3 Research Design

Content What is Research Design? Types of Research Design 1. Cross-sectional 2. Longitudinal 3. Case study 4. Comparative

Research Design A plan that specifies the sources of information used types of information used A strategy specifying which approach will be used for gathering data analysing data. Describes the constraints time budget cost budget

Research Design (i) What is the study about? (ii) Why is the study being made? (iii) Where will the study be carried out? (iv) What type of data is required? (v) Where can the required data be found? (vi) What periods of time will the study include? (vii) What will be the sample design? (viii) What techniques of data collection will be used? (ix) How will the data be analysed?

Parts of the Research Design Process Overall research design can be split into following parts: (a) the sampling design deals with the method of selecting items to be investigated e.g. Random or non-random (b) the observational design the conditions under which the investigation is be made; e.g. Official data, survey data, case study

Parts of the Research Design Process (c) the statistical design how many items are to be observed how will information and data be analysed

Types of Research Design 1. Cross-sectional 2. Longitudinal 3. Case study 4. Comparative We will now look at these in more detail

1. Cross-sectional research design Collection of data on more than one case Data is collected at a single point in time E.g. a day , month year At least two variables collected But usually many more Then examine to detect patterns of association.

1. Cross-sectional Research Design Collecting several pieces of data from various cases at a single point in time Here the case could be a countries, a regions, people, businesses etc. e.g. study of shopping choices of students on a day in November 9 9

Single Survey Research Design Typical example of cross-sectional design Collection of data on more than one case Data mainly collected by questionnaire or structured interview Data collected at a single point in time At least two variables collected Then examine to detect patterns of association. Key Question: What determines the shopping habits of students?

2. Longitudinal Research Design Survey of the same sample on more than one occasion Often referred to as panel or cohort studies Taking our student shopping example Study of shopping choices of students on one day in November, December, January, February etc Key Questions: Do shopping habits of student change over time and if so why? 11 11

2. Longitudinal Research Design Collecting data on the same cases at various points in time Eg. surveying the same group of people year after year 12 12

2. Issues with Longitudinal Research Attrition, because people die, or move home, or withdraw from the study. Knowing when is the right time for the next wave of data collection. Should you wait 6 months, year, 5 years? The first round may have been badly thought out, which leaves the later rounds in a bit of a mess.

3. Case study design Detailed and intensive analysis of one case e.g. a single community, school, family, person, event, or organization Often involves qualitative research Soft data? Example: What influences the subject choices of students at the University in 2014? Detailed interviews with lecturers, students, parents, employers 14 14

3. Issues with Case-Study Research Biggest issue concerns external validity Are the factors that determine student subject choice in one University the same in another University? We don’t know (we only studied one) Some argue that point of this research is to examine particular cases Not really concerned with making general findings. Cases may be extended longitudinally Go back and study the same, school, family, person the following year.

4. Comparative Research Design Using the case study methods to compare two or more meaningfully contrasting cases Can be qualitative or quantitative Often cross-cultural comparisons e.g. study of the shopping habits of students in Prague and in Vienna 16 16

4. Comparative Research Design Prague Vienna Repeating a cross sectional study with various different groups at the same time 17 17

Research Design in Summary Quantitative and qualitative research can be executed using any of these research designs Survey research is the most typical form for quantitative research 18 18

Research Design in Summary Good Research Design must contain a clear statement of the research problem; procedures and techniques to be used for gathering information; the population to be studied; methods to be used in processing and analysing data.