Unit II: Research Design

Prof. Shailja Bhakar

Concept of a Research Problem

A Research Problem in general, refers to some difficulty which researcher experiences in the context of either a theoretical or practical situation and wants to obtain a solution for the same.

Selection of a Research Problem

1. Subject which is overdone should not normally be chosen 2. Controversial subject should not be chosen by an average researcher 3. Too narrow or too vague problems should be avoided 4. The subject selected for research should be familiar and feasible so that the related research material or sources of research are within ones reach 5. The importance of subject, the qualification and training of a researcher, the costs involved, the time factor should also be considered 6. The selection of a problem must be preceded by a preliminary study

Necessity of defining the problem

Clear statement of problem Signifies the need for research Helps in unambiguous research Discriminate relevant data from irrelevant one Strategy making or research design formulation

Formulating a Research Problem

Ascertain the decision makers objectives
Understand the background of the problem Isolate and identify the problem not the symptoms

Determine the unit of analysis Determine the relevant variables

State the research questions and research objectives

MILE STONE
FE WMI LESAW AYFR OMMU MBAI

Research Design
Research design constitutes the blueprint for the collection, measurement and analysis of data Research design aids the researcher in the allocation of limited resources by posing crucial choices in methodology Research design is a plan or structure of investigation so conceived as to obtain answers to research questions Research design expresses the structure of the research problem- the framework, organization or configuration of the relationships among variables of a study and the plan of investigation used to obtain empirical evidence of those relationship

Essentials of a research design

An activity and time based plan A plan always based on the research question A guide for selecting sources and type of information A framework for specifying the relationship among study variables A procedural outline for every research activity

Features of a good design

Flexible as well as fix both Appropriate Efficient Economical The design which minimizes bias and maximizes reliability Which gives smallest experimental error Maximum information Provides an opportunity for considering many different aspect of problem

Types of research design

Exploratory Study: Exploration is particularly useful when 1. Lack of clear idea of problem 2. Develop concepts more clearly 3. Establish priorities 4. Develop operational definitions 5. Improves final research design 6. Saves time and money 7. Idea is vague and unclear

Types of research design

Exploration relies more on qualitative techniquesApproaches that are widely used Exploratory Design in exploratory research design are 1. Secondary data analysis 2. Experience survey 3. Focus group 4. Two stage design Qualitative Quantitative 5. Projective techniques 6. Other techniques

Types of research design

1. Secondary data analysis: The first step in an exploratory study is a search of secondary literature. Sources of secondary data collection are: a) Organization own data archives b) Reports of prior research study c) Published documents prepared by researcher/ author outside the sponsor organization d) Periodicals and books on all aspects of business e) Catalogs, guides, indexes available in libraries Secondary sources can supply excellent sources of background information

Types of research design

2. Experience survey: An interview is conducted in experience survey of experiences people to seek their ideas about important issues or aspects of the subject and discover what is important across the subjects range of knowledge

Questions asked in experience survey: a) What is being done b) What has been tried in past with or without success c) How have things changed d) What are the change producing elements of the situation e) Who is involved in the decision f) What roles everyone is playing g) Barriers, problem areas, cost, priority areas etc Probing such questions may show certain facilities are available, what factors need to be controlled and how and who will cooperate in the study

Types of research design

3. Focus Group: Focus group became widely used in 1980s and are used for increasingly diverse research application today a) It is a group of people (6 to 10 participants) b) Led by trained motivator/ moderator c) Upto 90 min to 2 hrs duration Group Discussion d) Group exchanges ideas, feelings and experiences e) Facilitator or moderator uses group dynamics principles to focus or guide the group

Types of research design

Basic output of focus group

a)
b) c)

Ideas, observations and recommendations by moderator

These are often used for later quantitative testing In exploratory research the qualitative data produced during focus group may be used for enriching all levels of research questions and hypothesis and comparing effectiveness of design option

4. Two Stage Design: With this approach exploration becomes a separate first stage with limited objectives: a) b) Clearly defining the research questions Developing a research design

Types of research design

5. Projective techniques: Identifies perception of the responder
Construction Thermatic Apperception Test (TAT) Item Substitution Test Association Word-Association Ink Blot (Rorschach Test) Cloud Pictures Auditory Projective Techniques Completion Sentence-completion Picture Completion Psychodrama

Types of research design

Other techniques: 1. Individual depth interview 2. Observation 3. Pilot test 4. Case study 5. Expert interviewing 6. Document testing 7. Role playing 8. Games

