Meaning and Purpose of Research Design

Meaning and Purpose of Research Design

• Research design is the detailed plan, or blueprint, for testing hypotheses and analyzing data in an investigation.
• It ensures relevant data is collected to allow for objective analysis of hypotheses related to research problems.
• Research design helps researchers test hypotheses and reach valid, objective conclusions about independent and dependent variables.
• Selecting a research design is based on the purpose of the investigation, variable types, and research conditions.
• The purpose of research design is to provide maximum relevant information at a minimum cost.
• Research design serves two main functions: objectively answering research questions and acting as a control mechanism for unwanted variances.
• Research design suggests data collection methods, control variable treatment, manipulation methods, statistical analyses, and potential answers to research problems.
• A complete sequence of steps in research design enables researchers to draw valid and objective conclusions.
• As a control mechanism, research design helps control unwanted variances.
• Three types of common variances in scientific investigations: experimental, extraneous, and error variance.

Experimental Variance

• Experimental variance is produced in the dependent variable through manipulation of independent variables by the experimenter.
• Researchers aim to maximize experimental variance to obtain valid and objective data.
• Investigators design experiments to maximize the difference between experimental conditions.
• When high reward produces a higher learning rate and low reward produces a poor learning rate, experimental variance is at maximum.
• If all conditions are nearly equal, experimental variance will be at a minimum.
• The higher the difference between experimental conditions, the higher the experimental variance will be.
• Experimenters always maximize experimental variance.

Extraneous Variance or Control Variance

• Extraneous or control variance is produced by extraneous or relevant variables.
• Experimenters control relevant variables and eliminate variances produced by these.
• Elimination of extraneous variance requires proper control of extraneous variables.

Error Variance

• A function of research design is to minimize error variance and is defined as variances or variabilities in measures occurring due to uncontrollable factors.
• Factors causing error variance relate to individual differences among subjects or errors of measurement.
• Error variance has three distinct features: it is self-compensating, tends to cancel out in repeated measurements, and is unpredictable due to random errors.
• Minimizing error variance improves the reliability of measures and strengthens the external validity of the experiment.
• An experiment's systematic variance has a better chance to show its significance, if the error variance is minimized.
• Error variance can be minimized by controlling experimental conditions; uncontrolled conditions lead to higher proportions of error variance.
• A good research design provides unambiguous results and avoids 'confounding'.
• 'Confounding' refers to a situation where multiple variables change concurrently, preventing attribution of dependent variable changes to a single variable, which introduces vagueness.

Qualitative and Quantitative Research

• Quantitative research is used to understand underlying opinions, motivations, and reasons, providing insights into problems and aiding in developing ideas and hypotheses.
• Qualitative research helps uncover trends, ideas, and opinions, giving deeper problem insights.

Definition of Qualitative and Quantitative Research

• Qualitative Research aims to understand human behavior, intentions, attitudes, and experiences through observation and interpretation.
• It's an unstructured, exploratory technique for complex phenomena, done via open-ended interviews and descriptive observations.
• Quantitative Research uses natural science methods, relying on hard facts and numerical data.
• It establishes cause-and-effect relationships between variables using statistical and computational methods, termed "Empirical Research."
• It often uses surveys and experiments to establish generalized facts about a specific topic.

Differences Between Qualitative and Quantitative Research

• Quantitative research is a more methodical approach to solving problems by generating and using data.
• Qualitative research is used to gain a better understanding of human and social sciences, behavior, and personalities. Quantitative research generates numerical data with logical, statistical, and mathematical techniques.
• Qualitative research employs a subjective approach, while quantitative research uses an objective approach.
• Qualitative research is expressed using words, while quantitative research uses graphs and numbers. Qualitative research has open-ended questions; quantitative research has multiple-choice questions.
• Qualitative research needs only a few respondents; quantitative research requires many.
• Qualitative data collection includes interviews, focus groups, literature review, and ethnography. Quantitative data collection includes experiments, surveys, and observations expressed in numbers.
• Qualitative research is holistic, while quantitative research is particularistic.
• Qualitative reasoning is inductive; this type of reasoning for quantitative research is deductive.
• Qualitative research involves a process-oriented inquiry, while quantitative research does not.
• Qualitative research develops an initial understanding of data while quantitative research recommends a final course of action.
• Data in qualitative research is verbal. Data in quantitative research is measurable.
• The objective of qualitative research is to engage and discover various ideas. The objective of quantitative research is to examine cause and effect between variables.
• Qualitative research is an exploratory method; quantitative research is a conclusive method.

Qualitative Research Methods

• Qualitative research is based on social sciences like psychology, sociology, and anthropology.
• It allows for probing and questioning respondents in depth and understanding their motivations.
• Qualitative research obtains data through open-ended and conversational communication.
• This looks at “what” people think and “why” they think so.

Types of Qualitative Research Methods

• One-on-one interviews are personal and conversational, providing opportunities for detailed responses.
• Focus groups involve a limited number of respondents (6-10) from your target market.
• The focus group aims to find answers to the “why,” “what,” and “how” questions. This can be in person or collected as an online survey.
• Ethnographic research is an in-depth observational method in naturally occurring environments.
• This method requires adapting to target audiences' environments and understanding cultures, challenges, and motivations firsthand.
• Case study research explains an organization or entity; used in education, social sciences, and similar areas. It involves a deep understanding of data collection methods.
• Record keeping uses existing reliable documents and similar sources of information.
• Qualitative Observation uses subjective methodologies to gather systematic information or data.
• It uses five major sensory organs and their functioning.

Qualitative Research: Data Collection and Analysis

• Qualitative data collection allows collecting non-numeric data for detailed insights into how decisions are made.
• The data collected should be holistic, rich, and nuanced.
• Researchers must use appropriate methods for collecting and recording data.
• Notes taken include comments, environmental contexts and nonverbal cues.
• Qualitative data analysis includes notes, videos, audio recordings, images, and text documents.
• Text analysis is a method where researchers analyze the social life of participants and decode words and actions.

Characteristics of Qualitative Research Methods

• Qualitative research methods collect data at the site where participants are experiencing issues or problems. This data is real-time.
• Typically multiple forms of data are gathered such as interviews, observations and documents.
• This type of research method works towards breaking down complex issues which lead to easily understandable inferences.
• Since it’s a communicative method, people build trust on the researcher and the information obtained is honest.

When to Use Qualitative Research

• Researchers use qualitative research techniques to capture accurate, in-depth insights for “factual data”.
• Use such examples as developing new products, strengthening marketing strategies, understanding brand or service to build marketing strategies

Qualitative vs Quantitative Research Methods

• The basic differences between qualitative and quantitative methods include: analytical objectives, types of questions asked, instruments used, forms of data produced, and degree of flexibility.
• Qualitative research describes individual experiences and beliefs using open-ended questions and semi-structured methods such as in-depth interviews, focus groups, and participant observation, resulting in descriptive data.
• The types of questions researchers ask next relate to what the study participants say.
• Quantitative research aims to describe population characteristics using closed-ended questions and structured methods like questionnaires and surveys, yielding numerical data that does not influence subsequent questions.

Explore research design's role in hypothesis testing and data analysis. Understand how it ensures objective conclusions about variables. Learn about its functions in answering questions and controlling variances.