UNIT 2 - RESEARCH DESIGN

Meaning of Research Design

A research design is a framework or blueprint for conducting the research project. 

It details the procedures necessary for obtaining the information needed to structure or solve research problems. 

In simple words it is the general plan of how you will go about your research.

The function of a research design is to ensure that requisite data in accordance with the problem at hand is collected accurately and economically. 

Simply stated, it is the framework, a blueprint for the research study which guides the collection and analysis of data. 

The research design, depending upon the needs of the researcher may be a very detailed statement or only furnish the minimum information required for planning the research project.

To be effective, a research design should furnish at least the following details.

A statement of objectives of the study or the research output.

A statement of the data inputs required on the basis of which the research problem is to be solved.

The methods of analysis which shall be used to treat and analyze the data inputs.

More explicitly, the design decisions happen to be in respect of:

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 analyzed?

In what style will the report be prepared?

Advantages of research design

1. Consumes less time.
2. Ensures project time schedule.
3. Helps researcher to prepare himself to carry out research in a proper and a systematic way.
4. Better documentation of the various activities while the project work is going on.
5. Helps in proper planning of the resources and their procurement in right time.
6. Provides satisfaction and confidence, accompanied with a sense of success from the beginning of the work of the research project.

Need for Research Design

Research design is needed because it facilitates the smooth sailing of the various research operations, thereby making research as efficient as possible yielding maximal information with minimal expenditure of effort, time and money.

Research design has a significant impact on the reliability of the results obtained. 

It thus acts as a firm foundation for the entire research.

For example, economical and attractive construction of house we need a blueprint (or what is commonly called the map of the house) well thought out and prepared by an expert architect, similarly we need a research design or a plan in advance of data collection and analysis for our research project.

Research design stands for advance planning of the methods to be adopted for collecting the relevant data and the techniques to be used in their analysis.

The need for research design is as follows:

1. It reduces inaccuracy.
2. Helps to get maximum efficiency and reliability.
3. Eliminates marginal errors
4. Minimizes wastage of time
5. Helpful for collecting research materials
6. Helpful for testing of hypothesis
7. Gives an idea regarding the type of resources required in terms of money, manpower, time, and efforts
8. Provides an overview to other experts.
9. Guides the research in the right direction.

Features of a Research Design

The features of good research design is often characterized by adjectives like flexible, appropriate, efficient, economical and so on.

Generally, the design which minimizes bias and maximizes the reliability of the data collected and analyzed is considered a good design. 

The design which gives the smallest experimental error is supposed to be the best design in many investigations. 

Similarly, a design which yields maximal information and provides an opportunity for considering many different aspects of a problem is considered most appropriate and efficient design in respect of many research problems.

A design may be quite suitable in one case, but may be found wanting in one respect or the other in the context of some other research problem. One single design cannot serve the purpose of all types of research problems.

A research design appropriate for a particular research problem, usually involves the consideration of the following factors:

• The means of obtaining information.
• The availability and skills of the researcher and his staff, if any.
• The objective of the problem to be studied.
• The availability of time and money for the research work.

Research Design: Important Concepts

In order to facilitate a clear and better understanding of the different research designs, it is initially necessary to define all the various important concepts of research design itself.

    1) Dependent and independent variables: A variable is a concept that can take on different quantitative values. E.g., weight, height, income, etc. A dependent variable can be defined as the variable, which depends upon or is a consequence of the other variable. On the other hand, an independent variable can be defined as the variable that is precursor to the dependent variable. 

Examples of independent and dependent variables

2) Extraneous variable: What happens when something other than your independent variable is influencing the outcome of your study is known as extraneous variables.

3) Control: The most significant quality of a good research design is to reduce the influence/effect of extraneous variables. 

Control is a technical term, which is used while designing the study, by reducing the effects of extraneous independent variables. 

4) Confounded relationship: In case the dependent variable is bound by the influence of extraneous variable, the relationship between the dependent and independent variables is known to be confounded by extraneous variables.

Examples of Confounded Relationship:

5) Research hypothesis: This can be defined as the prediction or a hypothesized relationship that needs to be tested by scientific methods. 

Besides, it is a predictive statement, which connects an independent variable to a dependent variable. 

A research hypothesis needs to contain, at least, one independent and one dependent variable.

