Kumar: Research Methodology
Chapter 7
The Research Design
Prepared by Stephanie Fleischer
authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014
Topics covered
• What is a research design?
• Functions of research design
• Issues to consider when designing research
• The theory of causality and the research
design
authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014
What is a research design?
• A research design is a plan, structure and strategy
of investigation so conceived(imaginary) as to obtain:
• answers to research questions or problems. The
plan is the complete scheme or programme of the
• research. It includes an outline of what the
investigator will do from writing the hypotheses
and
• their operational implications to the final analysis
of data. (Kerlinger 1986: 279)
What is a research design
• Detailed plan of how the research study will
be completed:
– Operationalizing variables
– Selecting a sample
– Selecting data collection methods
– Selection analysis methods
• Valid and reliable
• Justified and supported by literature
authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014
A
research design, therefore, should do
the following:
❑ Name the study design per se – that is, ‘cross-sectional’,
‘before-and-after’, ‘comparative’, ‘control experiment’ or ‘random
control’.
❑ Provide detailed information about the following aspects of the
study:
• Who will constitute the study population?
• How will the study population be identified?
• Will a sample or the whole population be selected?
• If a sample is selected, how will it be contacted?
• How will consent be sought?
• What method of data collection will be used and why?
• In the case of a questionnaire, where will the responses be
returned?
• How should respondents contact you if they have queries?
Function of a research design
• Conceptualize(form an idea) an operational plan
to undertake the various procedures and tasks
required to complete a study
• Ensure that these procedures are adequate to
obtain valid, objective and accurate answers
to the research questions. Kerlinger calls this
function the control of variance (1986: 280).
authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014
Research design
Specifying procedures clearly so that another
researcher would be able to follow them exactly
the same way. This should include:
• Name of the study design (e.g. experiment,
cross-sectional design, etc.)
• Provide detailed information on study
population, method of data collection,
analysis methods and ethical issues
authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014
The theory of causality and the
research design
• When examining a cause-effect relationship:
– Study the impact on the independent variable
– Study the cause of change on the dependent
variable
– Consider other affecting variables (extraneous
(not odd)variables) by using a control group to
quantify the impact.
– Consider random or change variables (changes in
the dependent variable) due to mood of
respondents or ambiguity of research instrument
authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014
Changes in the dependent variable may be
attributed to three types of variables
• Changes in the dependent variable = changes
attributable(related ) to independent variable
± change attributable to extraneous variables
± change attributable to chance and random
variables
authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014
Building into the design
• Ensure that extraneous variables have a
similar impact on control and experimental
groups:
– Randomisation
– Matching
• Two methods for extraneous variables:
– Build the affecting variable into the design of the
study
– Eliminate the variable
authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014
Figure 7.3 The proportion attributable
to the three components may vary
markedly
authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014
Summary: Function of research design
• Stating the procedures for undertaking the
study in detail
• Ensuring that the independent variable has
the maximum opportunity to have its effect on
the dependent variable while the effect of
extraneous and chance variables is minimised
in a cause-effect relationship
authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014