Q12. WHAT IS RESEARCH DESIGN? EXPLAIN ITS SIGNIFICANCE.

RESEARCH DESIGN

A research design is the set of methods and procedures used in collecting and analyzing
measures of the variables specified in the research problem research. The design of a study
defines the study type (descriptive, correlation, semi-experimental, experimental, review,
meta-analytic) and sub-type (e.g., descriptive-longitudinal case study), research problem,
hypotheses, independent and dependent variables, experimental design, and, if applicable,
data collection methods and a statistical analysis plan. Research design is the framework that
has been created to find answers to research questions.

Research design is a model or an action plan upon which the entire study is built; dictates the
manner in which a study is conducted. The research design refers to the overall strategy that
one may choose to integrate the different components of the study in a coherent and logical
manner. This is done in order to ensure that one effectively addresses the research problem.
Research design constitutes the blueprint or the roadmap for the collection, measurement, and
analysis of data.

There is one major factor that one should consider before deciding on what research design to
adopt, namely knowing the type of research being undertaken. When undertaking a research,
one does not have to collect data or even begin without first knowing what type of study one
is undertaking. Research design is dictated by the type of research. Therefore, having an idea
of what type of research one is to undertake directs the study so as to come up with a sketch
plan or model (design) which will guide the study.

Research Design can be categorised as the following:

 Exploration
 Description
 Explanation

EXPLORATORY STUDY

• This is the most useful (and appropriate) research design for those projects that are
addressing a subject about which there are high levels of uncertainty and ignorance about the
subject, and when the problem is not very well understood (i.e. very little existing research on
the subject matter).

• Such research is usually characterised by a high degree of flexibility and lacks a formal
structure.

• The main aim of exploratory research is to identify the boundaries of the environment in
which the problems, opportunities or situations of interest are likely to reside, and to identify
the salient factors or variables that might be found there and be of relevance to the research.
DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

• The main aim of descriptive research is to provide an accurate and valid representation of
(encapsulate) the factors or variables that pertain / are relevant to the research question.

• Such research is more structured than exploratory research.

EXPLANATORY STUDY

• Sometime referred to as analytical study

• The main aim of explanatory research is to identify any causal links between the factors or
variables that pertain to the research problem.

• Such research is also very structured in nature.

TYPES OF RESEARCH DESIGN

 Generating primary data – e.g. surveys, experiments, case studies, programme

evaluation, ethnographic studies
 Analysing existing data – e.g. text data – discourse analysis, content analysis, textual
criticism, historical studies, or – numeric data – secondary data analysis, statistical
modelling.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH DESIGN

Research design is significant simply because it allows for the smooth sailing of the various
research operations, thus making research as efficient as possible producing maximum
information with nominal expenses of effort, time and money.

Preparation of the design must be carried out meticulously as any error in it may upset the
complete project. Research design, actually, has a great significance and impact on the
reliability of the results achieved and as such constitutes the firm base of the entire edifice of
the research work.

Even then the necessity for a well planned design is at times not realized by many people.
The significance which this problem warrants is not given to it. Because of this many
researches do not serve the purpose for which they are undertaken. The truth is, they may
even provide misleading conclusions.