research methods module 2

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14MBA23

Research Methods – Module 2

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14MBA23 – Research Methods

Syllabus: Types of Business Research Design: Exploratoryand Conclusive Research Design Exploratory Research:Meaning, purpose, methods –secondary resourceanalysis, comprehensive case methods, expert opinionsurvey, focus group discussions. Conclusive research

Design - Descriptive Research - Meaning, Types – crosssectional studies and longitudinal studies. – Experimental

research design – Meaning and classification ofexperimental designs- Pre experimental design, Quasi-experimental design, True experimental design, statisticalexperimental design. Observation Research – Meaning – Uses– Participation and Non-participation – Evaluation – Conductingan Observation study – Data collection

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The research design is a plan of action indicating thespecific steps that are necessary to provide answersto those questions, test the hypothesis and therebyachieve the research purpose that helps chooseamong the decision alternatives to solve themanagement problems or capitalize on the marketopportunity.

Kerlinger defines, "Research Design is a plan,structure and strategy of investigation conceived so asto obtain answers to the research questions and tocontrol variance".

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Features of Research Design:

1. Plan of Action ('Blue Print')

2. Provide answers to those questions, (Astructure or a plan, strategy of investigation)

3. Test the Hypothesis,

4. Purpose that helps among the alternatives tosolve the management problems or capitalizethe market opportunity.

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Qualities of a good Research Design:

1. Research Design must be based solving the problem (Theobjective of the solving problem – Objective based),

2. Research Design must be reliable (Reliablity means theanswers must not be biased, if the same question isrepeatedly asked the respondent must give the sameanswer)

3. Research Design must follow a valid instrument/technique expected to measure. (A valid measuringscale)

4. Research design need to select the respondents whichcan represent a large population's thoughts(Generalization)

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Characteristics of a good Research Design:

1. Must be simple and easily understandable by therespondent,

2. Must be economical, incure less expenses, in brief, CostEffective.,

3. Must use techniques which are reliable, during Analysisand intrepretation,

4. Must rely on techniques which are workable for the givenresearch,

5. Must be possible to measure or considered fromvarious dimensions,

6. Must be able to give accurate results (Accuracy).

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Why Research Design is important?

1. A research design is the 'Blue Print' of the study.

2. A research design of a study defines the study type(may be descriptive, co-relational, semi-experimental,experimental, review, meta-analytical and so on) and itssub-type (may be descriptive-longitudinal case study,research question, hypothesis, independent anddependent variables, experimental designs) and ifapplicable, data collection methods and statisticalanalysis plan.

3. Research design is the frame work that has beencreated to seek answers to research questions.

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Basic or Fundamental Questions by Socialresearchers in Reseach Design, in research:

1. What is going on? (Descriptive Research)

2. Why is it going on? (Explanatory Research)

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PARTS IN RESEARCH DESIGN:

1. Sampling design (Method of selecting items to beobserved)

2. Observation design (Relates to the conditions forobservation to be created)

3. Statistical Design (Concerned with how the datacollected to be analyzed)

4. Operational Design (Techniques by which theprocedure satisfies the sampling)

(You can add, Mailing (Post or email) Design,Telephonic, SMS Group focus and so on)

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CONCEPTS OF RESEARCH DESIGN:

1. Dependent and Independent Variables,

2. Extraneous Variables,

3. Control,

4. Confounded Relationship,

5. Research Hypothesis,

6. Experimental and Non-Experimental Hypothesis Testing Research,

7. Experimental and Control Groups,

8. Treatments,

9. Experiment, and

10. Experimental Units.

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1. Dependent and Independent Variables:

1. What is a variable?

The magnitude that varies is known as a variable.

2. What are the basic concepts of dependableand independable variables in ReseachDesign?

Concepts of dependable and independablevariables in Research Design can beQuantitative or Qualitative.

