Lecture-3 On 'Research Design'

Research Design
Chapter 3
Definition
 Research design is defined as a framework of methods and techniques chosen by a researcher to combine
various components of research in a reasonably logical manner so that the research problem is efficiently
handled.
 A research design is the arrangement of conditions for collection and analysis of data in a manner that aims
to combine relevance to the research purpose with economy in procedure.
 Research design is the conceptual structure within which research is conducted; it constitutes the blueprint
for the collection, measurement and analysis of data. As such the design includes an outline of what the
researcher will do from writing the hypothesis and its operational implications to the final analysis of data.
Design decisions happen to be in
respect of:
(i) What is the study about?
(ii) Why is the study being made?
(iii) Where will the study be carried out?
(iv) What type of data is required?
(v) Where can the required data be found?
(vi) What periods of time will the study include?
(vii) What will be the sample design?
(viii) What techniques of data collection will be used?
(ix) How will the data be analyzed?
(x) In what style will the report be prepared?
Following parts can be included in
overall research design
 Sampling design which deals with the method of selecting items to be observed for the
given study;
 Observational design which relates to the conditions under which the observations are
to be made;
 Statistical design which concerns with the question of how many items are to be
observed and how the information and data gathered are to be analyzed; and
 Operational design which deals with the techniques by which the procedures specified
in the sampling, statistical and observational designs can be carried out.
Important features of a research design
1. A clear statement of the research problem;
2. Procedures and Techniques to be used for gathering information;
3. The population to be studied;
4. Methods to be used in processing and analyzing data.

Need for Research Design
 It facilitates the smooth sailing of the various research operations, thereby making
research as efficient as possible yielding maximal information with minimal
expenditure of effort, time and money.
 There is a need of a research design or a plan in advance of data collection and analysis
for our research project.
 Research design stands for advance planning of the methods to be adopted for
collecting the relevant data and the techniques to be used in their analysis, keeping in
view the objective of the research and the availability of staff, time and money.
 Research design should be done with great care as any error in it may upset the entire
project.
Features of A Good Design
 flexible, appropriate, efficient, economical

 the design which minimizes bias and maximizes the reliability of the data collected and
analyzed is considered a good design.
 The design which gives the smallest experimental error is supposed to be the best
design in many investigations.
 a design which yields maximal information and provides an opportunity for considering
many different aspects of a problem is considered most appropriate and efficient design
in respect of many research problems.
Factors Involved in Research Design
(i) the means of obtaining information;
(ii) the availability and skills of the researcher and his staff, if any;
(iii) the objective of the problem to be studied;
(iv) the nature of the problem to be studied; and
(v) the availability of time and money for the research work.
Important Concepts Relating to
Research Design
1. Dependent and independent variables:
2. Extraneous variable:
Independent variables that are not related to the purpose of the study, but may affect the dependent variable are
termed as extraneous variables.
3. Control:
One important characteristic of a good research design is to minimise the influence or effect of extraneous
variable(s). The technical term ‘control’ is used when we design the study minimising the effects of extraneous
independent variables.
4. Confounded relationship:
When the dependent variable is not free from the influence of extraneous variable(s), the relationship between
the dependent and independent variables is said to be confounded by an extraneous variable(s).
5. Research hypothesis:
When a prediction or a hypothesised relationship is to be tested by scientific methods, it is termed as research
hypothesis. The research hypothesis is a predictive statement that relates an independent variable to a dependent
variable.
6. Experimental and non-experimental hypothesis-testing research:
7. Experimental and control groups:
8. Treatments:
9. Experiment:
Different Research Designs
(1) research design in case of exploratory research studies;
(2) research design in case of descriptive and diagnostic research studies, and
(3) research design in case of hypothesis-testing research studies.

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Research Design

1. A clear statement of the research problem;

2. Procedures and Techniques to be used for gathering information;

3. The population to be studied;

4. Methods to be used in processing and analyzing data.

 flexible, appropriate, efficient, economical

(i) the means of obtaining information;

(iii) the objective of the problem to be studied;

(iv) the nature of the problem to be studied; and

(1) research design in case of exploratory research studies;

(3) research design in case of hypothesis-testing research studies.

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