Transcript
Research Design
Research Design: Definition
A research design is a framework or blueprint for conducting the research project. It details the procedures necessary for obtaining the information needed to structure or solve a research problems.
Design Purpose of the study Type of investigation Extent of researchers interference Study setting Unit of analysis Time horizon
Sampling design Data collection methods Measurements & data analysis
Purpose of the study: A Classification of Research Designs Research Design
Conclusive Research Design
Exploratory Research Design
Descriptive Research
Cross-Sectional Design
Single CrossSectional Design
Longitudinal Design
Multiple CrossSectional Design
Causal Research
Exploratory & Conclusive Research Differences Exploratory
Conclusive
Objective:
To provide insights and understanding.
To test specific hypotheses and examine relationships.
Characteristics:
Information needed is defined only loosely. Research process is flexible and unstructured. Sample is small and nonrepresentative. Analysis of primary data is qualitative.
Information needed is clearly defined. Research process is formal and structured. Sample is large and representative. Data analysis is quantitative.
Findings /Results:
Tentative.
Conclusive.
Outcome:
Generally followed by further exploratory or conclusive research.
Findings used as input into decision making.
A Comparison of Basic Research Designs Exploratory
Descriptive
Causal
Objective:
Discovery of ideas Describe general and insights characteristics or functions
Determine cause and effect relationships
Characteristics:
Flexible, versatile
Marked by the prior formulation of specific hypotheses
Manipulation of one or more independent variables
Often the front end of total research design
Preplanned and structured design
Expert surveys Pilot surveys Secondary data Qualitative research
Secondary data Surveys Panels Observation and other data
Methods:
Control of other mediating variables Experiments
Uses of Exploratory Research
Formulate a problem or define a problem more precisely Identify alternative courses of action Develop hypotheses Isolate key variables and relationships for further examination Gain insights for developing an approach to the problem
Methods of Exploratory Research
Survey of experts Pilot surveys . Secondary data analyzed in a qualitative way. Qualitative research .
Use of Descriptive Research
To describe the characteristics of relevant groups, such as consumers, salespeople, organizations, or market areas. To estimate the percentage of units in a specified population exhibiting a certain behavior. To determine the perceptions of product or samples’ characteristics. To determine the degree to which variables are associated. To make specific predictions
Methods of Descriptive Research
Secondary data analyzed in a quantitative as opposed to a qualitative manner Surveys Panels Observational and other data
Uses of Casual Research To understand which variables are the cause (independent variables) variables) and which variables are the effect (dependent variables) variables) of a phenomenon To determine the nature of the relationship between the causal variables and the effect to be predicted METHOD: Experiments
Type of Investigation
Causal
The study in which the researcher wants to delineate the cause of one or more problems is called a causal study.
Correlation
The study in which the researcher is interested in delineating the important variables associated with the problem, the study is called as correlation study.
interference
Degree of interference by the researcher for manipulating & control of variables either in natural or lab settings
Minimal Moderate excessive
Study settings
Contrived
Study conducted in artificial settings.
Causal studies are normally in contrived settings
Non contrived
Natural environment where work proceeds normally.
Correlation studies are normally conducted in non contrived settings.
Unit of analysis
Individual
Dyads Groups
Teams Departments Organizations Cultures countries
Time horizon
Cross sectional
Longitudinal
Cross-sectional Designs
Involve the collection of information from any given sample of population elements only once.
In single cross-sectional designs, there is only one sample of respondents and information is obtained from this sample only once.
In multiple cross-sectional designs, there are two or more samples of respondents, and information from each sample is obtained only once. Often, information from different samples is obtained at different times.
Cohort analysis consists of a series of surveys conducted at appropriate time intervals, where the cohort serves as the basic unit of analysis. A cohort is a group of respondents who experience the same event within the same time interval
Consumption of Various Soft Drinks by Various Age Cohorts
Ag e 8-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+
C1: C2: C3: C4:
cohort cohort cohort cohort
Percentage consuming on a typical day 1950 1960 1969 1979 52.9 45.2 33.9 23.2 18.1
62.6 60.7 46.6 40.8 28.8 C1
born prior to 1900 born 1901-10 born 1911-20 born 1921-30
73.2 76.0 67.7 58.6 50.0 C2 C5: C6: C7: C8:
81.0 75.8 71.4 67.8 51.9 C3
cohort cohort cohort cohort
born born born born
C8 C7 C6 C5 C4 1931-40 1940-49 1950-59 1960-69
Longitudinal Designs
A fixed sample (or samples) of population elements is measured repeatedly on the same variables A longitudinal design differs from a cross-sectional design in that the sample or samples remain the same over time
of Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Designs
Evaluatio n Criteria
Cross-Sectional Longitudinal Design Design
Detecting Change + Large amount of data + collection + Accuracy Representative Representativ e Sampling Response bias Note: A “+” indicates a relative advantage over the other design, whereas a “-” indicates a relative disadvantage.
Exercise-1
Ms.Joyce the owner of a small business ( a women’s dress boutique) has invited a consultant to tell her how her business is different from similar small business with in a sixty mile radius with respect to use of the most modern computer technology, sales volume, profit margin and staff training.
Develop the research design.
Exercise-2
Mr.Paul the owner of several restaurants in southern Tamilnadu is concerned about the wide difference in their profit margin. He would like to try some incentive plan for increasing the efficiency levels of those restaurants that lag behind. But before he actually does this, he would like to be assured that the idea would work. He asks a researcher to help him
Exercise-3
A manager is intrigued why some people seem to derive joy form work and get recognized by it while others find it troublesome and frustrating.
Develop a research design for the above