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1. Dependent and Independent Variables

The Quanlitative Variables are measurable andis represented in numbers, for instance Age,Height, Weight, Income and so on (in numbers),while the Qualitative Variables are expressedin terms of expression and are not strictiestterms to measure, but quality the presence orabsence of the attribute considered.

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The Quantitative Variable can be,

a. Continious Variable (Also known asEndogeneous Variable) are those which appear infractions or decimals like a year can be expressed inyears and months, similarly a peron's age can be inyears and months, also days. (Ex: 32.6 feets, 400years and 1 month)

b. Non-Continious Variable are those which arequalified as a whole number and are not in decimals,they are the integer values. (Ex: 33 feet, 400 years oldetc). In statistical terms is also called as DiscreteVariables.

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Common Example for Continious and NonContinious Variables:

Age of students in a class is a 'Continious Variable',while number of students in a class is a 'Non-Continious Variable'.

The age of the students is a continious variable as theaverage will appear in decimals, while number ofstudents is non-continious variable as they are fixedwhole number and will not change.

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Common Example for Continious and NonContinious Variables:

Age of students in a class is a 'Continious Variable',while number of students in a class is a 'Non-Continious Variable'.

Independent Variable or Explanatory Variable orExogeneous Variables are the variables which causechange in the dependable variables, while theDepedent Variables or Endogeneous variables arevariables which depend on variables change on othervariables.

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Example for Dependent Variable andIndependent Variable,

"Demand is a dependable variable as it isdetermined by various independent variableslike the Price of the product, Income and thePrice of the substitutes".

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2. Extraneous Variables:

a. The second concept in research design is ExtraneousVariables,

b. These are Independent Variables,

c. These are variables which are not directly related tothe purpose of study.

Example: If a reseasher wants to test the performanceand self concept of a child, where if the later is anindependent variable then the former is a dependentvariable, then in this context it would also include theinfluence of the school performance. Here the selfconcept will be a Extraneous Variable.

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3. Control:

a. Control is the third concept in ResearchDesign, where the researcher need to minimizethe Extraneous Variables. The term 'Control' isused in experimental research to reflect therestraints used in experimental conditions.

4. Confounded Relationship: The relationshipbetween the independent and interdependentvariables is said to be confounded by theExtraneous Variables, when the dependentvariables is not free from its effects.

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5. Research Hypothesis:

Research Hypothesis is the fifth concept ofResearch Design.

"When a prediction or a hypothesized relationshipis tested by adopting scientific methods isknown as Research Hypothesis". TheResearch Hypothesis is the predictivestatement which relates to the dependentvariable and independent variable.

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6. Experimental and Non ExperimentalHypothesis Testing Research:

This is the 6th concept of Research Design,

a. When a objective of the research is to test the researchhypothesis is known as 'Hypothesis Testing Research'.

But it may not be possible for testing, due to the relationshipbetween the independent and interdependent variables.Hence, when the independent variable is beenmanipulated it is known as 'Experimental HypothesisTesting Research'.

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6. Experimental and Non Experimental HypothesisTesting Research:

b. While, "if the independent variable is not beenmanipulated then it is known as 'Non-ExperimentalHypothesis Testing Research".

Example for Experimental and Non-ExperimentalHypothesis Testing Research, can be if a researcherwants to examine the family income with schoolattendance, here the family income is independent as itcannot be changed (Non-Experimental Hypothesis TestingResearch), hence the researcher manipulates the incomeinto two a. Parents who have regular income and b.Parents who do not have regular income, therefore he canperform his research.

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7. Experimental and Control Groups:

The seventh concept of Research Design isExperimental and Control Groups,

In a Experimental Hypothesis Testing Research,

a. When a group is exposed to a certain new or specialconditions is known as 'Experimental Group'.

b. While if the group is exposed on usual conditionsthen it is called as 'Control Group'.

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8. Treatment: Treatment is the 8th concept inResearch Design,

"Treatment refers to the difficult conditions towhich the experimental and control groups aresubject to test".

