RESEARCH DESIGN

 A blueprint to conduct research

 To provide a framework and direction to the investigation
 A plan, structure and strategy of investigation to obtain answers to
research questions or problems.
 Includes an outline of what the researcher will do – from writing
the hypothesis till the final analysis of data

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BASED ON HOW WELL DEFINED THE PROBLEM IS

Research Design

Exploratory Conclusive
Research Design Research Design

Descriptive Causal Research

Research

Cross-Sectional Longitudinal
Design Design

Single Cross- Multiple Cross-

Sectional Design Sectional Design 2
EXPLORATORY RESEARCH

 Problem is not well defined

 Review of marketing opportunities available to a prospective

entrepreneur

 Review of HR Policies in an organization

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 Simplest

 To explore and obtain clarity about the situation

 Flexible in approach

 Less structured, but provides direction to subsequent and more

structured rigorous research

 Usually involves unstructured interviews

 Creativity and expertise of the researcher play a major role in

exploratory research
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 Not conducted to test any preconceived propositions

 May not involve testing of hypotheses

 Leads to Hypothesis - Could lead to some testable hypotheses

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 When little is known about the problem situation, it is
desirable to begin with exploratory research

 Exploratory research is appropriate when the problem

needs to be defined more precisely

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METHODS FOR CONDUCTING EXPLORATORY
RESEARCH
 Observations
 Expert interviews
 Literature survey
 Informal discussions with;
 consumers
 employees
 management or
 competitors
 In-depth interviews
 Focus groups
 Projective methods (indirect questioning) 7

 Case studies
CONCLUSIVE RESEARCH

 The findings and propositions developed as a consequence of

exploratory research might be tested and authenticated by
conclusive research.

 The problem is well defined.

 There are two types:

1. Descriptive
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2. Causal
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DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
 Structured - More structured and formal

 Comprehensive - To provide a comprehensive and detailed

explanation of the phenomena under study

 More frequently used in business research

 Contemporary and time bound

 Involves specific and systematic approach

 Includes surveys and fact-finding enquiries of different kinds

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 Descriptive Research requires a clear specification of the 6
Ws;

1. What is my research?
2. Why do I want to do the research?
3. Who are my research participants?
4. Where am I going to do the research?
5. When am I going to do the research?
6. Way to do my research/How 11
 Thus, unlike exploratory, descriptive research is marked
by;

 Clear statement of the problem

 Specific hypotheses

 Detailed information needs

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 TYPES OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCHES
Cross-Sectional

The study will be conducted for a specific period alone.

It can be single cross sectional or multiple cross sectional

 Increasing incidences of lifestyle diseases in IT employees- particularly about

Kerala - single cross sectional

 Increasing incidences of lifestyle diseases in IT employees - a study of various

states / or of various age groups / or gender wise - multiple cross sectional

Studying a section of the population at a single time period and reporting

on the occurrence/non occurrence of the variables under study

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Longitudinal

Here the selected sample is studied at different intervals (fixed) of

time to measure the variables under study

A single sample of the identified population that is studied over a

stretched period of time is called longitudinal study.

 E.g. – Increasing incidences of lifestyle diseases in IT employees – at

different time intervals – may be a study of 3 years – to see whether it’s
increasing year after year.

Helps to examine changes in the behavior of individual units

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 Same sample group at different intervals of time period

 Longer time - This type requires a longer time to complete; mostly

a continuous study

 A longitudinal study requires a researcher to revisit participants of

the study at proper intervals.

 Referred to as time-series design - Longitudinal studies are

sometimes referred to as time-series design due to the repeated
measurement over time.

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 Thus, the two descriptive designs basically differ in their
temporal components,

 i.e. of time and on the stability of sample unit selection

over time.

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 Investigations on changes in cholesterol level in women in the age
group of 30 to 40 years over a period of two years

 Investigations on changes in social behavior among different age

categories - all measured at one point in time – is an example of
___________

 Survey among group of individuals about their dietary habits at

age 20, retesting them at the age of 25 - is an example of
__________

 Cross sectional or longitudinal? Which can be done more 17

quickly???
CAUSAL RESEARCH

 Establishes the why and how of phenomenon

 Explores the effect of one thing on another, specifically the effect of

one variable on another

 Highly structured

 E.g. the impact of flexible work policies on turnover intentions

 Impact of training programme on sales.

 Experimental Research Designs is one of the major types of causal

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 Independent variables:

 Also called explanatory variables or treatments

 The levels of these variables are changed by the researchers

to measure their effect on the dependent variable

 Impact of training programme on sales

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 Dependent variables:
 These variables measure the effect of treatments on the test
units. This is the outcome.
 Impact of training programme on sales

 Test Units:
 Entities on which treatment is applied... i.e., who is
undergoing the treatment?
 The sales personnel who were sent for the programme

 Experiment:
 The entire process of treatment and measurement of
outcome is called experiment.
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 Extraneous variables:

 Variables other than the independent variables which influence the

response of test units to treatments
 E.g. – store size, geographical location, advertising efforts etc.

 Confounded relationship:
 When the dependent variable is not free from the influence of extraneous
variable(s), the relationship between the dependent and independent
variables is said to be confounded by extraneous variable(s)

 Experimental and control groups:

 The set of employees who have not undergone the training - control group
 The group which has undergone the treatment - experimental group

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CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Suggest the appropriate research designs and justify

A city council wants to check the effect of drunken driving

on road accidents

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 A management school wants to ascertain the recruiters’
attitude towards student quality – at the time of
placements and six months after the trainee has worked
on the job

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 Imagine you are an ice cream store owner and want to
study the effect a comedian handing out balloons in front of
your store will have on sales. 

 A company wants to introduce a new coffee containing

chicory. The researchers found that virtually no one had
heard about chicory. It wasn’t being used, and no-one
seemed to know how to put it to use.

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 SUMMARY

 Research Designs

 Exploratory

 Conclusive

 Descriptive

 Cross Sectional

 Longitudinal 25
 Causal

 Independent Variables

 Dependent Variables

 Test Units

 Experiment

 Extraneous Variables

 Confounded Relationship
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 Experimental and Control Groups
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH
Topic Type of Data required
Research
Quantitative
Objective numerical data such
Research
as absenteeism rates,
A study on the
productivity levels etc.
stress caused by Qualitative
Subjective data about how the
working night Research
stress is experienced by night
shifts
workers in terms of their
perceptions, health, social
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problems and so on
DEDUCTIVE AND INDUCTIVE RESEARCH
Type of Approach Example
Research

Deductive Theory is tested Theories of motivation

tested in workplace
Research with empirical
observation

Inductive Theory is Observation from factory

records showed a variation
Research developed from in production levels after
empirical two hours of shift.
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observation Conclusion: Production

 BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH
Type of Characteristics Outcome
Research

Basic – Less specific Contribution

Research – To improve the to knowledge
understanding of general
issues
– No emphasis on immediate
application
Applied – Apply its findings to solve Solve a 29
Research a specific existing problem specific
problem
 How to cure Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

 Basic or Applied?

 Investigations on - How did the universe begin?

 Basic or Applied?

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