MODULE -2

BUSINESS RESEARCH DESIGN

Meaning, types and significance of research design, exploratory

and conclusive research design

Exploratory research – Meaning purpose and methods –

Literature review, experience survey, focus groups
comprehensive case methods, conclusive research design –
Descriptive research Meaning , Types cross sectional studies and
longitudinal studies.

Experimental research design – Meaning and classification of

experimental designs – formal and informal, experimental
design, Quasi – experimental design, True experimental design,
Statistical experimental design.
 MEANING OF RESEARCH DESIGN

 A Research design is a frame work or blueprint for conducting the research

project. It is the set of methods and procedures used in collecting and
analyzing measures of the variables specified in the research problem.

 The research design refers to the overall strategy that you choose to integrate
the different components of the study in a coherent and logical way, thereby,
ensuring you will effectively address the research problem, it constitutes the
blueprint for the collection of data measurement and analysis of data.

 It’s a logical and systematic plan prepared for directing a research study. It
specifies the objectives of the study the methodology and techniques to be
adopted for achieving for objectives.
 TERMINOLOGIES RELATING TO RESEARCH DESIGN

 Variable

 The variables in a study of cause and effect relationship are called the independent and dependent variables. It
can take on different quantitive values is called avariable.

 Independent variable

 The independent variable is the cause. Its value is independent of other variables in our study. These can be
manipulated by the researcher. So he or she is biased . Then it may affect the results of the research.
 It takes qualitative values.

 Dependent variable
 The dependent variable is the effect. Its value is dependent on other variables of the study. These cant be
manipulated by the researcher. These are known as predicted variables.
 Example: if a botanist wants to know the amount of sunlight a plant receives impacts the how quickly it grows.
 Here, independent variable – amount of sunlight plant receives
 Dependent vaariable- speed of plant growth.
 TERMINOLOGY CONTINUED..

 EXTRANEOUS VARIABLE

 That are not related to the purpose of the study but may effect on the dependent variables are termed as
the extraneous variables. It can potentially affect the outcome of the study.

 Example: if a participant is taking a test in chill room, the temperature would be considered as
exteroneous variable. Some may be distracted by cold but others may not be affected by the cold.

 CONTROL
 The term control refers to the minimisation or effect of the effect of extraneous independent variable.

 Confounded relationship
 The relationship between dependent and independent variable is said to be confounded by an extraneous
vaariable.
 Research hypothesis
 When the formulated hypothesis is tested by adopting scientific methods is known as research
hypothesis.
 TREATMENT
 The different conditions under which experimental and control groups are put are usally reffered
as treatments.
 Ex: comparative impact of three varities of fertilizers on the yield of wheat , inthis case the three
varities of fertiliizers will be treated as three treatments.

 EXPERIMENT

 The process of examining the truth of the statistical hypothesis relating to some research
problem.
 CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH DESIGN

RESEARCH
 DESIGN

EXPLORATORY CONCLUSIVE
RESEARCH DESIGN RESEARCH
DESIGN

DESCRIPTIVE
RESEARCH CASUAL
DESIGN research
DESIGN

Cross sectional
Longitudinal design
design

Single-cross Multiple cross

-sectional design sectional design
 SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH DESIGN

 It reduces inaccuracy
 It helps to get maximum efficiency and reliability
 Eliminates bias and marginal errors
 Minimizes wastage of time
 Helps for allocating of research materials
 Gives an idea regarding the type of resources required in terms of money , manpower, time and efforts.
 Guides the research in the right direction.

 TYPES OF RESEARCH DESIGN

 1. Exploratory research design
 2. conclusive research design
 EXPLORATORY RESEARCH DESIGN

 Definition: Exploratory research design is defined as a research used to investigate a problem which is not clearly defined. It is
conducted to have a better understanding of the existing problem, but it will not provide conclusive results. It is mostly used for
defining company issues , areas of potential growth alteranate course of action . It does not need formulation of hypothesis.