Example, if a test need to be done on theagricultural output in 3 different lands, then 3different fertilizers are required exclusivelyfor 3 different lands, where the 3 differentfertilizers are the 3 different treatments.

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9. Experiment: Experiment is the 8th concept in researchdesign,

'Experiment refers to the process of verifying the truth of astatistical hypothesis relating to a given researchproblem'.

Experiment can be of 2 types – Absolute andComparative.

"Absolute Experiment is the experiment, where theresearcher tries to find the impact of one variable to theother is known as Absolute Experiment",

"While if the researcher compares two similar variable andwishes to compare from one another it is ComparativeExperiment".

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10. Experimental Units: This is the last conceptof Research Design,

"Experimental Units, are referred to the differentplots, characteristics or the blocks to whichdifferent treatment is applied".

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14MBA23 – Research Methods Research Design Process (Also refer M1 – 9

steps in research design)

Step 1: Selection and Definition of the problem:

Step 2: Sources of Data:

Step 3: Nature of Study:

Step 4: Objective of Study:

Step 5: Socio and Cultural Context:

Step 6: Comporal Context:

Step 7: Dimension:

Step 8: Basis of selection:

Step 9: Technique of Data Collection:

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Research Design Process (Also refer M1 – 9


Step 1: Selection and Definition of the problem:

The Researcher need to

1. Define the problem clearly, so to what is his objective,

2. Which data is relavance for his study,

3. The researcher need to define clearly on operationalterms too.

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Step 2: Sources of Data:

Second step in Research Design Process is the

a. Primary Sources of Data Collection and/ or

b. Secondary sources of data collection, relavant for hisstudy.

Where Primary Sources are data collected directly throughObservation, Discussion, Interview, Focus Group, DelphiMethod, which can be usually, in a form of Questionnaire,sent by various sources, While Secondary Sources willrefer to those data which is already published.

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Step 3: Nature of Study: This will include, whether it is

1. Experimental type of study,

2. Comparitive type of study, or

3. Statistical type of study.

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Step 4: Objective of Study: The objective of the study canbe

a. Welfare notion or

b. Theoritical understanding or

The researcher can express the objective of his study toenable respondents to be sincere on the responses.

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Research Design Process (Also refer M1 – 9 steps

in research design)

Step 5: Socio and Cultural Context:

The researcher can base the socio-cultural basis,

Example:- Study of the fertility rate in the economicallybackward areas.

Monthly Income and expense level of (2 variables) ruralareas or urban areas.

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Research Design Process (Also refer M1 – 9 steps

in research design)

Step 6: Comporal Context:

"Comporal Context refers that the research is specific tothe population and the area selected". Which can be'based on Geographical Limit' and can be 'Applicable tospecific group'.

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Research Design Process (Also refer M1 – 9 steps in

research design)

Step 7: Dimension:

This refers to the specific selected respondent, who canprovide a valid answers. Dimension is important as researchcannot be performed One by One and hence Dimension isperformed.

These respondent selection process is crutial for the study aseach and every respondent's views and ideas must match thecollective view of a specific population. Example: A villageleader's views may match with the view of the complete village.

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Step 8: Basis of selection:

The selection of respondents can be,

a. Random,

b. Stratified and Purposive,

c. Double clustered or quota sample

This is done for arriving at a valid sample size.

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Step 9: Technique of Data Collection: Techniques can be

a. Observations, (Direct or by pre-fixed camera)

b. Interview/ Discussion, (Walk and Talk, or within walls)

c. Questionnaire,

All based on objective of study.....

As it is collected/ gathered, it can be analyzed, interpreted.

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Types of Research Design:

Research Design can be as follows:

1. Exploratory Research Design (Unknown study by

an idea, thought),

2. Conclusive Research Design (Further and deeper in

compared to Exploratory),

3. Experimental Research Design. (Pre-Experimental

Design, Quasi Experimental Design, True Experimental Design andStatistical Experimental Design)

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1. Exploratory Research Design: ExploratoryResearch is conducted,

When the researcher does not know, how and why certainphenomenon occurs, here the hypothetical solutions oractions are explored and evaluated by the decsion maker.This is the first step in the research process.

