Kumar: Research Methodology
Chapter 8
Selecting a Study Design
Prepared by Stephanie Fleischer
authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014
Topics covered
• Differences between quantitative and
qualitative study designs
• Common study designs in quantitative
research
• Common study designs in qualitative research
• Other philosophy-guided designs
authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014
Differences between quantitative and
qualitative study designs
• Quantitative studies • Qualitative research
designs: designs:
– Specific – Flexible
– Rigid (solid) – Emergent(developing)
– Well structured – Non-sequential
– Ensure validity and
reliability
Differences in philosophical perspectives determine the
approach of enquiry
authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE
publications Ltd 2014
Study designs in quantitative research
Study designs can be classified by examining
from three different perspectives:
1. The number of contacts with the study
population
2. The reference period of the study
3. The nature of the investigation
authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE
publications Ltd 2014
Study designs based on the number of
contacts
• Cross-sectional: most common and take a
cross-section of the population at one point in
time
• Before-and-after: also known as
pre-test/post-test design which take two
cross-sectional data collection points on the same
population to find out changes.
• Longitudinal(linear): the population is researched a
number of times; a series of repetitive
cross-sectional studies collecting the same
information authored by Stephanie Fleisher © SAGE
publications Ltd 2014
Study designs based on the reference
period (time-frame)
• Retrospective: investigate things that
happened in the past
• Prospective: investigate things that are likely
to happen in the future, such as experiments
• Retrospective-prospective: focus on both past
trends and study it into the future, such as
before-and-after studies without a control
group
authored by Stephanie Fleisher © SAGE
publications Ltd 2014
Study designs based on the nature of
the investigation
• Experimental: starting from the cause to
establish the effect; the researcher
introduces the intervention that is
assumed to cause the change in a
controlled or natural environment.
authored by Stephanie Fleisher © SAGE
publications Ltd 2014
Experimental designs
• Random design
• The after-only design
• The before-and-after experimental design
• The control group design
• The double control group design
• The comparative design
• The ‘matched control’ experimental design
• The placebo(imaginary) design
authored by Stephanie Fleisher © SAGE
publications Ltd 2014
Study designs based on the nature of
the investigation - continued
• Non-experimental: Starting with the effect to
research the cause; a phenomenon is known
and the researcher attempts to establish what
caused it.
• Quasi- or semi-experimental:(almost) This design
has elements of both experimental and
non-experimental studies.
authored by Stephanie Fleisher © SAGE
publications Ltd 2014
Figure 8.1 Types of study design
authored by Stephanie Fleisher © SAGE
publications Ltd 2014
Other quantitative designs
• Online surveys
• The cross-over comparative experimental design
• The replicated(double) cross-sectional design
• Trend studies
• Cohort(group) studies
• Panel(expert group) studies
• Blind studies
• Double-blind studies
Study designs in qualitative research
• Case studies: In-depth exploration of a
atypical (odd) case of a particular event, group,
instance, etc.
• Oral history: Obtaining, recording, presenting
and interpreting information in someone’s
own words
• Focus groups/ group interviews: Facilitated
group interviews of an open discussion of a
topic
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Study designs in qualitative research
continued
• Participant observation: Researcher gets
involved in a social interaction and observes
the situation first hand
• Holistic (comprehension) research: More a philosophy,
research from every perspective
• Community discussion forums: Large group
discussion
• Reflective journal log: Diary of the
researcher’s thoughts
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Other philosophy-guided designs
• Action Research: Research that requires action to
improve practice or take action to an issue
• Feminist research: Underpinned by feminist
concerns in terms social inequality between men
and women
• Participatory and collaborative research enquiry:
Based on the philosophy of community
development involving community members
actively in the research process
authored by Stephanie Fleisher © SAGE
publications Ltd 2014