6-1

Chapter 6a

Research Design:
An Overview
 6-2

Research Design

Research Design is the detail elaboration (e.g. plan/structure) of the process,

particularly the methodology, to investigate the research question/hypothesis
 6-3

Research Design

Primary or Secondary Qualitative or Quantitative

Data? Approaches?

Exploratory, Causal?

Observation, In-Depth
Generalization or Case Interview Survey,
Study? Experimentation?

There can be multiple ways to reach to the answer. But the appropriate way depends on
the purpose of the research and the nature of the investigative question/hypothesis
Design the research accordingly
Note: For qualitative studies there would be no hypothesis.
 6-4

Degree to Structure of
Research Question
EXPLORATORY STUDY FORMAL STUDY
Loosely Defined Crystalized

Objective is to enhance Established Hypothesis

understanding
Clear Objective
Procedure??
(Mostly Qualitative) Precise Procedure
(Mostly Quantitative)
Research Technique is
challenging Defined Data Sources

Tentative Conclusion Clear Data Analysis

Leads to Hypothesis Technique

Generalization is not Usually Generalizable

the objective
 6-5

Example of Research Questions that may be

addressed with exploratory research approach

• How does Covid-19 impacting on the psychological

state of mind of the people?

• What does it mean to be living in a “New Normal”

era?
 6-6

Example of Research Questions that can be

addressed with formal research approach
• Does the rise in bad management behavior lead to
employee turnover in an organization?

• What are the factors influence firms in deciding their

capital structure?

• Identify the factors that are crucial for sustainability of

the banking sector of Bangladesh?
 6-7

Method of Data Collection

Monitoring
No Human Interaction

Data Collected from Observation, Remote Mode

(e.g. CCTV), Machine generated, Archive

Example:

Traffic count in an intersection

Performance analysis based on investigating data

generated by systematic process
(e.g. productivity, accounting performance)
 6-8

Method of Data Collection

Communication

Human contact is essential

Example:

Interview or telephone conversation

Self administered survey questionnaire

sent through email or post
 6-9

The power of the researcher to

produce effects in the variables
under study

Experiment
Researcher has control over
the variable(s)

Study involving the

manipulation or control of one
or more variables to determine
the effect on another variable
 6-10

The power of the researcher to

produce effects in the variables
under study

Experiment

Can be manipulated by
the researcher

Maturity
Contractual Obligation
Expected risk return tradeoffs
Convertibility/Liquidity
 6-11

The power of the researcher to

produce effects in the variables
under study

Ex-Post Facto Study

Researcher has no control over the
variable(s)

Researcher can only report what

has happened or happening

Example of Uncontrollable Variables

Political condition
Economic Condition
Socio-Cultural Condition
Legal Framework
Competition
 6-12

The purpose of the study

Statistical illustration of data e.g. Crime Report: Number

for deeper understanding of crime per person
or comparison

Discover the answers to the e.g. Crime Report: type of

questions who, what, when, crime, where it happened,
where, or how much by whom, how often it
happens etc.

e.g. Research on Crime:

Attempt to reveal a causal Why does a person crime?
relationship between Find out the factors behind
variables. a person inclined to crime
 6-13

The Time Dimension

Carried out once and Repeated over an extended

represent a snapshot of one period. This study can track
point in time. changes over time.
 6-14

The topical scope—Breadth and

Depth—of the study

• Depth • Breadth
• Detail • Population
• Qualitative inferences
• Multiple • Quantitative
sources of • Generalizable
information findings
 6-15

The Research
Environment
Field conditions
(Actual Condition)

Lab conditions
(Staged Condition)

Simulations
(Replicated Condition)
 Chapter 6a

End of Part A, Chapter 6

Thank You