Features of a Good Research Design

● A good research design should be economical, efficient and

appropriate.
● A good research design should minimise bias and maximize
the reliability of data collected.
● A good research design is related to the purpose of the
research or objective of the research problem.
HYPOTHESIS

Any assumption that the researcher makes on the probable direction of

the results that might be obtained on completion of the research process is
termed as a hypothesis.

A null hypothesis is a hypothesis that says there is no statistical

significance between the two variables. It is usually the hypothesis a
researcher or experimenter will try to disprove or discredit. An alternative
hypothesis is one that states there is a statistically significant relationship
between two variables.
 Confounded relationship: When the dependent variable is not free
from the influence of extraneous variable(s), the relationship between
the dependent and independent variables is said to be confounded by
an extraneous variable(s).
Experiment: It refers to the analytical study to examine cause & effect
relationship

Experimental and control groups: In an experimental hypothesis-testing

research when a group is exposed to usual conditions, it is termed a ‘control
group’, but when the group is exposed to some novel or special condition, it is
termed an ‘experimental group’.
Treatments: The different conditions under which experimental and control
groups are put are usually referred to as ‘treatments’

Experiment: The process of examining the truth of a statistical hypothesis, relating to

some research problem, is known as an experiment.

Experimental unit(s): The pre-determined plots or the blocks, where

different treatments are used, are known as experimental units. Such
experimental units must be selected (defined) very carefully.
Question

The Indian Army wants to ascertain why young students do not

select the armed forces as a career option in their graduation.

(i)Frame the research problem.

(ii) State the research objectives

(iii) Identify the DV& IV

TYPES OF RESEARCH DESIGN
1. EXPLORATORY RESEARCH DESIGN
2. DESCRIPTIVE/DIAGNOSTIC
3. Causal research Design
1. Research design in case of exploratory research
studies:

Exploratory research studies are also termed as formulative

research studies. The main purpose of such studies is that of
formulating a problem for more precise investigation or of
developing the working hypotheses from an operational point
of view.
2. Research design in case of descriptive and diagnostic
research studies:

Descriptive research studies are those studies which are

concerned with describing the characteristics of a particular
individual, or of a group, whereas diagnostic research studies
determine the frequency with which something occurs or its
association with something else.
3. Research design in case of hypothesis-testing research
studies:
Hypothesis-testing research studies (generally known as experimental
studies) are those where the researcher tests the hypotheses of causal
relationships between variables.
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF EXPERIMENTAL
DESIGNS
(1) the Principle of Replication;

2) the Principle of Randomization;

(3) Principle of Local Control

Principle of Replication,

The experiment should be repeated more than once. Thus, each

treatment is applied in many experimental units instead of one.
By doing so the statistical accuracy of the experiments is
increased.
Principle of Randomization

When all the treatments have an equal chance of being allocated to

different experimental units, it is called randomization. It helps to
remove bias of any form
Principle of Local Control

The main purpose of the principle of local control is to increase

the efficiency of an experimental design by decreasing the
experimental error. Experimental error is the variation in the result
caused by the extraneous factor
 The training manager at ABC corporation has asked you to identify the kind of
training programmes that should be offered to the young recruits who have joined as
management trainees and are to be imparted five additional general management
programmes along with their specific job training modules. The trainees are a mixed
bunch of engineering and management graduates. (a) Formulate your research
problem. (b) Identify the sources you would use to carry out a problem audit. (c)
State your research objectives and the research hypotheses.