Almas
Almas
Almas
RESEARCH DESIGN
Qualitative Research
Used to gain insight into people's attitudes, behaviors, value systems, concerns, motivations, aspirations, culture or lifestyles.
Qualitative research involves analysis of data such as
words (e.g., from interviews), pictures (e.g., video), or
Quantitative Research
It involves analysis of numerical data. The use of sampling techniques (such as consumer surveys) whose findings may be expressed numerically. The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ mathematical models, theories and/or hypotheses pertaining to phenomena.
1. Exploratory Study
Undertaken when not much is known about the situation at hand, or no information is available on how similar problems or research issues have been solved in the past.
Purposes
To narrow the scope of the research topic, and To transform ambiguous problems into well-defined ones
For example:
A researcher is curious to know if there is a difference between work ethics of Japanese and American. The best way to study the above situation is by conducting an exploratory study, by interviewing the employees in organizations.
2. Descriptive Study
Describes attitudes, perceptions, characteristics, activities and situations. Examines who, what, when, where, why, & how questions.
Example:
A bank manager may like to know how much loans were advanced and how much were recovered within the given time and how much were never recovered.
3. Hypothesis Testing
Studies that engage in hypothesis testing usually explain the nature of certain relationships Undertaken to explain the variance in the independent variable or to predict organizational outcomes.
Example:
A marketing manager wants to know if the sales of the company will increase if he doubles the advertising dollars.
It is a method used to narrow down a very broad field of research into one easily researchable topic. The case study research design is also useful for testing whether scientific theories and models actually work in the real world. Case studies that are qualitative in nature are, however, useful in applying solutions to current problems based on past problem-solving experiences.
Purpose
Gather background information, define terms, clarify problems and hypotheses, establish research priorities.
Minimal
Considerable
Types of Investigation
A manger should determine whether a causal or a corelational study is needed to find an answer to the issue at hand. Causal study Correlational study
Causal Design
One variable (independent variable) causes a change in another variable (dependent variable) Done to establish a cause and effect relationship. Used to state that variable X cause's variable Y. so when variable X is removed or altered in some way, problem Y is solved.
Example:
Smoking causes weak lungs.
It establish cause and effect relationship.
Correlational Study
Correlation: Measurement of relationship between two variables.
determines whether or not two variables are correlated
increase or decrease in one variable corresponds to an increase or decrease in the other variable. e.g. Are smoking and lung cancer related?
Types of Correlation
Positive Correlation Negative Correlation
Zero Correlation
Example:
A researcher examines the effect of walking exercise on reaction time in older adults. Subjects recorded the length and time spent walking on a daily basis. Once a week, subjects turned in their daily logs to the researcher and reaction time measures were taken. After the six month time period, all the data was examined. The greater the amount of exercise, the better the reaction time The researcher concludes that exercise leads to better reaction time.
TIME HORIZON
Longitudinal Study:
Analysis of data at different points in time. Studying people or phenomena at more than one point in time to answer the research question More time More Effort
Cost
Example:
A researcher wants to investigate the relationship between daily walking and cholesterol levels in the body.
Cross Sectional Study If the researcher wants to compare cholesterol levels among different populations of walkers and non-walkers at the same point in time
Longitudinal Study If the researcher wants to measure cholesterol levels in a single population of daily walkers over an extended period of time