QUANTITATIVE

RESEARCH
DESIGNS
4 5

1 2
1 Descriptive Design
A Descriptive Design seeks to describe the
current status of a variable or phenomenon.
The researcher does not begin with a
hypothesis, but typically develops one after
the data is collected. Data collection is
mostly observational in nature.
 1 Descriptive Design
Key Focus & Control of Intervention Example Common Study
Variables Applied? Designs

• Observational A description • Comparative

• “Describe what” of teenagers’ descriptive
is; attitudes design
• Variables not No towards • Cross-
controlled smoking sectional
designs
• Longitudinal
designs
2 Correlational Design
A Correlational Design explores the
relationship between variables using
statistical analyses. However, it does not look
for cause and effect and therefore, is also
mostly observational in terms of data
collection.
 2 Correlational Design
Key Focus & Control of Intervention Example Common Study Designs
Variables Applied?

• Explores and A study of the • Descriptive

observes relationship correlation
relationships between IQ design
among variables No and clinic • Predictive
• Variables not depression designs
controlled • Model-testing
designs
3 Quasi-Experimental Design

A Quasi-Experimental Design (often referred

to as Causal-Comparative) seeks to establish
a cause-effect relationship between two or
more variables. The researcher does not
assign groups and does not manipulate the
independent variable.
 3 Quasi-Experimental Design
Key Focus & Control of Intervention Example Common Study Designs
Variables Applied?

• Tests for causality A study of the • Pre- and Post-

with suboptimal effect of an test designs
variable control after school • Post-Test only
• Independent Yes physical designs
variable not activity • Interrupted
manipulated program on times-series
childhood designs
obesity rates
4 Experimental Designs

Experimental Designs, often called

true experimentation, use the
scientific method to establish cause-
effect relationship among a group of
variables in a research study.
 4 Experimental Designs
Key Focus & Control of Intervention Example Common Study Designs
Variables Applied?

• Tests causality A study of the • Classic

with optimal effects of new experimental
variable control diet treatment designs
• Independent Yes plan on insulin • Randomized
variable is levels in designs
manipulated diabetics • Crossover
designs
• Nested designs
4 Experimental Designs
Researchers make an effort to control for all
variables except the one being manipulated
(the independent variable). The effects of
the independent variable on the dependent
variable are collected and analyzed for a
relationship.
5 Evaluation Research Design

This is an “applied” form of research that

involved finding out how well a program,
practice, procedure or policy is working”
(Polit & Hungler 1999:201). The aim of this
type of research is to assess/evaluate the
success of a particular practice or policy, etc.
5 Evaluation Research Design

Examples:
• process/implementation analysis
• outcome analysis
• impact analysis
• cost-benefit analysis