Research Design

UNIT 2(B)

Introduction
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Research Design is in fact the conceptual framework within which

the research is conducted. Mr. Bernard Philip describe the research design as The blueprint for the collection, measurement and analysis of data. S.L Gupta defines it as A research design provides the flow of activities form problem formulation to hypothesis development, to data collection, to data analysis, to final results, to implications and conclusions. According to Claire Selltiz, A research design is arrangement of conditions, for collection and analysis of data, in a manner that aims to combine relevance to the research purpose with economy in procedure. It is the route map for the journey of Research. Therefore, we can say that Research design is the overall plan about how the research would be conducted, what methods of data collection will be used, how analysis would be done, and how results would be computed.
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Reserch Design

Research Design
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A Research Design aims at answering the following

questions:

What is the study about? Why is it being done? Where will the study be carried out? What type of data is required? Where and at What time required data will be found? What will be the Sample Design? What techniques of data collection will be used? How will data be analyzed? In what style will the Report be prepared?

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Research Design
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A research design provides: Design of the Research Exploratory/Descriptive/Experimental Type of data required Measurement and Scaling requirements Technique of data collection Interview/Observation etc Sampling Process and Sample Size Data analysis to be done

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Teena Y. Sharma

Research Design
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Hence, we can say that the Research Design can be

split up into the following:

The Sampling Design, which deals with the method of selecting items to be observed for the given study. The Observational Design, which relates to the conditions under which the observations are to be made. The Statistical Design, which concerns with the question of how many items are to be observed and how the information and data gathered are to be analyzed. The Operational Design, which deals with the techniques by which the procedures specific in sampling , statistical and observational designs can be carried out.
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Reserch Design

Important features of a Research Design

The important features of a Research Design can be

stated as under:

It is a plan that specifies the sources and types of information relevant to the research problem. It is a strategy, which specifies which approach will be used for gathering and analyzing the data. It also contains the Time and Cost budgets.

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Teena Y. Sharma

Need of a Research Design

A Research Design gives, series of guide posts to the

researcher, to help him moving in the right direction. Prior planning and informed eases the process of research, and makes it effective. A well thought-out research design economizes. It helps in calculating the accuracy required for the study. ( not too high, neither too low) A research design helps the researcher in collecting only the required data. It also helps the researcher in deciding what underlying assumptions are required to conduct the research study.
Teena Y. Sharma

Reserch Design

Features of a Good Research Design

A precise statement of the research problem.

Efficient and Effective data sources and data

collection methods. Effective data analysis techniques. Resource constraints time, cost, manpower.

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Classification of Research Design

Based on the type of study, a researcher can have

different types of research design. Hence, research design can be of the following types:

Research Design for Exploratory Research Research Design for Descriptive Research Research Design for Experimental Research / Hypothesistesting Research

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Research Design for Exploratory Research Studies

Concept:

An Exploratory design, also known as Formulative study, aims at discovering more about the various dimensions of the research problem and its associated aspects. It is unstructured in nature. It aims at helping the researcher to formulate a more precise and structured problem. The premium is on the discovery of ideas and gaining insights and uncovering new concepts related to the problem. Usually results in formulating the problem better or hypothesis formulation. This design is common in young stage of the research. Katz puts exploratory design of research into two levels:
Discovery of significant variables involved in research. Relationship among these variables.

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Research Design for Exploratory Research Studies

Uses: Better formulation of the problem. Theoretical base for the problem, hypothesis and ultimately the research. Finding of variables involved in the problem. Study of relationships between the variables involved in the problem. IMPORTANT : Exploratory research design may

lead to developing of hypothesis, defining a problem, discover variables involved, but it does not involve testing of hypothesis.
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Research Design for Descriptive Research