 Significance of exploratory research

 1.Exploratory research is carried out when a topic needs to be understood in depth .
 2. The goal of such research is to explore the problem and enable a researcher to set a strong foundation for exploring his ideas .

 Exploratory research design- methods

 1. Interviews- An interview belongs to qualitative research method . Interview with a subject matter expert can be carried out in
person on a telephone which have open ended questions to get meaning ful information of the topic. Ex: an interview with an
employee to find degree of job satisfaction.
 2. Focus groups: in this method group of people is chosen and are allowed to express their insights on the topic that is being
studied. Ex: a focus group helps research to identify the opinions of consumers about buying a mobile phone.

 3. Observation- It is qualitative research which is done to observe a person and draw the findings from their reaction to certain
parametres. Ex: consumers reaction to the new new shape of the product.

 4. Literature research- It is a inexpensive method used for discovering hypothesis. The sources like news papers, magazines
books from library commercial databases.
 5. Case study research- The researcher just analyses the existing cases which have gone through a similaar problem.
 Steps to conduct exploratory research

 1. Identify the problem: A researcher identifies the subject of research or the problem by carrying out various
methods.

 2. Create an assumption statement: when no prior studies are made the researcher will assume some criteria to
proceed further.

 3. Apply the appropriate research methodology: The application of qualitative methods are used to further study
the subject in detail .

 Characterstics of exploratory research

 1. They are not structured studies
 2. They are usally low cost and open ended
 3. It is time consuming research.
 Conclusive research design

Conclusive research design is used to generate findings that are practically useful
in reaching conclusions or decision making. In this type of studies objectives and
data requirements need to be clearly defined. It uses quantitative methods for data
collection.

It is the research design to assist the decision maker in determining evaluation and
selecting the best course of action to take in a given situation.
 Information needed is clearly defined

3. Research process is formal and structured.

4. Findings are used as input to decision making

Conclusive research is more likely to use qualitative techniques.

It uses larger sample size

 CONCLUSIVE RESEARCH DESIGN

 Conclusive
CONCLUSIVEresearch design
RESEARCH
DESIGN

Descriptive research Casual research

Cross- sectional design Longitudinal design

Single-cross sectional Multiple – cross

design sectional design
 DESCREPTIVE RESEARCH DESIGN

 Descriptive research is a type of research which studies and concerned with describing the characterstics of a
particular individual or a group .It is quantitative in nature. The characterstics like people, materials, socio-
economics such as age, education, martial status and income etc

 Characterstics of descriptive research

 1. It is a quantitative research method that attempts to collect quantifiable information to be used for statistical
analysis of the population sample.

 2. it describes the nature of the demographic segment.

 3. It in this research none of the variables are influenced.

 Applications of descriptive research

 1. Define respondent characterstics
 2. measure data trends
 3. validate existing conditions
 4. conduct research at different times.
 CROSS SECTIONAL DESIGN

Cross sectional design is defined as an observational study where data is collected as a whole to study a population at

a single point in time to examine the relationship between variables of interest.
The researcher records information about the participants without changing or manipulating the natural environment ..


The important aspect feature of cross sectional study is that it can compare different samples at one given point of time .


Cross sectional study provides “ snapshot” of the outcome and the characterstics associated with it, at a specific point of

time.

Characterstics of cross sectional studies


1. Takes place at a single point of time

2. Variables are not manipulated by the researcher

3. provide information only, do not answer why

 LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH DESIGN

 Longitudinal study is also an observational study in which data is gathered from the same sample repeatedly
over an extended period of time.

 It is a corerelational research study that involves repeated observations of the same variables over a long period
of time.- often many decades.

 This is often used in psychology to study developmental trends across the life span and in sociology to study
life events through out lifetimes of generations.

 In field of medicine this design is used to uncover predictors of certain diseases.

