This document discusses research types in social sciences. It describes research design as referring to the overall structure of a research project, including paradigmatic considerations, research questions and objectives, and data collection and analysis processes. Research methods refer to specific processes for sampling data sources, collecting data through techniques like interviews and questionnaires, validating data, and analyzing data. The three main research designs are quantitative research, qualitative research, and mixed methods research, which make use of quantitative, qualitative, or both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods, respectively.

1. Research Types
in
Social Sciences
by
Design/Methods
Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Khan
Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Khan

2. Research Design
• Refers to the overall structure or road map of the
research process in a research project/study.
Refers to considerations including:
• Paradigmatic considerations,
• the nature of the research topic,
• research questions, objectives,
• data collection and analysis processes
• issues related to validity and authenticity of the
research process.
Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Khan

3. Research Method(s)
• Refer to the specific processes of sampling or selection
of data sources, data collection, validation, and analysis.
Examples:
• Sampling : Use of specific sampling techniques in the
research study
• Data collection/Access: Questionnaires, Interviews,
observations, scales, checklists etc.
• Validation processes of data collection and analysis
• Analysis: Description of data analysis processes
Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Khan

4. Three main research designs in social
science research
Quantitative Research
• Makes use of quantitative data collection, validation and
analysis methods.
Qualitative Research
• Makes use of qualitative data collection, validation and
analysis methods
Mixed Methods research
• Makes use of a combination of both quantitative and
qualitative data collection, validation and analysis
methods Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Khan

5. Three main research designs in
social science research
• Quantitative Research
Examples:
• Experimental Research , Correlational Research,
Descriptive Research
• Qualitative Research
Examples:
Case study, Ethnography, Phenomenology, Narrative,
Grounded theory
• Mixed Methods research
• Make use of a mix of both quantitative and qualitative data
collection and analysis methods
Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Khan

6. General data collection/analysis
processes
• Quantitative
Data collection: Questionnaires, checklists etc.
Data analysis: Statistical analysis
• Qualitative
Data collection: Interviews, Focus groups, Observations etc.
Data analysis: Thematic, Qualitative content analysis
• Mixed-Methods
Data collection: Observations, Interviews, Questionnaires etc.
Data analysis: Both statistical and thematic/content analysis
Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Khan