental 3. Pre-experimental 2. Correlational/Expost facto design
design design design 3. Developmental research design
 Post-test only control 4. Epidemiological designs
design 5. Survey research design
 Nonrandomized
 Pre-test – post test  One-shot case design
control design
control group design  One-group Pre-test –
 Time-series
 Solomon four group post test design 1. Methodological studies
design
design 2. Meta-analysis
 Factorial design 3. Secondary data analysis
 Randomised block 4. Outcome research
design 5. Evaluation studies
 Crossover design 6. Operational research
 CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH DESIGN

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN QUALITITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN

1. Phenomenalogical research
2. Ethnographic research
3. Grounded theory
4. Case studies
5. Historical research
6. Action research
 Experimentation is
It is defined as
the most
‘observation
scientifically
under controlled
sophisticated
conditions’.
research method.
Experimental
Research
Designs Experimental
research differs
The researcher
using an
from experimental
nonexperimental design is an active
research design in agent rather than
one important a passive
aspect. observer.
  Experimental research designs are
concerned with examination of the
effect of independent variable on the
Experimenta dependent variable where the
l Research independent variable is manipulated

Designs through treatment or interventions

and the effect of these interventions
is observed on the dependent
variable.
Experimental Research Designs
All the experimental researches have a common
characteristics - MANIPULATION of independent
variable

But a True experimental Research design also consist

of the principles of RANDOMIZATION and CONTROL

The application of control is difficult when studies are

conducted in natural settings on human subjects
Experimental Research Designs
Experimental Research Designs

So in nursing, True experimental research design

is not feasible to use

Quasi-experimental, Pre-experimental or Non-

experimental studies or more frequently
conducted.
 • It is a powerful research design for
Experiment
testing hypothesis of causal relationship
al Research
among variables.
Designs
• E.g. Smoking – lung cancer
• Yoga - Stress
Experiment • In experimental design, researcher
al Research applies the control and manipulating the
Designs independent variable and observes the
effect on dependent variable and also
minimising the effect of extraneous
variables.
 CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH DESIGN

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN QUALITITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN

I. Experimental Design II. Nonexperimental Design III. Other Additional

research Design
1. Descriptive design
1. True experimental 2. Quasi experimental 3. Pre-experimental 2. Correlational/Expost facto design
design design design 3. Developmental research design
 Post-test only control 4. Epidemiological designs
design 5. Survey research design
 Nonrandomized
 Pre-test – post test  One-shot case design
control design
control group design  One-group Pre-test –
 Time-series
 Solomon four group post test design 1. Methodological studies
design
design 2. Meta-analysis
 Factorial design 3. Secondary data analysis
 Randomised block 4. Outcome research
design 5. Evaluation studies
 Crossover design 6. Operational research
 • Is a powerful research design for
testing hypothesis of causal
relationship among variables.
Experiment • E.g. Smoking – lung cancer
al Research • Yoga - Stress
• In experimental design The
Designs researcher applying the control and
manipulating the independent
variable and observes the effect on
dependent variable and also
minimising the effect of extraneous
variables.