Example: Quality of service in a Hotel/ Bank/ Airline, herebeing the quality of service (tangible feature) cannot beavailable or accessed directly.

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1. Exploratory Research Design: Exploratory

Research is the first step in the research process hence it isused for,

1. To define the problem more precisely,

2. To identify relevant course of action, (that is to find the mostlikely alternatives which can be turned into hypothesis)

3. Isolate key variables and relationships for further examinations,

4. Gain insights for developing an approach to a problem,

5. Establish Priorities for FURTHER RESEARCH.

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1. Exploratory Research Design's objectives provide insights to,

a. Identify the problems or opportunities,

b. Defining the problems more precisely,

c. Gaining deeper insights to variables operating in a situations,

d. Identify relevant alternative course of action,

e. Establishing priorities regarding potential significance of the problemor opportunities,

f. Gaining additional insignts before an approach can be adopted,

g. Gaining information on the problem associated with doing conclusiveresearch.

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1. Exploratory Research Design's Purpose:

a. Exploratory Research is the initial research,

b. Exploratory Research is an Idea or observation which the researcher seeks to understand further,

c. Exploratory Research is an attempt to lay the groundwork for further studies,

d. Exploratory Research comes out with 2 big forms – 1. A new topic or a 2. A new angle,

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1. Exploratory Research Methods:

Exploratory Research Methods can be,

a. Secondary Resources Analysis (Further study),

b. Comprehensive Case Methods (Include everything that is

needed, This study started with Mental Study),

c. Expert Opinion Survey (Delphi Method, gatheringExperts),

d. Focus Group Discussion (A Group of villagers, SpecificStudent's Group),

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a. Secondary Resources Analysis:

Secondary Research Analysis can be one of the method toexpore the seondary data, which was originally presentedelsewhere and involves further analysis and evaluation ofthe original information.

These secondary source is attempted to provide a broaderintroductory overview of a topic.

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14MBA23 – Research MethodsTypes of Research Design:


b. Comprehensive Case Methods:

The 'Case Management' originally designed as a service forpeople with 'Severe and Persistent Mental Illness'. Prior to1950s it was provided mainly in public mental hospitalsand included mental health services and day-to-daysupports.

These case management is attempted on the existing casemanagement models and how to prepare case managersto provide these services.

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c. Expert Opinion Survey:

The Delphi Method is a structured communication technique,originally developed as a systematic, interactiveforecasting method, which relies on a panel of experts.The experts answer questionnaires in two or morerounds, where the facilator/ reseacher provides thesummary of the experts from the different rounds to bemeasured for final judgement.

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d. Focus Group Discussion (FGD):

This FCD is to gather together people fromsimilar backgrounds or experiences to discuss aspecific topic of interest. The group ofparticipants are guided by a moderator whointroduces a topic for discussion and helps theparticipants in a lively and natural discussionamongst them.

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2. Conclusive Research Design: (2nd Type)

a. Conclusive Research Design is typically more formal andstructured.,

b. Conclusive Research Design is based on large sampleand market information, subjected to for quantitativeanalysis.

c. Conclusive Research is designed to assist the researcheror decision maker in determining, evaluating and selectingthe best course of action to a given situation.

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2. Conclusive Research Design:

Conclusive Research Design is classified into 2:

a. Descriptive Research and

b. Causal Research

(Outline explanation, also given in Module 1)

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a. Descriptive Research:

1. The objective of the descriptive research is toget the answers for Who, What, When, Whereand How of the subject under investigation.

2. Descriptive Research is undertaken, when theresearcher desires to know the characteristicsof certain group, such as Age, Sex, Occupation,Income or Education.

