Research Design Strategies: A Comprehensive Overview

1. Chapter SixDESIGN STRATEGIES

2. What is Research Design? • A plan for selecting the sources and types of information used to answer research questions • A framework for specifying the relationships among the study variables • A blueprint that outlines each procedure from the hypothesis to the analysis

3. Classifications of Designs • Exploratory study is usually to develop hypotheses or questions for further research (see later slides) • Crystallizing research questions • Formal study is to test the hypotheses or answer the research questions posed

4. Methods of Data Collection(Primary Data) • Monitoring, which includes observationalstudies • Interrogation/communication studies • Interview • Survey • Experiment

5. Power to Produce Effects • In an experiment, the researcher attempts to control and/or manipulate the variables in the study. • In an ex post facto design, the researcher has no control over the variables; they can only report what has happened.

6. Purpose of the Study • Descriptivestudytries to explain relationships among variables • Describing phenomena • Discovering associations (relationships, correlations) • Causal studyis how one variable produces changes in another (see later slides)

7. The Time Dimension • Cross-sectional studies • are carried out once and represent a snapshot of one point in time • Or use data collected across observed units at one point of time • Longitudinal studies • are repeated over an extended period • Or use the data collected over time.

8. The Topical Scope • Statistical studies attempt to capture a population’s characteristics by making inferences from a sample’s characteristics. • Case studies place more emphasis on a full contextual analysis of fewer events or conditions and their interrelations.

9. The Research Environment • Field conditions (actual environmental conditions) • Laboratory conditions (controlled experiment) • Simulations: replicating the essence of a process in mathematical models

10. A Participant’s Perceptions • Usefulness of a design may be reduced when people in the study perceive that research is being conducted • Participants’ perceptions influence the outcomes of the research (e.g. placebo effects)

11. Exploratory Studies • Why do Exploratory Studies? • Exploration is particularly useful when researchers lack a clear idea of the problems • Techniques of Exploratory Studies (heavily relying on qualitative techniques) • Secondary data analysis • Experience survey • Focus groups

12. Exploratory StudiesContinued • A focus group is a panel consisting of a small group of people (6-10), lead by a trained moderator. • Separate focus groups for different subsets of the population may be desirable • Methods • Face-to-face, tele-conference, video-conference, online focus groups. • Advantages and disadvantages • Two stage design may be necessary

13. Causal Studies • The essential element of causation is that A “produces” B or A “forces” B to occur • Mill’s methods of agreement and disagreement • Three types of evidence • Correlation (co-variation) between A and B • Time sequence (A  B) • No other possible causes of B • The Post Hoc Fallacy as an error in reasoning

14. Causal StudiesContinued • Causal Study Relationships • Symmetrical (just co-movement) • Reciprocal • Asymmetrical (true causality) • Asymmetrical Relationships (p. 167) • Stimulus-Response • Property-Disposition • Disposition-Behavior • Property-Behavior

15. Achieving the Ideal Experimental Design • Essential • Selection of experiment groups and the control group • Random assignment of subjects to the groups • Supplemental • matching the composition of subjects among the groups