LECTURE #4

FORMULATING RESEARCH DESIGN

Inductive approach
Deductive approach
 In an inductive approach to research, a researcher begins by
collecting data that is relevant to his/her topic.
 After that, the researcher looks for patterns in the data,
working to develop a theory that could explain those patterns.
 Thus when researchers take an inductive approach, they start with a
set of observations and move to a more general set of propositions
about those experiences.
 In other words they move from the specific to the general.
 Opposite to inductive approach
 A deductive approach to research is the one that people typically associate with
scientific investigation.
 It starts with a theory and then test its implications with data. That is, it is from a more
general level to a more specific one.
 GENERAL
Gravity attracts everything
towards its center

HYPOTHESIS

OBSERVATIONS

ACCEPTANCE/REJECTION OF
HYPOTHEISIS
 INDUCTIVE APPROACH DEDUCTIVE APPROACH

OBSERVATION PATTERNS THEORY DEVELOPES A

HYPOTHESIS OBSERVATIONS CONCLUSIONS
THEORY
Research design is the general plan of how you will go about
answering your research question. It will help
• to achieve objectives
• specify the sources from which you intend to collect data
• and consider the constraints (e.g. access to data, time, location and money)
 blueprint

RESEARCH justification
METHODOLGY

RESEARCH Tools, techniques

METHODS
A research design provides a researcher with a well-structured plan.
One should determine the type of research design prior to data collection
techniques and sample design.

CONSIDER AIM AND APPROACH

QUALITAIVE APPROACH QUANTITAIVE APPROACH

• Understand subjective • Measure variables and

experiences, beliefs, and describe frequencies, averages,
concepts and correlations
• Gain in-depth knowledge of a • Test hypotheses about
specific context or culture relationships between variables
It involves the collection and analysis of non-numerical
data with more attention in understanding the nature of
the elements.
It is characterized by the in-depth inquiry,
understanding the participants perspective and
comprehensive description of the study topic.

EXAMPLE: online teaching system

 • Detailed study of a specific subject (e.g.
a place, event, organization, etc).
• Data can be collected using a variety of
sources and methods.
• Focuses on gaining a holistic
understanding of the case

 CASE STUDY
 Phenomenology-investigate a phenomenon or event by describing and
interpreting participants’ lived experiences
 Grounded theory-Researchers collect rich data on a topic of interest and develop
theories inductively.
 Ethnography-Researchers immerse themselves in groups or organizations to
understand their cultures
This focus on the data collection techniques and
analysis of numerical data.

Example: effectiveness of online teaching

 DESCRIPTIVE
 Experimental-conducted in controlled environment
 Co-relational- Used to test whether (and how strongly) variables are related
 Quasi-experimental- conducted in natural environment, to establish cause-and-effect relationship between variables
 DESCRIPTIVE STUDY
 EXPLORATIVE STUDY
 EXPLANATORY STUDY
EXPLANATORY STUDY
EXPLORATIVE STUDY
DESCRIPTIVE STUDY
 The descriptive research is ‘to portray an accurate
profile of persons, events or situations.
 It provides an in-depth understanding of the study
population, situation or phenomena.
 It is an appropriate choice when the research aim is to
identify characteristics, frequencies, trends, and
categories
 This is an in-depth sort of research design which can
answer what , where, when and how questions.
 An exploratory study is a valuable means of finding out ‘what
is happening; to seek new insights; to ask questions and to
assess phenomena in a new light
 Exploratory research is a approach that
investigates research questions that have not previously
been studied in depth.
 Example: University café - vegan recipes to the menu
There are three principal ways of conducting exploratory
research:

• a search of the literature;

• interviewing ‘experts’ in the subject;
• conducting focus group interviews

THIS SORT OF RESEARCH EXPLORES THE SUBJECT MATTER

AND ANSWERS WHAT AND HOW
 Explores a subject that hasn’t been studied in depth yet.
 A study that explores why something occurs when limited
information is available. It can help you increase your
understanding of a given topic, ascertain how or why a
particular phenomenon is occurring, and predict future
occurrences
 Conducted to understand the reasons for the decisions.
 This sort of research design explains the subject of the
research and thereby answers what, why and how

 Example: a subject teacher interested in understanding the

cause of pattern.
 Why do undergraduate students obtain higher average grades in the
first semester than in the second semester?
 How prevalent is measles in population B?
 Why are teens more likely to litter in a highly littered area than
in a clean area?
 What factors influence mental health in undergraduates?
 What is the most popular news channel among adults in
Pakistan?
 Timeframe for a research
 Cross-sectional (short term study)
 Longitudinal studies
 the study of a particular phenomenon at a particular time.
 Time constraints in most of the academic projects.

Thus, a study in which data is gathered just once, perhaps over a

period of days or weeks or months, in order to answer a research
question.
The researcher might want to study people or phenomena at more
than one point in time in order to answer the research question.
The study of a particular phenomenon (or phenomena) over an
extended period of time