Research design

Dr. Hira Islam Rajput

RESEARCH DESIGNS
Research design is the method that a researcher selects to
organize their research project or study. Research designs can
provide instructions for collecting, analyzing and measuring
data effectively.
Using a research design is important because:
It can help you ensure that your research addresses your
research problem.
It acts as an outline and guide for the entire research
project.
It can help you organize all the different components of your
research project.
Principles of a sound research design:
• Identifies the problems.
• Reviews literature around the problem statement.
• Specifies hypothesis.
• Describes sources of data.
• Defines how data will be interpreted.
Characteristics of Research Design
Validity
There are many ways to measure the results of research. A good research
design helps select the right measuring tools to gauge results according to
the research objective.
Generalized
A good research design draws an outcome that can be applied to a large set
of people and is not limited to sample size or the research group.
Neutrality
At the start of every research, a researcher needs to make some assumptions
that will be tested during the research. A proper research design ensures
that the assumptions are free of bias and neutral.
 Elements of a Research Design
some of the elements of a good research design:
1. Purpose statement
2. Data collection methods
3. Techniques of data analysis
4. Types of research methodologies
5. Challenges of the research
6. Prerequisites required for study
7. Duration of the research study
8. Measurement of analysis
Need for Research Design
• Reduces inaccuracy
• Increases efficiency and reliability
• Eliminates bias and errors
• Minimizes wastage of time
• Helpful in testing the hypothesis
• Provides a direction to the research
Important concepts of Research Design

Variable
• Variable is a concept that can take on various quantitative values. For instance,
weight, height, etc.
Dependent Variable
• A dependent variable is a variable that is tested in an experiment. It is dependent,
in some way on the variation of an independent variable.
Independent Variable
• An independent variable in an experiment is considered to stand on its own. For
instance, if the test scores of a class are an outcome of their efforts; efforts are an
independent variable, and the score is a dependent variable.
Hypothesis
• It is defined as the hypothesis that needs to be tested in an experiment.
Types of Research Design
Research design is broadly divided into quantitative and qualitative research
design.
Quantitative research design
• Quantitative research design aims at finding answers to who, what, where
and when through the course of research. Moreover, the outcome of the
quantitative analysis is easy to represent in the form of statistics, graphs,
charts, and numbers.
Qualitative research design
• Qualitative research design focuses on finding answers to how and why. It
uses open-ended questions and helps the subjects express their views
clearly. Qualitative research is ideal for businesses that aim to understand
customers’ behavior and requirements.
Quantitative research designs

Quantitative research designs tend to be more fixed and deductive,

with variables and hypotheses clearly defined in advance of data
collection.
Quantitative research example
• If you want to test the effectiveness of an online teaching method, a
quantitative approach is most suitable. You can use this type of
research to measure learning outcomes like grades and test scores.
Qualitative research designs
Qualitative research designs tend to be more flexible and inductive,
allowing you to adjust your approach based on what you find
throughout the research process.
Qualitative research example
• If you want to generate new ideas for online teaching strategies, a
qualitative approach would make the most sense. You can use this
type of research to explore exactly what teachers and students
struggle with in remote classes.
Types of quantitative research designs

Quantitative designs can be split into four main types.

Experimental and quasi-experimental designs allow you to test
cause-and-effect relationships
Descriptive and correlational designs allow you to measure variables
and describe relationships between them.
Descriptive Research Design
• This type of design is used to describe or explore a
phenomenon or situation.
• It involves collecting data from a sample of individuals
or groups, summarizing it and drawing conclusions.
• An example of this is a study that describes the
demographic characteristics of students in a particular
school.
Correlational Research Design
• This type of design is used to examine the relationship
between two or more variables.
• It involves measuring the variables of interest and analyzing
the data to determine if there is a significant relationship
between them.
• An example of this is a study that examines the correlation
between stress levels and academic performance among
college students.
Experimental Research Design

• This type of design is used to investigate cause-and-effect

relationships between variables.
• It involves manipulating one variable (the independent
variable) and observing the effect on another variable (the
dependent variable) while controlling for other factors.
• An example of this is a study that investigates the effect of a
new teaching method on students' test scores.
Quasi-Experimental Research Design

