RESEARCH DESIGNS

& DESIGNING
RESEARCH METHODS FOR SOCIAL WORK
BSWSA 2 – GROUP 1
JULY 26TH 2023
 DEFINING CONCEPTS
• A research design is an objective plan of how a research project is to be carried out –

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or%20criteria%20for%20selecting%20subjects

• Its objective to ensure research is systematic and scientific in the way it flows – for instance a design
of a house can tell the purpose of the house; as a residential or a classroom. Each dress has a fashion
that fits the purpose & delivers the right outputs.

• A correct research design should ensure that the research objectives can be achieved & be acceptable
as scientifically arrived at
BROAD CATEGORIES OF RESEARCH DESIGNS
 RESEARCH DESIGN SELECTION
Quantitative designs to select from include:
Experimental design – suitable for evaluation & pilot studies
Non experimental design – suitable for baselines and surveys
Quasi experimental – suitable for inductive studies
Descriptive – suitable for general knowledge
Correlational – its for advance mathematical assessments
Predictive -
 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGNS

• Grounded theory – it assumes no preconceived theory

• Ethnography – Study of cultural beliefs & values
• Historical designs – study of past events & use the knowledge to predict new knowledge
• Action research – Used in piloting studies to learn from an active project
• Phenomenology – To study the lived experiences of individuals who have experience of a
researched issue
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 MIXED METHODS DESIGN

• Cross sectional designs – Collect data at once

• Longitudinal designs – The data is collected from same sample at different times e.g in 3 phases
in the year
• Exploratory sequential designs – The first phase of study offers variables for the second or extra
phases
• Case studies – The study focuses on a case or selected cases
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