Designing Research

1. Designing Research Elke Johanna de Buhr, PhD Tulane University

2. Textbook Chapters • Creswell, Chapter 3, 4, 6and 7 • Salkind, Chapter 2 and 13

3. Your Research Proposal I. Introduction • A. Problemstatement • B. Research question(s) • C. Hypothesis • D. Definitions of terms II. Review of the relevant literature (the more complete, the better) • A. Importance of the question being asked • B. Current status of the topic • C. Relationship between the literature and the problem statement III. Method • A. Target population • B. Research design and sampling • C. Data collection plans • D. Proposed analysis of the data IV. Implications and limitations 

4. Research Proposal: Part I I. Introduction • A. Problemstatement • B. Research question(s) • C. Hypothesis • D. Definitions of terms

5. Research Proposal: Part II II. Review of the relevant literature (the more complete, the better) • A. Importance of the question being asked • B. Current status of the topic • C. Relationship between the literature and the problem statement 

6. Research Proposal: Part III III. Method • A. Target population • B. Research design and sampling • C. Data collection plans • D. Proposed analysis of the data

7. Research Proposal: Part IV IV. Implications and limitations (Section discussing generalizability, reliability and validity of the collected data.)

8. How to Start • You start with an idea… • Based on knowledge? • Based on experience? • Relevant (to the field of international development)? • Feasible? • Ethical? • Original???

9. Refining Your Idea • Review of the literature • Scope of the research? • Regional focus? • Thematic focus? • Types of data collection?

10. Part 1: Problem/Purpose Statement • Problem statement: • Describes the problem or issue leading to the need for the study • Purpose statement: • Establishes the intent of the study • Qualitative vs. quantitative purpose statements (Creswell, pp. 111-126)

11. Example: Case Study Creswell

12. Example: Experimental Study Creswell

13. Example: Mixed Methods Study Creswell

14. Part 2: Research Questions • Questions that the data collection will attempt to answer • Methodology needs to enable you to answer these questions • Often one (broad) central question, followed by sub-questions • Qualitative vs. quantitative research questions (Creswell, pp. 129-142)

15. Example: Case Study Creswell

16. Example: Mixed Methods Study Creswell

17. Part 3: Hypotheses • Research questions vs. hypotheses: • Quantitative research questions inquire about the relationships among variables that the investigator seeks to know • Quantitative hypotheses are predictions the researcher makes about the expected relationships among variables • Null hypotheses vs. directional/non-directional hypotheses (Creswell, pp. 132-137)

18. Example: Null Hypotheses Creswell

19. Example: Directional/Non-Directional Hypotheses Creswell

20. Standard Use of Language in Hypotheses Creswell

21. Dependent vs. Independent Variables • Dependent (outcome) variables • Results of the influence of independent variables • In experiments, they are examined as the outcome of an intervention • Independent (predictors) variables • (Probably) cause, influence or affect the outcome • In experiments, they are manipulated or changed to examine their effects on the dependent variables

22. Part 4: Definition of Terms • All key terms need to be clearly defined • Critical concepts may also need to be operationalized • Review the literature for standard definitions and established ways of measurement

23. Criteria for Judging a Research Proposal Salkind

24. Criteria for Judging a Research Proposal (cont.) Salkind

25. Criteria for Judging a Research Proposal (cont.) Salkind

26. Group Discussion • Initial research ideas • Quantitative vs. qualitative research proposals • Primary vs. secondary data • Use of theory • Review of the available evidence • Other questions/concerns