A Research Design is simply a Quantitative and Qualitative
structural framework of various Research can be divided into
research methods as well as the following 4 major types of
techniques that are utilized by a Research Designs:
researcher.
 Descriptive Research
The research design helps a researcher Design
to pursue their journey into the  Correlational Research
unknown but with a systematic Design
approach by their side. The way  Experimental Research
an engineer or architect frames a Design
design for a structure, likewise the  Quasi-Experimental or
researcher picks the design from Causal-Comparative
Research Design
various approaches in order to check
 Descriptive Research
which type of research to be carried
Design
out. This will give the researchers a  In Descriptive Research
guide or a plan on what and how are Design, the scholar
you going to do with your study. explains/describes the
situation or case in
Types of Research Design
depth in their research
materials. This type of
Keeping its dynamics into research design is
consideration, the research design is
purely on a theoretical
categorized into two different basis where the
perspectives, i.e. Quantitative Research
individual collects data,
Design and Qualitative Research analyses, prepares and
Design. Further, there are four main
then presents it in an
characteristics of research design which understandable manner.
include Reliability, Neutrality, Validity
It is the most
as well as Generalization. Further, a generalised form of
researcher should have a clear
research design.
understanding of how their project can  Experimental Research
be implemented in the research design.
Design
 Experimental Research
Quantitative Research Design Design talks about the
cause and effect of the
In Quantitative Research Design, a situation and their
researcher examines the various relationship with each
variables while including numbers as other. It is done under
well as statistics in a project to analyze the proper observation
its findings. The use of graphics, of independent
figures, pie charts is the main form of variables on the
data collection measurement and meta- dependent variable.
analysis (it is information about the data The independent
by the data). variable is always
changed or manipulated
Qualitative Research Design by the researcher in
order to change the
This type of research is quite contrary discourse of the
to quantitative research design. It is research and to gain
explanatory in nature and always seeks control over the
answers to “What’s” and “How’s”. It research methodology.
mainly focuses on why a specific theory  Correlational Research
exists and what would be the Design
respondent’s answer to it. This allows a  In this type of research
researcher to draw a conclusion with design, the scholar
proper findings. Case studies are mainly establishes a to calculate the expected results and to
used in Qualitative Research Design in relationship between
order to understand various social two connected
complexities. variables in the
research project.
What are the 4 Types of Research Further, it also
Designs? completely non-
experimental in nature
Now that we know the broadly and the variables are
dependent on each
classified types of research,
other.
Quasi-Experimental Research Design
A Quasi-Experimental Research Design
is referred to as a true experiment
because it aims to intricately build a
cause and effect relationship between
an independent variable with a
dependent variable. One unique aspect
about this research design is it doesn’t
base itself on a random assignment but
rather it assigns subjects to diverse
groups on a non-random basis.
Apart from the aforementioned research
designs, there are copious other types of
research design which can also be
incorporated to pursue a research
project and some of these are:
 Diagnostic Research Design
 Explanatory Research Design
 Historical Design
 Longitudinal Design
 Observational Design
 Philosophical Design
 Sequential Design
 Cross-Sectional Design
 Cohort Design
 Causal Design
 Case Study Design
 Action research
4 Key characteristics of Research
Design
a) Neutrality
The results collected in research should
be free from bias and neutral. Discuss
and get evaluated your conclusion with
experienced multiple individuals and
consider those who agree with your
research’s results.
b) Reliability
Research design should be able to
ensure the standards results by
indicating how research questions can
be formed because a researcher will
always want the same results every
time, he performs an experiment.
c) Validity
The validity of a research design is used
estimate the truthfulness of the result. In
most cases, researchers opt for their
own definition when it comes to what is
considered valid. Therefore, the
questionnaire prepared from the
research design is considered valid.
d) Generalization
Generalization is one of the most
important key characteristics of
research design. The results obtained
from the research should be applicable
to a population and not just to a limited
sample.
A case-study research design is used for
the in-depth and detailed study of a
subject. This technique is usually used
to narrow down a big problem into
small discrete easily researchable
problems.
The case study research design is useful
to test the applicability of specific
theory or model on the real-life
phenomena. A case-study research
design is useful in those scenarios
where there is not much information is
known or available about the
phenomena.
The case-study research design has an
important place in various disciplines
and professions such as sociology,
political science, clinical science social
science, administrative science,
and psychology.
Advantages of using Case study
design
1. The case-study research design
delivers a thorough description
of the explicit and rare case.
