Rodel Roven C.

Dacanay , RN
 What is the difference between
Research Design and Research
Method?
 Research design is a plan to
answer your research question. A
research method is a strategy
used to implement that plan.
I. RESEARCH DESIGN
 INTRODUCTION

The research design is the conceptual

structure within which research is
conducted ; it constitutes the blue print
for the collection , measurement and
analysis of data.
• The research design provides the back
bone structure of the study, it supports
the study and hold it's together.
• The research design refers to the
researcher overall plan for answering the
research question or testing the
research hypotheses.
PROCESS OF DESIGNING &
CONDUCTING A RESEARCH PROJECT
 What--What was studied?
 What about--What aspects of
the subject were studied?
 What for--What is/was the
significance of the study?
 What did prior lit./research say?
 What was done--How was the
study conducted?
 What was found?
 So what?
 What now?
Hence Research Design is:
• a framework for the research
plan of action.

• a master plan that specifies the

methods and procedures for
collecting and analyzing the
needed information

• a strategy for how the data will

be collected.
Purposes of Research Design
 It provides the scheme for
answering research question.
 It maintains control to avoid bias
that may affect the outcomes.
 It organize the study in a certain
way defending the advantages of
doing while being aware and
caution about potential
disadvantages .
 Advantages
Lead to more accurate results.
Give optimum efficiency and
reliability
Minimize the wastage of time as
well as money.
Instills confidence in the
research.
Provides satisfaction & success.
Different Research Designs

1. Exploratory type research

design
2. Descriptive type research
design
3. Experimental type research
design
4. Experimental type research
design
 1) Exploratory type Research Design

 Explorative research studies are also

termed as formulative research
studies.
 Exploratory study is a systematic
scientific approach which enables a
social scientist to determine whether
an idea is in reality or not.
 Explorative studies can provide
ideas , hypothesis , suggestions
that might never occur to the
social scientist sitting in an office
and mediating over the problem.
 More flexible.
 Done in the field whether there is
little knowledge is available.
Exploratory studies which do not sets
limits for themselves have limits imposed
by various practical matters.
Mostly the results obtained through the
explorative study are to be treated as a
sign post for future and further study in the
same or similar direction.
For this reason , they are also known as
formulative studies.
2) Descriptive type Research Design

 Pre-planned design for analysis.

 Rigid Design.

 Probability sampling design.

 Structured instruments for collection of data.

 Advanced decisions about operational procedure.

 Research design in which the major emphasis is on determining the frequency with
which something occurs or the extent to which two variables co vary.
 Enable researcher to describe picture of
a phenomenon under investigation.
 Methodology involved – qualitative in
nature producing descriptive data.
 Three approaches to enable to
record/analyse the bahavioural patterns:
 Participant observation.
 Personal documents.
 Unstructured interviewing.
4) Experimental type Research
Design
Professor R.A.Fisher’s name is
associated with experimental
designs.
It’s origin in agricultural research
was made by him when he was
working in
Rothamsted Experimental
Station (Centre for Agricultural
Research in England).
 Experiment is a study in which the
investigator manipulates or varies (called the
independent variables) &
measures other variables (called the
dependent variables).
When an experiment is possible it is the most
effective method of testing a hypothesis.
i.e; one variable ‘X’
casually influences another variable ‘Y’
II. Research Methods
& Methodology
 Research Methods &
 Research Methods :
Methodology :
- methods by which the researcher conduct
research into a subject or a topic.
- Involve experiments , tests , surveys ….
- Research method pertains to all those methods
which a researcher employs to undertake
research process, to solve the given research
problem. The techniques & procedure , that are
applied during the course of studying research
problem are known as the research method. It
encompasses both qualitative & quantitative
method of performing research operations , such
as survey , case study , questionnaire ,
observation etc.
 Types of Research
Methods :
 Methods are the specific approach to
collecting the data.
- Interviews
- Surveys
- Focus groups
- Experiments
- Case studies
- Observational studies
- On-line data collection
 Research
Methodology :
- It is the study of methods , so as to solve the
research problem.

- Science of learning the way research should

be performed systematically.

- Refers to rigorous analysis of the methods

applied in the stream of research ; to ensure
that the conclusions drawn are valid , reliable
& credible too.

- The system of collecting data for research

projects is known as research methodology.
 Cont
…
 Research methodology is a guide to
research & how it is conducted.

