What is the research design?
Research design is defined as the blueprint/outline of a research project with clearly well-defined objectives as well as the details of the methods and procedures for carrying out research. It defines specifying strategy for finalizing objectives, tools and techniques of data collection and its analysis to gather information. Moreover, it also includes the time and cost budgets as well as probable outcomes.
Research design is defined as the blueprint/outline of a research project with clearly well-defined objectives as well as the details of the methods and procedures for carrying out research. It defines specifying strategy for finalizing objectives, tools and techniques of data collection and its analysis to gather information. Moreover, it also includes the time and cost budgets as well as probable outcomes.
Types of research design:
There are mainly three types of research designs i.e. exploratory research design, descriptive research design and experimental (or causal) research design. Exploratory research design is done to explore sufficient information about the issue or situation. It is mainly done to understand the feasibility, to be familiarization, to generate new ideas, to formulate hypotheses and to operationalise concept with appropriate indicators. Descriptive research design describes events, phenomena and the situation. It is more scientific, accurate and precise than casual. If the data is collected in a single situation pertaining to a single time period, it is called a one-cell design. If data is collected with a different time period, it is called a longitudinal design. If the study involves both present and past time period, it is called ex-post facto design. Similarly, if data are collected from one situation at one time and from another situation at another time, it will be called a matched stage design (Manheim, 1977). Experimental research design deals with determining cause and effect relationship. According to Fisher, there are three basic principles of experimental design namely a) the principle of replication i.e. experiment should be repeated more than once, b) the principle of randomization i.e. provides protection against the effect of extraneous factors and c) the principle of local control that deals with eliminating the effect of extraneous factors on causes.
There are mainly three types of research designs i.e. exploratory research design, descriptive research design and experimental (or causal) research design. Exploratory research design is done to explore sufficient information about the issue or situation. It is mainly done to understand the feasibility, to be familiarization, to generate new ideas, to formulate hypotheses and to operationalise concept with appropriate indicators. Descriptive research design describes events, phenomena and the situation. It is more scientific, accurate and precise than casual. If the data is collected in a single situation pertaining to a single time period, it is called a one-cell design. If data is collected with a different time period, it is called a longitudinal design. If the study involves both present and past time period, it is called ex-post facto design. Similarly, if data are collected from one situation at one time and from another situation at another time, it will be called a matched stage design (Manheim, 1977). Experimental research design deals with determining cause and effect relationship. According to Fisher, there are three basic principles of experimental design namely a) the principle of replication i.e. experiment should be repeated more than once, b) the principle of randomization i.e. provides protection against the effect of extraneous factors and c) the principle of local control that deals with eliminating the effect of extraneous factors on causes.
Need of good research design:
A good research design provides a perfect blueprint to carry out research with a more scientific way. In the meantime, it also limits (dictates) boundaries of research activity as well as enables investigation to anticipate potential problems (Black and Champion, 1976). A good research design should have more than one method of data collection and focus on multivariate analysis for gathering relevant and reliable information.
Research design flaws to avoid: A good research design provides a perfect blueprint to carry out research with a more scientific way. In the meantime, it also limits (dictates) boundaries of research activity as well as enables investigation to anticipate potential problems (Black and Champion, 1976). A good research design should have more than one method of data collection and focus on multivariate analysis for gathering relevant and reliable information.
As a researcher, it is necessary to avoid certain design flaws for improving quality and reliability of findings. There are following flaws need to be avoided as given below:
- It is necessary to avoid inappropriate population selection. It should be done on the basis of objectives.
- A researcher has to avoid sampling error and should select the proper sampling method for collecting relevant information.
- A researcher has to focus on the theoretical framework for building logically derived hypothesis.
- A researcher has to avoid irrelevant literature review which is nowhere related to the study area and put the unnecessary faulty interpretation of irrelevant data. Rather he/she has to build on previous research findings based on the review of the literature.
Formulating a research problem:
Formulation of a research problem constitutes the first stage of the research process. Before formulating a research problem, one researcher has to identify a broad field or subject area of interest based on a review of the literature (both conceptual literature concerning various concepts and theories as well as empirical literature consisting of studies made earlier), discussion with knowledgeable persons/colleagues having expertise in the subject area. Formulating research problem involves the following approaches:
- Statement of the problem in a general way: It explores the different problem and scope for further exploration. There would be proper logic for selecting the research problem.
- Understanding the nature of the research problem: It describes the background of the study, its theoretical basis and underlining assumptions, specify the issues in concrete and specific.
- Operationalisation of variables: It is important to specify the variables involved as per the research problem and familiar with the variables.
- Evaluation and rephrasing of the research problem: A researcher has to evaluate and rephrase the research problem based on his competence and professional experience, possible difficulties in the availability of data, the financial and field constraints as well as the limitation of time.
The research proposal consists of every detail activities of a research project. Developing a research plan/proposal involves the following steps:
- Identification and formulation of a research problem: A research proposal started with the researcher’s interest, the concern of societal issues and academic contribution to the discipline. At this stage, the researcher has to explore the problem statement/research problem.
- Review of literature: Review of relevant literature is necessary to be acquainted with the research study as well as refinement of the study objects based on the previous research and findings.
- Specifying objectives of the study: It is necessary to specific objectives based on the researcher’s interest, availability of money, time and resources.
- Formulation of hypothesis: It is necessary to formulate a hypothesis based on the specified objectives in order to validate the findings.
- Research design:
- Selection of sample: It is necessary to select the population to be studied, type of sample, as well as the size of the sample, need to be studied.
- Selection of method and tools of data collection: Appropriate method and tools of data collection are must in order to measure variables, check its validity and reliability.
- Collection of data: Collection of quality and relevant data is necessary for writing a research proposal with minimal error and with appropriate research design.
- Processing of data: Recently, it describes the different technological advances for increasing accuracy in terms of handling data and its analysis.
- Analysis and interpretation of data: Analysis and interpretation of data are done based on the different variables with the application of various statistical tests. Both qualitative, as well as quantitative interpretation, is done through the researcher.
- Presentation of the report: A researcher follows a certain format/framework for writing report. The format of the research report consists of mainly three parts: the preliminaries, the text and the reference materials.
- Time estimate: It is required to estimate time for each activity so that a researcher will be able to know the total time required executing the project.
- Budget estimate: The preparation of a budget estimate depends on the area of study, the size of the sample for the study as well as the tools of data collection to be used for the study.