Concept: Descriptive studies concern themselves with describing the characteristics of a phenomenon, individual, group. At times, it is also called a Diagnostic design, when it determines the frequency of occurrence of a phenomenon of interest or its association with something else. Descriptive studies narrate facts or characteristics. They are very structured in nature. Here a clear definition population and the problem faced by it is required. Also objective of research study, with a good amount of precision, and focused and structured data collection techniques and instruments are required in order to avoid any kind of biases. Descriptive/Diagnostic studies usually employ the principle of sampling as they attempt to make a certain kind of generalization about the population. Then comes collection, which is followed by data analysis, and in the end is the report writing.
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Research Design for Descriptive Research

Uses: As it is the research design for Descriptive Studies, which talk about characteristics, they are quite rigid in nature. It shows methodological aspect of data collection and interpretation. It helps in proper planning of the research process

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Difference between Exploratory and Descriptive Research Designs

Exploratory Design
Flexible and

Descriptive Design
Rigid and Structured in

unstructured in nature Contain Nonprobabilistic Sampling if at all it is there Little analysis is involved Unstructured data collection instruments are there No advance planning is there in this process

nature Contains Simple Random Sampling Planned analysis of data is involved Well defined data collection tools are there Each and every step is pre-planned
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Research Design for Experimental Research/ Hypothesis-testing Research

Concept:

An Experimental design attempts to study/verify the effects of a particular variable or a set of variables on a phenomenon of interest. It also tests, if the variables are associated to each other, if yes, then in what fashion. In fact, Experimental design concerns itself, with the study of causeeffect relationship between variables, and testing of casual hypothesis. A casual hypothesis states that, that a particular variable/its characteristics, say X, or its occurrence in any form, determines the value of another variable/its characteristics, say Y. An Experimental design is closely related to the Concept of Causality
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Research Design for Experimental Research/ Hypothesis-testing Research

Concept of Causality:

It talks about a cause-effect relationship between variables. Operationally it can be defined as:

Variations in stimulus X (cause) results in variations in values of Y (effect). A number of other stimuli (like X), are also used to check if they have the same effect on Y. After all these observations, both with X and other similar variables, relationship between X and Y, is said to be Causal if changes in Y are a result of changes in X only, and no other variables.

Such association between X and Y can be tested only after a series of experiments is conducted, and also note, this association of X and Y cannot be tested only with a single experiment. Such series of experiments, make us more clear about the association of variables. Concept of Causality also gives rise to another concept Producer-Product Relationship

It says that, if X and Y are causal in nature with each other, then at any given time, for Y to occur X is necessary. X (producer) is required for Y (product) to occur. The association should be strong enough for observer to believe that it has an explanatory power. The relationship has enough theory attached to itself, to prove it to be Causal.

Another important thing, any kind of Causal Relationship between variables, the relationship must posses following characteristics:

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Some Basic Principles of Experimental Design of Research

Prof. Fisher has outlined three basic principles of

Experimental Design of Research:

The Principle of Replication The Principle of Randomization The Principle of Local Control

The Principle of Replication: It states that the experiment should be repeated for a number of times with the aim of increasing the statistical accuracy and precision of study.

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Some Basic Principles of Experimental Design of Research

The Principle of Randomization: It states that experimental design should be planned in such a way that the extraneous factors be randomized, evened out, or balanced out throughout the experiment, so that they have minimum effect on the experiment. It acts as a safeguard for the experimental design. The Principle of Local control: It states that the known source of variability be deliberately varied across the two extremes and its effects be measured. This measured effect is then eliminated from the experimental error.
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Some Important Terms

used in Experimental Design.

Variables Non-continuous or Discrete Variables Dependent Variable and Independent Variables Extraneous Variables Control Confound Relationship Research hypothesis Testing of Hypothesis Experimental and Non-Experimental Hypothesis-Testing research Experimental and Control Group
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Types of Experimental Designs

Experimental designs can be categorized into two

broad classes:

Formal Experimental Design Non-formal experimental Design

Non-formal Experimental Designs:

They are less sophisticated in nature, and use simple analysis, such as difference in magnitudes etc.

Formal Experimental Designs:

They are more sophisticated in the sense, that they offer relatively more control and involve the application of higher end statistical measures.
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Reserch Design

THANK YOU !!
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Teena Y. Sharma