Study designs based on the number of contacts ‘The cross-sectional study design The before-and-after stady design The longitudinal stady design Study designs based on the reference peried ‘The retrospective scudy design The prospective study design ‘The retrospective-prospective study design ‘Study esigns based! on the nature of the Investigation The experimental seudy designs Others—some commonty used stucy designs Action research Feminist rescarch ‘The ctoss-over comparative experimental design The replicated cross-sectional design Trend studies Cohort studies Panel studies Blind studi Double-blind srudies Case trudies Summary KUMAR, R. Research methodology: a step-by-step guide for beginners. London: SAGE, 2005. Cap 8 CHAPTER eight Selecting a study design In this ae hu prer we will discuss some of the most commonly used study The various designs have bean classified by exernining them from, shifter perspecnves: 1 the number of contacis with the study population; 2 the reference period of the study; 3 the nature of the investigation, Every study design can be classified from exch one of theve perspectives, These perspectives are arbitrary bases of classification; hence, the cerminclogy used to describe them is not universal, However, the names of the designs within each classification pase ae universally usec. Note thatthe designs within each category are mutually exclusive; chat i, 'a particular study is cross-sectional in nature ic cannet be at the same time a before and-aiter or a longitudinal study, bur x can be a non-esperimental or as well as a retrospective or a prospective study. See Pigure 8 Another section has been added to the three sections listed above titled Others—somme commonly used stuuly desigas’, This section includes some commoniy used designs which are either based on certain philosophy or ethology, and which have acquiced their oan nantes, Study designs based on the number of contacts Based on the number of contacts with clssified inro three groups 1¢ study population, designs ean be + cross-sectional studies + betore-andeatter studies + longitudinal scudies The cross-sectional study dasign Cross-sectional studies, aso known as one-shot or staus studies, are the ‘most commonly used design inthe social scinczs. This design is best suited to studies aimed at finding out the prevalence of e phenomenon, situatio problem, attitude o- issue, by taking 2 cross-section ofthe popalation, They fre useful in obtaining ar overall ‘picture’ a ir stands st the time of the study. They are ‘designed to study some phenomenon by raking & crose- section of is a one ime’ Dabbie 1989: 86). Such studies are cresi-sectional with regard to both the sredy population and the time of invesugation, [A cross-sectional studs is extremely simple in design. Yeu decide what {you want to find our, dency the study population, select a sample Gil you ‘need to) and contact your respondents to find out the required iniormation, For example, « cross-sectional design would be che most appropriate for a study of the following topics‘Types of erudy design sted dss | | T = | ‘The atticude of che study population cowards uranium mining in Australia + The ssciocconomie~demographic characteristics of immigrants in Wester Australia, + The incidence af HIV. positive case in Australia, The reasons for homeletsness aman young peapl ‘The quality assurance ofa service provided by’ an organisation + The impict of unemploxment on treet ime (this enuld alga be a before ané-aicer study) The relationship berrcen the home entitonment and the academic performance of « child at school. + The attitade of the community tovards equity auch + The extent af unamplosmnent in a ety + Consumer satisfaction with 3 pret + Tue effectiveness of random breath testing in prevening road sesidents i could slo be a beloxe-andhafir sik + Theheelsh needs of a coranuity + The ateirudes of students towards the facilites availble in thie lbsary As thete studies involve only one contact with the stady population, dicy are comparatively cheap to undorake and eaty te analyse, However, thet biggest Uisadvantage is that they cana: maasure change, To meacure itis necessary tw have x east ro dst collection povnts—that ot least wo cross-sectional suudies, at ww points in time, om the same population. The before-and-after study design ¢ main advantage ofthe bclore-ancal resvposi-test design) ts that cen mew nary, ise, problem or attitude. Te is th teasuning the impactor efectceness of a program A before-and-after sign can be described as two sets of cross-sectional deta collection points on the same population to find ous the change in the phenomencn or variaMs\s) becveer wo points sn ime. The change iy measused by comparing the difevence in che phenomencs or vriable(s) before and ae de inerverion (see Figure 8.2), ‘sign (also known 28 the pres iva sivation, phenom- 1 appropriate design fo: Fare rand aber presetponien) ny deg Povmamintnenion | = cee2 wieafoad w Zuixdope a1d0ad xe sy pasa 5 ea NO ‘1 gona us 2804 9 weaved up Buuspms 303 OE soul ou! 8u04> 2 SIRUCOIMAE 5 WEP Apme 1ye-Pue-326]9q 24. ulisop Apms jeupmafuoy ay. alfa wossenaau ue J9.uowsordx sxe! op Hau! 001 Ud2q 2404 Sota 4p 199) yo 1oeden 300 — Joo fo ssauateant SIUEPURGSD! 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