Proper planning and design are required to build houses off any road. On the other hand, Research Design in Research Methodology is very important in carrying out research work.
The first task of any research is the formulation or selection of the research problem and formulation of the hypothesis. In the next stage, the research plan or design work is completed. That is, after selecting the research problem, the first task is to decide on the design.
Research Design Meaning
Research plan or design is the overall strategy or blueprint that a researcher uses to integrate the different components of a study in a coherent and logical way. It outlines how the research will be conducted, including methods of data collection, measurement, and analysis, to ensure that the research problem is effectively addressed.
It helps a researcher in various ways in his intended research work. It is a blueprint that is followed to complete a research project. Hence it is a research framework or plan that guides the collection and analysis of data.
At its core, research plan or design addresses what, when, where, how, and with whom the research will be conducted. It provides a clear roadmap that connects the research objectives to the methods of data collection and analysis.
Research Design Definition
Research plan or design is the blueprint for fulfilling research objectives and answering research questions in a systematic, valid, and reliable manner. It acts as a detailed plan outlining how the research will be carried out to meet its objectives. It organizes different parts of the research such as sampling, data collection methods, and data analysis in a logical way and It helps researchers choose the most appropriate methods to address the research questions or hypotheses.
Several important research plan or design definitions are observed, they are as follows –
According to F. N. Kerlinger – “Research design is the plan, structure, and strategy of investigation conceived so as to obtain answers to research questions and to control variance.”
According to Gay and Airasian (2000) – “A design is the general strategy for conducting a research study. The nature of the hypothesis, the variables involved, and the constraints of the ‘real world’ all contribute to the selection of design.”
According to Kothari (1988) – Decisions regarding WHAT?, WHERE?, WHEN?, HOW MUCH?, by WHAT? means concerning an inquiry or a research study constitutes research design.
According to P. V. Young – “A research design is the logical and systematic planning and directing of a piece of research.”
According to William Zikmund – “Research design is a master plan specifying the methods and procedures for collection and analyzing the needed information.”
According to C. R. Kothari – “The research design is the conceptual structure with in which research is conducted, it constitutes the blueprint for the collection, measurement and analysis of data.”
So, The research plan or design is a carefully structured framework or plan that guides the entire research process. It serves as a blueprint that details how to systematically conduct the study to ensure the research questions or hypotheses are answered accurately and effectively.
Characteristics of Research Design
A good research plan or design helps ensure that the results are credible, consistent, and trustworthy. It determines what data to collect, how and when to collect it, and the techniques to analyze the data.
Some salient Characteristics observed in the research plan or design in research methodology are –
i) Systematic Planning: Specifies when and how data will be collected and analyzed.
ii) Framework for Study: Acts as a guide for conducting the entire research process.
iii) Objective Orientation: Ensures that the research remains focused on specific questions or hypotheses.
iv) Control of Variables: Helps minimize bias and ensure the validity and reliability of the results.
In addition, the following are some of the key characteristics present in a research plan or design:
- A Blueprint to complete the research work.
- Specific objective oriented.
- Finding answers to research questions.
- Fair and orderly procedure.
- Scientific planning or scientific method.
- Forward planning and forward-looking processes.
- Reliable and valid method.
Types of Research Design in Research Methodology
Hence various types of research plan or design are observed in carrying out research work properly, they are –
1. Exploratory Research Design
Exploratory research or study is the clarification of concepts and establishment of priorities for future research.
For example – ‘A study into the implications of COVID-19 pandemic into the global economy’ is exploratory research’.
2. Descriptive Research Design
The purpose of descriptive design is to describe some event, situation, people, group community, or phenomenon.
3. Experimental Research Design
Experimental design in sociological research refers to the systematic study of people by observing them through the control of variables.
4. Factorial Research Design
A factorial design enables the experimenter to test the effects of two or more variables simultaneously.
The concept revolves around organizing the research in a way that maximizes the validity (accuracy) and reliability (consistency) of the results. By deciding in advance on the procedures and strategies, research plan or design minimizes errors and biases, ensuring the study is well-planned and credible.
Research plan or design encompasses decisions about:
i) The type of research (exploratory, descriptive, experimental, etc.)
ii) The methods for collecting data (surveys, interviews, observations, experiments)
iii) The sampling techniques (random sampling, purposive sampling, etc.)
iv) The timeframe of the study (cross-sectional or longitudinal)
v) The analytical techniques to be used (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods)
Conclusion
Research plan or design in research methodology helps a researcher in various ways in his expected research work. It is a blueprint that is followed to complete a research project. Hence research design is a research framework or plan that guides the collection and analysis of data.
References
- Best, J.W & Khan, J.V (2006) “Research in Education” (10th Ed.). New Delhi: PHI Learning Private Limited.
- Creswell, J.W (2019) “Educational Research” (4th Ed.). Pearson, ISBN 978-93-325-4947-0
- Kaul L. (1984) Methodology of Education Research, New Delhi, Vikas Publishing House
- Kishan, N (2016) “Economics of Education” APH Publishing Corporation.
Q – What is the definition of Research Design
Ans – According to William Zikmund – “Research design is a master plan specifying the methods and procedures for collection and analyzing the needed information.”
Q – Research design definition by authors.
Ans – According to F. N. Kerlinger – “Research design is the plan, structure, and strategy of investigation conceived so as to obtain answers to research questions and to control variance.”
Q – What are the main types of research design?
Ans – The main types of research plan or design are –
1. Qualitative Research Design,
2. Quantitative Research Design,
3. Descriptive Research Design,
4. Experimental Design
Q – Can the research design be modified during the course of a study?
Ans – Yes, research plan or design can be changed during the course of a study based on practical constraints or circumstances. When new data is collected and analyzed, it is necessary to refine the research design.
Q – What is a good definition of design?
Ans – P. V. Young – “A research design is the logical and systematic planning and directing of a piece of research.”
Q – What is research design according to Kothari?
Ans – According to Kothari (2004) – “The research design is the conceptual, structure within which the research is conducted; it constitutes the blueprint for the collection, measurement and analysis of data.”
Q – What is research design according to Creswell?
Ans – According to Creswell (2014) – “Research design is the specific procedure involved in the research process: data collection, data analysis, and report writing”.
Q – Who is the father of research design?
Ans – Father of research plan or design is Paul Felix Lazarsfeld.
