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Research Design

Research Design.

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8 views23 pages

Research Design

Research Design.

Uploaded by

malikjunaidkhan001
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is a Research Design?

A research design is a plan, structure and strategy of


investigation so conceived as to obtain answers to
research questions or problems.
It includes an outline of what the investigator will do
from writing the hypotheses and their operational
implications to the final analysis of data.
Functions

◼ conceptualize an operational plan to


undertake the various procedures and tasks
required to complete your study;
◼ ensure that these procedures are adequate to
obtain valid, objective and accurate answers to
the research questions.
Methods of Data Collection
Major approaches to information gathering
◼ Primary Data
◼ Secondary Data
Primary sources provide first-hand information
and secondary sources provide second-hand
data.
Collecting data using primary sources
◼ The choice of a method depends upon the
purpose of the study, the resources available
and the skills of the researcher.
Observation:
◼ is a purposeful, systematic and selective way
of watching and listening to an interaction or
phenomenon as it takes place.
◼ Example:
▪ interaction in a group

▪ Dietary pattern of a population


Types of Observation
Participant Observation is when you, as a
researcher, participate in the activities of the
group being observed in the same manner as
its members, with or without their knowing
that they are being observed. For example,
sitting in a wheelchair to examine the reaction
of population towards people in wheelchairs.
Non-participant observation, is when you, as a
researcher, do not get involved in the activities
of the group but remain a passive observer,
watching and listening to its activities and
drawing conclusions from this. For example,
you might want to study the functions carried
out by nurses in a hospital.
Problems with using observation as a
method of data collection
◼ When individuals or groups become aware that
they are being observed, they may change
their behavior. When a change in the behavior
of persons or groups is attributed to their
being observed it is known as the Hawthorne
effect.
◼ The interpretations drawn from observations
may vary from observer to observer.
◼ There is the possibility of incomplete
observation and/or recording.
The Interview
‘an interview is a verbal interchange, often face
to face, though the telephone may be used, in
which an interviewer tries to elicit information,
beliefs or opinions from another person’
Types of Interview
Unstructured Interviews:
◼ complete freedom
▪ in terms of content and structure.

▪ order these in whatever sequence you wish.

▪ wording you use and

▪ the way you explain questions to your respondents.


Structured Interviews:
◼ the researcher asks a predetermined set of
questions, using the same wording and order
of questions as specified in the interview
schedule. An interview schedule is a written
list of questions, prepared for use by an
interviewer in a person-to person interaction.
Advantages of interview
◼ More appropriate for complex situations
◼ Useful for collecting in-depth information.
◼ Questions can be explained
◼ Wider application
Disadvantages of Interview
◼ Time consuming and expensive
◼ The quality of data depends upon the quality
of the interaction.
◼ The quality of data depends upon the quality
of the interviewer.
The Questionnaire
◼ A questionnaire is a written list of questions,
the answers to which are recorded by
respondents.
◼ In a questionnaire respondents read the
questions, interpret what is expected and then
write down the answers.
Remember
◼ The questions should be clear and easy to
understand.
◼ The layout of a questionnaire should be such

that it is easy to read and pleasant to the eye.


◼ The sequence of questions should be easy to
follow.
◼ A questionnaire should be developed in an
interactive style so that the respondents
should feel as if someone is talking to them.
Types of Questionnaire
The Mailed Questionnaire:
◼ Send questionnaire by mail along with self-
addressed envelope and a covering letter.
◼ Low response rate.

The Collective Questionnaire:


◼ administering a questionnaire to a captive
audience such as students in a classroom,
people attending a function, participants in a
programme or people assembled in one place.
Advantages:
◼ Less expensive
◼ Offers greater anonymity
Disadvantages:
◼ Application is limited to educated people only.
◼ Response rate is low
◼ Opportunity to clarify issues is lacking
Collecting data using secondary sources
◼ There are occasions when your data have

already been collected by someone else and

you need only to extract the required

information for the purpose of your study.


Government or semi-government publications –
There are many government and semi
government organisations that collect data on
a regular basis in a variety of areas and publish
it for use by members of the public and interest
groups. Some common examples are the
census, labor force surveys, health reports.
Earlier research – For some topics, an enormous
number of research studies that have already
been done by others can provide you with the
required information.
Personal records – Some people write historical
and personal records (e.g. diaries) that may
provide the information you need.
Mass media – Reports published in newspapers,
in magazines, on the Internet, and so on, may
be another good source of data.
Problems with using data from secondary
sources –
▪ Validity and reliability
▪ Personal bias
▪ Availability of data
▪ Format

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