 In advertising it helps in assessing the attitude and behaviour of those within the target audience who have seen
the advertising campaign.
 SINGLE CROSS SECTIONAL DESIGN
 1. In this design only one sample of respondents is drawn from the target population.
 2. Information is obtained from this sample once.
 3. sample survey research designs

MULTIPLE CROSS SECTIONAL DESIGN

1. In multiple cross sectional design two or more samples of respondents are collected
2. Information from each sample is obtained only once.
3. Information from different samples is obtained at different times over long intervals.
4. Comparison at the aggregate level but not at the individual respondent level.
 DISTNICTION BETWEEN CROSS SECTIONAL AND LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH
STUDY

CROSS SECTIONAL RESEARCH DESIGN LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH DESIGN

 Cross sectional studies are quickly to conduct as compared  Longitudinal studies may vary from a few years to even
to longitudinal studies decades.

 A cross sectional study is concerned at given point of  A longitudinal study requires a researcher to revisit
time participants of the study at proper intervals.

 Cross sectional studies cannot pin down cause and effect  It can justify cause and effect relationship
relationships
 It is conducted with same samples over the years
 Cross sectional study is conducted with different samples
 Only one variable is considered to conduct study
 Multiple variables can be studied at a single point of time.
 Since the study goes on for years longitudinal study tends
 Cross sectional study is comparatively cheaper. to get expensive
 CASUAL RESEARCH DESIGN

 Casual research in nature as well as preplanned and structured in design.

 Casual research explains the cause and effect relationship between variables .

 It is also called as conclusive research

OBJEECTIVES OF CASUAL RESEARCH

1. To understand which variable are the cause and which variable is effect.

2. To determine the nature of the relationship between the casual variables and the effect to be predicted.
 DISTINCTION BETWEEN EXPLORATORY AND CONCLUSIVE RESEARCH DESIGN

Exploratory research design Conclusive research design( des+ casual)

 In exploratory research design the research is conducted for  In descriptive research design the researcher describes and
formulating a problem for more clear investigation. explains an individual , group or a situational on the basis
of some numerical quantity.
 Exploratory research is one which aims at providing insights  It describes functions and characterstics.
into the understanding of the problem faced by the researcher  The objective of descriptive research design is to describe
 The objective of exploratory research design is to discover characterstics and functions
the ideas and thoughts.  The overall design is very rigid which protects against
 The overall design is very flexible. bias and also maximise realibility.
 The research process is unstructured  The research process is structured
 Non probability sampling techniques are used  Probability sampling techniques are used
 There is no preplanned statistical design for analysis.  The statistical design techniques are used.
 Methods used are:  Methods used are:
 1. Survey concerning literature
 1. quantitative analysis of secondary data
 2. experience survey
 2. surveys
 3. Analysis of insights simulation
 3. panels
 4. interviews
 1.
 5. observations, questionnaires
 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH

 Experimental research is a scientific approach to research , where one or more

independent variables are manipulated and applied to one or more dependent variables
to measure their effect of independent variable.
 The effect of independent variables on the dependent variables are recorded over time
to draw aresonable conclusion.

APPLICATIONS OF EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH

 1. It is used in physical and social sciences.
 2. physcology and education
 TYPES OF EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN

1. Pre experimental research design

2. Quasi experimental design
3. True experimental design
4. Statistical experimental design

Pre-experimental design

In pre-experimental research design , either a group or various dependent groups are observed for the effect of the
application of an independent variable which is presumed to cause change.

It is further divided into three types

1. One –shot case study research design

This research design only one dependent group or variable is considered .
2. One – group pretest –posttest research design
This research design combines both posttest and pretest study by carrying out a test on a single group before the treatment
is administred
3. Static group comparision
In a static group comparision study 2 or more groups are placed under observation . Both groups are tested and observed
differences between the groups are assumed to be a result of the trearment.
TRUE EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
 True experimental reseach is most accurate form of experimental research design
as it relies on statistical analysis to prove or diprove hypothesis.

It establishes cause and effect relationship.

 QUASI EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN

 The word quasi indicates resemblance .

 It this research independent variable is manipulated before calculating the
dependent variable.
 here results are specific
 Cause and effect of a hypothesis can be derived so that researchers can analyse
greater deatails.