 It describes & analysis methods,

throws more light on their limitations
& resources ; clarify their pre-
suppositions & consequences ,
relating to their potentialities to the
twilight zone at the frontiers of
knowledge.
 Advantages of Research Methodology :

1) Advancement of wealth of human being.

2) Provision of tools for carrying out the

research.

3) Develops a critical & scientific attitude ,

disciplined thinking to observations.
 Research Methodologies :

Research Methodologies

Quantitative Methodology Qualitative

Methodology
 Qualitative Methodology
- Depends on observations & descriptions.

- Subjective , descriptive & no facts .

- Concerned with quality.

- Non-numerical , applies reasoning & uses words.

- Aim is to get the meaning , feeling & describe the situation.

- Contexts of inquiry are not contrived ; they are natural .

Nothing is predefined or taken for granted.

- Interactive process.
 Qualitative research
methodologies
 Ethnography : - Anthropological approach.

- Allows the researcher to embed himself/ herself in the natural

setting of the subject he / she tries to study.

- The researcher immersed in the living the lives just like the
subject being studied experiencing & interfacing with them.

-Ex. Tribal hamlet – living & researching the people inhabiting

them , their customs & traditions etc.
 Cont..
 Grounded Theory :

- Makes use of the research data to the tee.

- Instead of drawing on theory at the beginning of the

research , this approach derives theory from the data
collected through research . The theory is grounded in the
data.

o Phenomenology :
- Studies ‘phenomena’ or ‘manifestations’ of things.

- It studies a particular phenomena, in its many angles & facets

, adding to knowledge about the phenomena.

- Ex. Researching on the phenomenon of lightening , you look

at information that you could access on lightening as it is
experienced.
Cont…
 Case Study :
- Tries to study unit of any subject.

- It tries to bring together all aspects & information about the unit under
the study , contributing to explaining or describing something .

Ex. Case study on some institutions, disease case.

o Narrative analysis :

- It weaves together a sequence of events , usually from just one or two

individuals to form cohesive story.
 Methods of data collection in qualitative
methodology :
 Interviews :

- Most common qualitative methods.

- Access to individual & personal narratives & responses.

- Serve as the conduit to rich data  provides in – depth personal

reflections.
 Focus –group discussion:

-Indulge a group of interviewees &

respondents by posing questions that are
then subject to discussion by the group.

- The dynamics in the group , debates ,

opinions & responses allow for
“networked” answers to the questions
posed , allowing the researcher to map
them.
Cont…

 Participant Observation:

- Entails the researcher embedding himself or herself in a group

setting & observing intently to note down nuanced descriptions of
the setting under study.
Ex. – descriptions of individual
- dynamics in a group.
- individual opinions.

Content analysis : Content analysis of documents or videos

provides for a close reading of such articles. It allows the
examination of how words , figures , pictures & texts deliver
meaning, & offer explications of cultures. It yields codes &
categories upon being subject to rigorous analysis.
 Differences in 5 qualitative methods
Method Focus Sample Data
size collection
Ethnography Context or - -------- Observation &
culture Interviews

Narrative Individual 1-2 Stories from

experience & individuals &
sequence documents
Phenomenological People who have 5-25 Interviews
experienced a
phenomena

Grounded Theory Develop a 20-60 Interviews ,

theory from open & axial
grounded in field coding
data
Case study Organization, ---------- Interviews ,
entity , documents ,
individual or reports &
event observation
 Strengths of Qualitative
Methodology:

1. Researcher gains an insider’s view of

the field.

2. Play important role of suggesting

possible relationships , causes ,
effects & dynamic processes.

3. Adds flesh & blood to social analysis.

 Limitations :

 Problem of adequate validity or reliability.

 Contexts , situations , events , conditions &
interactions can’t be replicated to any extent nor
can generalizations be made to a wider context
than the one studied with any confidence.
 Time consuming
 Researcher’s presence has a profound effect on the
subjects of study.
 Issues of anonymity & confidentiality present
problems when selecting findings.
 Chances for bias are more.
 Quantitative research

methods
Data can be analyzed in terms of numbers.

 Based on original plans & its results are readily analyzed &
interpreted.

 Collection & analysis of data in numeric form.

 Large samples are required.

 More vulnerable to statistical error.

