What is research design?

It constitute the blueprint for the collection,

measurement, and analysis of data
It aids the researcher in the allocation of
limited resources by posing crucial choices
in methodology
It is the plan and structure of investigation
to obtain answers to research questions.
It expresses both the structure of the
research problem and the plan of
investigation used to obtain empirical
evidence on those relationships

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Essentials of research
design
An activity and time-based plan
A plan always based on research
question
A guide for selecting sources and
types of information
A framework for specifying the
relationships among the study’s
variables
A procedural outline for every
research activity 2
Basic Types of Research
Designs
Descripti
ve
Research
Explorat
Causal
ory
Research
Research

Resear
ch
Design
s
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Exploratory Research
Conducted to clarify
and define the
nature of the
problem

Does not provide

conclusive evidence

Subsequent
research is expected

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Attempts to
answer the

◦ What?
◦ Who?
◦ Where?
◦ When?
◦ How?

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Descriptive-Correlation
Research

Descriptive - hypotheses-free ;
describes an existing relationship
between variables

Correlation - hypotheses testing or

theory driven- which will be tested
by a correlation statistical technique

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2 forms of testing

There is no significant
relationship between 2 or
among many variables.

There is no significant
difference between 2 groups or
among many groups.
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Correlational Research
 Systematic investigation or statistical
study of relationships among two or
more variables, without necessarily
determining cause and effect
Itaims to describe the relationship
among variable rather than to infer
cause-and -effect relationship
Exploratoryand Explanatory in nature
and answers the WHY and HOW
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Descriptive Correlational Studies
Establishes the existence of a
predictive relationship

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Descriptive Correlational Studies
Uses two or more sets of data to
examine the existence and
strength of a relationship between
them
Usually cross-sectional

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Nature of Correlational Research
Known as associational research
There is no manipulations of
variables since it is build on
existing knowledge
Relationships among two or more
variable are studied without any
attempt to influence them
Investigates the possibility of
relationships between two
variables 11
Correlational versus Causal Studies
When the researcher When the
is interested in researcher wants to
delineating the delineate the case
important variables of one or more
associated with the problems
problem
Cause and Effect
Usually the main relationship is when
reason is to find a change in the
evidence of a cause- independent
and-effect variable produces
relationship a change in
dependent variable

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Example of study
questions
Correlational Causal

Are smoking and

cancer related? Does smoking
cause cancer?
or

Are smoking, drinking,

and chewing
tobacco associated
with cancer?

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 Difference between
Correlational and Causal Research
Require a score on Compare two or
each variable for more group of
each subject subjects
Investigate two or Involve at least
more quantitative one categorical
variables variable
Establishing Making
relationship comparison
Analyze data using Often compare
scatterplots and/or averages or use
correlation crossbreak 14
Correlation is not
Causation
Three ways in which A and B may be causally
related
A causes B (either directly or indirectly)
A B

B causes A (either directly or indirectly)

B A

A third variable causes both A and B

C
B
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 Similarities between
Correlational and Causal Research

Researchers explore the

relationship among variables or
attempt to explore causation
Seek and identify variables that
are worthy of later exploration
through experimental research
Provide guidance for subsequent
experimental studies
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 Causal Studies
essential element of causation
A “produces” B or A “forces” B to occur
ideal standard of causation
requires that one variable always causes
another and no other variable has the same
causal effect.
method of agreement (John Stuart Mill)
when two or more cases of a given
phenomenon have one and only one
condition in common, then that condition
may be regarded as the cause (or effect) of
the phenomenon
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Successful inference-
making

contro
l
inferen
Rando ce
m
sampli
ng

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possible relationships that can
occur between two variables
symmetrical relationship
◦ two variables fluctuate together, but we
assume the changes in neither variable are
due to changes in the other.
reciprocal relationship
◦ when two variables mutually influence or
reinforce each other.
asymmetrical relationships
◦ changes in one variable (the independent
variable, or IV) are responsible for changes in
another variable (the dependent variable, or
DV).
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