Research Design
EMIL MATHEW, IMU CC
Definition
A research design is a controlling plan for a research study in which the methods and
procedures for collecting and analyzing the information to be collected are specified. It is a
framework or plan for study that guides the collection and analysis of data.
It is the conceptual structure within which research is conducted. It constitutes the blueprint for
the collection, measurement, and analysis of data
Definition
“Research design is the planned sequence of the entire process involved in
conducting a research study” - Miller.
“Research design is a catalogue of the various phases and facts relating to
the formulation of a research effort. It is an arrangement of the essential
conditions for collection and analysis of data in a form that aims to combine
relevance to research purpose with economy in the procedure”- Selltiz and
others.
Scope of the RD
The research design covers
What is the study about?
Why is the study being made?
Where will the study be carried out?
What type of data is required?
Where can the required data be found?
What periods of time will the study include?
What will be the sample design?
What techniques of data collection will be used?
How will the data be analysed?
In what style will the report be prepared?
Sampling design deals with the method of selecting items to be observed for the given study.
Observational design relates to the conditions under which the observations are to be made.
Statistical design concerns the questions of how many items are to be observed and how the
information and data gathered are to be analysed.
Operational design deals with the techniques by which the procedures specified in the
sampling, statistical, and observational designs can be carried out.
It is a plan that specifies the sources and types of information, the strategy for gathering data,
and time and cost constraints.
Features of a good RD
A good design is flexible, appropriate, efficient, economical, etc. It minimises bias and maximises
the reliability of data collected and analysed.
A design that yields the maximum information and provides an opportunity to consider many
different aspects of a problem.
It has to consider the following points:
The means of obtaining information
Availability of staff and skills of the researcher
Addresses the objectives of the problem to be studied
The nature of the problem to be studied
Availability of time and money
1. Freedom from bias: the method of data collection and analysis would not cause the data to vary in a
systematic way.
2. Freedom from confounding: the variables involved in the study are separated from each other so
that they do not influence each other.
3. Control of extraneous variables: the variables that are not under scrutiny do not influence the
experimental variables
4. Statistical precision for testing hypothesis: the data are recorded at a level of precision that will yield
statistically meaningful results.
5. With in resources: it could be completed within available resources like time, money and staff.
6. Optimality: yields maximum precision in terms of bias and variance using minimum resources in terms
sample size, time and money.
7. Objectivity: If operated by more than one researcher a good research design obtains same results
8. Flexibility: incorporate changes in it whenever needed.
RDs
On the basis of certain commonalities one can categorize the research studies by research
methods and procedures used to collect and analyze data. There are three basic types of
research designs:
1. Exploratory research design
2. Descriptive or diagnostic research design
3. Causal or Hypothesis testing or Experimental research design
Exploratory RD
Exploratory research is defined as collecting information in an unstructured and
informal way.
It helps in determining the best research design, data collection method, and
selection of subjects. Usually exploratory research is qualitative in nature.
It helps in finding out the feasibility of the research problem, getting familiar with
various components of the study, generating new ideas, and formulating the
hypothesis.
Literature survey, Expert survey, and case study examples are extensively used.
Descriptive or diagnostic RDs
These types of research studies may describe such things as consumer attitudes, intentions,
behaviors, or the number of competitors and their strategies.
It describes data and characteristics of the population or phenomenon being studied. The
description is used for frequencies, averages, and other statistical calculations.
The research starts with a consideration of the larger issues of interest, and these are then
narrowed into specific questions (hypotheses).
The data are filtered and analyzed to generate conclusions that may support or refute the
hypothesis.
Research Design Exploratory Descriptive
Overall design Flexible design Rigid design
Sampling design Non probability sampling Probability sampling design
design (purposive/ judgment (random sampling)
sampling)
Statistical design No preplanned design for Preplanned design for analysis
analysis
Observational design Unstructured instruments for Structured or well thought out
collection of data instruments for collection of
data
Operational design No fixed decisions about the Advanced decisions about
operational procedures operational procedures
Causal or Hypothesis testing or
Experimental research design
Causal research designs are used in hypothesis testing research or experimental
research studies. This type of research design is conducted by controlling various
factors to determine which factors are causing the problem. It isolates causes and
effects.
Some of the popular experimental designs are: (a) Completely randomized design (b)
Randomized block design (c) Latin square design (d) Factorial design.
Aspects Exploratory Research Design Descriptive Research Design Experimental Research Design
Explore new or unfamiliar
Purpose Describe characteristics or relationships. Establish cause-and-effect relationships.
phenomena.
Manipulation of Variables are not typically Variables are observed but not Independent variables are intentionally
Variables manipulated. manipulated. manipulated.
Limited control over extraneous
Control Limited control over variables. Strict control over extraneous variables.
variables.
Does not aim to establish Does not establish causation; describes
Causality Aims to establish causal relationships.
causation. associations or patterns.
Sampling may be non-random or May use non-random or random
Sampling Typically involves random assignment.
purposive. sampling.
Focus groups, interviews, case Surveys, observational studies, content Randomized controlled trials (RCTs),
Examples
studies. analyses. laboratory experiments.