Types of Research and Designs
Types of Research and Designs
Types of Research and Designs
designs
TYPES/PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES OF A RESEARCH.
Exploratory:
It offers information on why issues and how it often address the issues of
causation such as explaining why the phenomenon occurs.
Explanatory research designs;
1. Establishes a relationship (causal/spurious) between two or more
variables.
2. Demonstrate the truthfulness of research findings in the real world.
3. Reveal that one phenomenon precedes the other in time.
4. Eliminates alternative explanation for an action of a phenomenon.
Causal relationship is a direct relationship between two variables. Eg:
X causes y.
Spurious relationship is an indirect one between two or more variables
because of a third variable. Once the third factor is controlled, the
relationship between those variables disappear.
One intention of research design is to establish the kind of relationship that
exist between variables thus a research design must
determine if the relations between the two variables are:
1. Co-variation: X varies directly with Y
2. Time order: the cause precedes the effect. X precedes Y
3. Eliminates all possible alternatives causes that indirectly affect the two
variables.
These factors helps the researcher to make valid causal relation.
The ability to do this is often associated with experimental research design.
RESEARCH DESIGN
It is an outline or plan for studying an empirical question. It is the
written down plan for the collection, measurement and analysis of
data. Your research problem often indicates your research design.
What issues do research design address
1. Propositions or theory to be tested
2. Unit of analysis to be used for the research
3. Measurement or observation to be used
4. Nature of collecting data. (information)
5. How data is to be analyzed (data analytical tools/procedure)
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
Experimentation allows the researcher to exercise some control
on the experimental variable or independent variable, the of
assignment variable to different groups and observe or measure
the responses and behavior of the variables.
Experimentation enables the researcher to state causal
relationships between variables with greater certainty or
confidence that non-experimental designs such as survey which
is mostly used in political science.
CHARACTERISTICS OF EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
Cross-sectional designs:
In this designs, the measurement of the independent and dependent variable are taken at
the same time and the researcher does not control or manipulate the independent
variables, the assignment of subjects to treatment or control groups or the conditions
under which the independent variable is experienced.