 Misuse of sampling and weighting can undermine the accuracy ,

validity & project ability.
 Key characteristics of Quantitative
Research methods:
1) Control: - Enables the researcher to identify the causes of his or
her observations.
- Control is necessary in order to provide unambiguous
answers to questions.
- Control helps to isolate Cause & Effect.

2) Operational Definition:
- Terms must be defined by the steps or operations used to
measure them.
- Eliminates confusion in meaning & communication.
Cont…

 Replication : To be replicable , the data

obtained in an experiment must be
reliable ; i.e. the same result must be
found if the study is repeated. If
observations are not repeatable , our
descriptions & explanations are thought to
be unreliable.
 Strengths of Quantitative Methodology

 Precision : Through quantitative & reliable measurement.

 Control: Through sampling & design

 Ability to produce causality data , through the sue of controlled

experiments.

 Statistical techniques allow for sophisticated analyses.

 Replicable.
 Quantitative research methods :
 Deductive approach.

 Generally involves collecting numerical data that can be

subjected to statistical analysis.

Ex. – Performance Tests

- Personality Measures

-Questionnaires (closed ended & open ended )

- Content analysis
 Limitations:
1) Because of the complexity of human experience it is difficult to
rule out or control all the variables.

2) Its mechanistic ethos tends to exclude notions of freedom ,

choice & moral responsibility.

3) Quantification can become an end in itself.

4) It fails to take account of people’s unique ability to interpret their

experiences , construct their own meanings and act on these.
 Mixed Methods

 A mixed methods research is a

procedure for collecting,
analyzing & “mixing” both
quantitative research &
qualitative research and
methods in a single study to
understand a research
problem.
 Step IV Step V
Develop quantitative , Collect quantitative &
qualitative & mixed qualitative data
methods questions

Step III Priority Step VI

Identify the data Sequence Analyze data
collection strategy & Visualization separately or
type of design concurrently

Step II Step VII

Identify a rationale for a Write the report
mixed methods study as a one-or –
two phase
study
Step 1
Determine if a mixed
study is feasible
 Indications to use mixed methods
 When both quantitative and qualitative data, together, provide a
better understanding of your research problem than either type by
itself.

 When one type of research (qualitative or quantitative) is not

enough to address the research problem or answer the research
questions.

 Pragmatism –practicality; multiple view points; biased and

unbiased; subjective and objective.
Cont…

 To incorporate a qualitative component into an otherwise

quantitative study.

 To build from one phase of a study to another.

 Explore qualitatively then develop an instrument.

 Follow-up a quantitative study qualitatively to obtain more

detailed information.
 Mixed method methodology
 Utilizes both quantitative and qualitative data collection
methodologies.

 Examples:

-Interviews and Questionnaires

-Performance Tests and Observation

-Questionnaires and follow up Focus groups

-Document analysis, Performance Tests, Questionnaire, and

Interviews.
 Major Mixed Methods :
1. The Convergent Parallel Design :

Quantitative Data
Collection & analysis

Compare Interpretation
or relate

Qualitative Data
collection & Analysis
 The Convergent Design

- The researcher:

 Collects quantitative and qualitative data

concurrently.

 Analyzes the two data sets separately.

 Mixes the two databases by merging the

results during interpretation (and
sometimes during data analysis).
 The Explanatory Sequential
Methods

Quantitative Qualitative Data Interpretatio

Data collection Follow collection & n
& analysis up analysis
 The Explanatory
Method :
 The researcher:

Collects and analyzes qualitative

data in a second phase as a follow-
up to the quantitative results.

Connects the phases by using the

quantitative results to shape the
qualitative research questions,
sampling, and data collection.
 Purposes for the Explanatory
Method:

 To use qualitative data to help

explain quantitative results that
need further exploration.

 To use quantitative results to

purposefully select best
participants for qualitative study.
 The Exploratory Method
 The researcher:

Collects and analyzes qualitative data first

followed by quantitative data.

Analyzes the qualitative data and uses results to

build to the subsequent quantitative phase.

Connects the phases by using the qualitative

results to shape the quantitative phase by
specifying research questions and variables,
developing an instrument, and/or generating a
typology.
 Purposes for the Exploratory
Method

 To first explore because variables, theories,

hypotheses not known.

 To develop an instrument or typology that

is not available.

 To assess whether qualitative themes

generalize to a population.
THANK YOU
RR DACANAY