2. The case-study research design is
widely opted by social scientists
to test modern real-life situations
and provides an extension of the
existing concepts.
3. The case-study research design
can modify what is already
known through previous
research.
4. It gives the freedom to the
researchers to apply various
methodologies and include any
number of resources to
investigate the problem.
5. The case study research design
excels at establishing a ahead
relationship between a limited
number of events or conditions
and also helps us to understand
complex issues.
Disadvantages of using Case-study
research design
1. Sometimes research done on a
small sample cannot be applied
on a large population. Therefore,
a case study research design is
difficult to establish
reliability and
generalize.
2. The researcher can be
biased about the finding
of the case because of
the intense exposure to
the study.
3. Case study research
design does not enable
the assessment of cause
and effect relationship.
4. Missing important
information can make
the case hard to interpret.
5. Sometimes the case may
not be the representation
of the larger case being
investigated.
6. If research is being done
on a specific situation or
phenomenon then results
might be applicable to
that particular case.
2) Action research design :
The action research design
follows a characteristics-based
path, where initially an
exploratory stance has opted
and understanding is developed
about the problem and made
some type of strategies for
intervention.
While carrying out the
interventions, various forms of
relevant observations are
collected. The same path
followed again with the new
interventional strategies and
continued until a sufficient
understanding of the problem is
not realized.
The path followed is cyclic or
iterative in nature to provide a
deeper understanding of the
situation, initializing with
hypothesizing and specifying
the given problem and moving
making numerous
interventions and assessments.
Advantages of using Action
research design
1. It is a research design
which can be used in
work or community
situations, because of
its cooperative and
adaptive research nature.
2. Action research design
focuses on practical and
solution-driven research rather
than testing various theories.
3. Action research design increases
the chances of learning
consciously from their
experience, therefore, it is also
viewed as a learning cycle.
4. The Outcomes of the action
research design have obvious
relevance to practice.
5. No information can be hidden or
controlled by the researcher.
Disadvantages of using action
research design
1. It is difficult to perform
conventional studies because it is
the responsibility of the
researcher to boost change for
study.
2. Over-involvement of the
researcher may bias the test
results.
3. There is no standard format to
write action research, therefore,
it is hard to document.
4. Because of its cyclic nature
action research is difficult and
time consuming to conduct.
3) Cohort Research design
A cohort study is generally conducted
on a certain population (have some
commonality or similarity) over a
period of time. A cohort study is usually
applied in medical sciences and social
sciences. A cohort study makes note of
statistical occurrence with a specialized
subsection of the population, which is
unified by similar characteristics that
are relevant with the problem being
investigated, instead of studying
statistical occurrence with the general
population.
A cohort can either be open or closed
but not both at the same time. Cohort
studies collect data applying the method
of observation using a qualitative
framework. Open cohort studies involve
dynamic population which is separated
by the state of being studied in the
problem.
The size of a cohort study is not
constant because the date of entry and
exit is defined by an individual. Rate-
based data is gathered in open cohort
studies. Closed cohort study involves a
specific population, where all the
participants enter the study at a specific
point and no new participants are
allowed to take part in later.
Therefore, the number of participants in
a closed cohort study remain constant
and in a few rare cases, it can only
decrease.
Advantages of using Action research
study
1. In risk-based studies, using
action research study is
mandatory, because it is
unethical to involve
random people.
2. Both original and secondary data
can be used in cohort research.
3. A cohort study is flexible in its
nature and can be used to
provide insights into effects over
time and different types of
changes for example, social,
political, economic, and cultural.
4. Cohort studies can gauge
probable cause before the
outcome has occurred. It can
establish that these causes led to
the result. Therefore, avoid the
debate determining which is the
cause and which is the effect.
Disadvantages of cohort research
design
1. Because of lack of
randomization, the external
legitimacy of a cohort study is
lower than the other researches
which select random
participants.
2. Cohort studies usually take a
long time because the researcher
has to wait for certain conditions
within the group. Therefore,
there are chances that variables
may change with time, hence,
impacting the credibility of the
results.
3. In the case of comparison of two
cohort groups, the factors which
differ between the two groups
can’t be controlled.
4) Causal design :
This type of research study is used to
analyze the phenomena of conditional
statements like “if A, then B”. the
purpose of using this type of
research is to evaluate the
impact of a specific change on
the existing standards and
conventions.
In most of the social studies, a
causal explanation is required
to test the hypothesis. Causality
can be determined by observing
the variation in the variables
which are assumed to be
causing a change in the other
variables.
