P299: Research Methods in Planning

Module 3. Research Design

Introduction

In this module, we will tackle different research that can be used for planning. The
advantage and disadvantages these designs will also be examined to give the students
a clear picture on which research design to be used for specific planning activity or
purpose. In addition, development of conceptual framework as guide on doing research
for planning will be discussed. The last part of the module will be on choosing research
design based on the developed conceptual framework for the research.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

1. Differentiate the types of social research designs.

2. Define conceptual frameworks;

3. Formulate the conceptual framework that will be used as a guide in their

research study.

4. Develop the research design to be used in their research study.

Research Design

Selecting appropriate research design to answer research questions of the study is very
important in conducting research for planning. It saves the researcher’s time and
resources. Meanwhile, clear and thoroughly thought conceptual framework will enable
the researcher to identify the suitable research design. This module aims to introduce
the student to the concept of research design and conceptual framework.

1
P299: Research Methods in Planning

Read:

The Selection of Research Design. Creswell J.W. (2009) Research Design:

Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage Publications,
Thousand Oaks, California. pp 1-21 (Uploaded in course website)

Use of theoretical and conceptual frameworks in qualitative research. Green, H. E.

(2014). Nurse Researcher 21, 6, 34-38 (Uploaded in course website)

Qualitative and quantitative research in the built environment: application of

"mixed" research approach: a conceptual framework to measure FM
performance. Amaratunga, D., Baldry D., Sashar M., Newton R. (2002). Work Study 51
(1) 17-31 (Uploaded in course website)

Building a Conceptual Framework: Philosophy, Definitions, and Procedure.

Jabareen, Y (2009). International Journal of Qualitative Methods 2009, 8(4) 49-62
Retrieved from
https://ejournals.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/IJQM/article/viewFile/6118/5892

Boundless. “Formulating the Hypothesis.” Boundless Sociology. Boundless, 26

May. 2016. Retrieved from
https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-
textbook/sociological-research-2/the-research-process-26/formulating-the-hypothesis-
167-7473/

Guide questions:

1. What is research design?

2. What are the different research design that can be used for research in
planning?
3. What is conceptual framework?
4. How conceptual framework helps in selecting research design?

2
P299: Research Methods in Planning

Activity 2. Conceptual Framework and Research Design

General Guide:
1) Use revised Topic and Research Question from Activity 1 (note: Based on the
comments and suggestion of the FICs)
2) The conceptual framework is “framing” of your research amidst the existing
knowledge found in your RRL. This is important because it also “maps out” how
the concepts and ideas are related to each other.
3) The research design should always be based on how to answer your research
question and hypothesis with due consideration to your resources and timeframe.

Activity: Exercise 2 Conceptual Framework and Research Design

Revised Research Topic:

Revised Research Question:

Conceptual Framework (Literature Review):

Research Hypothesis:

3
P299: Research Methods in Planning

Research Design:

Data Gathering

Data Analysis

References*:

*Citations should follow the APA format style: read

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
4
P299: Research Methods in Planning

References

Amaratunga, D., Baldry D., Sashar M., Newton R. (2002). Qualitative and quantitative
research in the built environment: application of "mixed" research approach: a
conceptual framework to measure FM performance. Work Study 51 (1) 17-31

Boundless. “Formulating the Hypothesis.” Boundless Sociology. Boundless, 26 May.

2016. Retrieved from
https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-
textbook/sociological-research-2/the-research-process-26/formulating-the-hypothesis-
167-7473/

Creswell J.W. (2009) The Selection of Research Design. In: Research Design:
Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Ed. Creswell J.W. Sage
Publications, Thousand Oaks, California. pp 1-21 (Uploaded in course website)

Green, H. E. (2014). Use of theoretical and conceptual frameworks in qualitative

research. Nurse Researcher. 21, 6, 34-38 (Uploaded in course website)

Jabareen, Y (2009). Building a Conceptual Framework: Philosophy, Definitions, and

Procedure. International Journal of Qualitative Methods 2009, 8(4) 49-62
Retrieved from
https://ejournals.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/IJQM/article/viewFile/6118/5892