Research designs

Research Design

Research Design is a blue print for collection, measurement and analysis of data

After What of the Study (Problem), the next step is how of the study.

For this convert the research questions and hypothesis in to variables that can be measured

Important concepts relating to Research Design

1. Variable 1. Dependent Variable2. Independent Variable3. Extraneous Variable ( Intervening Variable and Moderator Variable)

2. Concept3. Control4. Confounded relationship5. Experimental and Non-Experimental hypothesis testing research6. Experimental and Control Groups7. Treatment and Experiment

The definition of a variable:

A phenomenon or a situation that can take different quantitative values and can be measured.

Variables are generally used to determine if changes to one thing result in changes to another.

Eg. Absenteeism and Productivity

Continuous variable – Phenomena which can take quantitatively different values, even decimals. Eg: Age and height of men

Non-Continuous variable or Discrete Variable – Only expressed in integers. Eg: No. of Men

Concept

Concepts are abstract categories of behaviour, attitudes, characteristics, mental images and perceptions

Types of variables:

1. Independent variables – the cause supposed to be responsible for the bringing about change in a phenomenon or situation.

2. Dependent variables – the outcome of change/effect brought about by change in the independent variable

Eg: Height depends on age/individual sex

Smoking causes lung cancer

A manager believes that training would increase productivity

Extraneous variables

3. Extraneous variables –IV’s that are not related to the purpose of the study but affects DV

1.Intervening variable – a variable whose existence is inferred but cannot be manipulated or controlled

2.Moderator variable – a variable that may or may not be controlled but has an effect on the research situation/phenomenon.

For example:

• Does commitment to ethics among media practitioners depend on their educational or professional training?

For example:

• Does commitment to ethics among media practitioners depend on their educational or professional training?

1. Independent variable: educational or professional training

2. Dependent variables: Commitment to ethics

3. Intervening variable: newsroom policies

4. Moderator variables: civil status, age, years of work experience

Better the quality of training programmes in an organisation, greater the productivity

Better the quality of training programmes in an organisation, greater the productivityIV – Training progDV – ProductivityMV – Willingness to grow

The sales manager of a bottling company sends some of his sales personnel for a training prog. After 3 months, sales in that territory increases by 30%

The sales manager of a bottling company sends some of his sales personnel for a training prog. After 3 months, sales in that territory increases by 30%. He concludes prog. was effective.IV – Sales training progDV – Increase in salesIntervening Variable – Govt. policies, competitors policiesMV- Advertising efforts, New sales strategy

2. Control

Controlled- The concept of control implies that, in exploring causality in relation to two variables, the study is set up in such a way that it minimizes the effect of extraneous variable

• .

3. Confounded Relationship

When the DV is not free from the influence of EV, the relationship between DV and IV is said to be confounded by an EV

4.Experimental and Non-Experimental hypothesis testing research

Research in which IV is manipulated is termed as hypothesis testing research

Research in which IV is not manipulated is termed as Non-Experimental hypothesis testing research

5. Experimental and Control Groups

In an Experimental hypothesis testing research, when a group is exposed to usual conditions, it is called control group but when exposed to special conditions, it is called experimental group.

6.Treatment and Experiment

Treatment – The different conditions under which experimental and control groups are put is called a treatment

Experiment – The process of statistical testing of hypothesis is called an experiment.