Causal research is difficult to
perform and there is never
a certainty that there is no other
factor influencing the results,
especially when the research is
dealing with people’s emotions
and attitudes. But there could
be other deeper psychological
reasons that even the subject is
not conscious of.
There is a total of three
conditions to determine the
causality.
1. Empirical
association: An
effective deduction is
based on finding a
correlation between the
independent variable and
dependent variable.
2. Appropriate time
order: The independent
variable must be tackled
before the dependent
variables.
3. Nonspuriousness: a
relationship between two
variables which is
independent of variation
is called a third variable.
Advantages of using a causal
research study
1. There are high chances
of replication in this type
of research design.
2. This study has internal
validity because of
systematic subject
selection.
3. By proving a causal link
between variables and
eliminating other
possibilities, it helps
people to understand the
world better.
Disadvantages of using causal
research study
1. All relationships can’t be causal.
There are chances that two
unrelated events seem to be
related.
2. It is difficult to determine the
conclusions about causal
relationships, because of various
superfluous and perplexing
variables that exist in a
social environment. Hence,
causality can only be inferred,
never proven.
3. The cause must come before the
effect if two variables are related
to each other. It is difficult to tell
which variable is the cause and
which variable is effect in a
causal design.
5) Descriptive design :
This type of research design is used to
describe the characteristics of a
population or phenomena being
researched. This study provides the
answer to “what” and does not provide
the answers to “how”, “when”, and
“why”. Descriptive research does not
require an internal validity to describe
the characteristics of a population. This
type of research is used to
calculate frequencies, averages, and
statistic of data.
Advantages of using Descriptive
research design
1. This approach gathers a large
amount of data for the study.
2. With the help of this study rich
data can be yielded for
future references.
3. A more focused study can be
developed by using the
limitations of the study as a
useful tool.
4. The descriptive design gives a
general overview of the study
which is helpful to determine
useful pointers for which
variables are worth studying.
Disadvantages of using Descriptive
research design
 1. This study entirely depends on
the instrumentation for
observation and measurement.
2. The outcome of a descriptive
design can’t be used to disprove
a hypothesis.
3. Outcomes of descriptive designs
can’t be replicated as outcomes
of this design is collected using
the observational method.
6) Cross-sectional design :
This type of research design can only
calculate among or from a variety of
people, phenomena or subjects at the
place of change. It has three
distinguishing features such as no time
dimensions, a dependence on the
existing differences, and selection of
groups based on differences rather than
random selection.
Advantages of using a cross-sectional
design
1. Cross-sectional research design
is inexpensive to perform
because this is done using
surveys.
2. Results are more reliable because
it is performed on a population.
3. This study provides the
characteristics of the result at a
point in time.
4. Grouping of the population is
done based on their difference
and are not selected randomly.
5. A cross-sectional study can use a
large number of subjects, unlike
many other research designs.
Disadvantages of using cross-
sectional study
1. It is difficult to find people,
phenomena or subjects of same
interest.
2. Outcomes are time-bound and do
not provide any reliability for
historical occurrences.
3. This study can’t be used to
determine the cause and effect
relationship.
4. AS outcomes are timebound,
therefore, there are chances of
getting different outcomes in
different time-frame.
7) Exploratory design :
This type of research design is
used for the researches on
which no research is done
before and have no studies to
refer to. The focus of
exploratory design is to get
understandings and knowledge
for later investigations. This
study determines if a future
study is possible or not and
later techniques can be
developed for more research.
Advantages of sing
Exploratory research design
1. It helps to determine
research priority.
2. It is useful to gather
background data for a
particular topic.
3. This research answers all
questions like “what”,
“why”, “how”.
Disadvantages of using
exploratory design
1. Findings of the
exploratory group are
not generalized on the
whole population.
2. Outcomes of this study
are tentative, because of
its unstructured style of
research.
8) Experimental design
This type of research design is
often used when there is a
priority of time such as cause
will always precede effect and
when there is steadiness in a
causal relationship such as a
particular cause will always
lead to the same effect and the
degree of association is great.
Experimental design is the
blueprint of the procedure that
permits researchers to control
all factors of the experiment.
Experimental designs use more
groups and more measurements
for a longer period of time.
Advantages of using experimental
design
1. It delivers a high level of
evidence for a single study.
2. This study determines what is the
cause of something to take place.
3. It helps researchers to determine
placebo effects from treatment
effects.
Disadvantages of using experimental
research design
1. Experimental research is not real
and it might not fit into the real
world.
2. The settings of the experiment
may change the behavior of the
subjects.