Types of research design

Causal Research: Causal research evaluates the cause and effect relationship between different variables: There are three possible relationships that can occur between two variables: 1. Symmetrical: is one in which two variables fluctuate together but it is assumed that neither variable changes due to other variable 2. Reciprocal: Exists when two variables mutually influence or reinforce each other 3. Asymmetrical: Exists when one variable (independent variable) is responsible for changes in other variable (dependent variable) The degree to which each variable may be altered The time order between the variables

Types of research design

Testing causal hypothesis: No one can ever prove that one variable is cause of other variable researcher has to gather some evidence to increase the belief that A leads to B. These evidences are generated through experimental designs. Prof R. A Fisher developed these experimental designs Basic principles of experimental designs: 1. Principle of replication: Repetition of experiment 2. Principle of randomization: Random block wise experiment 3. Principle of Variability: Controlling variability. Variability should be measured and should be eliminated from the experiment

Important concepts relating to Research Design

Dependent and Independent Variable Extraneous Variable Control Confounded Relationship Research Hypothesis Experiments Experimental and Non Experimental Hypothesis Testing Research Experimental and control group Treatments Experimental Units Errors: Constant and Random Classificatory v/s Continuous variables

Field vs. Laboratory Experiment

Laboratory Experiment Artificial-Low Realism Few Extraneous Variables High control Low Cost Short Duration Subjects Aware of Participation

Field Experiment Natural-High Realism Many Extraneous Variables Low control High Cost Long Duration Subjects Unaware of Participation

Factors Influencing Internal Validity

History Maturation Testing Instrumentation Selection Mortality

Type of Extraneous Variable

History - Specific events in the environment between the Before and After measurement that are beyond the experimenters control Maturation - Subjects change during the course of the experiment Testing - The Before measure alerts or sensitizes subject to nature of experiment or second measure. Instrument - Changes in instrument result in response bias Selection - Sample selection error because of differential selection comparison groups Mortality experiment Sample attrition; some subjects withdraw from

What are the Different Basic Experimental Designs?

Quasi-Experimental Designs
One Shot Design (After Only) One Group Pretest-Posttest Static Group Design

One Shot Design (After Only)

X O1

One Group Pretest-Posttest

O1 X O2

Static Group Design

Experimental Group Control Group X O1 O2

Three Good Experimental Designs

Pretest - Posttest Control Group Design Posttest Only Control Group Solomon Four Group Design

Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design

Experimental Group Control Group R O1 X O2 R O3 X O4

Posttest Only Control Group

Experimental Group Control Group R R X O1 O2

One-Shot Design Internal Validity Problems

History
weak

Instrumentation
not relevant

Maturation
weak

Selection
weak

Testing
not relevant

Mortality
weak

One-Group Pretest-Posttest Internal Validity Problems

History
weak

Instrumentation
weak

Maturation
weak

Selection
controlled

Testing
weak

Mortality
controlled

Static-Group Design Internal Validity Problems

History
controlled

Instrumentation
controlled

Maturation
possible source of concern

Selection
weak

Mortality
weak

Testing
controlled

Pretest-Posttest Control Internal Validity Problems

History
controlled

Instrumentation
controlled

Maturation
controlled

Selection
controlled

Testing
controlled

Mortality
controlled

Solomon Four-Group Design Internal Validity Problems

History
controlled

Instrumentation
controlled

Maturation
controlled

Selection
controlled

Testing
controlled

Mortality
controlled

Posttest-Only Control Internal Validity Problems

History
controlled

Instrumentation
controlled

Maturation
controlled

Selection
controlled

Testing
controlled

Mortality
controlled

Solomon Four Group Design

Experimental Group 1: Control Group 1: Experimental Group 2: Control Group 2: R O1 X R O3 R X R X O2 O4 O5 O6

Types of research design

III. Descriptive Studies: In contrast to exploratory studies, more formalized studies are typically structured with clearly stated hypothesis or investigative questions. Various research objectives are: 1. Description of phenomena or characteristics associated with a subject population (who, what, when, where and how of a topic) 2. Estimates of proportions of a population that have these characteristics 3. Discovery of association among different variables labeled as correlated study

Types of research design

1. Diagnostic studies also follow same pattern as descriptive studies: conducted in following situations Analysis of characteristics of certain group. Example: Users of a product Identify proportion of people in specified population who behave in certain way To forecast future trends To study whether certain variables are associated. Example: Income and use of a product

2.
3. 4.

Types of research design

Nature 1. Rigid design 2. Probability Sampling 3. Pre planned design for analysis 4. Structure and well thought out instruments for collection of data 5. Advance decisions about operational procedure Design 1. Survey : Questionnaire and Interview 2. Observation 3. Secondary data

Stages in research design

Nature of problem

Exploratory study
Objective and hypothesis framing

Selection of appropriate research design Application of research design