Research Design

Meaning of Research Design

Research design stands for advance planning of the methods to be adopted for conducting
experiments, collecting the relevant data and the techniques to be used in the analysis of data,
keeping in view the objective of the research and the availability of staff, time and money.
Preparation of the research design should be done with great care as any error in it may upset the
entire project. It is the conceptual structure within which research is conducted. Basically it
constitutes the blueprint for the collection, measurement and analysis of data.
The design decisions revolve around;
 Subject of study
 Purpose of Study
 Place of study
 Type of Data
 Source of data
 Time periods that needs to be included in the study
 Sample design
 Techniques of data collection
 Procedures of data analysis
 Format of research report
Overall research design can be divided into the following parts:
 The sampling design which deals with the method of selecting items to be observed for the
given study;
 The observational design which relates to the conditions under which the experiments have
to be conducted and observations are to be made
 The statistical design which concerns with the question of how many items are to be
observed and how the information and data gathered are to be analyzed; and
 The operational design which deals with the techniques by which the procedures specified
in the sampling, statistical and observational designs can be carried out.
A research design must, at least, contain
 Clear statement of the research problem;
 Procedures and techniques to be used for gathering information;
 Population to be studied. In case of academic research this refers to the parameters to be
observed and analyzed.
 Methods to be used in processing and analyzing data

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Purpose of a Research Design:
Research designs are used for the following purposes;
 Minimize the expenditure:
Research design carries an important influence on the reliability of the results attained .It
therefore provides a solid base for the whole research. This makes the research as effective
as possible by providing maximum information with minimum spending of effort, money
and time by preparing the advance plan of all about the research.
 Facilitate the smooth scaling:
Research design is needed because it facilitates the smooth scaling of the various research
operations, thereby making research as efficient as possible yielding maximal information
with minimal expenditure of effort, time and money.
 Collect the relevant data and technique:
Research design stands for advance planning of the methods to be adopted for collecting
the relevant data and the techniques to be used in their analysis, keeping in view the
objective of the research and the availability of staff time and money. Poor preparation of
research design upset the entire project.
 Provide blue print for plans:
Research design is needed due to the fact that it allows for the smooth working of many
research operations. It is like blue print which we need in advance to plan the methods to
be adopted for collecting the relevant data and techniques to be used in its analysis for
preparation of research project. Just as for better economical and attractive construction of
a house need a blue print and a map of that, similarly we needs a blue print or a design for
the smooth flow of operation of research.
 Provide an overview to other experts:
A research design provides an overview of all the research process and with the help of the
design we can take the help and views of experts of that field .The design helps the
investigator to organize his ideas , which helps to recognize and fix his faults.
 Provide a direction:
A research design provides a proper or particular direction to the other executives and
others who are helping us into the process. The researcher studies available, literature and
learns about new (alternative approaches.

Characteristics of Good Research Design:

Generally a good research design minimizes bias and maximizes the reliability of the data collected
and analyzed. The design which gives the smallest experimental error is reported to be the best
design in scientific investigation. Similarly, a design which yields maximum information and
provides an opportunity for considering different aspects of a problem is considered to be the most
appropriate and efficient design. A good research design possesses the following characteristics;
Objectivity:

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It refers to the findings related to the method of data collection and scoring of the responses. The
research design should permit the measuring instruments which are fairly objective in which every
observer or judge scoring the performance must precisely give the same report. In other words, the
objectivity of the procedure may be judged by the degree of agreement between the final scores
assigned to different individuals by more than one independent observer. This ensures the
objectivity of the collected data which shall be capable of analysis and interpretation.
Reliability:
It refers to consistency throughout a series of measurements. For example, if a respondent gives
out a response to a particular item, he is expected to give the same response to that item even if he
is asked repeatedly. If he is changing his response to the same item, the consistency will be lost.
So the researcher should frame the items in a questionnaire in such a way that it provides
consistency or reliability.
Validity:
Any measuring device or instrument is said to be valid when it measures what it is expected to
measure. For example, an intelligence test conducted for measuring the IQ should measure only
the intelligence and nothing else and the questionnaire shall be framed accordingly.
Generalizability:
It means how best the data collected from the samples can be utilized for drawing certain
generalizations applicable to a large group from which sample is drawn. Thus a research design
helps an investigator to generalize his findings provided he has taken due care in defining the
population, selecting the sample, deriving appropriate statistical analysis etc. while preparing the
research design. Thus a good research design is one which is methodologically prepared and
should ensure that generalization is possible. For ensuring the generalization we should confirm
that our research problem has the following characteristics;
(a) The problem is clearly formulated.
(b) The population is clearly defined.
(c) Most appropriate techniques of sample selection are used to form an appropriate sample.
(d) Appropriate statistical analysis has been carried out.
(e) The findings of the study are capable of generalizations.
Adequate Information:
The most important requirement of good research design is that it should provide adequate
information so that the research problem can be analyzed on a wide perspective. An ideal research
design should take into account important factors like;
(i) Identifying the exact research problem to be studied
(ii) The objective of the research
(iii) The process of obtaining information
(iv) The availability of adequate and skilled manpower and
(v) The availability of adequate financial resources for carrying research.
(vi) A good research design should minimize bias and maximize reliability and
generalization.

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 (vii) Other Features important features of a good research design include flexibility,
adaptability, efficiency, being economic and so on.

Important Concepts Relating to Research Design

The various concepts relating to research designs are
 Dependent and independent variables:
Parameters which may take different values, may be continuous or discrete in nature and
that can be expressed in numbers and units.
 Extraneous variable:
Independent variables that are not related to the purpose of the study, but may affect the
dependent variable are termed as extraneous variables.
 Control:
One important characteristic of a good research design is to minimise the influence or effect
of extraneous variable(s). The technical term ‘control’ is used when we design the study
minimizing the effects of extraneous independent variables. In experimental researches,
the term ‘control’ is used to refer to restrain experimental conditions.
 Confounded relationship:
When the dependent variable is not free from the influence of extraneous variable(s), the
relationship between the dependent and independent variables is said to be confounded by
an extraneous variable(s).
 Research hypothesis:
When a prediction or a hypothesized relationship is to be tested by scientific methods, it is
termed as research hypothesis. The research hypothesis is a predictive statement that relates
an independent variable to a dependent variable. Usually a research hypothesis must
contain, at least, one independent and one dependent variable. Predictive statements which
are not to be objectively verified or the relationships that are assumed but not to be tested,
are not termed research hypotheses.
 Experimental and non-experimental hypothesis-testing research:
When the purpose of research is to test a research hypothesis, it is termed as hypothesis-
testing research. It can be of the experimental design or of the non-experimental design.
Research in which the independent variable is manipulated is termed ‘experimental
hypothesis-testing research’ and a research in which an independent variable is not
manipulated is called ‘non-experimental hypothesis-testing research’.
 Experimental and control groups:
In an experimental hypothesis-testing research when a group is exposed to usual
conditions, it is termed a ‘control group’, but when the group is exposed to some novel or
special condition, it is termed an ‘experimental group’.
 Treatments:
The different conditions under which experimental and control groups are put are usually
referred to as ‘treatments’.

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 Experiment:
The process of examining the truth of a statistical hypothesis, relating to some research
problem, is known as an experiment.
 Experimental unit(s):
The pre-determined plots or the blocks, where different treatments are used, are known as
experimental units. Such experimental units must be selected (defined) very carefully.

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