Types of Research and

designs
 TYPES/PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES OF A RESEARCH.
 Exploratory:

It is conducted when there are a few or no earlier studies to consult. It

is an investigative study that gives insight on or familiarity with a
phenomenon for later research. It often prepares the grounds for the
future explanatory or descriptive research.
 Descriptive:

It offers information on what, how, where, who and when of a research

problem or phenomenon. It describes what exist but does not address
the why issues. It is used to obtain information on the current status of
a phenomenon or issue.
 Explanatory:

It offers information on why issues and how it often address the issues of
causation such as explaining why the phenomenon occurs.
Explanatory research designs;
1. Establishes a relationship (causal/spurious) between two or more
variables.
2. Demonstrate the truthfulness of research findings in the real world.
3. Reveal that one phenomenon precedes the other in time.
4. Eliminates alternative explanation for an action of a phenomenon.
 Causal relationship is a direct relationship between two variables. Eg:
X causes y.
 Spurious relationship is an indirect one between two or more variables
because of a third variable. Once the third factor is controlled, the
relationship between those variables disappear.
 One intention of research design is to establish the kind of relationship that
exist between variables thus a research design must
determine if the relations between the two variables are:
1. Co-variation: X varies directly with Y
2. Time order: the cause precedes the effect. X precedes Y
3. Eliminates all possible alternatives causes that indirectly affect the two
variables.
 These factors helps the researcher to make valid causal relation.
 The ability to do this is often associated with experimental research design.
 RESEARCH DESIGN
 It is an outline or plan for studying an empirical question. It is the
written down plan for the collection, measurement and analysis of
data. Your research problem often indicates your research design.
 What issues do research design address
1. Propositions or theory to be tested
2. Unit of analysis to be used for the research
3. Measurement or observation to be used
4. Nature of collecting data. (information)
5. How data is to be analyzed (data analytical tools/procedure)
 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
 Experimentation allows the researcher to exercise some control
on the experimental variable or independent variable, the of
assignment variable to different groups and observe or measure
the responses and behavior of the variables.
 Experimentation enables the researcher to state causal
relationships between variables with greater certainty or
confidence that non-experimental designs such as survey which
is mostly used in political science.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

1. Establishes two or more groups

a) Experimental group: that is exposed to the experimental treatment
or test stimuli or factor.
b) Control group: that does not receive the treatment or stimuli
2. The researcher randomly assigns the variables to groups in a
process called randomization. This allows membership to base on
chance and not self-selection and ensures that subjects are virtually
identical at the beginning of the experiment. Randomization makes
experiment a powerful tool for making causal inferences.
3. The researcher controls the timing and manner of exposing the
experimental group to treatment.
4. There is pre and post-experimental testing of the variables to
determine the experimental effect.
5. The researcher controls the environment of the research as
such;
 Randomization (which is intended to eliminate confounding
factors that can affect causation) and assignment of subjects.
 The use of pre-test to measure to see if the factors affecting the
experimental and control groups are equally distributed.
 Precision matching, thus creating identical or matched pairs of
subjects and assigning them to each of the group.

 Other versions of experimental designs are;

a. Simple post test design
b. Repeated measurement design
c. Multi group design
d. Field experiment
 NON-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
 Laboratory research is difficult to carry out especially when the
researcher is interested in studying aggregates such as cities or
countries.
 Social scientists rely on non-experimental designs which are
more practical.
 Non-experimental designs are not strong for making causal
inferences of non individuals units of analysis such as events,
groups and aggregates such like states and countries.
 NON-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
 Laboratory research is difficult to carry out especially when the
researcher is interested in studying aggregates such as cities or
countries.
 Social scientists rely on non-experimental designs which are
more practical.
 Non-experimental designs are not strong for making causal
inferences of non individuals units of analysis such as events,
groups and aggregates such like states and countries.
 Itis often used to collect data used to test hypothesis and make
causal inferences.

 There are often characterized by at least one of the following;

presence of a single group, lack of control over the assignment
of subjects to group, inability to measure the dependent variable
before and after the exposure of the independent variable.
 SMALL N DESIGN
 In small N designs, the researcher examines one or few cases of a
phenomena in considerable details, typically using several data collections
methods such as personal interviews, document analysis and observation,
 When only one instance of a phenomenon is under investigation, it is
called case study but when two or more are involved, it is called
comparative case study or analysis.
 The unit of analysis or the subjects can be people, events, institutions,
decisions, policies, etc. The core issue is that one or few cases or instances
are studied in depth.
 The investigator collects a lot of data on one or few cases. It can be used
for descriptive, exploratory or explanatory objectives.
 Advantages
 Itmay be useful in assessing whether a statistical correlation between
independent and dependent variables discovered using a cross-sectional
design with survey data is really causal.
 They can learn if there is a link between the variables and offer a detailed
explanation of the statistical association.
 Disadvantages
 It
is not possible to assign subjects to experimental or control groups nor
manipulate the independent variable.
 The researcher does not control the context or environment as in
laboratory experiment.
 It cannot de generalized
 There is no rigor used in representing evidence and the possibility of bias.
 Focus groups:
Consist of a small group (6-9) who meet to deliberate on issues. It could be used to
identify broad adequate documentation. It is characterized by the presence of two
researchers. One asks the questions and the other records the responses. The researchers
ensure that each member of the group get the chance to respond/contribute to the
question/discussion and no member hijacks the process. It is useful when the researchers
want to know how the independent variable affect the dependent variable in a relatively
short time.

 Cross-sectional designs:
In this designs, the measurement of the independent and dependent variable are taken at
the same time and the researcher does not control or manipulate the independent
variables, the assignment of subjects to treatment or control groups or the conditions
under which the independent variable is experienced.