Designing A Research

Sasmita Mishra
 Research Design:its
meaning
A research design is the
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 conceptual structure

within which the research is
conducted; it constitutes the
blueprint for the collection,
 Research Designs and
Methods
A Research Design provides a framework for
the collection and analysis of data. Choice of
research design reflects decisions about
priorities given to the dimensions of the
research process.

• A Research Method is simply a procedure

for collecting data. Choice of research
method reflects decisions about the type
of instruments or techniques to be used.
 Design Decision
Answer the following questions before
deciding to select a research design.
What is the study about?
Why is the study being made?
Where will the study be carried out?
(Study setting)
What type of data is required?(type of
investigation)
Where can the required data be found?
What periods of time will the study
include? (time horizon)
What will be the sample design?
(sampling design)
 Segments of Research
Design
Research design constitutes:
Sampling design:selecting items to be
observed from the given study.
Observational design:conditions under
which the observations are to be made.
Statistical design:how much information
to be collected and how the data to be
analyzed.
Operational design: the techniques by
which the procedure specified in the
sampling, statistical and observational
design can be carried out.
 Purpose of Research
Design
To provide a conclusive answer to
the problem posed by the
researcher.
To control the potentially relevant
variables, that is those which may
also influence the research
outcome, but in which the
researcher is not interested at the
moment.
 Characteristics of A Good
Research Design
Reliability – are measures consistent?

Replication/replicability – is study
repeatable?

Validity – are conclusions well-founded?

 Types of Validity
Measurement (or construct)
validity – do measures reflect
concepts?
Internal validity – are causal
relations between variables real?
External validity – can results be
generalized beyond the research
setting?
Ecological validity – are findings
see Box 2.7
 Important concept
Relating to Research
Design
Independent and Dependent
Variable
Extraneous Variable
Control
Confounded Relationship
Experimental and non-experimental
Hypothesis-testing research
Experimental and control group
Experiment
 What is a variable?

A variable that can take on differing

or varying values. The value can
differ at various times for the same
object or person, or at the same
time for different objects or
persons.
Ex. Production unit, absenteeism,
motivation etc.
Types of Research Design
Exploratory
Descriptive
Hypothesis-testing research
Observational Studies & Survey
 Exploratory Research
Design
Exploratory research is of three
types:

Survey of concerning literature

Experience survey
Analysis of insight stimulating
examples
 What is experimental
design
Experimental designs are those where
the researcher tests the hypotheses of
causal relationship between variables.

To establish that variable X causes

variable Y, all three of the following
conditions should be met:
Both X & Y should covary
X should precede Y
No other factor should cause the
change in the Y.
 Types of Experimental
Design
Laboratory Experiment:
Experiments done in an artificial
or contrived environment.
Field Experiment: Done in natural
environment in which activities
regularly take place.
 Lab Experiment

The success of lab experiment

depends upon proper control of
extraneous variable and and
manipulation of the independent
variable.
 Classical Experimental
Design
T1 8 months T2

Obs1 experimental Obs2

experimental
treatment group

Random
Assignment

Obs3 no Obs4 control

experimental
group
 Threats to Internal Validity
History
Testing
Instrumentation
Mortality
Maturation
Selection
Ambiguity about the direction of causal
influence
 Threats to External
Validity
1. Interaction of selection and
treatment
2. Interaction of setting and
treatment
3. Interaction of history and
treatment
4. Interaction effects of pretesting
5. Reactive effects of experimental
arrangements