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a. Descriptive Research:

3. Majority of Research studeis are based on DescriptiveResearch.

4. Descriptive Research deals directly with the people inthe market hence extreme caution has to be exercisedin developing this study,

5. Descriptive Research requires sufficient knowledgeon the nature and type of statistical technique to beused.

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a. Descriptive Research Uses:

1. To describe the characteristics of people, group,

2. To estimate the %age of units in a specifiedpopulation exhibiting a certain behavior,

3. To collect the demographic informations of the users,

4. To discover the relationship between the variables(Ex: Rural, Semi-Urban and Urban Population),

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a. Descriptive Research Uses:

5. To determine the degree to which the marketing variables are associated,

6. To determine the perception (Choice Criteria) of product characteristics,

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a. Descriptive Research is classified into 2namely,

1. Longitudinal Research and

2. Cross Sectional Research

(Already discussed in Module 1 – Longitudinaland One time Research)

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b. Causal Research:

1. Causal Research is designed to investigate thecause and effect relationship between two ormore variables.

2. Causal Research is also known as'Independent-Interdependent Relationship orPredictive Relationship.

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3. Experimental Research Design:

Experimental Research studies generally requiretesting of hypothesis for causal relationshipamongst the variables.

It is based on Principles or Statistical Procedures.

Basic Principles of Experimental ResearchDesign include,

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3. Experimental Research Design PRINCIPLES:

a. Principle of replication: This is the Principle ofRepeating the same experiment more than onces toarrive at accuracy.

In this the researcher repeats the same experimentagain and again to arrive at an exact conclusion.

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3. Experimental Research Design PRINCIPLES:

b. Principle of Randomization:

This is the Principle that provides researcher protectionagainst the effect of extraneous factors,(Variables,which have no much effect in research) when heundertakes any experiment.

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3. Types of Experimental Research Design:

There are two types of Experimental ResearchDesign:

a. Formal Experimental Research Design and

b. Informal Experimental Research Design.

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a. Formal Experimental Research Design:

i) Completely Randomized Design,

ii) Randomized Block Design,

iii) Latin Square Design, and

iv) Factorial Design

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i) Completely Randomized Design:

This is based on Principle of Replication and Principle of randomization (Shall vary fromexperiment to experiment on repeatation and randomization).

The easiest possible experimental design, and procedure of analysis is also simple.

The basic characteristics is that the subjects are randomly assigned to experimentaltreatments.

The analysis can be One way analysis of variance and completely randomizeddesign.

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If we have 8 patients, and need to provide Treatment A andTreatment B, and if the patients are randomly selected forTreatment A and Treatment B, then such analysisprocedure required design is called 'ONE WAYANALYSIS VARIANCE'. Such design is possible when theexperimental areas are homogeneous.

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When all possible variation due to uncontrollableexperimental factors is included under chance variation,then such design is known as 'COMPLETELYRANDOMIZED DESIGN'.

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ii) Randomized Block Design: The term'Randomized Block', is emanated (Emanatemeans the strong sense, derived from) fromAgronomics Research (Agri-Economics, studyof growing and harvesting of crops),

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ii) Randomized Block Design: In Randomized BlockDesign, several variables or treatments are applied fordifferent blocks of land to study the effects of replication(Replication means Repeating the same) on experimentaleffort, such as yield of different types of sugarcane by usingeffect variables like WATER, but also fertility of SOIL isconsidered Hence different blocks are randomly selectedfor treatment.

Similar to Agriculture, now the same is practically applied ondetermining the output from various machines.

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iii) Latin Square Design:

This design too is emanated from AgronomicExperimentation and is extensively used wherethere is a need to ELIMINATE the trend of soilfertility in two directions, that is the Rows andColumns.

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iii) Latin Square Design:

One major draw back in this design is that thetreatments must be equal in both rows andcolumns, also when the treatment is more than7, latin square design is hardly utilized, as it isslightly compex than an analysis forRandomized Block Design.

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iv) Factorial Design:

"Factorial Design is the design where it allows the researcherto evaluate the combination effect of two or morevariables, when used simultaneously".

