This document discusses research design. It defines research design as the planned sequence of the entire research process, including the framework of methods chosen. A good research design includes accurate purpose and methodology statements, appropriate settings and techniques for data collection and analysis, and consideration of timeline and measurements. Key aspects of research design include type of data needed, participants, variables or research questions, and data analysis methods. Choosing a research design requires considering priorities, practicalities, and the type of primary or secondary, qualitative or quantitative data required, as well as how that data will be collected and analyzed.

1. CONCEPT OF
RESEARCH DESIGN
Prabesh Ghimire

2. Meaning of Research Design
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3. Design
Plan
Blueprint
Sketch
Outline
Make-up
Map
Arrangement
Pattern
Style
Scheme Prototype
Framework
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4. Research Design- Definition
• Planned sequence of the entire process involved in conducting
a research study. (Miller)
• Research design is the logical and systematic planning and
directing of a piece of research. (PV Young)
• 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. (Jahoda, Deutsch and Cook)
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5. Research Design
• Framework of research methods and techniques chosen by a
researcher.
• Scheme of work to be undertaken by a researcher at various
stages, facilitating the research work in a systematic manner
and conducting the various operations methodologically.
• Research design will explain the type of research and methods
to be employed.
• The type of research design is informed by the type of research
problem.
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6. Research Design
• Creating a research design means making decisions about:
• Type of data needed
• Settings and timeline of the research
• The participants and sources
• The variables and hypotheses (if relevant)/ research question
• The methods for collecting and analyzing data
• Research design sets the parameters of the research project; it
determines exactly what will and will not be included.
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7. Elements of Research Design
• Accurate purpose statement
• Type of research methodology
• Settings for the research study
• Techniques to be implemented for collecting and analyzing data
• Method applied for analyzing collected data
• Timeline
• Measurement of analysis
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8. Need for research design
• To facilitate the smooth sailing of the various research
operations
• For advance planning of the methods to be adopted for
collecting the relevant data and the techniques to be used in
their analysis
• To facilitate decision making (place of study, sources of data.
Timescale, sampling design) and resources planning
• To maintain control to avoid bias that may affect the outcomes
• To help anticipate potential problems in collecting data as well
as other administrative constraints.
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9. Features of good research design
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10. Features of good research design
Neutrality/ Objectivity
• Good research design always intends to produce results that is
free from bias.
• The study design should be such that the studies are organized
without subjectivity.
• Good research design should permit fairly objective measuring
instruments in which every observer visualizing a performance
comes to the same conclusion.
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11. Features of good research design
Reliability
• Good research design is expected to produce similar results
every time.
• Good research design indicates how to form research questions
to ensure standard of results.
• Research will only be able to reach the expected results if the
design is reliable
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12. Features of good research design
Validity
• Good research design should be able to produce valid results.
• There are multiple measurement tools available for research
works.
• Good research design makes use of correct measurement tools
which can help in gauging results according to the objective of
the research.
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13. Features of good research design
Generalization
• Good research design should be able to apply the outcome of
the study to a population and not just a restricted sample.
• Generalization implies that the survey/ research project can be
conducted on any part of a population with similar accuracy.
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14. Key considerations in choosing a research
design
1. Consider your priorities and practicalities
• For most research problems, there is not just one possible
research design, but a range of possibilities to choose from.
• The choices you make depend on your priorities in the
research, and often involve some tradeoffs
• a research design that is strong in one area might be weaker in
another.
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15. Key considerations in choosing a
research design
1. Consider your priorities and practicalities
• A qualitative case study is good for gaining in-depth
understanding of a specific context, but it does not allow you to
generalize to a wider population.
• A laboratory experiment allows you to investigate causes and
effects with high internal validity, but it might not accurately
represent how things work in the real world (external validity).
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16. Key considerations in choosing a
research design
1. Consider your priorities and practicalities
• In addition to scientific considerations, also need to think
practically about:
• How much time do you have to collect data and write up the research?
• Will you be able to gain access to the data you need (e.g. by travelling
to a specific location or contacting specific people)?
• Do you have the necessary research skills (e.g. statistical analysis or
interview techniques)?
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17. Key considerations in choosing a
research design
2. Determine the type of data you need
• There are two main choices that you need to start with.
• Primary vs secondary data
• Qualitative vs quantitative data
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18. Key considerations in choosing a
research design
Primary vs Secondary data
• Primary data
• You will directly collect original data (e.g. through surveys, interviews,
or experiments) and then analyze it.
• This makes your research more original, but it requires more time and
effort, and relies on participants being available and accessible.
• Secondary data
• This saves time and can expand the scope of your research
• But you won’t have control over the content or reliability of the data.
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19. Key considerations in choosing a
research design
Qualitative vs quantitative data
• If your objectives involve describing subjective experiences,
interpreting meanings, and understanding concepts, you will
need to do qualitative research.
• If your objectives involve measuring variables, finding
frequencies or correlations, and testing hypotheses, you will
need to do quantitative research.
• You can also create a research design that combines primary
and secondary data and uses mixed methods (both qualitative
and quantitative).
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20. Key considerations in choosing a
research design
3. Decide how you will collect the data
• Once the nature of data is identified, how, where and when data
will be collected should be decided.
• Specific tools, procedures, materials and techniques to be used
• Also specify what criteria will be used to select participants or
sources
• How they will be recruited?
• How they will be assessed?
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21. Key considerations in choosing a
research design
Surveys
• How many respondents do you need and what sampling
method will you use (e.g. simple random sampling or stratified
sampling)?
• How will you distribute the survey (e.g. in person, by post,
online)?
• How will you design the questionnaire (e.g. open or closed
questions)?
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22. Key considerations in choosing a
research design
Experiments
• Will you conduct the experiment in a laboratory setting or in the
field?
• How will you measure and control the variables?
• How will you design the experiment (e.g. between-subjects or
within-subjects)?
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23. Key considerations in choosing a
research design
3. Decide how you will analyze the data
• Quantitative data analysis
• To analyze numerical data, you will probably use statistical methods.
These generally require applications such as Excel, SPSS, R or
STATA.
• Statistical methods can be used to analyze averages, frequencies,
patterns, and correlations between variables.
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24. Key considerations in choosing a
research design
3. Decide how you will analyze the data
• Qualitative data analysis
• Analyzing words or images is often a more flexible process that
involves the researcher’s subjective judgements.
• You might focus on identifying and categorizing key themes,
interpreting patterns and narratives, or understanding social context
and meaning.
• When creating your research design, you should consider what
approach you will take to analyzing the data.
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25. Key considerations in choosing a
research design
3. Decide how you will analyze the data
• Qualitative data analysis
• The main themes and categories might only emerge after you have
collected the data, but you need to decide what you want to achieve in
the analysis.
• For example, do you simply want to describe participants’ perceptions
and experiences, or will you analyze the meaning of their responses in
relation to a social context?
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26. THANK YOU
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