PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2

SECOND QUARTER
PAUL BARUT GALIZA

LESSON 6: THE RESEARCH DESIGN

LECTURE NOTES

Research Design should explain how the design was used in the study. It is the overall plan of the steps or the
methodologies that will be used to help answer the research questions.

Two Types of Research Design

1. Experimental Research is when a researcher can manipulate variables. This aims to identify a cause-effect
relationship.
2. Nonexperimental Research is when the researcher could not manipulate the variables given and could not
present a cause-effect relationship. This merely relies on correlations, surveys, or case studies.

Types of Quantitative Research

1. Quantitative Research presents statistical results represented with numbers.
2. True Experimental Method investigates possible cause-and-effect relationships by exposing one or more
experimental groups to one or more treatment conditions.
3. Quasi-Experimental Method approximates true conditions of the true experiment in a setting which does not
allow the control or manipulation of all relevant variables.
4. Descriptive Research describes a situation or area of interest systematically, factually, and accurately.
5. Correlational Research tries to determine the relationship between two variables.
6. Ex Post Facto identifies an effect that has already occurred and attempts to infer cause.

Kinds Of Quantitative Research Designs

1. Descriptive Design is used to describe a particular phenomenon by observing it as it occurs in nature. There
is no experimental manipulation, and the researcher does not start with a hypothesis. The goal of descriptive
research is only to describe the person or object of the study.
2. Correlational Design identifies the relationship between variables. Data are collected by observation because
they do not consider the cause and effect.
3. Ex Post Facto Design is used to investigate a possible relationship between previous events and present
conditions. Just like the first two, there is no experimental manipulation in this design.
4. Quasi-Experimental Design is used to establish the cause-and-effect relationship of variables. Although it
resembles the experimental design, the quasi-experimental design has lesser validity due to the absence of
random selection and assignment of subjects. Here, the independent variable is identified but not manipulated.
The researcher does not modify preexisting groups of subjects. The group exposed to treatment (experimental)
is compared to the group unexposed to treatment (control).
5. Experimental Design, like quasi-experimental, is used to establish the cause- and-effect relationship of two
or more variables. This design provides a more conclusive result because it uses random assignment of subjects
and experimental manipulations.

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 PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2
SECOND QUARTER
PAUL BARUT GALIZA

LESSON 6: THE RESEARCH DESIGN

LECTURE NOTES

Variable refers to the parameter that can change. It is something that one can manipulate and control. It also
represents the change over the content of the research.

Types of Variables
1. Independent and Dependent Variables

Independent Variable changes and controls the experiment for it has a direct effect on the other variables.
Dependent Variable is the one being tested and measured and is "dependent" on the independent variable.

Example: The number of hours spent studying and the test scores of the students.
Independent Variable – number of hours spent in studying
Dependent Variable – test scores

2. Intervening and Moderating Variables

Intervening Variables are hypothetical variable used to explain causal links between other variables.
Moderating Variables cannot be observed in an experiment.

3. Constant or Controllable Variables

Constant Variables are those that do not change in the entire experiment.
Controllable Variables are the variables that could be manipulated by the researcher.

4. Extraneous and Lurking Variables

Extraneous Variables are the unforeseen factors that may cause significant change in the interpretation or
experimentation of the results.
Lurking Variables are a subset of extraneous variables that represent the unforeseen factors in the experiment.

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 PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2
SECOND QUARTER
PAUL BARUT GALIZA

LESSON 6: THE RESEARCH DESIGN

LECTURE NOTES
Exemplar

Sample Research Design

This study is quantitative in nature because it connotes numerical values needed to attain the objectives of the
study. It employed the experimental method. It involved two groups of respondents as experimental and control
groups. The Project-Based Learning strategies in teaching were used in the experimental group, while the
traditional strategies were used in the control group. This was done to test whether the use of the Project-Based
Learning has an effect on the learning of the students. It further studied the significant differences of the
performance of the students in both the control and experimental groups after implementing the strategy.

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