The Research Design

The Research Process for Basic

& Applied Research
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1. Observation
Broad area of
research interest
identified
2. Preliminary
Data Gathering
Interviewing
Literature survey
3. Problem
Definition
Research problem
delineated
7. Data Collection
Analysis, and
Interpretation
8. Deduction
Hypotheses substantiated?
Research question answered?
4.
Theoretical
Framework

Variables
clearly
identified
and
labelled
5.
Generation
of
Hypothesis
6.
Scientific
Research
Design
9. Report
Writing
10. Report
Presentation
11.
Managerial
Decision
Making
No Yes
The Research Design
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Purpose of
the study


Exploration
Description
Hypothesis
Testing
Types of
investigation

Establishing:
Causal
relationships
Correlations
Study
setting


Contrived

Non-
contrived
Measurement
& Measures

Operational
definition:
Items
Scaling
Categorizing
Coding
Population
to be studied

Individuals
Groups
Companies
Machines
etc
Sampling
design

Probability/
Nonprobability

Sample
size (n)
Time
horizon


One-short

Longitudinal
Data collection
method

Observation
Interview
Questionnaire
Physical
measurement
Unobtrusive
Extent of
researcher
interference

Minimal: Studying
events as they
normally occur
Manipulation
1. Feel
for
data

2. Goodness
of data

3. Hypothesis
testing
Data
Analysis
Measurement Details of Study
RESEARCH DESIGN OUTLINE
PURPOSE OF STUDY

TYPE OF INVESTIGATION

RESEARCHER INTERFERENCE

STUDY SETTING

UNITS OF ANALYSIS

TIME HORIZON
1. PURPOSE OF STUDY
EXPLORATORY Study
Situation unknown
Preliminary Information for comprehensive study
Example: Ethical values of different Cultures to
manage workforce diversity
Focus groups and comprehensive interviews are
appropriate



1. PURPOSE OF STUDY
DESCRIPTIVE STUDY:
to describe features of a variable
Goal is to offer a profile of the relevant aspects of the
phenomena of interest from an individual, organizational,
industry oriented or other perspective.
Understand characteristics
Think systematically
offer ideas for further probe and research
helps in decision making
Quantitative data in terms of frequencies, means, percentages
and standard deviations are necessary.

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1. PURPOSE OF STUDY
TESTING HYPOTHESIS
explain nature of relationships, differences and
interdependences among factors
e.g: sales volume promotion efforts
CASE STUDY
conceptual analysis of similar situations for
generalization
Difficult to find same type of problem in
comparable setting.
2. TYPE OF INVESTIGATION
CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP:
establish definite cause of a problem
e.g: does smoking causes cancer?

CORELATION:
identify important factors associated with problem
e.g.: are smoking and cancer related?
3.RESEARCHER INTERFERENCE
minimal if study in natural setting e.g: training
effectiveness based on data

manipulation, control or simulation: analyst
controls variables e.g.effect of light on worker
output


4.STUDY SETTING
NON CONTRIVED
natural setting-field experiment
e.g are the rates of interest related to extent of deposits?

CONTRIVED
Controlled settings
independent variable changed to see effect on dependant
lab experiment e.g.to study relationship of rate of interest
on inclination to save the rates of interest in various
branches are changed
4.STUDY SETTING
Field Study
Non-contrived setting as no changes were made
Field Experiment
Some factors are manipulated
Lab Experiment
Contrived settings and maximum interferences
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5. UNITS OF ANALYSIS
INDIVIDUALS:
e.g: study motivation of employees
DYADS:
interaction of supervisor-subordinate pair
GROUP:
e.g: pattern of misuse by various departments
ORGANIZATIONS:
e.g: Differnces among functions of management in
various organizations
CULTURES:
e.g. nations as unit of analysis
6. TIME HORIZON
CROSS SECTIONAL:
one shot study-one time or period e.g data
study of stock market april-june
LONGITUDINAL:
study of information at more than one period of
time e.g: change in behavior of employees
before and after management change