Factorial Design is more common in recent times with a viewto improve rational foundation of scientific experimentation.

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b. Informal Experimental Research Design:

i) Before and Without Control Design,

ii) After and Only with Control Design,

iii) Before and After with Control Design.

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i) Before and Without Control Design,:

This Design is a design, where 'a set of Single TestGroup is selected', and Dependent variable ismeasured prior to a Specific Treatment'. SubsequentlyTreatment is introduced and dependable variables areagain measured.

Example: 'To check bacteria in a swimming pool, beforeand after Chlorination Treatment'.

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ii) After and Only with Control Design,:

In this design, Two areas are selected – Test Area and Control Area,where Treatment is applied only to the Test Area, but 'DependableVariable is measured in both the areas at the same time', leading toeliminate the Extrageneous Variations. The impact of this treatment isassessed by substracting the value of dependable variable in thecontrol area from the value obtained in the test areas.

Example: Two fields of same size, is used where one with the use offertilizer and other without fertilizer and measure the output. Commonextraneous variables like Rain, Water Supply and Climate is commonto both.

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iii) Before and After with Control Design.: This design is thecombination of the first and second design.

2 Areas are selected and dependable variables are measuredbefore the Treatment. Treatment is applied only in the test areaand the dependable variables are again measured in both thetest and control areas, after introduction of the treatment.

This design is superior to the first 2 design as it avoids theextrageneous variations and also the variations of non-comparability of the test area and control area.

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Types of Experimental Research Designs include:

1. Pre-Experimental Research Design,

2. Quasi Experimental Design,

3. True Experimental Design,

4. Statistical Experimental Design.

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1. Types of Pre-Experimental Research Designs:

a. One-shot - Case Study Design,

b. One-Group – Pre-Test and Post-Test Design,

c. Static-Group Comparison

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3. Pre-Experimental Research Design: Types of Pre-Experimental Research Designs:

a. One-shot - Case Study Design,:

In this Case Study Design we include the following:

i) One single Group is considered,

ii) Studied at a single point of time (Specific time),

iii) Presumed some treatment can CAUSE change,

iv) No group or Comparison is employed.

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b. One-Group – Pre-Test and Post-Test Design,:

In this design it includes the following:

i) No control or Comparison is employed,

ii) Treatment is conducted before and after,

iii) And results is presumed, due to treatment.

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c. Static-Group Comparison,:

Static Group includes,

i) There are 2 groups,

ii) One Group is given treatment, while other isn't,

iii) Compare both,

iv) Differences is presumed to be the result of the treatment.

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Experimental Research Design:

2. Quasi Experimental Design: (Quasi is used toform, that is described something as being in many wayslike something else, without actually being that thing)

i) Extensively used in social science and psychology,

ii) Unscientific and Unreliable, but useful method to measuresocial variables,

iii) There is no validity of the data,

iv) It resembles quantitative and qualitative experiments, butLacks Group Allocation and Control.

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3. True Experimental Design : True ExperimentalDesign has the following features:

i) This research is designed statistically (in numbers)

ii) This research tries to prove or disprove a hypothesismathematically,

iii) This research has little or no arguments on itsresults.,

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3. True Experimental Design :

i) In True Experimental Design the sample is selected randomly.,

ii) There must be a viable control group (A group which is capable to serve the purpose of the researcher).,

iii) Only one group is manipulated (Viable Group).

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4. Statistical Experimental Design:

i) Statistical Experimental Design is designed onstatistical figures,

ii) The researcher may or may not have controlon the vaibles present, but it has control as itsexperiments are concerned with statisticalinformations gathered for the research.

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Other Research Designs:

Observational Research: ObservationalResearch is a field work where the reseacherstudies the on-going behaviour, and identifiesthe strengths and weakness.

Observational Research can be ParticipativeObservational Study or Non-ParticipativeStudy.

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Finished Module 2

(80 Slides)