This document discusses research design and different types of research studies. It defines research design as the plan and strategy that guides the research process. The quality of a study is determined by its conclusion validity, or the ability to accurately draw conclusions. Research design involves determining the degree of structure, topical scope, and data collection methods. Different types of studies include exploratory, formal, statistical, case studies, descriptive, and causal studies. Common techniques for exploratory research are secondary data analysis, focus groups, and experience surveys.

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2. 6-2
Chapter 6
Research Design: An Overview
Prepared by: Mahrukh Sheikh

3. Research design
• Research design:
refers to the plan, structure, and
strategy of research the blueprint
that will guide the research process
• The test for the quality of a study’s
research design is the study’s
conclusion validity.
conclusion validity:
refers to the extent of
researcher’s ability to draw
accurate conclusions from research
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4. 6-4
Design in the Research
Process

5. 6-5
The Degree of
Structure
Exploratory Study
• Loose structure
• Expand
understanding
• Provide insight
• Develop hypotheses
Formal Study
• Precise procedures
• Begins with
hypotheses
• Answers research
questions

6. 6-6
The Topical Scope
Statistical Study
• Breadth
• Population
inferences
• Quantitative
• Generalizable
findings
Case Study
• Depth
• Detail
• Qualitative
• Multiple sources of
information

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Descriptive Studies
When?
How much? What?
Who?
Where?

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Causal Studies
Experiment
• Study involving the
manipulation or
control of one or
more variables to
determine the
effect on another
variable
Ex Post Facto study
• After-the-fact
report on what
happened to the
measured variable

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Methods of
Data Collection
Monitoring Communication

10. 6-10
Approaches for
Exploratory Investigations
• Interviewing
• Participant
observation
• Film, photographs
• Projective
techniques
• Psychological testing
• Case studies
• Street ethnography
• Elite or expert
interviewing
• Document analysis
• Proxemics and
Kinesics

11. 6-11
Common Exploratory
Techniques for Research
Secondary
Data Analysis
Focus
Groups
Experience
Surveys

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Experience Surveys
• What is being done?
• What has been tried in the past with or
without success?
• How have things changed?
• Who is involved in the decisions?
• What problem areas can be seen?
• Whom can we count on to assist or participate
in the research?

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Focus Groups
• Group discussion
• 6-10 participants
• Moderator-led
• 90 minutes-2 hours

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Descriptive Studies
Descriptions of
population
characteristics
Estimates of frequency
of characteristics
Discovery of associations
among variables

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Causal Studies
Asymmetrical
Reciprocal
Symmetrical

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