E.g. This study is designed to assess the hypothesis that sleep-deprived people will perform worse on a test than individuals who are not sleep-deprived.

6) Treatments: This can be defined as the different types of conditions under which the experimental and control groups are put. 

E.g., In order to determine the comparative impact of three varieties of fertilizers on a crop yield, the three different varieties of fertilizers will be treated as three different treatments.

7) Experiment: This can be defined as the process of examining the truth of a hypothesis, relating to some research problem. 

E.g., An experiment conducted in order to research the usefulness of a newly developed medicine.

Experiments can be of two types:

i. Absolute experiment - The determination of the impact of a fertilizer on a crop yield is an example of absolute experiment.

ii. Comparative experiment  The determination of the impact of one fertilizer, in comparison to another fertilizer, is an example of comparative experiment.

8) Experimental units: The experimental unit is the physical entity which can be assigned, at random, to a treatment. Such type of experimental units must be selected, as well as defined, very cautiously and thoroughly.

E.g. For instance, applying this design method to the cholesterol-level study, the three types of exercise program (treatment) would be randomly assigned to the experimental units (patients).

Different Research design

Research design is the framework of research methods and techniques chosen by a researcher. The design allows researchers to hone in on research methods that are suitable for the subject matter and set up their studies up for success.

The design of a research topic explains the type of research. 

The type of research problem an organization is facing will determine the research design and not vice-versa. 

The design phase of a study determines which tools to use and how they are used.

Elements of Research Design

The essential elements of the research design are:

• Accurate purpose statement
• Techniques to be implemented for collecting and analyzing research
• The method applied for analyzing collected details
• Type of research methodology
• Settings for the research study
• Timeline
• Measurement of analysis

Successful research studies provide insights that are accurate and unbiased. 

Characteristics of research design

There are four key characteristics of research design:

Neutrality: When you set up your study, you may have to make assumptions about the data you expect to collect. The results projected in the research design should be free from bias and neutral. 

Understand opinions about the final evaluated scores and conclusion from multiple individuals and consider those who agree with the derived results.

Reliability: With regularly conducted research, the researcher involved expects similar results every time. Your design should indicate how to form research questions to ensure the standard of results. You’ll only be able to reach the expected results if your design is reliable.

Validity: There are multiple measuring tools available. However, the only correct measuring tools are those which help a researcher in gauging results according to the objective of the research. The questionnaire developed from this design will then be valid.

Generalization: The outcome of your design should apply to a population and not just a restricted sample. A generalized design implies that your survey can be conducted on any part of a population with similar accuracy.

Research Design

You can break down the types of research design into four categories:

1. Descriptive research design:   Descriptive research is defined as a research method that describes the characteristics of the population or phenomenon studied. 

The descriptive research method primarily focuses on describing the nature of a demographic segment, without focusing on “why” a particular phenomenon occurs. In other words, it “describes” the subject of the research, without covering “why” it happens.

Descriptive design helps others better understand the need for the research.

E.g. Economic growth trends under different Prime Ministers in India.

2. Experimental research design: Experimental research design establishes a relationship between the cause and effect of a situation. It is a causal design where one observes the impact caused by the independent variable on the dependent variable.

It is a highly practical research design method as it contributes to solving a problem at hand. 

E.g. A study to look at whether sleep deprivation impairs performance on a driving test.

A study to see the impact of coffee consumption before an exam.

Important Experimental Designs

(A)Informal experimental designs.

(1)Before and after without control design.

(2)After only with control design.

(3)Before and after with control design.



(B)Formal experimental designs.

(1)Completely randomized design(C.R.Design).

(2)Randomized block design(R.B. Design).

(3)Latin square design(L.S. Design).

(4)Factorial design.

3. Diagnostic research design: In diagnostic design, the researcher is looking to evaluate the underlying cause of a specific topic or phenomenon. 

This method helps one learn more about the factors that create troublesome situations. 

This design has three parts of the research:

· Inception of the issue

· Diagnosis of the issue

· Solution for the issue

E.g. Carcinogenic Effects of Ionizing Radiation 

4. Explanatory research design: Explanatory design uses a researcher’s ideas and thoughts on a subject to further explore their theories. 

The research explains unexplored aspects of a subject and details about what, how, and why of research questions.

E.g. 1. How society has changed since the invention of the internet.

        2. How Facebook has evolved over the years.

STEPS OF RESEARCH