Understanding Research Design

Research Design

• Identification of the research approach is required which can be Quantitative, Qualitative, or Mixed.
• An approach must be defined with citations.
• Application and reasons why the approach was the best for the study, with citations are needed.
• Qualitative research is primarily exploratory through focus groups, individual interviews, participation, and observation.
• Quantitative research uses numerical data from online, paper, mobile, and kiosk surveys, and online polls.

Research Design Types

• Research design can be experimental, descriptive, phenomenological, case study, or convergent; definitions and applications with citations are needed.
• Experimental design is a procedure blueprint to test hypotheses and reach conclusions between variables.
• Descriptive design describes population or phenomenon characteristics.
• Phenomenology studies perception and understanding of a situation.
• A case study investigates an individual, group, or event, using theories and involving the researcher.
• A convergent design involves mixed methods.

Supplementary Research Design

• Supplementary designs include outcomes-based, documentary analysis, critical, or survey research.
• Definition and application with justification are required.
• Outcomes-based research seeks to understand the end results of a subject.
• Documentary analysis uses documents.
• Critical research reveals faulty sociological claims using critical thought.
• Survey research selects a respondent sample to administer a standard questionnaire.

Research Locale

• Identification of research location is needed, including geographical location and justification for its selection.
• Citing sources is recommended.

Research Instrument

• Discussion of the instrument is used to gather data.
• Whether the instrument to be used is researcher-constructed, copyrighted, or adapted must be indicated.
• Clarification of response modes and scales should be included in the evaluation tool.

Instrument Details

• Researcher made or standardized questionnaires, should be identified
• The numbers of parts, pages and type of questions and amount of questions asked should be identified.
• Verbal interpretation and time constraints should be considered
• Validation process, content validity and face validity should be considered.

Non-Quantitative Instrument Details

• For non-quantitative surveys and interviews an interview schedule should be done.
• Separate interview schedules are needed for triangulated studies and multiple participants.
• Observation includes writing notes and storage of data.

Population

• The population refers to the individuals with characteristics of interest, with sampling as a chosen proportion.
• Identification of the unit of analysis and participants is needed, including criteria.

Sampling

• The sample sizes and computations need to be presented
• Identification and justification of a sampling technique with citations is needed.

Sampling Methods

• Probability sampling methods allow knowing the likelihood of element selection.
• Probability sampling includes simple random, systematic random, cluster, and stratified random sampling.
• Non-probability samples does account for the odds of element being selected
• Non-probability samples include availability, quota, purposive, and snowball sampling.

Data Saturation

• Data saturation is a qualitative research term that is often used in grounded theory approach.

Data Gathering

• Process that contains the procedure followed by the researcher from the time of the distribution of the instrument/questionnaire up to the time of retrieval.
• The procedure should be represented in a flowchart or Gantt chart.

Data Collection

• Administrative clearance is gained via a letter and endorsement.
• The letter should be noted by any advisors
• Ethical considerations for minimizing risk, ensuring informed consent, and minimizing conflict of interest should be documented.

Data Collection Procedure

• A process is needed to explain how the respondents where accessed and how the questionnaire was administered
• All other procedures are taken into consideration
• Observation, online data, photos films and other social artifacts and product/outcome/plan need to be considered

Validation of the Instrument

• There needs to be an inclusion of the procedure on how the instrument was validated for content and construct
• Validation certificate is required

Statistical Data

• Identifying statistical tools used in treating data is required
• Formulas are not needed unless uncommon .
• Indicate the title of any statistical package used.

Ethical Considerations

• The document covers minimizing risks, conflict of interest, and exploitation.
• Informed consent is needed.
• Ethics Review Board of St. Paul University Manila has to be followed.