3. The experimental researches are
sometimes costly, because of the
use of special equipment and
facilities.
4. There are a few types of
problems which can’t be
experimented because
of ethical or technical reasons.
9) Longitudinal design :
Longitudinal research design makes
repetitive experiments and makes
multiple observations. In this type of
research design, the same group of
people is interviewed at regular
intervals. In this way, the researcher
tracks their behavior and identify
variables that have caused the change in
their behaviors. This research study is a
type of observational study and is also
known as a panel study.
Advantages of using longitudinal
research study
1. Observation can be made during
a particular phenomenon.
2. Future outcomes can be
predicted on the basis of earlier
factors.
3. Let the research to establish a
causal relationship between
various variables.
4. Provide an explanation for the
pattern of change.
Disadvantages of using Longitudinal
Research Study
1. Methods of conducting
experiment might change over
time.
2. Original sample might change
over time.
3. More than one variable can’t be
shown in this type of research.
4. In this type of research, the
researcher assumes that the
present trends will remain the
same in future also.
5. It takes a long time to conduct
this type of research.
10) Historical design
In this type of research data from the
past is collected, evaluate and the
hypothesis is defended based on the
outcomes. To make this type of
research a lot of resources like logs,
documents, notes, diaries, reports,
official records, archives, and no textual
data like maps, images, drawings,
audios) are used. this research is
difficult to conduct because documents
should be authentic and authorized.
Advantages of Historical research
design
1. It is useful for trend analysis.
2. It can provide a contextual
background to understand a
research problem better.
3. There are no chances of
emotional involvement of the
researcher with the subject.
4. Historical resources can be used
multiple times.
Disadvantages of Historical Research
design
1. The success of research
completely relies on the quality
of historical resources.
2. External variables can’t be
controlled in this type of
research; thus, research remains
weak.
3. Gaps in the study are difficult to
acknowledge because of the
missing pieces of historical
resources.
4. Interpretation of historical
resources consumes a lot of time.
11) Observational research design :
This type of research design is
used to draw results by
comparing subjects under
research with a controlled
group. An observational study
can be of two types. In the first
type, your subjects know that
you are observing them and in
the second type, you observe
your subjects without letting
them know. Observational
research design let you get the
insights of a particular
phenomenon without getting
into the trouble of setting up a
large project.
Advantages of observational
research design
1. It is a flexible type of
research and doesn’t
require to stick to a
hypothesis.
2. In-depth information can
be collected about the
phenomenon.
3. Results can be
generalized to real life
events.
4. It can act as a pre-
research before starting
any other experiment.
5. It accounts for the
complexity of group
behavior.
Disadvantages of
observational research design
1. Subjects under study are
not equally credible.
2. There are high chances
for this research turned
out to be biased because
the researcher might
notice what he wants to
notice.
3. The outcome of this
research is limited to a
small group and can’t be
generalized.
4. Subjects might behave
differently because of
the presence of the
researcher.
12) Sequential research design :
This type of research is designed in a
staged approach, where you can move
to the next stage only after completing
research at the first stage. The results
from one stage are used in the next
stage and this process continues until
enough data is collected to test the
hypothesis.
The sample size can vary throughout
the research. After analyzing each
stage, research can admit the null
hypothesis or can choose a different
hypothesis or even can choose to
perform the experiment again. that
means in this type of research design
there is no limit on a number of subjects
selected by a researcher.
Advantages of using sequential
research design
1. There is no limit on the size of
the sample of research.
2. Repetitive nature of the research
let you make initial changes.
3. A sequential research design is
not expensive.
4. Fewer efforts from the
researcher’s side.
5. Because of its sequential nature,
results of one sample are
analyzed and tested before taking
the second sample into the study.
Disadvantages of using Sequential
Research design
1. It is difficult to maintain
consistency in the research from
one sample to another.
2. Samples aren’t randomized.
Hence outcomes can’t be
generalized on the whole
population.
3. Moving the results of one sample
to another is difficult work.
Proposed titles: (copy paste)
1. Academic struggle for Working MLS
Students of Brokenshire College.
2. Mitigating Challenges Faced by MLS
Students: Addressing Equipment and
Classroom Shortage for Enhanced
Learning
3. Evaluating Academic Stress Coping
Mechanism or Strategies of MLS in
Brokenshire College in relation to their
overall performance in Comprehensive
Exam Results
4. The difficulties that the Brokenshire
College third-year mls students endure
and their coping strategies as they
practice and train to perform
phlebotomy procedures more skillfully
and effectively