Research designs

Research design definition

Research design is the framework of research methods and techniques chosen by a researcher. The design
allows researchers to make research methods that are suitable for the subject matter. The design of a research
topic explains the type of research (experimental, survey research, correlational, semi-experimental, review) and
also its sub-type (experimental design, research problem, and descriptive case-study).

The type of research problem an organization is facing will determine the research design and not vice-versa.
The design phase of a study determines which tools to use and how they are used. There are some types of
designs for research is as follows:
‫اشمدہہ اک رطہقی یسک صخش ای رگوہ ےک روےی اک اشمدہہ اور ایبن رکےن اک رطہقی ےہ۔اسیسنئ اشمدہہ درتس رطےقی ےس ےط‬

 Observational method ‫دشہ احالت ےک تحت مظنم اور رعمویض ادناز ںیم اور اتحمط راکیرڈ رےنھک ےک اسھت ایک اجات ےہ۔اشمدہایت رطوقیں اک اینبدی‬

 Survey research design ‫دصقم روےی یک واضتح رکان ےہ۔اسسنئ دان روےی وک لمکم وطر رپ اور رہ نکمم دح کت درتس رطےقی ےس ایبن رکےن یک‬

 Archival research design ‫ نیققحم ےک ےیل یسک صخش‬،‫وکشش رکےت ںیہ۔نیققحم وک اس دصقم کت ےنچنہپ ںیم نیگنس زجنلیچ اک اسانم ےہ۔واحض وطر رپ‬

 Quasi-Experiment design ‫ےک امتم روےی اک اشمدہہ رکان اننکمم ےہ۔اسسنئ دان ولوگں ےک روےی ےک ومنونں ےک اشمدہے رپ ااصحنر رکےت ںیہ نکیل‬
‫اںیہن ہی ہلصیف رکان وہاگ ہک آای ان ےک ومنےن ولوگں ےک ومعمل ےک روےی یک امندنئیگ رکےت ںیہ۔اشمدہہ روےی ےک ابرے‬
 Single case research design
‫ںیم رفمووضں اک اکی رھبوپر ذرہعی رفامہ رکات ےہ اور اس ےیل اشمدہہ ہی درایتف رکےن اک الہپ دقم یھب وہ اتکس ےہ ہک ھچک‬
Observational method: ‫ولگ امہرے اسیج رباتؤ ویکں رکےت ںیہ۔‬

The observation method is a method to observe and describe the behavior of a person or groups. Scientific
observation is made under precisely defined conditions, in a systematic and objective manner, and with careful
record keeping. The primary goal of observational methods is to describe behavior. Scientists strive to describe
behavior fully and as accurately as possible. Researchers face serious challenges in reaching this goal. Clearly,
it is impossible for researchers to observe all of a person’s behavior. Scientists rely on observing samples of
people’s behavior but they must decide whether their samples represent people’s usual behavior. Observation
provides a rich source of hypotheses about behavior, and so observation can also be a first step in discovering
why some people behaves the way we do.
Types of Observational Method:

 Controlled observation
 Systematic observation
 Naturalistic observation
 Participant observation

Controlled observation:

Controlled observations are typically a structured observation that takes place in a psych lab. The researcher has
a question in mind and controls many of the variables, including participants, observation location, time of the
study, circumstances surrounding the research, and more. In a controlled observation method, the participants
are informed by the researcher about the aim of the research. This makes them aware of being observed. The
researcher avoids direct contact during the observation method and generally uses a two-way mirror to observe
and record details.

 Advantages:
The data and information received from a controlled observation method are structured and analytical. It
is thus easy to analyze it quickly and is considered less time-consuming than the other observation
methods. The coded data is easy to analyze and quantify.
 Disadvantages:
The controlled observation method lacks validity because when the participants are aware of being
observed their behavior will automatically change.

Coding Systems

In a systematic observation behavior is coded so that it can be easily recorded and then quantified for further
analysis. He might also note relevant events occurring at the same time, for instance he might have a code for
noting if people are present or not, if another dog is present, if food is present, etc. Another way to code the
interaction would be to assign a value of 1 for growling, a value of 2 for biting, a value of 3 for sleeping, a value
of 4 for awake and not biting or growling, a value of 5 for licking, and a value of 6 for all other behaviors.

Yet another way to code the behavior would be to count the number of times the behavior occurs in some time
interval. This is in contrast to interval recording described above. In interval recording the observer would only
note if the behavior occurred or did not occur in a given time interval...whether the behavior occurs once, twice,
or five times it is recorded the same. With a frequency count the observer would note every time the behavior
occurs, so the number of occurrences noted in a frequency count will likely be higher than in an interval count.
Naturalistic Observation:

Social scientists and psychologists generally use the naturalistic observation method. The process involves
observing and studying the behavior of the participants in open or natural surroundings. The role of the
researcher is to find and record whatever he can see and observe in natural habitat. Thus naturalistic observation
is a type of field research. Traditionally, naturalistic observation studies have been used by animal researchers,
psychologists, ethnographers, and anthropologists. Naturalistic observations are helpful as a hypothesis-
generating approach, because you gather rich information that can inspire further research.

 Advantages
When a participant is in a natural habitat, his flow of behavior is natural and not forced. The studies
have gained better ecological validity than the controlled observation method. The naturalistic
observation method is used by the researchers to create new ideas.

Disadvantages:

In this type of observation method, the researcher needs proper training to recognize aspects that are
significant and worth attention.
The observations through naturalistic observation method are not as reliable as the researcher wants
them to be because it is not possible to control some variables. This is why other researchers cannot
similarly repeat the study or research.
Establishing the cause and effect relationship is not possible because the researcher cannot manipulate
the variables.

Participant observation:

The participant observation method is often considered a variant of the naturalistic observation method because
it has some similarities with it. The point of difference is that the researcher is not a distant observer anymore
because he has joined the participants and become a part of their group. He does this to get a more in-depth and
greater insight into their lives.

The researcher interacts with other members of the group freely, participates in their activities, studies their
behavior and acquires a different way of life. Participant observation can be overt or covert.

1. Overt –When the researcher asks permission from a group to take the observation method is known as
overt. He does so by revealing his true purpose and real identity to the group with whom he wants to
mingle
2. Covert– When the researcher does not show either his true identity or real meaning to the group he
wants to join then the observation is known as covert.

 Advantages:
It is easy to study and observe the natural behavior of the participants in the group by becoming a part of
that group. The researcher becomes understanding by following the events of the respondents from such
a close angle. During the participant observation method, the researcher develops a good and healthy
relationship with the respondents. This rapport helps him to participate in all the activities and make
observations in a better way.
 Disadvantages:
Sometimes the researcher becomes too involved in that group. There is a higher chance of losing his
objectivity because his reporting will be selective and dependent on his memory. The emotional
participation of the researcher can result in bias interpretation. The researcher misses many vital points
because of his familiarity.