The Research Design

The Research Process for Basic & Applied Research

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1. ObservationBroad area ofresearch interestidentified

1. ObservationBroad area ofresearch interestidentified

2. Preliminary Data GatheringInterviewingLiterature survey

2. Preliminary Data GatheringInterviewingLiterature survey

3. Problem DefinitionResearch problemdelineated

3. Problem DefinitionResearch problemdelineated

7. Data CollectionAnalysis, and Interpretation

7. Data CollectionAnalysis, and Interpretation

8. DeductionHypotheses substantiated?Research question answered?

8. DeductionHypotheses substantiated?Research question answered?

4. Theoretical Framework

Variables clearlyidentified andlabelled

4. Theoretical Framework

Variables clearlyidentified andlabelled

5.Generation

of Hypothesis

5.Generation

of Hypothesis

6.ScientificResearch

Design

6.ScientificResearch

Design

9. Report Writing

9. Report Writing

10. Report Presentation

10. Report Presentation

11. Managerial

DecisionMaking

11. Managerial

DecisionMaking

NoNo YesYes

The Research Design

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Pro

ble

m S

t at e

men

tP

rob

lem

St a

t em

ent

Purpose ofthe study

•Exploration•Description•Hypothesis Testing

Purpose ofthe study

•Exploration•Description•Hypothesis Testing

Types ofinvestigation

Establishing:•Causal relationships•Correlations

Types ofinvestigation

Establishing:•Causal relationships•Correlations

Studysetting

•Contrived

•Non- contrived

Studysetting

•Contrived

•Non- contrived

Measurement& Measures

Operational definition:•Items•Scaling•Categorizing•Coding

Measurement& Measures

Operational definition:•Items•Scaling•Categorizing•Coding

Populationto be studied

•Individuals•Groups•Companies•Machines etc…

Populationto be studied

•Individuals•Groups•Companies•Machines etc…

Samplingdesign

•Probability/ Nonprobability

•Sample size (n)

Samplingdesign

•Probability/ Nonprobability

•Sample size (n)

Timehorizon

•One-short

•Longitudinal

Timehorizon

•One-short

•Longitudinal

Data collectionmethod

•Observation•Interview•Questionnaire•Physical measurement•Unobtrusive

Data collectionmethod

•Observation•Interview•Questionnaire•Physical measurement•Unobtrusive

Extent of researcher interference

•Minimal: Studying events as they normally occur•Manipulation

1. Feel for data

2. Goodness of data

3. Hypothesis testing

1. Feel for data

2. Goodness of data

3. Hypothesis testing

DataAnalysis

MeasurementDetails of Study

RESEARCH DESIGN OUTLINEPURPOSE OF STUDY

TYPE OF INVESTIGATION

RESEARCHER INTERFERENCE

STUDY SETTING

UNITS OF ANALYSIS

TIME HORIZON

1. PURPOSE OF STUDY

• EXPLORATORY Study– Situation unknown– Preliminary Information for comprehensive study – Example: Ethical values of different Cultures to

manage workforce diversity– Focus groups and comprehensive interviews are

appropriate

1. PURPOSE OF STUDY

• DESCRIPTIVE STUDY:to describe features of a variableGoal is to offer a profile of the relevant aspects of the phenomena of interest from an individual, organizational, industry oriented or other perspective.

Understand characteristicsThink systematicallyoffer ideas for further probe and researchhelps in decision making

Quantitative data in terms of frequencies, means, percentages and standard deviations are necessary.

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1. PURPOSE OF STUDY

• TESTING HYPOTHESIS– explain nature of relationships, differences and

interdependences among factors– e.g: sales volume –promotion efforts

• CASE STUDY– conceptual analysis of similar situations for

generalization– Difficult to find same type of problem in

comparable setting.

2. TYPE OF INVESTIGATION

• CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP: – establish definite cause of a problem – e.g: does smoking causes cancer?

• CORELATION:identify important factors associated with problem e.g.: are smoking and cancer related?

3.RESEARCHER INTERFERENCE

• minimal if study in natural setting e.g: training effectiveness based on data

• manipulation, control or simulation: analyst

controls variables e.g.effect of light on worker output

4.STUDY SETTING

• NON CONTRIVED– natural setting-field experiment – e.g are the rates of interest related to extent of deposits?

• CONTRIVED– Controlled settings– independent variable changed to see effect on dependant

–lab experiment e.g.to study relationship of rate of interest on inclination to save the rates of interest in various branches are changed

4.STUDY SETTING

• Field Study– Non-contrived setting as no changes were made

• Field Experiment– Some factors are manipulated

• Lab Experiment– Contrived settings and maximum interferences

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5. UNITS OF ANALYSIS

• INDIVIDUALS:e.g: study motivation of employees • DYADS:interaction of supervisor-subordinate pair • GROUP:e.g: pattern of misuse by various departments

• ORGANIZATIONS:e.g: Differnces among functions of management in

various organizations• CULTURES:e.g. nations as unit of analysis

6. TIME HORIZON

• CROSS SECTIONAL:one shot study-one time or period e.g data

study of stock market april-june• LONGITUDINAL:study of information at more than one period of

time e.g: change in behavior of employees before and after management change