Chapter 2
Methods
Quantitative Format
• Research Design
• Research Locale
• Population and Sample
• Research Instrument
• Data Gathering Procedure
• Data Analysis
• Ethical Considerations
Qualitative Format
•Research Design
•Research Locale
•Participants and Sampling
•Data Gathering Procedure
•Data Analysis
•Ethical Considerations
Research Design
Understanding the Blueprint of Research
Definition of Research Design
• A research design is the overall plan, structure,
and strategy of a research study.
•It acts as a blueprint guiding data collection,
measurement, and analysis.
•Ensures results are reliable, valid, and aligned
with objectives
Key Features of Research Design
• Purpose (exploratory, descriptive, correlational,
experimental)
• Approach (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed
methods)
• Time frame (cross-sectional or longitudinal)
• Data collection methods (surveys, interviews,
observations, experiments)
• Analysis plan (how data will be interpreted)
Types of Research Design (Overview)
1. Descriptive
2. Correlational
3. Experimental
4. Quasi-Experimental
5. Exploratory
6. Explanatory (Causal-Comparative)
7. Case Study
8. Longitudinal
9. Cross-Sectional
Descriptive Research Design
• Purpose: To describe characteristics or
phenomena.
• Methods: Surveys, observations, case
studies.
• Example: Surveying students’ study
habits.
Correlational Research Design
• Purpose: To identify relationships between
variables.
• Methods: Statistical analysis (correlation,
regression).
• Example: Relationship between social media use
and academic performance
Correlation
• Purpose: To measure the strength and direction of the relationship
between two variables.
• When to Use: When you only want to know if two variables are related
(not cause-and-effect).When you want to measure how strongly variables
move together.
• Output: A correlation coefficient (r) ranging from –1 to +1.
+1: Perfect positive relationship (as one increases, the other increases).
–1: Perfect negative relationship (as one increases, the other decreases).
0: No relationship.
• Example: Checking if there is a relationship between hours of study and
exam scores.
Regression
• Purpose: To predict or explain the value of one variable (dependent)
based on another variable(s) (independent).
• When to Use: When you want to predict outcomes.
• When you want to understand the effect of one or more variables on
another. Useful in cause-effect analysis (though causality must be
justified by research design, not statistics alone).
• Output: An equation (e.g., Y = a + bX) showing how the independent
variable(s) influence the dependent variable.
• Example: Predicting a student’s exam score (Y) based on hours of
study (X).
Experimental Research Design
• Purpose: To establish cause-and-effect.
•Method: Manipulation of independent
variable, control group, random
assignment.
• Example: Testing new teaching method
vs. traditional method.
Quasi-Experimental Research Design
•Similar to experimental but lacks
random assignment.
• Example: Comparing two existing
sections taught with different
methods.
Exploratory Research Design
•Purpose: To explore new or less
understood topics.
• Method: Interviews, focus group
discussions.
• Example: Exploring first-generation
college students’ experiences.
Explanatory (Causal-Comparative) Design
•Purpose: To explain causes by
comparing groups.
• Example: Comparing academic
performance of working vs. non-
working students.
Case Study Research Design
•Purpose: In-depth study of a single
case (person, group, event).
•Example: Studying one barangay’s
community-police partnership
program
Longitudinal Research Design
• Purpose: Study same subjects over time
to track changes.
• Example: Tracking students’ academic
progress from Grade 7 to 12.
Cross-Sectional Research Design
• Purpose: Snapshot at one point in
time.
• Example: Surveying students from
different grade levels at the same
time.
Summary
• Descriptive: What is happening?
• Correlational: Are variables related?
• Experimental/Quasi: Cause-and-effect.
• Exploratory: What can we discover?
• Explanatory: Why is it happening?
• Case Study: Deep dive into one case.
• Longitudinal: Changes over time.
• Cross-sectional: Snapshot at one time.
Answer the following questions:
1. Why is it important to have a clear research design before
conducting a study?
2. How does research design serve as the “blueprint” of a study?
3. What might happen if a researcher chooses the wrong research
design for their study?
4. Compare cross-sectional and longitudinal designs: when is one
more appropriate than the other?
5. Which research design do you think is most challenging to conduct,
and what makes it difficult?