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Unit 5 Research Designs

1. What do you mean by research design?

Research design is an outline of what the researcher will do from writing of objectives, hypotheses and its operational implications to final analysis of data.

 

2. How is the decision about research design made?

The decision about research design is made on the basis of type of research; for example, for a qualitative study the researcher should focus on understanding of setting, nature of data, holistic approach, selection of participants and inductive data analysis. 

3. Why is there a need to make a research design?

Research designs are needed to enable the researcher to answer research questions as validly, objectively, accurately and economically as possible. 

4. How does research design help the researcher in doing a better research?

Research design helps the researcher to organize her or his ideas in a form where by it will be possible for her or him to look for flaws and inadequacies. 

5. What factors are considered for making an appropriate research design for a particular research problem?

Following are the factors that are considered for making an appropriate research design for a particular research problem: 

i) The means of obtaining information, 

ii) The availability of and skills of the researcher and her or his staff, 

iii) The objective(s) of the problem to be studied, 

iv) The nature of the research problem, and 

v) The availability of time and money for the research work. 

6. Explain briefly the features of a good research design.

Following are the features of a good research design: 

i) The design should minimize the biases and maximize the reliability of the collected data, 

ii) The design should yield maximal information and provide an opportunity for considering many different aspects of a problem. 

7. What is Social desirability bias?

Social desirability bias  occurs when subjects of research introduce their own bias as what is said to them is different from what they understand. 

8. Distinguish between Pre-test and Post-test.

Pre-test are the experimented stage before the application of treatment to experimental group where as post-test is after the treatment stage. 

9. What do you mean by Quantitative approach and how is it classified?

Quantitative approach involves the generation of data in quantitative form, which can be subjected to rigorous quantitative analysis in a formal and rigid fashion. The approach can be classified into inferential, experimental and simulation approaches. 

10. Distinguish between Quantitative and Qualitative research

Quantitative research is based on the measurement of quantity on amount. It is applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity where as qualitative research is concerned with qualitative phenomenon, that is, phenomena relating to quality. 

11. What are the methods followed to prepare a research design for an exploratory research study? 

Following are the methods followed to prepare a research design in the case of an exploratory research study: 

i) The survey of concerning literature, 

ii) Experience survey, and 

iii) Analysis of insight-stimulating examples. 

12. Classify the experimental designs?

The experimental designs can be classified in following categories: 

i) Trial and error expe1iments, 

ii) Controlled observation studies, 

iii) Natural experiment, 

iv) Ex-post facto technique, and 

v) Laboratory experimental design. 

13. State the principles, that should be followed for preparing a good research design.

• Bias Minimisation
• Sampling
• Randomisation
• Selection and Assignment
• Groups including Control Group
• Pre-test and Post-test

14. Formulate a research design for diagnostic research. 

Diagnostic research aims to determine the frequency of a phenomenon and its associations with other factors. To formulate a research design for this type of study, you need to consider these steps:

• Define the Objectives: Clearly state what you want to measure and why. For instance, your objective could be to examine the prevalence of anxiety among university students and investigate its association with academic performance.
• Define the Population: Specify the group you want to study, such as university students in a specific geographic location or academic programme.
• Develop Data Collection Methods: Choose appropriate tools and techniques. For instance, you might employ:
• Surveys or questionnaires to gather data on the frequency of anxiety symptoms.
• Standardised tests to measure anxiety levels and academic performance.
• Interviews to gain in-depth understanding of the experiences and perspectives of students with anxiety.
• Select a Sampling Design: Determine how you will select participants from your population. Consider different sampling techniques, like random sampling or stratified sampling, to ensure your sample is representative.
• Develop a Data Analysis Plan: Outline the procedures you will use to analyse the data. Choose appropriate statistical techniques, such as correlation or regression analysis, to assess the relationships between anxiety, academic performance, and other variables.
• Ensure Rigour: Adhere to principles of research design, including validity and reliability, to ensure the accuracy and trustworthiness of your findings.

By following these steps, you can create a well-structured research design that effectively addresses your diagnostic research questions and contributes valuable insights to the field.