TYPES OF RESEARCH DESIGN
survey related to qualifications subjected to
Understanding the different types of quantitative
research design has a high consideration on how
the researcher plan for control of the variables in
the investigation.
If the researcher views quantitative design as a
continuum, on one end of the range represents a
design, where the variables are not controlled
at all and only observed. Connections among
variable are only described.
At the other end of the spectrum, however, are
designs which include a very close control of
variables, and relationships among those
variables are clearly established.
In the middle, with experiment design moving
from one type to the other is a range that blends
those two extremes together.
There are four main types of Quantitative
Research Design:
 Descriptive
 Correlational
 Causal-Comparative/Quasi-
Experimental, and
 Experimental Research
 Descriptive research
It seeks to describe the status of an identified
variable. The research projects intended to
provide systematic information about a
phenomenon.
The researcher does not usually begin with a
hypothesis, but is likely to develop one after
collecting data.
The analysis and synthesis of the data provide
the test of the hypothesis. Systematic collection
of information requires careful selection of the
units studied and careful measurement of each
variable
Examples of Descriptive Research Design:
 A researcher wants to determine the
qualification of employed professionals in
Maryland. Survey method will be use as
research instrument, and each item on the
a Yes/No answer.
 A survey evaluating the number of hours
millennials in a community spends on the
internet weekly, will help a service provider
make informed business decisions regarding
the market potential of the community.
 Correlational research
It attempts to determine the extent of a
relationship between two or more variables
using statistical data. In this type of design,
relationships between and among a number
of facts are required and interpreted. This type
of research will recognize trends and patterns in
data, but it does not go so far in its analysis to
prove causes for these observed patterns.
Cause and effect is not the basis of this type of
observational research. The data, relationships,
and distributions of variables are the things
emphasized. Variables are not manipulated;
they are only identified and are studied as they
occur in a natural setting.
Examples of Correlational Research Design:
 You want to know if there is a correlation
between how much people earn and the
number of children that they have. You do
not believe that people with more spending
power have more children than people with
less spending power.
 You believe that domestic violence causes a
brain hemorrhage. You cannot carry out an
experiment, as it would be unethical to
deliberately subject people to domestic violence.
However, you can carry out correlational
research to find out if victims of domestic
violence suffer brain hemorrhage more than
non-victims.
 Causal-comparative/Quasi-
experimental research
It attempts to establish cause-effect
relationships among the variables. This types
of design is very similar to true experiments,
but with some key differences. An
independent variable is identified but not
manipulated by the experimenter, and effects of
the independent variable on the dependent
variable are measured.
The researcher does not randomly assign
groups and must use ones that are naturally
formed or pre-existing groups. Identified
control groups exposed to the treatment
variable are studied and compared.
 A study on the effect of a treatment plan on
breast cancer
 The effect of teaching with a cooperative
group strategy or a traditional lecture
approach on students’ achievement
 A comparison of the effect of personalized
instruction vs. traditional instruction on
computational skill

Examples of Quasi-Experimental Research What is the basic methodology for a

Design:
quantitative research design?
 You discover that a few of the
The overall structure for a quantitative design is
psychotherapists in the clinic have decided
based in the scientific method. It uses
to try out the new therapy, while others who
deductive reasoning, where the researcher
treat similar patients have chosen to stick
forms a hypothesis, collects data in an
with the normal protocol. You can use these
investigation of the problem, and then uses the
pre-existing groups to study the symptom
data from the investigation, after analysis is
progression of the patients treated with the
made and conclusions are shared, to prove the
new therapy versus those receiving the
hypotheses not false or false. The basic
standard course of treatment.
procedure of a quantitative design is:
 You hypothesize that a new after-school
program will lead to higher grades. You
1. Make your observations about
choose two similar groups of children who
something that is unknown, unexplained,
attend different schools, one of which
or new.
implements the new program while the other
Investigate current theory surrounding
does not. By comparing the children who
your problem or issue.
attend the program with those who do not,
2. Hypothesize an explanation for those
you can find out whether it has an impact on
observations.
grades.
3. Make a prediction of outcomes based on
your hypotheses. Formulate a plan to test
 Experimental research your prediction.
It is often refer as true experimentation, uses 4. Collect and process your data. If your
the scientific method to establish the prediction was correct, go to step 5. If
causeeffect relationship among group of not, the hypothesis has been proven
variables that make up a study. The true false. Return to step 2 to form a new
experiment is also known as a laboratory hypothesis based on your new
study, but this is not always the case; a knowledge.
laboratory setting has nothing to do with it. 5. Verify your findings. Make your
A true experiment is any study where an effort conclusions. Present your findings in an
is made to identify and impose control over all appropriate form for your audience.
other variables except one. An independent
variable is manipulated to determine the
effects on the dependent variables. Subjects
are randomly assigned to experimental
streatments rather than identified in naturally
occurring groups

Examples of Experimental Research Design: