RESEARCH DESIGN

VADIVUKKARASISATHISHMUNEER

Research Design - Definition

“Research design provides a systematic plan of procedure for the researcher to follow”.– John W. Best.

Research design is a set of advance decisions that make up the master plan specifying the methods and procedures

for collecting and analyzing the needed information.

Answers to the following questions

• What the study is about ?• Why the study is undertaken ?• What are the types of data required ?• Where data can be found ?• What techniques of gathering data will be adopted ?• When or what periods of time, the study will

conclude ?• How much resources (men, money, and materials)

will be required ?

Significance of research design

• Leads to Smooth & efficient sailing (sets boundaries & prevents blind search)

• Yields maximum information (avoids collection of unnecessary data)

• Avoids misleading conclusions & thoughtless exercises

Features of a research Design:

• It is plan that specifies the sources and types of information relevant to the research problem

• It is the strategy specifying which approach will be used for gathering and analyzing the data.

• It includes the time and cost budget since most of the studies are done under these two constraints.

In brief the research design must at least contain:

• A clear statement of research problem• Procedures and techniques used for gathering

the data.• The population to be studied.• Methods to be used in processing and

analyzing data.

Steps in Research Design

• Define the research problem• Estimate the cost of information –It is

advisable to find out the cost –benefit ratio before proceeding

• Select the source of data collection• Select the measurement techniques• Select the sample

Cont..

• Select the method of analysis –Its depends upon the selection of data sampling, measurement technique, data collection, purpose of research.

• Find out time and cost required.• Prepare the research design.

Qualities of Good Research Design

• It is easy to suggest a problem but difficult to make a good research design.

• Each problem/research work is unique & demands unique research design & unique combination of methods and techniques.

• Comprehensive• Flexible

Cont..

• CHOOSES APPROPRIATE COMBINATION OF METHODS AND TECHNIQUES:-

• This suggests that the design should be such that it chooses appropriate combination of methods and techniques based on objectives, possible implications of results and overall environment, current knowledge etc.

• SHOULD BE ACCEPTABLE:- • This point suggests that the design should be

universally acceptable and understood by persons. It should be simple , clear and easily understood by laymen.

Types of Research Design

Exploratory Descriptive Causal

Exploratory research design

• Purpose to find out causes behind a problem precisely, collect required information and identify alternate courses of action in order to deal with the problem

• Uses of exploratory research include:– Gain background information.– To understand such problems.– Clarify problems and hypotheses.– Establish research priorities

Exploratory Research (Cont.)

• Methods of Conducting Exploratory Research

Secondary data analysisExperience (Expert) surveysCase AnalysisFocus groups

• The purpose of exploratory research is to know the unknown

• The objective of exploratory research is to discover new ideas.

• The secondary/published data can be used for exploratory research as such data are easily available

• Example : A service provider wants to know why his customers are switching to other service providers

Descriptive research method

• Research conducted to describe characteristics such as age, sex, occupation, income or education of a population or a phenomenon. Descriptive research is undertaken to provide answers to questions of who , what, where, when, and how

• Example : A Library may find its young user’s decreasing. On the basis of user analysis the library may hypothesis that teenagers do not use its services for the study purpose. A descriptive study can then be designed to test this hypothesis.

Causal/Experimental Research:

As the name indicates, casual design investigates the cause and effect relationship between two or more variables.

Casual research is useful to show the impact of one variable on the other. For example, Price and market demand relationship or relationship between market competition and sales performance

• Example : Does smoking cause cancer?

Areas of Decision Making in Research Design

1.The Time period of research2.The Sources of data3.The Data Collection Method4.The Area of Research5.The Sample Design

Thank you