Research Design

A.    Introduction

Research has been defined in a number of different ways, and while there are similarities, there does not appear to be a single, all-encompassing definition that is embraced by all who engage in it.

One definition of research is used by the OECD, "Any creative systematic activity undertaken in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this knowledge to devise new applications.

Another definition of research is given by John W. Creswell, who states that research is a process of steps used to collect and analyze information to increase our understanding of a topic or issue. It consists of three steps: pose a question, collect data to answer the question, and present an answer to the question.

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines research in more detail as "studious inquiry or examination; especially: investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws.

Research methodology is the specific procedures or techniques used to identify, select, process, and analyze information about a topic. In a research paper, the methodology section allows the reader to critically evaluate a study’s overall validity and reliability. The methodology section answers two main questions: How was the data collected or generated? How was it analyzed? 

The research design refers to the overall strategy that you choose to integrate the different components of the study in a coherent and logical way, thereby, ensuring you will effectively address the researchproblem; it constitutes the blueprint for the collection, measurement, and analysis of data.

B.    Background of Study

When constructing a building there is no point ordering materials or setting critical dates for completion of project stages until we know what sort of building is being constructed. The first decision is whether we need a high rise office building, a factory for manufacturing machinery, a school, a residential home or an apartment block. Until this is done we cannot sketch a plan, obtain permits, work out a work schedule or order materials.

A research design according to Andrew B kirumbi (2018) 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. A research design is a framework that has been created to find answers to research questions.

Similarly, social research needs a design or a structure before data collection or analysis can commence. A research design is not just a work plan. A work plan details what has to be done to complete the project but the work plan will ¯ow from the project's research design. The function of a research design is to ensure that the evidence obtained enables us to answer the initial question as unambiguously as possible. Obtaining relevant evidence entails specifying the type of evidence needed to answer the research question, to test a theory, to evaluate a programme or to accurately describe some phenomenon. In other words, when designing research we need to ask: given this research question (or theory), what type of evidence is needed to answer the question (or test the theory) in a convincing way?

Research design `deals with a logical problem and not a logistical problem' (Yin, 1989: 29). Before a builder or architect can develop a work plan or order materials they must first establish the type of building required, its uses and the needs of the occupants. The work plan ¯ows from this. Similarly, in social research, the issues of sampling, a method of data collection (e.g. questionnaire, observation, document analysis), a design of questions are all subsidiary to the matter of `What evidence do I need to collect?'

Too often researchers design questionnaires or begin interviewing far too early - before thinking through what information they require to answer their research questions. Without attending to these research design matters, in the beginning, the conclusions drawn will normally be weak and unconvincing and fail to answer the research question.

A research design is different from the method by which data are collected. Many research methods texts confuse research designs with methods. It is not uncommon to see research design treated as a mode of data collection rather than as a logical structure of the inquiry. But there is nothing intrinsic about any research design that requires a particular method of data collection. Although cross-sectional surveys are frequently equated with questionnaires and case studies are often equated with participant observation (e.g. Whyte's Street Corner Society, 1943), data for any design can be collected with any data collection method (Figure 1.5). How the data are collected is irrelevant to the logic of the design.

Failing to distinguish between design and method leads to the poor evaluation of designs. Equating cross-sectional designs with questionnaires, or case studies with participant observation means that the designs are often evaluated against the strengths and weaknesses of the method rather than their ability to draw relatively unambiguous conclusions or to select between rival plausible hypotheses.

There are four types of research designs which are:

·        Exploratory Research: Just as the word implies, it explores, that is to find out about something by answering the question in “what” or “How” manner.

·        Descriptive Research: This is a more in-depth research, that answered the question of what and how.

·        Explanatory Research: This seeks to explain the subject matter being researched and tries to answer the question of what, how and why.

·        Evaluation Research: This is quite extensive as it measures the effectiveness of a program.

With a clear understating of the types of research designs, a design research can be drawn. Just like the way an architect chooses a layout from its many designs to fit a specific landscape, the same way a research design is picked from the many designs to fit the type of research being carried out. In a general term, research design is viewed from two perspectives, a quantitative research design or a qualitative research design, which both have extended components. They can both be used or applied distinctively or together.

What is Quantitative Research design?

A quantitative research design is used to examine the relationship between variable by using numbers and statistics to explain and analyze its findings and there are four types of quantitative research design:

·        Descriptive design research: As the name implies, it is intended to describe the present status of a This type of design does not require hypothesis to begin with. These analyses are generated from existing data.

·        Correlational design research: This seeks to discover If two variables are associated or related in some way, using statistical analysis, while observing the variable.

·        Experimental design research: This is a method used to establish a cause and effect relationship between two variables or among a group of variables. The independent variable is manipulated to observe the effect on the depended variable. For example, a certain group is exposed to a variable and then compared with the group not exposed to the variable.

·        Quasi-experimental design research: This experiment is designed just like the true experimental design, except that it does not use randomized sample groups. Also, it is used when a typical research design is not practicable.

What is Qualitative Research Design?

Qualitative research design, on the other hand, is exploratory in nature as it tries to explore not predict the outcome. It seeks to answer the questions of what and how. A qualitative research design is used to explore the meaning and understanding of complex social environments, like the nature of people’s experience, using case studies. A quantitative research design shares similar characteristics with a scientific research in the following ways.

·        An outline question stating the problem that needs to be solved.

·        Has a set order and procedure used to answer these questions?

·        Analyses of the data generated.

·        Draws its conclusion after the data has been collated and analyzed so that the conclusion drawn from the findings are not predetermined.

Besides the similarities identified above, a qualitative research design also intends to understand, describe or discover the findings. The researcher is usually the primary instrument that formulates the question and interprets the meaning of a data. The data used are mostly documented words from interview, newspapers videos etc. More than one type of data is collected during this research, from the field, where the participants are. In other words, the research goes beyond the intended scope, so making it emergent because the method of research changes and different types of data might be collected as the research goes on.

What is a good Research design?

A good research design is characterized by its flexibility, efficiency, appropriateness etcetera. A research design is one that has little to no error. Having a clear objective for a research is a reflection of how explicit the research question is. Depending on the research problem, you have to combine a number of design approaches to end up with the required outcome.

How to develop a research design?

1.    Classify the intended outcome what needs to be understood

2.    Developing the research question

3.    What needs to be measured

4.    Select the population for the experiment

5.    Identify the ideal data collection method

6.    Construct Interrelated characteristics

7.    Use correct analysis tools

8.    Choose a channel for disseminating your findings

C.    Conclusion

A research design is not related to any particular method of collecting data or any particular type of data. Any research design can, in principle, use any type of data collection method and can use either quantitative or qualitative data. Research design refers to the structure of an inquiry: it is a logical matter rather than a logistical one.

A research design is one that has little to no error. Having a clear objective for a research is a reflection of how explicit the research question is. Depending on the research problem, you have to combine a number of design approaches to end up with the required outcome.

C. References:

"Research", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research#Definitions accessed June 21, 2018

"Research Support: Research Methodology", https://libguides.wits.ac.za/c.php?g=693518&p=4914913 accessed June 21, 2018

"Organizing Your Social Science Research Paper: Types of Research Designs", http://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/researchdesigns accessed June 21, 2018

"What is Research Design?", https://www.nyu.edu/classes/bkg/methods/005847ch1.pdf accessed June 21, 2018

"Research Design", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_design accessed June 21, 2018

"Research Design - Types of Research Design", https://scholarshipfellow.com/research-design-types-research-design/

https://umj.academia.edu/MuhamadHadi accessed June 21, 2018