• This type of design is used when random assignment of

participants to groups is not possible.
• It involves selecting groups that are similar in certain
characteristics and comparing them on the variable of
interest.
• An example of this is a study that compares the effectiveness
of two different therapies for a specific medical condition,
where participants are not randomly assigned to the groups.
Longitudinal Research Design
• This type of design is used to examine changes in
variables over time.
• It involves collecting data from the same individuals
or groups at different points in time and analyzing the
data to determine if there are any significant changes.
• An example of this is a study that examines the
development of reading skills in children over several
years.
 Types of qualitative research designs
• Qualitative designs are less strictly defined. This approach is
about gaining a rich, detailed understanding of a specific
context or phenomenon, and you can often be more creative
and flexible in designing your research.
• Qualitative research designs are methods of inquiry that
focus on understanding and interpreting non-numerical data,
such as words, images, and observations. They are often
used to explore complex social phenomena and provide
detailed descriptions and explanations of participants'
experiences and perspectives.
Phenomenological Research Design
• This type of design is used to explore participants'
experiences and perceptions of a particular phenomenon.
• It involves conducting in-depth interviews with participants
and analyzing the data to identify themes and patterns.
• An example of this is a study that explores the experiences of
women who have undergone breast cancer treatment.
Grounded Theory Research Design
• This type of design is used to develop a theory or
explanation of a phenomenon based on data that is
systematically collected and analyzed.
• It involves collecting data through interviews, observations,
and other sources, and analyzing it to identify patterns and
themes.
• An example of this is a study that develops a theory of how
individuals cope with chronic illness.
Ethnographic Research Design
• This type of design is used to study cultural groups and
communities by immersing oneself in their environment and
observing their behavior, values, and beliefs.
• It involves collecting data through participant observation,
interviews, and other sources, and analyzing it to identify
cultural patterns and themes.
• An example of this is a study that examines the social and
cultural practices of a particular ethnic group.
Case Study Research Design
• This type of design is used to examine a particular case or
situation in-depth to understand it in detail.
• It involves collecting data through multiple sources, such as
interviews, observations, and documents, and analyzing it to
identify themes and patterns.
• An example of this is a study that examines the experiences
of individuals who have overcome a significant life challenge.
Narrative Research Design
• This type of design is used to understand the stories and
experiences of individuals or groups.
• It involves collecting data through interviews and other
sources, and analyzing it to identify themes and patterns in
the narratives.
• An example of this is a study that examines the life stories of
individuals who have immigrated to a new country.
Epidemiological research designs
• Epidemiological research designs are methods of inquiry that
are used to study the distribution, determinants, and control
of diseases in populations.
• These designs help to identify risk factors, establish causal
relationships, and evaluate the effectiveness of
interventions.
 Cross-sectional Study Design
• This type of design is used to collect data on a particular
population at a single point in time.
• It involves selecting a representative sample from the
population and collecting data on the prevalence of a
disease or health-related behavior.
• An example of this is a study that examines the prevalence of
smoking among college students.
Cohort Study Design
• This type of design is used to follow a group of individuals
over time to determine the incidence of a disease or health-
related outcome.
• It involves selecting a group of individuals who are free of
the outcome of interest at the start of the study and
collecting data on their exposure to risk factors and the
incidence of the outcome over time.
• An example of this is a study that examines the risk of
developing lung cancer among smokers and non-smokers.
Case-control Study Design
• This type of design is used to compare individuals with a
particular disease or health-related outcome (cases) to
individuals without the outcome (controls).
• It involves selecting cases and controls from a population
and collecting data on their exposure to risk factors.
• An example of this is a study that examines the association
between exposure to asbestos and the development of
mesothelioma.
Ecological Study Design
• This type of design is used to examine the relationship
between exposure to risk factors and the incidence of
disease in populations.
• It involves comparing the prevalence of risk factors and the
incidence of disease across different populations or
geographic areas.
• An example of this is a study that examines the relationship
between air pollution levels and the incidence of asthma in
different neighborhoods.
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) Design
• This type of design is used to evaluate the effectiveness of
interventions in preventing or treating diseases.
• It involves randomly assigning participants to an intervention
group or a control group and measuring the outcome of
interest.
• An example of this is a study that evaluates the effectiveness
of a new drug in treating hypertension.
Assignment No: 1
Task:
1. Differentiate between experimental & non-experimental
2. Differentiate between qualitative and quantitative research designs.

Instruction
• Word count at least 500, font size 12 Arial, reference in Vancouver
style. Plagiarism 18 percent acceptable. Submit it in word format till
13th April, 2023.
 Class Activity
• Matching exercise:
Match the research design with its corresponding definition.
A. Experimental design
B. Non-experimental design
C. Qualitative design
D. Epidemiological design
Definition
1. A research design that involves the manipulation of one or
more independent variables to observe their effects on a
dependent variable.
2. A research design that involves collecting in-depth
information through open-ended questions to explore
complex social phenomena and personal experiences.
3. A research design that involves studying the distribution
and determinants of health and disease in populations.
4. A research design that relies on observation or correlation
and does not involve the manipulation of variables.